Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) – Cambrian College

SpaceCat Fit Notes

1. CASPer: Not required. No supplementary application components. details
2. GPA window & upgrading strategy: Grade 12 U/M marks are the primary evaluation (75% overall, 75% minimum not required per course but 75% overall across six Grade 12 courses). No published policy on how a BA holder is evaluated vs. high school applicants. Mature student status may apply (OSSD equivalent or mature student). details
3. Experiential / written advantage: None – entirely grades-based; no essays, interview, or supplementary application. details
4. Out-of-province: Open to all Canadian applicants via OCAS; no provincial restrictions; no tuition differential. details
5. Overall assessment: Moderate fit – Like the other Ontario college standalone BScN programs, Cambrian is a first-entry program based on Grade 12 marks. SpaceCat’s strong high school marks are the primary asset here. THE KEY QUESTION: Cambrian does not publish how it evaluates applicants who hold a BA. The program requires OSSD or equivalent or mature student status, plus six Grade 12 U/M courses at 75% overall. If SpaceCat can apply based on her high school marks (mature student or otherwise), her strong HS grades should be competitive. However, there is no explicit confirmation that a BA holder’s university transcript is ignored or that HS marks remain primary. Transfer credit policy requires 60% minimum in transferred courses and courses within 5 years. The absence of CASPer means SpaceCat’s strongest non-academic asset cannot help. Needs direct confirmation from admissions on how a BA holder is classified.

Quick Facts

• Institution: Cambrian College
• Program name: Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)
• Degree granted: BScN
• City, Province: Sudbury, Ontario
• Program type: Standard (4-year first-entry)
• Duration: 4 years (8 semesters)
• Delivery format: In-person
• Full-time / Part-time: Full-time only
• Language of instruction: English
• Start date(s): Fall (September)
• Intake frequency: Annual
• Application deadline(s): February 1 (equal consideration via OCAS)
• Application system: ontariocolleges.ca (OCAS)
• Program URL: https://cambriancollege.ca/programs/honours-bachelor-of-science-in-nursing
• Accredited: Limited enrollment; CNO approval status not specified on program page

Admission Requirements

GPA

• Minimum GPA: 75% overall average across six Grade 12 U/M courses
• Competitive GPA (if known): Not published. Program is described as “limited and highly competitive.”
• GPA calculated on: Grade 12 U/M courses (six courses). No separate published GPA window for post-secondary applicants.
• Number of credits in GPA window: Six Grade 12 U/M courses
• GPA scale used: Percentage
• Do post-degree upgrading courses count? Not stated for admission ranking. Transfer credit policy: “courses completed within the past 5 years” considered for transfer credit, minimum 60%.
• Are online/summer/part-time courses included in GPA? Not stated
• “Entire record” caveat? Not stated – but all post-secondary enrolment may need to be disclosed (as is standard at Ontario colleges)
• Can applicants explain/contextualize a low GPA? No – no supplementary components

Prerequisites

75% overall average across all six courses is required.

Prereq source URL: https://cambriancollege.ca/programs/honours-bachelor-of-science-in-nursing

Prior Degree Requirement

• Minimum credits / degree required: None. First-entry program.
• Completed degree required? No
• Degree field restrictions: N/A

CASPer

Not required. CASPer is not mentioned anywhere on Cambrian’s BScN admission page.

Supplementary Requirements

• Interview: Not required
• Personal statement / written component: Not required
• Resume / CV: Not required
• References: Not required
• Other: Current BLS/HCP CPR, Standard First Aid, Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Check, immunizations, WHMIS, AODA, Bill 18

How Applications Are Evaluated

• Admission model: Grades-based ranking on Grade 12 U/M marks
• Published formula: None
• GPA cutoff before other components? N/A – no other components

Mature Student Pathway

The OCAS system recognizes mature student status as an alternative to OSSD. Cambrian states applicants need “OSSD or equivalent, or mature student status.” No further detail is provided on the program page about mature student criteria specific to the BScN. Standard OCAS mature student policy: 19+ years old, no OSSD, meet program-specific course requirements.

For SpaceCat: The key question is whether a BA holder can be classified as a mature student (using only high school marks for ranking) rather than being evaluated on her university transcript. This is not addressed on the program page and requires direct confirmation from Cambrian admissions.

The Key Question: BA Holder with Strong HS Marks

Cambrian does not explicitly address how a BA holder is evaluated. The published requirements reference Grade 12 courses. The practical nursing bridge pathway is the only post-secondary pathway mentioned. There is no “post-secondary applicant” category with a separate GPA threshold (unlike Sault College). This ambiguity could be either positive (HS marks are all they look at) or negative (they may pull the university transcript and factor it in). Must confirm directly with admissions.

Out-of-Province Considerations

• Residency restrictions or quotas: None found. OCAS open to all Canadian residents.
• Out-of-province tuition differential: Ontario colleges do not charge differential domestic tuition by province.

No residency restrictions found on the admissions page. Source

Cost

• Tuition (total program, approximate): ~$31,500 domestic (estimated: ~$7,885/year x 4 years)
• Per-year domestic (2025-2026): ~$7,885 (Canadian students: $7,884.78 first year estimate)
• Additional fees: BLS/HCP CPR, First Aid, immunizations, Criminal Record Check, uniforms

Competitiveness

• Cohort size: Not published. Limited enrollment.
• Acceptance rate: Not published
• Number of applicants: Not published

Fieldwork / Clinical / Practicum

• Placements guaranteed? Yes (built into curriculum)
• Total required hours: Not published as a single number
• Placement settings / locations: Sudbury region

Licensing & Career Path

• Licensing exam: NCLEX-RN
• Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes, upon passing NCLEX-RN

Information Not Found

• How exactly does Cambrian evaluate applicants with a prior university degree? Is the university transcript used for ranking, or only Grade 12 marks?
• Can a BA holder qualify as a mature student and be ranked solely on Grade 12 marks?
• Competitive GPA/average cutoff
• Cohort size
• CASN accreditation status
• Whether science/math prerequisites have a recency requirement (as at Georgian: 5 years)

Contact: Cambrian College Admissions – (705) 566-8101; admissions@cambriancollege.ca

Sources

• Official program page: Cambrian College Honours BScN
• Transfer credit policy: Cambrian Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing
• Third-party: PEQAB Submission (PDF)