Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) – Thompson Rivers University
SpaceCat Fit Notes
- CASPer: Required (Acuity Insights/CASPer). Major asset for SpaceCat. details
- GPA window & upgrading strategy: Post-secondary applicants (12+ credits) evaluated on post-secondary GPA only; “last 30 credits” used if over 30 credits completed. This is a resettable window (~10 courses). The 2024 competitive post-secondary GPA was 3.33 (B+/77%). SpaceCat could take 10 courses to fully reset. High school applicants averaged 94% for 2024 intake. details
- Experiential / written advantage: None beyond CASPer – no essays or interviews. details
- Out-of-province: No explicit residency restrictions found. BC public institutions generally do not charge differential domestic tuition. details
- Overall assessment: Moderate fit – TRU is one of the most interesting out-of-province options. THE KEY QUESTION: SpaceCat, with 120+ credits from Dalhousie, would be classified as a post-secondary applicant and ranked on her “last 30 credits.” This means she could take 10 courses (~1 year) to fully reset her admission GPA. The competitive post-secondary GPA was 3.33 (achievable with focused upgrading). CASPer is required, which is a significant asset. HOWEVER: once classified as post-secondary, HS marks are NOT used (“Students will either be ranked in the high school or post-secondary category”). SpaceCat’s strong HS marks would NOT help. The 30-credit window plus CASPer make this a solid moderate fit with ~1 year of upgrading. Kamloops, BC location requires relocation.
Quick Facts
- Institution: Thompson Rivers University
- Program name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)
- Degree granted: BScN
- City, Province: Kamloops, British Columbia (also Williams Lake satellite)
- 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): Fall (September)
- Intake frequency: Annual
- Application deadline(s): January (applications open October 1 for following September)
- Application system: Direct to TRU (EducationPlannerBC)
- Program URL: https://www.tru.ca/nursing/programs/bsn.html
- Accredited: Yes – CASN accredited
Admission Requirements
GPA
- Minimum GPA: Post-secondary: “Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in (up to) the last 30 credits”; High school: 73% minimum in specified courses
- Competitive GPA (if known): Post-secondary: average 3.58, competitive at 3.33 (2024 intake data). High school: average 88%, competitive at 94%.
“On average, the accepted high school student GPA was 94% and 3.33 for post-secondary”
- GPA calculated on: Post-secondary: last 30 credits. High school: specified Grade 12 courses.
- Number of credits in GPA window: 30 credits (~10 courses). At 5 courses/semester = 2 semesters = 1 year to fully reset.
- GPA scale used: 4.33 scale
- Do post-degree upgrading courses count? Yes (strongly implied) – the “last 30 credits” language means any recent post-secondary courses, regardless of degree status, would count.
- Are online/summer/part-time courses included in GPA? Not stated
- “Entire record” caveat? Not stated – appears to be purely the last 30 credits for ranking
- Can applicants explain/contextualize a low GPA? No – no written components
Prerequisites
High school: - English 12 (73% min) - Math (Foundations/Pre-calc) (73% min) - Anatomy & Physiology 12 (73% min) - Chemistry 11 (73% min) - One additional Grade 11/12 Science (73% min)
Post-secondary (1000-level equivalents): - English 1000+ - Biology 1000+ - Social Science 1000+ - Math/Science 1000+ - C+ minimum in specified courses
Prereq source URL: https://www.tru.ca/nursing/programs/bsn/requirements.html
CASPer
Required. All applicants must complete CASPer via Acuity Insights. For Fall 2026 intake, the final test date is Thursday, February 5, 2026. CASPer is “a 100-120 minute online, open response situational judgement test.”
Weight in admission formula not published. However, it is a mandatory component used alongside GPA for admission decisions.
For SpaceCat: CASPer is a significant asset. Her high CASPer score could offset a post-secondary GPA that is below the competitive average.
Supplementary Requirements
- Interview: Not required
- Personal statement: Not required
- Other: Standard clinical pre-placement requirements
How Applications Are Evaluated
- Admission model: Two-stream ranking (HS and post-secondary evaluated separately) plus CASPer
- Published formula: Not published. GPA + CASPer, weights unknown.
- GPA cutoff before other components? 3.0 minimum appears to be a threshold, then ranking includes CASPer.
Mature Student Pathway
“Grade 12 (or equivalent) or mature student status” is accepted. No further details on the BSN-specific page.
The Key Question: BA Holder with Strong HS Marks
SpaceCat would be classified as a post-secondary applicant (120+ credits from Dalhousie). Her HS marks would NOT be used – only her last 30 post-secondary credits. She could take 10 courses to fully reset this window. The competitive GPA of 3.33 is achievable. CASPer provides additional offset. HS marks cannot be primary here.
Out-of-Province Considerations
- Residency restrictions or quotas: None found. TRU appears open to all Canadian applicants.
- Out-of-province tuition differential: BC public institutions generally charge the same domestic tuition for all Canadian citizens/PRs. Specific TRU nursing tuition not found on fee page (directs to estimator tool).
- Additional costs: Books ~$1,000/year, Criminal Record Check $28, Uniforms ~$200, Stethoscope ~$100, NCLEX ~$500
No residency restrictions found on the admissions page. Source
Cost
- Tuition (total program, approximate): Not published as a lump sum. Estimated ~$25,000-$30,000 domestic over 4 years (typical BC university range).
- Additional costs: See above
Competitiveness
- Cohort size: Not published (Kamloops + Williams Lake)
- Acceptance rate: Not published
- Competitive averages (2024 intake): HS: 94% (average 88%); Post-secondary: 3.33 (average 3.58)
Fieldwork / Clinical / Practicum
- Placements guaranteed? Yes (built into curriculum)
- Placement settings / locations: Kamloops and surrounding Interior BC region
Licensing & Career Path
- Licensing exam: NCLEX-RN
- Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes
Information Not Found
- Exact CASPer weight in admission formula
- Whether the 30-credit window includes courses in progress at time of application
- Out-of-province tuition amount (likely same as in-province for domestic students)
- Cohort size
- Whether post-secondary prerequisites can be completed concurrently with upgrading
Contact: TRU School of Nursing – nursing@tru.ca
Sources
- Official program page: TRU BScN
- Admission requirements: TRU BScN Requirements
- FAQ: TRU BScN FAQ
- Fees: TRU BScN Fees
- Application: TRU BScN Apply