Bachelor of Nursing (BN) – Brandon University
SpaceCat Fit Notes
- CASPer: Required – 30% weighting. Admission formula: 70% pre-nursing GPA + 30% CASPer. Significant advantage for SpaceCat. details
- GPA window & upgrading strategy: GPA calculated on Year 1 pre-nursing courses (~9 courses, 30 credit hours). This is a defined, completely resettable window. Minimum 2.5 GPA (C in each course). The pre-nursing year IS the GPA window – SpaceCat’s BA GPA is irrelevant. details
- Experiential / written advantage: None beyond CASPer. details
- Out-of-province: No Manitoba residency restriction found for standard BN admission. details
- Overall assessment: Strong fit — The 70/30 academic/CASPer split works well for SpaceCat. The GPA is calculated solely on Year 1 pre-nursing courses (a complete reset). With 30% CASPer weight and a very high CASPer score, SpaceCat gets a substantial boost. The pre-nursing year includes courses like Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Statistics, English, and nursing-specific courses – all taken fresh. Minimum GPA of 2.5 is low. 60 seats total with equity seats reserved for Indigenous and applicants of Color. The catch: Brandon is a small city in Manitoba, and the cohort is only 60 students.
“GPA in Pre-Nursing courses (70% weight)” and “CASPer test results (30% weight)”
Quick Facts
- Institution: Brandon University
- Program name: Bachelor of Nursing (BN)
- Degree granted: BN
- City, Province: Brandon, Manitoba
- Program type: Standard (4-year: 1 year pre-nursing + 3 years nursing)
- Duration: 4 years
- Delivery format: In-person
- Full-time / Part-time: Full-time
- Language of instruction: English
- Start date(s): Fall (September)
- Intake frequency: Annual
- Application deadline(s): May 1 (for Year 2 admission)
- Application system: Brandon University
- Program URL: https://www.brandonu.ca/future-students/programs/degrees/nursing/
- Accredited: Yes
Admission Requirements
GPA
- Minimum GPA: 2.5 overall in pre-nursing courses; C minimum in each course
- Competitive GPA (if known): Not published. 60 seats – likely competitive well above 2.5.
- GPA calculated on: Year 1 pre-nursing courses (9 courses, 30 credit hours)
- Number of credits in GPA window: 30 credit hours (9 courses). Complete reset – only pre-nursing courses count.
- GPA scale used: 4.0 (Brandon University scale)
- Do post-degree upgrading courses count? The pre-nursing courses ARE the GPA window. Previous post-secondary work is not factored into admission GPA.
- “Entire record” caveat? No – only pre-nursing courses
Prerequisites (Pre-Nursing Year 1 Courses)
| Course | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Anatomy & Physiology I & II (15.171/15.172) | 6 | |
| English 100+ level or 71.101 Critical Inquiry | 3 | |
| Medical Microbiology (15.264) | 3 | |
| Statistics | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Foundations for Professional Self (71.156) | 3 | Nursing-specific |
| Health Promotion Across the Lifespan (71.155) | 3 | Nursing-specific |
| Nutrition and Health Promotion (71.153) | 3 | Nursing-specific |
Total: 9 courses, 30 credit hours
High school prerequisites for Pre-Nursing entry: Grade 12 English; Biology 40S highly recommended (prerequisite for A&P); Math 40S Pre-Calculus or Applied highly recommended (prerequisite for Statistics).
CASPer
Required – 30% of admission score. CASPer is an “online, open-response situational judgment test that measures different competencies and attributes that are believed to be important for successful students and graduates of the program.”
- Weight: 30% of total admission score
- Academic weight: 70% (pre-nursing GPA)
For SpaceCat: At 30% weighting, a very high CASPer score provides substantial advantage. Combined with a fresh GPA reset via pre-nursing courses, this is a strong combination.
Supplementary Requirements
- Interview: Not required
- Personal statement: Not required
- Age requirement: Must be 18 by application deadline (May 1)
- Indigenous course: University-level Indigenous course required
- Criminal record check: Vulnerable Sector Check within 6 months
- Abuse registry checks: Manitoba Child and Adult Abuse Registry Checks within 6 months
How Applications Are Evaluated
- Admission model: Competitive, formula-based ranking
- Published formula: 70% pre-nursing GPA + 30% CASPer score
- GPA cutoff: 2.5 minimum; C in each course
- Capacity: 60 seats per year
Equity Seats
“Seats reserved for Indigenous graduates, Indigenous applicants, and applicants of Color per equity commitment.” Exact numbers not published.
The Key Question: BA Holder with Strong HS Marks
SpaceCat’s BA and previous university GPA are effectively irrelevant. Admission is based on: 1. Pre-nursing course GPA (70%) – these are taken fresh in Year 1 2. CASPer (30%) – SpaceCat’s high score is a major advantage
Her HS marks are only relevant for meeting prerequisites to enter Pre-Nursing (Grade 12 English, Bio, Math). Her BA GPA does not factor into the admission formula. She gets a complete academic reset.
Transfer credit from other universities is evaluated individually – some of the pre-nursing courses (A&P, Stats, English, electives) might be covered by prior coursework, though nursing-specific courses (71.153, 71.155, 71.156) would need to be taken at Brandon.
Key question to confirm: Can SpaceCat transfer in some pre-nursing courses from her BA, or must she complete all 9 at Brandon? If transferred courses are included in the GPA calculation, her BA grades could factor in. If only Brandon courses count, she gets a pure reset.
Out-of-Province Considerations
- Residency restrictions or quotas: None found
- Out-of-province tuition differential: Not specified. Manitoba universities generally charge same domestic tuition.
- Equity seats: Reserved for Indigenous graduates, Indigenous applicants, and applicants of Color
No residency restrictions found on the admissions page. Source
Cost
- Tuition (total program, approximate): Not published on admission page. Brandon University domestic tuition ~$5,000-$6,000/year.
Competitiveness
- Cohort size: 60 seats
- Acceptance rate: Not published
- Competitive GPA ranges: Not published; minimum 2.5
Licensing & Career Path
- Licensing exam: NCLEX-RN
- Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes
Information Not Found
- Exact competitive admission GPA
- Whether transferred pre-nursing courses are included in GPA calculation
- Exact number of equity seats
- Whether degree holders face any restrictions
- Whether pre-nursing courses can be taken at other Manitoba institutions
Contact: Faculty of Health Studies – healthstudies@brandonu.ca; (204) 727-7409; Transfer credit: Tracey Collyer – collyert@brandonu.ca; (204) 571-8567
Sources
- Admission page: Brandon BN Admission
- Program page: Brandon BN
- Degree planning guide: BN Degree Guide
- Transfer credit: Transfer Credit & Prior Learning
- CASPer info: Acuity Insights PDF