Thompson Rivers University nursing admission requirements: five courses at 73%, Casper and a January 2027 deadline

TRU asks high school applicants for five courses, each with at least 73%: English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12, Foundations of Math 12 or Pre-calculus 12, Anatomy and Physiology 12, Chemistry 11, and one other Grade 11 or 12 science. TRU builds your GPA from these five courses and uses it for ranking.

TRU's course equivalents page lists Ontario matches: ENG4U or ENG4C for English, MHF4U for Pre-calculus 12, MDM4U for Foundations of Math 12, SCH3U for Chemistry 11, and Grade 12 Biology for Anatomy and Physiology 12. The page prints that biology code as SB14U, which looks like a typo for SBI4U. Use our course planner to fit them in.

TRU's high school guidelines sheet also lets you use TRU upgrading courses, such as BIOL 0600 or CHEM 0500, if a high school mark is weak.

73% in each course only makes you eligible. TRU says not every qualified applicant gets in, and seats are set by each year's applicant pool. Its FAQ says over 500 people applied for the 80 seats in 2024/25, and the high school admission average was 88% for the 2024 intake.

Treat 88% as a recent marker, not a cut-off. TRU does not publish a cut-off or an acceptance rate. Your Casper result also counts. Check your numbers with our Top 6 average calculator.

If a required course runs in the winter term, TRU may use your Grade 11 mark until your Grade 12 mark is in. You can repeat a course to raise your GPA.

Every applicant must complete Casper, an online situational judgement test from Acuity Insights. TRU's FAQ describes it as a 100 to 120 minute online test with open responses. You need a computer with a webcam and microphone, and government photo ID. Snapshot and Duet are not required.

The program catalogue lists Casper dates for the 2027 intake: October 6, November 5, November 17, November 29 and December 8, 2026, then January 7 and January 17, 2027. The nursing admission requirements page still shows the old Fall 2026 date of February 5, 2026. Trust the newer list, and check Acuity Insights before you book.

Most TRU pages list January 31, 2027 as the BScN deadline for September 2027. TRU's high school guidelines sheet for the September 2027 intake says January 30, 2027. Apply by January 30 to be safe, and confirm with TRU.

TRU aims to make decisions by the end of April. It sets up a wait list in June and may keep making offers through the summer. The application fee is $34.23 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

TRU reserves eight seats, or 10%, for applicants who self identify as Indigenous.

TRU also gives higher consideration to applicants with a recognized health care designation, such as a licensed practical nurse or paramedic. That route mostly helps older applicants.

The BScN runs over eight academic semesters. First year includes nursing courses such as NURS 1700, an introduction to the profession, anatomy and physiology (BIOL 1592), and university writing (ENGL 1100). You need Anatomy and Physiology 12 with a C+ or better to start BIOL 1592.

You can also start at TRU's Williams Lake campus. It offers years one and two, then you finish years three and four in Kamloops. You submit one application for either campus. Graduates can write the NCLEX to register as an RN in BC.

TRU's nursing program has no co-op option. Nursing isn't on TRU's list of co-op programs. Instead, practice courses run through all four years, from lab skills in NURS 1740 to a 13 week transition placement in NURS 4210 in fourth year.

Shifts can be days, evenings or nights, including weekends. Every student must do at least one placement outside Kamloops and pay the travel and housing costs. TRU strongly encourages having a car. Some students can apply for an international placement in third year, but a spot isn't guaranteed.

TRU charges undergraduate tuition per credit. For 2026-2027, the rate is $165.10 per credit for Canadian students and $875 per credit for international students. TRU says tuition and fees are subject to change, and Fall 2027 rates weren't posted when we checked.

Our estimate, tuition only: every 30 credits costs about $4,953 at the 2026-27 domestic rate. The nursing fees page adds books at about $1,000 a year, a $28 criminal record check, mask fitting at about $30 a year, uniforms at about $200 and an NCLEX fee of about $500 at graduation.

TRU uses one general scholarship application, due March 1 for scholarships. Most entrance scholarships need an 80% average in your best four academic Grade 11 courses, including English 11, and two references.

Those scholarships are ranked on an essay and references, and range from one $30,000 award over four years to at least 15 awards of $8,000 to $12,000. The President's Entrance Scholarship needs at least 92% in your top four Grade 11 academic courses and pays $4,000 to $6,000. Undergraduate Entrance Awards need a 70% Grade 11 average and have an April 1 deadline.

TRU lets unsuccessful applicants switch to another degree, such as a Bachelor of Science, without paying the application fee again. It suggests meeting an adviser to plan a stronger application for the next year.

Once you have 12 or more university credits, you're ranked as a post-secondary applicant instead. That route needs a 3.0 GPA and four first year courses with a C+, including English and biology. Compare other BC options in our UBC nursing guide.

With far more applicants than seats, aim for marks well above 73% in all five courses. The 88% high school average TRU reported for 2024 is a better target. Book Casper early.

Budget for an out of town placement and, ideally, a car. Read our Thompson Rivers University guide for campus and housing details.