Canada is well known as the most renowned country for its leading health care system. Canada being the second-largest country in the world is believed to be home to many opportunities including many scholarship offers.
Canada is also considered more affordable to study nursing than any other country which is also why many international students can’t help but wonder if you can also study nursing in Canada for free.
In addition to Canada being a land filled with quality affordable education, it also possesses one of the leading health care systems in the world. To be admitted to a diploma or undergraduate degree program, there are certain qualifications you need to have and know.
Studying in Canada is a great alternative to looking for an affordable degree as an international student and this is because they do have more affordable and wide options to choose from.
Studying nursing in Canada is highly competitive however it sure requires patience, and you must do your homework in advance and let them know what is required.
Requirements to Study Nursing in Canada
According to some research, it shows that 8.5% of the total registered nurses in Canada are foreign nationals, and they earn up to $150,000 per year. The application process however can be quite expensive with application process and some hidden costs but first, let’s focus on the requirements.
The first thing you will need to study in any Canadian University for a diploma or undergraduate degree is a high school certificate. The main subjects to be required will be English, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics can be advantageous as well.
The average high school requirement should be at least C and those without the necessary prerequisites can try other schools that offer pre-nursing years. To secure high coveted places, you will need a more rounded high GPA. Other important requirements for studying nursing in Canada are listed below.
- Recommendation letter from former school
- Statement of intent and writing samples
- Basic knowledge of advanced math
- Undergo pre-nursing exam
- English test and proficiency is compulsory especially if you are from a non-English speaking country. Pearson, TOEFL, IELTS, and TOEFL, score depends on school requirement.
- For a master’s degrees program in nursing, you must have completed an undergraduate degree with at least B+
How to Study Nursing In Canada For FREE
So, after finding out the requirements, the next question will be how do you study nursing in Canada for free? You must study all the pros and cons before you decide to study in Canada. Some nursing schools have various ways of offering admissions and their key requirements tend to differ as well. However, their tuition is not considered cheap.
There are lots of fully funded scholarships for Nursing school in Canada and you will only be needing money for accommodation and basic needs. The cost of tuition for studying nursing in Canada is notoriously high in some notable schools hence why applying for a scholarship is highly recommended.
Nursing will continue to be in high demand in Canada and the level of studies and institutions will determine the fee, but it is always expected to be between $20,000 and $30,000. You must research available nursing jobs before going there to study especially if you are a foreigner.
In retrospect, studying nursing in Canada or any country is not cheap but luckily, you can apply for some of their scholarship programs. There are lots of cheap nursing schools in Canada and one of the most popular options for nursing schools is McGill University.
An opportunity to study nursing in Canada is quite an exciting one but note that it may not come free. There are no free tuition nursing schools in Canada as the tuition is known to be highly subsidized by the Canadian federal and provincial governments.
While you can study nursing in Canada by applying for a scholarship, note that it is not entirely free and some basic fees will still be incurred. To study free in Canada, you can apply for scholarships in as many Universities as you want regardless of your college level.
Nursing Schools to Apply For Scholarship
Nursing schools are expensive but thankfully, there are scholarships you can apply for. There are lots of partial or fully funded scholarships for international students who want to study in Canada and to make your search easy, we have listed some of the popular and easy to apply for grants and scholarships below.
- Queen’s University: Students who registered for nursing at The Queen’s University are immediately considered for some awards however most are based on grades.
- University of Saskatchewan: This is another popular university international students are strongly advised to study nursing. There are a good number of scholarships, bursaries, and awards available to students currently studying there.
- University of Calgary: Their scholarship programs include the Alberta Blue Cross 50th Anniversary Nursing Bursary. The value of the award is $1,500, it is offered to an undergraduate nursing student first year in the Faculty of Nursing.
- University of British Columbia: Copeman preventive healthcare scholarship is fully funded by the University of British Colombia and Alberta at all levels.
- Global Excellence Postgraduate Placements: The University of Dundee has 4 great scholarships fully funded for nurses who want to run a post-graduate program. The scholarship is open to students beyond Canada, it is open to overseas participants.
Cost of Studying Nursing in Canada
Studying nursing in Canada will open you to lots of job offers and if you wish to study nursing in Canada without going broke, it is vital to know what their cost is.
The cost of studying nursing in Canada varies according to the institution and program, it is also subject to change at any time. On a regular, you will need between $20,000 and $30,000 per year.
Can I Immigrate to Canada as A Nurse?
As an international student, you can enter some of the leading schools in other Countries if you find Canadian tuition to be n the high side and yes, you can immigrate to Canada as a nurse.
You simply have to graduate from a recognized/approved institute in your Country and luckily, Nurses are in high demand in Canada.
Wrapping Up
Canada might be cheap for studying nursing, but it is highly competitive, and the application process can also become costly with some hidden charges and registration fees.
There is no iota of doubt that Canada has one of the best education systems in the world, and it is favorable for nurses the Canadian health department is known to be highly dependent on nurses.
