Bachelor of Nursing (BN) – University of Lethbridge
SpaceCat Fit Notes
- CASPer: Not required for the 4-year BN. CASPer is required only for the After Degree (BNAD) program. No CASPer advantage for SpaceCat in this program. details
- GPA window & upgrading strategy: The 4-year BN ranks applicants on 5 high school courses (English 30-1, Bio 30, Chem 30, Math 30-1/30-2, plus one additional 30-level course). Minimum 65% average. Post-secondary applicants appear to be evaluated the same way – via HS prerequisites. No separate post-secondary GPA pathway identified for the standard BN. details
- Experiential / written advantage: For applicants with healthcare experience: letter of intent, employer reference, and resume may be considered. details
- Out-of-province: No Alberta residency restriction. Post-secondary transfer admission requires 6+ transferable courses with min 2.0 GPA for general university admission. details
- Overall assessment: Reach — The 4-year BN appears to evaluate ALL applicants on high school marks (5 courses), with no separate post-secondary GPA window. SpaceCat’s strong HS marks could theoretically be useful here, but competitive averages are likely high. No CASPer means no advantage from her strong CASPer score. The Nursing Preparation Program (NPP) exists to help non-competitive applicants retake/improve prerequisite courses, but these are HS-equivalent courses, not a post-secondary GPA reset. The After Degree (BNAD) program would be a better fit for SpaceCat – it uses CASPer + GPA on most recent 17 university courses – but that’s a separate program.
Quick Facts
- Institution: University of Lethbridge
- Program name: Bachelor of Nursing (BN)
- Degree granted: BN
- City, Province: Lethbridge, Alberta
- Program type: Standard (4-year, 40 courses)
- 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): April 1 (admission decisions); June 15 (final documents)
- Application system: ApplyAlberta
- Program URL: https://www.ulethbridge.ca/future-student/program/nursing
- Accredited: Yes
Admission Requirements
GPA
- Minimum GPA: 65% average on the five required courses
- Competitive GPA (if known): Historical competitive cut-offs exist but are not published online
- GPA calculated on: Five high school courses: English Language Arts 30-1, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2, and one additional 30-level course
- Number of credits in GPA window: 5 high school courses (for all applicants including those with post-secondary)
- GPA scale used: Percentage
- Do post-degree upgrading courses count? The NPP allows students to take university-level equivalents of HS prerequisites to improve competitiveness, suggesting upgraded HS-equivalent grades may count
- “Entire record” caveat? No – only 5 specific courses
Prerequisites
| Course | Required / Recommended | Min Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language Arts 30-1 | Required | 60% minimum in English | |
| Biology 30 | Required | Part of 65% average | |
| Chemistry 30 | Required | Part of 65% average | |
| Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2 | Required | Part of 65% average | |
| One additional 30-level course | Required | Part of 65% average | Highest eligible 5-credit 30-level course |
CASPer
Not required for the 4-year BN program. CASPer is required only for the BN After Degree (BNAD) program, where it is combined with GPA on the most recent 17 university-level courses.
Supplementary Requirements
- Interview: Not required for standard applicants
- Personal statement/Letter of intent: For exceptional candidates with healthcare experience only
- Resume: For healthcare experience candidates
- SELP meeting: Spoken English Language Proficiency meeting required
How Applications Are Evaluated
- Admission model: Competitive, ranked on 5 HS course average
- Published formula: Average of 5 specified courses
- GPA cutoff: 65% minimum average
The Key Question: BA Holder with Strong HS Marks
The 4-year BN appears to evaluate all applicants – including those with post-secondary education – on their high school prerequisites. SpaceCat’s strong HS marks could work in her favor IF those 5 specific courses (English, Bio, Chem, Math, + one more) are strong. However: - No CASPer advantage - Competitive averages are likely significantly above 65% - Degree holders “may choose to complete either the Bachelor of Nursing After Degree program, or the 40-course Bachelor of Nursing program” – meaning SpaceCat IS eligible for the standard BN - The NPP allows retaking HS-equivalent courses at university level to improve competitiveness
The BNAD (After Degree) would be a stronger fit since it uses CASPer (30%+ weight) and evaluates the most recent 17 university courses – a resettable window.
Out-of-Province Considerations
- Residency restrictions or quotas: None found
- Out-of-province tuition differential: Not specified; Alberta universities generally charge same domestic tuition
- Equity seats: Not mentioned
No residency restrictions found on the admissions page. Source
Competitiveness
- Cohort size: Not published
- Acceptance rate: Not published
- Competitive GPA ranges: Historical cut-offs exist but not published online. Likely well above 65%.
Licensing & Career Path
- Licensing exam: NCLEX-RN
- Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes
Information Not Found
- Whether post-secondary applicants with degree can use upgraded university-level equivalents of HS courses for ranking
- Exact competitive average ranges
- Cohort size
- Whether the 5-course ranking truly applies to all applicant categories or if post-secondary applicants have a separate stream
Contact: Faculty of Health Sciences Advising – M3083, Markin Hall; Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm; admissions@uleth.ca
Sources
- Program page: ULethbridge Nursing
- BN overview: ULethbridge BN
- NPP: Nursing Preparation Program
- FAQ: Health Sciences FAQ