The Trent/Fleming School of Nursing offers three undergraduate programs leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN):
- an integrated, collaborative four-year program,
- a fast-tracked compressed program for students with sufficient university credits and recent practical nursing graduates.
- a RPN to BScN pathway for registered practical nurses who seek to earn their BScN degree to become a registered nurse. This pathway is in collaboration George Brown College.
Each program has a science base in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, pathophysiology, and research methods. Theoretical courses provide the foundation for the study of concepts underlying the art and science of nursing.
Below are the admission requirements for each program. Remember to review the Special Notes for applicants. If you have any questions regarding Nursing Admissions, please contact our Nursing Admissions team.
Collaborative Program Admissions
The Collaborative Program is available to individuals entering from secondary school or those who have completed some post-secondary education.
- OUAC application code: RCN
- Start date: September
- Program length: Four years
- Intake: 120 students
- Location: Peterborough Symons campus
- Application status: Fall 2025 applications will open September 19, 2024. The OUAC deadline to apply for Current Ontario High School (Group A) applicants is January 15, 2025. The application deadline for all other applicants; including current Trent students (Group B) is March 3, 2025.
Collaborative Program Admission Requirements
All applicants should be aware of the Ontario requirements for study in a nursing degree program.
Before submitting your application to the OUAC, please ensure you have the following admission requirements, including prerequisite courses, as outlined below.
Applying from |
Prerequisite Course Equivalents |
Minimum Average Required |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary School | ENG4U (min. 70%) SBI4U (min. 70%) SCH4U (min. 70%) Any 4U Math (min. 70%) |
A minimum average of 75% calculated on the required courses, plus your next best two 4U/M courses |
| College |
Two semesters of: English (min. 70% each)Biology (min. 65% each) Chemistry (min. 65% each) Math (min. 65% each) |
A minimum average of 75% in: a completed pre-health sciences (university stream) certificate program OR a minimum of two semesters of a diploma program at a recognized community college OR a completed Practical Nursing diploma program |
| University |
One semester of: English (min. 60%)Biology (min. 60%) Chemistry (min. 60%) Math (min. 60%) |
A minimum average of 70 calculated on the equivalent of two years or less of study. Applicants with more than two years of undergraduate study are encouraged to apply to the Compressed Program. |
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- Applicants can meet the prerequisite subjects through a combination of secondary, college, and university subjects. Prerequisite courses should have been taken within the last 10 years. - Collaborative Nursing applicants applying to the September 2025 start date are no longer required to complete the CASPer test. |
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Compressed Program Admissions
The compressed program offers students with sufficient post-secondary transfer credits the option to fast track through the program in less than three years.
- OUAC application code: RFN
- Start date: September
- Program length: 28 months
- Intake: 100 students
- Location: Peterborough Symons campus
- Application status: Fall 2025 applications will open on September 19, 2024. The OUAC deadline for non-current Ontario High School Students (Group B) to apply is March 3, 2025. Current Trent students must also apply by March 3, 2025.
Compressed Program Admission Requirements
All applicants should be aware of the Ontario requirements for study in a nursing degree program.
Before submitting your application to the OUAC, please ensure you have the following admission requirements, including prerequisite courses, as outlined below.
Applying from |
Prerequisite Course Equivalents |
Minimum Average Required |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary School | Not eligible for admission | |
| Biotechnology Advanced Diploma |
Available to recent graduates from either Fleming, Durham, Centennial or Loyalists College's Biotechnology Advanced Diploma program. Students will need two semesters of the follow prerequisite courses: English (min. 70% each) |
A minimum average of 75. |
| Practical Nursing Diploma | Available to recent graduates from either Fleming, Durham, Centennial or Seneca College's Practical Nursing diploma program, who are registered in good standing with the CNO*. | A minimum average of 75. |
| University |
One university semester of:
or a combination of university and secondary school 4U or college prerequisite courses (see the Collaborative program requirements for minimum prerequisite grades) |
A minimum average of 70 calculated on the last ten (10) university full-course equivalents (two years of an undergraduate degree program) |
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*Applicants who enter the BScN program within 6 months of completing their Practical Nursing diploma will have requirement to be in good standing with the CNO waived. **For admission consideration Intro to Psychology courses must have been completed within the past ten years. Applicants with sufficient additional transfer credits (i.e., 1.0 third or fourth year elective transfer credits) may have the psychology course requirement waived for admission. +The English requirement can be waived for applicants with two or more years of full-time study at college or one or more years of full-time study at university where the language of instruction was English. - Applicants can meet the prerequisite subjects through a combination of secondary, college, and university subjects. Prerequisite courses should have been taken within the last 10 years. - Compressed Nursing applicants applying to the September 2025 start date are no longer required to complete the CASPer test. |
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How to Apply
External applications for the BScN Collaborative and Compressed program are submitted through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC). Current Trent students who are looking to apply, should review the "Special Notes" section below. Our fully integrated BScN model means that you are registered as a university student for the duration of the program.
