MacEwan University nursing admission requirements: four key courses, a 65% minimum and a high 80s to mid 90s competitive range

MacEwan asks for five Grade 12 courses: ELA 30-1, Biology 30, Chemistry 30 or Science 30, Mathematics 30-1, 30-2 or 31, and one more course from Group A, B, C or D. You may use only one Group D course. Math 30-2 counts, so you don't need pre-calculus.

If you study in Ontario, MacEwan's high school subjects page matches ELA 30-1 to ENG4U, Biology 30 to SBI4U, Chemistry 30 to SCH4U, and the three math options to MHF4U, MDM4U and MCV4U. Science 30 only appears in a group of extra science courses, listed beside Ontario courses such as SNC4M and SES4U. That isn't a one to one match, so plan on SCH4U or ask MacEwan first. Map your timetable with our course planner.

The posted floor is a 65% overall average with no course below 50%. That only makes you eligible. MacEwan calls the BScN competitive and posts a competitive range for regular and mature applicants: high 80s to mid 90s for both 2025/26 and 2026/27.

MacEwan says the range may change as applications come in, because it depends on who else applies for the same term. It does not publish an exact cut-off or an acceptance rate. Aim for the high 80s or better, and check your numbers with our Top 6 average calculator.

High school courses for competitive programs must be finished by June 30 to count for fall entry. Courses finished after that date won't be used in the admission decision.

MacEwan's BScN page lists no essay, interview, Casper test or portfolio. Your grades decide the offer. Every offer is conditional at first.

Once accepted, you need a clear police information check with a vulnerable sector search, issued within three months of the start of the intake term. MacEwan suggests allowing 4 to 6 weeks for the police to process it. You also need a BLS provider (CPR-HCP) card before your first year clinical placement, an N95 mask fit, and up to date immunizations.

MacEwan opens fall applications on October 1. The BScN deadline for fall entry is March 30. For programs that close March 30, documents for the admission review are due April 15. Final documents for fall are due August 1.

The BScN also has a winter intake with an October 1 deadline. The requirements page says its current rules apply to Fall 2027 and Winter 2028 entry. MacEwan's dates page lists days and months but not the year, so confirm the exact dates when you apply. See our Canadian deadlines page to compare.

The calendar lays out a four year, 123 credit program. First year mixes science and nursing: anatomy, two physiology courses, microbiology, introductory psychology, Indigenous health, a university English course and an open elective, plus NURS 130 and NURS 131.

Courses build on each other, so MacEwan asks you to take them in order. Many courses need a C- to pass. You have up to six years to finish the degree.

MacEwan's BScN does not list a co-op option. The program pages and calendar we checked describe clinical practice courses instead, plus labs and the Clinical Simulation Centre. The last big step is an 11 credit preceptorship in fourth year.

Clinical hours can include days, evenings, nights and weekends. Placements are generally within 150 kilometres of the campus, and rural or remote spots beyond that may be offered. MacEwan says you'll need daily access to a vehicle for placements that transit can't reach, and you pay your own travel, uniform and meal costs.

MacEwan charges tuition per credit. The 2027-2028 calendar lists an estimated $250 per credit for Canadian students in the BScN, still subject to Board approval. International students pay an estimated $941 per credit, with a minimum of nine credits charged in fall and winter terms.

Our estimate, tuition only: first year is 33 credits, so about $8,250 at the estimated domestic rate. Term fees, student association fees, books and course fees are extra. The application fee for 2026/27 is $110, and new domestic students pay a $400 confirmation deposit when they accept.

MacEwan's Chancellor's Scholarship Series covers students entering a degree straight from high school. Tiers run from 80% to 84.99% up to 95% to 100%. Apply by March 1 for fall to be considered.

Nursing works a little differently. Every nursing admit who meets the Chancellor's Scholarship rules gets the offer at admission. President's and Provost's Scholarships go to the next highest averages after the program starts, up to 60 students across all three tiers in the faculty. The scholarship page does not list dollar amounts.

MacEwan's Faculty of Nursing reserves up to 10% of BScN spaces for applicants who self identify as Indigenous, meaning First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples in Canada. You must still meet the minimum admission rules.

You'll need to upload documents confirming your ancestry through myStudentSystem.

MacEwan also offers a Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing in Edmonton and Ponoka. It asks for the same five high school courses and the same 65% floor. Its posted competitive range is lower, high 70s to high 80s, and the Edmonton deadline is also March 30.

Psychiatric nursing leads to a different licence, focused on mental health. Pick it because you want that work, not as a backup for a lower average. Compare other Alberta options in our Mount Royal nursing guide.

The 65% minimum can give the wrong idea. Offers go to students in the high 80s to mid 90s, so a strong Grade 12 year matters most. Make sure Biology and Chemistry are in the timetable and finished by June 30.

Budget for a car or long transit trips in the clinical years, and for the police check and CPR card. Read our MacEwan University guide for campus life and costs.