Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program (BScN) – University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)
⚠️ Program status: Active
SpaceCat Fit Notes
- CASPer: Required. Part of a weighted competitive admission process. Weight not published. details
- GPA window & upgrading strategy: “Most recent 60 UNBC or university transferable credit hours” – this is a medium-sized window (~20 courses). SpaceCat’s Dalhousie BA is ~120 credits, so the most recent 60 would be her final 2 years. She could also take new post-degree courses to push older, lower grades out of the window. Minimum B average (~3.0) required. details
- Experiential / written advantage: Statement of interest, resume, two references (one academic, one professional), and rural/remote suitability questionnaire required. SpaceCat’s shelter work is an asset for references and statement. details
- Out-of-province: Open to Canadian citizens/PRs. International applications paused. Northern/rural focus. details
- Overall assessment: Moderate fit – UNBC’s “most recent 60 credits” GPA window is resettable (SpaceCat could take ~20 post-degree courses to fully reset, or her final 2 years at Dalhousie may be adequate). CASPer + statement of interest + resume + references create a multi-factor evaluation that plays to SpaceCat’s strengths. The northern/rural location and focus may be a consideration. This is a 5-semester upper-division program (Years 3-4 of BScN) requiring 60 prior credits plus 24 specific prerequisite credits.
Quick Facts
- Institution: University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)
- Program name: Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program (NBNP)
- Degree granted: BScN
- City, Province: Prince George / Fort St. John, British Columbia
- Program type: Upper-division entry (Years 3-4 of BScN, 5 consecutive semesters)
- Duration: 5 consecutive semesters (~2.5 years)
- Delivery format: In-person with some online content (Moodle). Face-to-face and online teaching.
- Full-time / Part-time: Full-time only
- Language of instruction: English
- Start date(s): September
- Intake frequency: Annual
- Application deadline(s): January 15 (competitive entry deadline). Late applications accepted until February 6, 2026.
- Application system: EducationPlannerBC
- Program URL: https://www.unbc.ca/nursing/northern-baccalaureate-nursing-program
- Accredited: Yes – BCCNM recognized
Admission Requirements
GPA
- Minimum GPA: B average (~3.0) on the most recent 60 university transferable credit hours
- Competitive GPA (if known): Not published. “Fulfillment of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.”
- GPA calculated on: Most recent 60 UNBC or university transferable credit hours, at the undergraduate level.
- Number of credits in GPA window: 60 credits (~20 courses). At 5 courses/semester = 4 semesters = 2 years to fully reset with new courses.
- GPA scale used: 4.33 (UNBC uses A+ = 4.33)
- Do post-degree upgrading courses count? Yes (implied) – the wording is “most recent 60 credit hours” not “from your degree,” suggesting post-degree courses would be included. Confirm with program.
- Are online/summer/part-time courses included in GPA? Not stated. Courses must be “university transferable.”
- “Entire record” caveat? Not stated – appears to be strictly the most recent 60 credits.
- Can applicants explain/contextualize a low GPA? Yes – statement of interest is part of the application.
Prerequisites
Eligibility requires 60 credits total including 24 credit hours of specific pre-admission coursework:
Applicants need EITHER: - A baccalaureate degree including 24 credit hours of specific healthcare-related courses, OR - A minimum of 60 university transferable credits toward a baccalaureate degree, including 24 credit hours of specific pre-admission coursework
Plus: 24 credit hours completed at UNBC or transferable to UNBC at the 200 level or above.
Pre-admission courses must normally be completed within 10 years.
| Requirement | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Specific healthcare-related pre-admission courses | 24 | Exact courses not listed on main page – check UNBC calendar |
| 200-level or above courses | 24 | Must be UNBC courses or transferable to UNBC |
CASPer
Required. CASPer is part of the competitive, criteria-weighted admission process.
CASPer must be completed by January 15 (or February 6 for late applicants). Weight not published.
Supplementary Requirements
- Statement of interest: Required
- Resume: Required
- References: Two required – one academic, one professional
- Rural and remote suitability index questionnaire: Required
- Other: Official transcripts from all institutions
Written / Personal Components
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Statement of interest | Required; content and format not specified on website |
| Resume | Required |
| Rural/remote suitability questionnaire | Required |
| Two reference letters | One academic, one professional |
How Applications Are Evaluated
- Admission model: Competitive, criteria-weighted – multiple components evaluated together.
- Published formula: No weights published. Seven components: application, statement of interest, resume, rural/remote questionnaire, references, transcripts, CASPer.
- Priority for completeness: “Priority will be given to applicants who show evidence of registration for all outstanding courses/or in-progress courses OR have all pre-admission courses completed at the date of application submission.”
The Key Question: BA Holder with Strong HS Marks
SpaceCat’s Dalhousie BA (a baccalaureate degree) meets the degree eligibility requirement. High school marks are not used. The “most recent 60 credits” GPA window means her last ~2 years at Dalhousie would be evaluated. If those final 2 years were stronger than her overall GPA, this is favorable. She could also take post-degree courses to push newer, higher grades into the window. The multi-factor evaluation (CASPer, statement, resume, references) plays to her strengths.
Out-of-Province Considerations
- Residency restrictions or quotas: Open to Canadian citizens/PRs. International applications currently paused.
- Out-of-province tuition differential: UNBC does not charge differential tuition for Canadian students from other provinces.
Cost
- Tuition (total program, approximate): ~$20,000-$25,000 domestic for 5 semesters (estimate). Students must anticipate travel costs for clinical placements.
Competitiveness
- Cohort size: Not published. Two campuses (Prince George and Fort St. John).
- Northern/rural focus: May attract fewer applicants than Lower Mainland programs.
Fieldwork / Clinical / Practicum
- Placements: Clinical, laboratory, and simulation practice experiences throughout the program.
- Settings: Hospital, clinic, and community settings in northern BC.
- Travel: “Students should anticipate travelling for clinical placements, with all associated costs being the responsibility of the student.”
- Focus areas: Medical/surgical, mental health, community health, perinatal, plus specialty focus (rural health, Indigenous health, emergency/trauma, etc.)
Licensing & Career Path
- Licensing exam: NCLEX-RN
- Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes
Reputation & Notes
UNBC’s nursing program has a strong northern and rural health focus. The program is designed for students interested in working in small urban and rural communities. This orientation may be attractive or limiting depending on SpaceCat’s career goals.
Information Not Found
- Exact 24 prerequisite courses required (specific course list)
- Weight of each admission component (CASPer, GPA, statement, etc.)
- Whether post-degree courses explicitly count in the “most recent 60 credits” (strongly implied but not confirmed)
- Competitive GPA cutoff
- Exact cohort size per campus
Contact: UNBC Student Recruitment – futurestudents@unbc.ca / 250-960-6306
Sources
- Official program page: UNBC NBNP
- UNBC Nursing calendar: UNBC Calendar - Nursing
- UNBC undergraduate FAQ: UNBC Nursing FAQ
- EducationPlannerBC: UNBC NBNP on EPBC