The Faculty of Science at Carleton University is seeking pre-approval for a direct-entry three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program. This exciting program aims to prepare future nurses with specialized knowledge and skills in two distinct concentrations:

  • Nursing Data Science with an Emphasis on Technology and Innovation
  • Neuroscience and Mental Health

This program has an emphasis on developing an innovative nurse with foundational knowledge of Indigenous healing practices to support cultural competence and excellent patient care.

Staffing Opportunities

Details about staffing opportunities related to this program will be available soon.

Approval Status

The College of Nurses of Ontario have granted pre-approval status for the commencement of this direct-entry, three-year compressed BScN to begin September 2025 with an initial intake of 110 students. Further updates will be provided on this web page as the program continues through approvals and development.

For questions about the program, contact us at odscience@carleton.ca.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What are the admission criteria for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program?
    The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent including a minimum of six 4U or M courses including English, Advanced Functions, Biology, and Chemistry.
    Applicants will also be asked to complete a supplementary application that will assist in the evaluation of their suitability for the program. Detailed information about the supplementary application is to follow.
  2. Does this program have a second entry pathway?
    There is no second entry pathway as of this time. Students will be accepted directly from high school or CEGEP into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Direct entry applicants are individuals who have not attended a post-secondary institution.
  3. How will Carleton’s three-year direct entry, full Bachelor of Science in Nursing differ from other nursing programs?
    Carleton University’s innovative Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is a direct entry program, so students enter the program from high school. Coursework for this program is completed over the fall, winter and summer semesters. Students in this program will complete four years of coursework over three years, with classes also taking place during the summer.
    Traditionally a direct entry full nursing program is applied to from high school and generally takes four years to complete over the fall and winter semesters. 
  4. Can the Bachelor of Science in Nursing be completed online?
    No, as of this time, the Nursing program cannot be completed online. The nursing program has a strong experiential learning component, with simulation and clinical experiences occurring in–person.
  5. What characterizes a clinical experience?
    During clinical experiences, students will apply and reinforce the nursing knowledge and skills they learned in class in real world, on-site placements. Students will be expected to travel to and from these clinical experiences with their own means (placement locations are accessible using public transportation). The College of Nurses of Ontario, the provincial regulating body for Nursing, has its own set of requirements which need to be met by applicants to complete their clinical experiences.
    Clinical experience is meant to allow a student to learn the skills of nursing on the job. They will be paired, mentored and work in groups in environments where nurses work and where the skills nurses offer can be used to support the goals of the organization. Clinical placements will range in hours, delivery and objectives. Students will be immersed in clinical experiences beginning in the first semester of the program so they can see first-hand the role of the profession they have begun as a student.