BScN (4-Year) — Lakehead University

SpaceCat Fit Notes

CASPer: Not required. No CASPer offset available. details
GPA window: University transfer applicants need 60% overall minimum from university studies. But nursing requires 80% admission average for HS/mature students. UNCLEAR which standard applies to university transfers. details
Experiential: No written/interview components found. Purely grades-based. details
Out-of-province: Ontario resident — no issue. Two campuses (Thunder Bay, Orillia). details
Overall assessment: Moderate fit — Lakehead’s general university transfer minimum is 60%, but the nursing-specific requirement is an 80% admission average (stated for “high school and mature student admits”). Whether this 80% applies to university transfer applicants, and whether it is calculated on university GPA or HS marks, is UNCLEAR. The prerequisite requirements (ENG4U, SBI4U, SCH4U, 4U Math with min 60% each) can be met from HS or post-secondary equivalents. If SpaceCat can be evaluated on upgrading courses at 80%+, this is achievable. Contact admissions to clarify.

⚠️ Program status: Active

Quick Facts

Institution: Lakehead University (School of Nursing)
Program name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) — Four-Year Program
Degree granted: BScN
City, Province: Thunder Bay, Ontario (also Orillia campus)
Program type: Standard 4-year
Duration: 4 years
Delivery format: In-person
Full-time / Part-time: Full-time only
Language of instruction: English
Start date(s): September
Intake frequency: Annual
Application deadline(s): Standard OUAC deadlines. Confirm program-specific deadline.
Application system: OUAC 101 or OUAC 105
Application code: Not confirmed
Program URL: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/programs/departments/nursing/BScN_programs/bscn4-program
Accredited: Yes — CASN (assumed; confirm)

Admission Requirements

GPA

Minimum GPA:
General university transfer: 60% overall average from university studies.
Nursing-specific: “High school and mature student admits are required to achieve an admission average of at least 80%.”

“High school and mature student admits are required to achieve an admission average of at least 80%.”

“All admits must achieve a minimum grade of 60% in each prerequisite course.”

Competitive GPA (if known): 80% minimum stated. Competitive average likely higher given limited enrollment.
GPA calculated on: For university transfer applicants: overall average from university studies (general requirement). The nursing-specific 80% may apply to HS marks or university GPA — this is NOT CLEARLY STATED.
Number of credits in GPA window: Not stated.
GPA scale used: Percentage
Do post-degree upgrading courses count? Not stated.
Are online/summer/part-time courses included in GPA? Not stated.
“Entire record” caveat? Not stated.
Can applicants explain/contextualize a low GPA? Lakehead has an Academic Support Access Program (ASAP) for students whose average falls “slightly below” the required admission average.

Prerequisites

For Ontario high school students and mature/transfer students:

Course	Required / Recommended	Min Grade
ENG4U (English)	Required	60%
SBI4U (Biology)	Required	60%
SCH4U (Chemistry)	Required	60%
One of: MHF4U, MCV4U, or MDM4U (Math)	Required	60%

“Program Specific Requirements for Mature/Transfer Students: English (ENG4U), Biology (SBI4U), Chemistry (SCH4U), 1 from: Advanced Functions (MHF4U), Calculus & Vectors (MCV4U), or Data Management (MDM4U). Other secondary or post-secondary courses that are equivalent to these requirements are accepted.”

SpaceCat could use either her HS prerequisite courses or equivalent university-level courses to satisfy prerequisites.

Prereq source URL: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/studentcentral/applying/general-admission-requirements/returning-lakehead-student/node/43110/domestic/hs/mt?field_uar_programs_tid=2653

Prior Degree Requirement

Minimum credits / degree required: University-level coursework since leaving high school.
Completed degree required? No.
Degree field restrictions: None stated.

CASPer

Not required. CASPer is not mentioned in any Lakehead nursing admission materials.

Supplementary Requirements

Interview: Not mentioned.
Resume / CV: Not required.
References: Not required.
Nursing Consent for Transfer Applicants: Required (mentioned on admissions page). This may be a form confirming understanding of clinical requirements.

Experience Requirement

Required? Not stated.

Written / Personal Components

None found.

How Applications Are Evaluated

Admission model: Academic average-ranked.
Published formula: Not published.
GPA cutoff before other components? N/A — no non-academic components.

Mature Student Pathway

Lakehead has a general mature student category. The same prerequisites and 80% admission average apply. The Academic Support Access Program (ASAP) may provide an alternative entry pathway for students slightly below the required average.

Indigenous Pathways

Indigenous Nursing Entry Program (INEP): Available for Indigenous students who don’t meet standard admission criteria.
Native Nurses Entry: Separate pathway program.

Out-of-Province Considerations

Residency restrictions or quotas: None found.
Out-of-province tuition differential: Not found. SpaceCat is Ontario resident — no issue.

Source

Cost

Tuition (total program, approximate): ~$7,000-$8,000/year Ontario domestic (4 years = ~$28,000-$32,000). Confirm current rates.
Additional fees: Clinical documentation requirements.

Competitiveness

Cohort size: Not published.
Acceptance rate (if known): Not published. “Higher averages may be required for admission to programs in which the demand for places by qualified applicants exceeds the supply of available spaces.”

Reputation & Notes

Two campus options: Thunder Bay and Orillia. Clinical placements in Northern Ontario and Simcoe County settings.
Lakehead also offers a 3-year Compressed BScN for applicants with sufficient university credits — this may be the more appropriate pathway for SpaceCat (similar to Trent’s redirection policy).
Northern Ontario location may qualify for Learn and Stay Grant or other Northern Ontario incentives.

Information Not Found

CRITICAL: Whether the 80% nursing admission average applies to university GPA or HS marks for university transfer applicants
Whether a BA holder is directed to the Compressed program instead of the 4-year
Competitive admission average for university transfer applicants specifically
Whether Lakehead evaluates HS marks or university GPA for 105 applicants
Exact cohort size
Contact: School of Nursing — nursing@lakeheadu.ca
Contact: Student Central — recruit@lakeheadu.ca / tbay@lakeheadu.ca / 807-343-8110