The application process is competitive and admission is offered to the best-qualified candidates.
Post-secondary applicants that have attended Ontario institutions can order their transcripts through the OUAC. Other transcripts can be mailed to Admissions, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2.
International post-secondary applicants who have completed their education outside of North America, should submit a course-by-course World Education Service (WES) evaluation as apart of their application.
RPN to BScN Pathway Admission Requirements
Open to graduates from a recognized community college Practical Nursing (PN) diploma program who are registered in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
Applicants will apply to George Brown College's RPN Bridge to BScN (S442) certificate program and are required to meet the following admissions criteria:
- Registered practical nurse (RPN) in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario and without practice restrictions
- Graduated from a two-year Practical Nursing (PN) diploma program in Ontario with a minimum cumulative average of 75% with no failed or repeated courses
Applicants are also no longer required to complete the CASPer test effective Nov 1, 2022. For more information about the program and admissions eligibility, visit the George Brown website.
Post-Bridge BScN Degree Progression Requirements
To be eligible for progression into Trent University's post-bridge BScN degree offered at George Brown College, students must graduate from the RPN Bridge to BScN certificate program with a minimum cumulative average grade of 75% with no less than 70% grade in any course of the Bridge program for which transfer credits are granted.
How to Apply
Apply through OCAS, program code S442
Start date: September
Location: George Brown College Waterfront campus, Toronto
Special Notes
Current Trent Students
Current Trent students are welcome to apply to transfer into either nursing streams. Applications for current Trent students will become available in mid-September. The "Transfer to Nursing" is located on the MyTrent student portal, under the Academics tab. Applications are due by early-March. For more information on admissions requirements for current Trent students, please refer to the Admissions Information guide.
Prerequisite subjects
Applicants can meet the prerequisite subjects through a combination of secondary, college, and university subjects. Prerequisite courses should have been taken within the last 10 years.
For example, an applicant will meet the prerequisite requirements if they took one semester of math and biology at university and completed Grade 12 4U Chemistry and English.
Having prerequisite courses completed or in progress at the time of application makes an applicant more competitive.
Doctors or internationally educated Nurse
Applicants who have previously completed a medical training program (MD) will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Internationally educated nurses (IENs) are encouraged to apply to the Ontario Internationally Educated Nurses Course Consortium (OIENCC). For more information about the OIENCC, visit rncompetencies.ca.
Pre-health certificate programs
Applicants from pre-health certificate programs must complete all elements of the certificate.
Applicants who have attended university or a Practical Nurse diploma can use a pre-health certificate program only to meet subject prerequisites.
Transfer credit will not be granted for any pre-health science courses.
Applicants who have a Practical Nursing Diploma
Applicants who have graduated from a practical nursing diploma program must be registered in good standing with the CNO preceding the September start date. Proof of registration must be received by August 15. Applicants who plan on entering the BScN program within 6 months of completing their Practical Nursing diploma will have this requirement waived.
Additional application information
Important additional application information is available for the following candidates:
- current Trent students
- international students
- internationally educated nurses or physicians
- mature applicants
- nursing transfer students
Frequently Asked Questions
Have Questions about the Nursing program? We have the answers. Download our FAQs document, to learn more about common questions nursing applicants have.
Contact Nursing Admissions
Questions about admission to the nursing program? You can reach us the following ways:
- Email nursingadmissions@trentu.ca
- Schedule an one-on-one admissions appointment
- Call 1-855-MY-TRENT ask for Nursing Admissions