Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – BCIT
SpaceCat Fit Notes
- CASPer: Not required. details
- GPA window & upgrading strategy: Requires 18 post-secondary credits as prerequisites (Academic Writing, Anatomy & Physiology within 3 years, Intro Psychology, gen ed electives). Minimum 67% in academic foundations, 65% in LIBS courses. Priority given to applicants with 30+ post-secondary credits. High school prerequisites also required (English 12 67%, Chemistry 11 73%, Math 73%). details
- Experiential / written advantage: None – “two-step process” with competitive selection. No essays, interviews, or CASPer. details
- Out-of-province: Canadian residents only (no international students). No explicit BC residency restriction for Canadians. details
- Overall assessment: Reach – BCIT’s BSN is a 3-year program (three terms/year) requiring 18 credits of specific post-secondary prerequisites. THE KEY QUESTION: BCIT does not differentiate between HS applicants and degree holders – all applicants need both HS prerequisites (English 12, Chem 11, Math) AND post-secondary prerequisites. SpaceCat’s strong HS marks meet the HS thresholds (67-73%). For the post-secondary component, she would need specific courses (Anatomy & Physiology within 3 years, Academic Writing, Intro Psych). Her BA from Dalhousie likely covers some prerequisites but Anatomy & Physiology must be within 3 years. Priority goes to those with 30+ post-secondary credits (which SpaceCat has). However, the competitive selection process is opaque (“select those applicants deemed to have the best opportunity for success”) and without CASPer, SpaceCat’s strongest non-academic asset cannot help. No published formula or GPA window for ranking. Multiple intakes per year (Jan, Apr, Sep) is a plus.
Quick Facts
- Institution: British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
- Program name: Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Program code: 8875BSN
- Degree granted: BSN
- City, Province: Burnaby, British Columbia
- Program type: Standard (3-year, three terms per year)
- Duration: 3 years
- Delivery format: In-person
- Full-time / Part-time: Full-time only
- Language of instruction: English
- Start date(s): January, April, September (three intakes per year)
- Intake frequency: Three times per year
- Application deadline(s): January intake: June 1-July 15; April intake: October 1-November 15; September intake: February 1-March 15
- Application system: Direct to BCIT
- Program URL: https://www.bcit.ca/programs/nursing-bachelor-of-science-in-nursing-full-time-8875bsn/
- Accredited: Yes – CASN accredited
Admission Requirements
GPA
- Minimum GPA: 67% in each academic foundation course; 65% in LIBS courses; HS: English 12 67%, Chemistry 11 73%, Math 73%
- Competitive GPA (if known): Not published
- GPA calculated on: Both high school prerequisites AND post-secondary prerequisites. No separate GPA window published.
- Number of credits in GPA window: Not specified. All prerequisite courses evaluated.
- GPA scale used: Percentage
- Do post-degree upgrading courses count? Yes – prerequisites can be completed at any accredited institution
- “Entire record” caveat? Not stated
Prerequisites
High school:
| Course | Min Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| English Studies 12 | 67% | |
| Chemistry 11 | 73% | |
| One Math course (Pre-calc 11, Foundations 11/12, or Pre-calc 12) | 73% |
Post-secondary (18.0 credits required):
| Course | Credits | Min Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Writing (e.g., LIBS 7001) | 3.0 | 65% | |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology (or equiv.) | 6.0 | 67% | Must be within past 3 years |
| Introductory Psychology | 3.0 | 67% | |
| General education electives | 6.0 | 65% |
Priority given to applicants with 30+ post-secondary credits.
CASPer
Not required. CASPer is not mentioned on BCIT’s BSN page.
Supplementary Requirements
- Interview: Not required
- Personal statement: Not required
- Other: Canadian resident (not available to international students); standard clinical requirements
How Applications Are Evaluated
- Admission model: “Two-step process” – (1) verify minimum requirements; (2) competitive selection. “Nursing program mandate is to select those applicants deemed to have the best opportunity for success.”
- Published formula: None
- Opaque selection criteria
The Key Question: BA Holder with Strong HS Marks
Both HS marks AND post-secondary prerequisites are evaluated for ALL applicants. SpaceCat’s HS marks would be checked against minimums (67-73%) but the competitive ranking appears to focus on overall academic profile including post-secondary work. Her BA gives her the 30+ credit priority. However, without a published formula or GPA window, it is unclear whether her weak university GPA would be the primary ranking factor. HS marks cannot be the sole primary factor here – post-secondary prerequisites are mandatory and likely weighted in selection.
Out-of-Province Considerations
- Residency restrictions or quotas: “This program is not available to international students.” Canadian citizens/PRs from any province appear eligible.
- Out-of-province tuition differential: Not specified. BC public institutions generally charge the same domestic tuition for all Canadian citizens/PRs.
Cost
- Tuition (total program, approximate): Not published on program page. BCIT directs to tuition estimator tool. Estimated ~$20,000-$25,000 domestic over 3 years.
Competitiveness
- Cohort size: Not published
- Three intakes per year: Provides more opportunities than single-intake programs
Licensing & Career Path
- Licensing exam: NCLEX-RN
- Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes
Information Not Found
- How applicants are ranked competitively (GPA on what? HS? Post-secondary? Combined?)
- Out-of-province tuition amount
- Cohort size per intake
- Whether Dalhousie BA courses satisfy prerequisites (Psych likely yes, A&P would need recency)
Contact: BCIT Health Sciences – nursing@bcit.ca
Sources
- Official program page: BCIT BSN
- EducationPlannerBC: BCIT BSN on EPBC