Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – University of Saskatchewan
SpaceCat Fit Notes
- CASPer: Required – 40% weighting. The admission formula is 60% academics + 40% CASPer (called “situational judgement test”). This is the highest CASPer weighting found so far among standard BSN programs. Major advantage for SpaceCat. details
- GPA window & upgrading strategy: GPA calculated on 10 specific pre-professional courses (30 credit units). This is a defined, resettable window – SpaceCat would need to complete these specific courses, not just any courses. Minimum 60% average required; competitive average is “normally higher.” Grade replacement allowed: “if you repeat a course, the highest mark will be used.” details
- Experiential / written advantage: None beyond CASPer. details
- Out-of-province: No Saskatchewan residency restriction found. details
- Overall assessment: Strong fit — Potentially one of the best options. The 60/40 academic/CASPer split is exceptional. SpaceCat’s very high CASPer score carries 40% of her admission score. She only needs to do well in 10 specific pre-professional courses (the other 60%). Grade replacement means she can retake any course and only the highest mark counts. The pre-professional year functions as a complete GPA reset since only those 10 specific courses matter. Her BA GPA is irrelevant. The catch: she must relocate to Saskatchewan for Year 1 (pre-professional year) and then Years 2-4. BUT the 40% CASPer weight is an enormous advantage.
Quick Facts
- Institution: University of Saskatchewan
- Program name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Degree granted: BSN
- City, Province: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Program type: Standard (4-year)
- Duration: 4 years (1 year pre-professional + 3 years nursing)
- 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): Check admissions.usask.ca – early admission (Jan 15 CASPer deadline) and regular admission (June 1 CASPer deadline)
- Application system: USask online application
- Program URL: https://programs.usask.ca/nursing/bsn/index.php
- Accredited: Yes – CASN accredited
Admission Requirements
GPA
- Minimum GPA: 60% weighted average on pre-professional courses
- Competitive GPA (if known): “The average for admission to Year 2 is normally higher than 60%” – exact competitive average not published
- GPA calculated on: 10 specific pre-professional courses (30 credit units) – see prerequisite list below
- Number of credits in GPA window: 30 credit units (10 courses). This is a defined course list, not a “most recent” window.
- GPA scale used: Percentage (weighted average)
- Do post-degree upgrading courses count? Yes – the pre-professional courses ARE the GPA window. SpaceCat would take these specific courses.
- Grade replacement: “If you repeat a course, the highest mark will be used to calculate your average” – very favorable for upgrading
- “Entire record” caveat? No – only the 10 pre-professional courses count
Prerequisites (Pre-Professional Year Courses)
All 10 courses must be completed (30 credit units total):
| Course | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 120.3 | 3 | Biology |
| NUTR 120.3 | 3 | Nutrition |
| PSY 120.3 or PSY 121.3 | 3 | Psychology |
| SOC 112.3 | 3 | Sociology |
| INDG 107.3 or HIST 195.3 | 3 | Indigenous Studies or History |
| NURS 120.3 | 3 | Introduction to Nursing |
| English or Philosophy option | 3 | From approved list |
| Statistics course | 3 | From approved list |
| Unrestricted elective (Humanities) | 3 | |
| Unrestricted elective (Social Sciences) | 3 |
Minimum 60% weighted average across all 10 courses.
For Ontario applicants: These would likely need to be taken at USask or at an institution with transfer agreements. NURS 120.3 may only be available at USask.
CASPer
Required – 40% of admission score. The “situational judgement test” (CASPer) assesses: communication, collaboration, equity, professionalism, problem-solving, empathy, motivation, and ethics.
- CASPer deadlines: January 15 (early admission); June 1 (regular admission)
- Weight: 40% of total admission score
- Academic weight: 60% of total admission score
For SpaceCat: This is exceptional. At 40% weighting, a very high CASPer score could compensate substantially for a less-than-stellar academic average. If SpaceCat scores in the top quartile on CASPer, she effectively gets a massive boost. Combined with grade replacement on pre-professional courses, this program is highly forgiving of past academic weakness.
Supplementary Requirements
- Interview: Not required
- Personal statement: Not required
- Other: English language proficiency (if applicable); Indigenous verification (for designated seats)
How Applications Are Evaluated
- Admission model: Competitive, formula-based ranking
- Published formula: 60% pre-professional course average + 40% CASPer score
- GPA cutoff: 60% minimum (competitive is higher)
- Grade replacement: Highest mark used for repeated courses
The Key Question: BA Holder with Strong HS Marks
SpaceCat’s BA and previous university GPA are effectively irrelevant. Admission is based entirely on 10 specific pre-professional courses + CASPer. She would need to: 1. Complete the 10 pre-professional courses (likely at USask, since NURS 120.3 is USask-specific) 2. Achieve a competitive average (well above 60%) 3. Score well on CASPer (which she already does)
Her HS marks are not used. Her BA GPA is not used. Only the 10 pre-professional courses + CASPer matter. Grade replacement allows retaking any weak courses. The 40% CASPer weight is a huge advantage.
The main barrier: She likely needs to move to Saskatoon for the pre-professional year to take NURS 120.3. Minimum 60% of total credits and 63 credit units in Years 2-4 must be at USask.
Out-of-Province Considerations
- Residency restrictions or quotas: None found
- Out-of-province tuition differential: USask charges differential international rates but same domestic tuition for all Canadians
- Equity seats: Indigenous designated seats available
No residency restrictions found on the admissions page. Source
Cost
- Tuition (total program, approximate): Not published on this page. USask domestic undergraduate tuition ~$7,000-$8,000/year.
Competitiveness
- Cohort size: Not published
- Acceptance rate: Not published
- Competitive average: “Normally higher than 60%” – likely 75%+ based on similar programs
Licensing & Career Path
- Licensing exam: NCLEX-RN
- Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes
Information Not Found
- Exact competitive admission average
- Whether pre-professional courses can be completed at other institutions (particularly NURS 120.3)
- Cohort size
- Whether degree holders are explicitly eligible or are routed to PDBSN
Contact: College of Nursing – nursing.admissions@usask.ca; Admissions – admissions@usask.ca
Sources
- Admissions page: USask Nursing Admissions
- Program catalogue: USask BSN
- College of Nursing: USask Nursing