Nursing (MScN)
Overview
The Master of Science in Nursing (MScN) program focuses on professional practice leadership and will prepare graduates to contribute to an increasingly complex health-care sector by providing an education that includes mentorship, interdisciplinary opportunities and experiential learning through research, project and class assignments. The Master of Science in Nursing (MScN) program focuses on professional practice leadership and will prepare graduates to contribute to an increasingly complex health-care sector by providing an education that includes mentorship, interdisciplinary opportunities and experiential learning through research, project and class assignments. Professional practice leaders are responsible for ensuring and implementing expert practice, the facilitation of professional development, research and providing leadership; they are often charged with quality assurance and safety as well and the program is designed to develop expertise in these areas.
This program is offered collaboratively with Trent University.
Admissions
Admissions
Applicants with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree (or equivalent):
- Hold a four-year BScN (Hons) or equivalent from a recognized institution.
- Minimum overall academic standing of a B (GPA: 3.0 on a 4.3 scale or 73 to 76 per cent), with a minimum B average in the last two full-time years (four semesters) of undergraduate work or equivalent.
- Registration as a Registered Nurse in good standing with the licensing body in the province in which you work (i.e., In Ontario this would be the College of Nurses of Ontario).
Applicants with RN designation and experience:
- Registered Nurse with 10 or more years of experience.
- Registration as a Registered Nurse in good standing with the licensing body in the province in which you work (i.e., In Ontario this would be the College of Nurses of Ontario).
- Candidates will be required to have completed the academic equivalent of the following university-level courses with a minimum weighted average of 80 per cent across the three courses: NURS 1420U or NURS 2420U, HLSC 3910U, and HLSC 1701U. Candidates may apply for course equivalency and/or recognition of experience through a Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition – PLAR – process. For more information on this process, please contact the Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Program office.
Required test scores for English language proficiency:
See for the minimum required test scores for this program.
Spring/Summer 2025 applications must be received by January 15 and supporting documents must be uploaded to the Applicant Portal by February 1. Applicants are strongly encouraged to start the application process well in advance of these deadlines.
Please see for additional information.
Applications for admission to all graduate studies programs are submitted online. There are five steps you must go through to complete the application process. See for step-by-step instructions.
Many of our graduate programs are extremely competitive; the number of qualified applicants normally exceeds the number of seats available for each intake. Satisfaction of minimum entry requirements does not ensure admission.
Research areas
Health and Nursing Informatics:
- Simulation and education for health-care professionals
- Technology in nursing practice
- Health-care technology
- Nursing as a Profession:
- Nursing education and curriculum
- Nursing theory
- Nursing leadership
Population and Topic-specific:
- Breastfeeding
- Chronic disease
- Oncology
- Palliative care
- Intellectual disability
- Sleep
- Child and adolescent health
- Mental health
- Gender and health
- Gerontology and aging
Health Care and Nursing:
- Health policy
- Community health
- Public health
- Community engagement
- Program evaluation
- Health inequities and inequality
- Social inclusion
Learn more about the research areas within this program and find research experts by visiting the and the university's Expert Centre .
Additional information
Sample courses:
- Advancing Nursing through Leadership
- Applied Biostatistics in Health Sciences
- Health and Public Policy
- Informatics for Nursing and Health Sciences
- Philosophy of Nursing Science
- Program Evaluation for Health-care Leaders
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Research Approaches for Nursing and Health Sciences
Internal awards and funding
Applicants to research-based graduate programs who are studying full-time are automatically considered for some types of funding at the time of admission.
Types of funding that do not require an application:
- Entrance scholarships
- Minimum funding packages
- Teaching assistantships, research assistantships and graduate research assistantships
For more details on the above funding opportunities, see .
Please note: Part-time students are not eligible for the above funding opportunities.
External awards and funding
Graduate program applicants are encouraged to apply for to help finance their education. The application process differs for each competition, so review the information carefully to determine where and when you must apply. Please note: The majority of these awards are for domestic or permanent residents only.
Tuition fees for graduate programs are charged on a flat-fee or fee-per-credit basis and vary by program and student status.
For current, specific fees and details on flat-fee versus fee-per-credit programs, please see .
Contact the program:
Faculty of Health Sciences
905.721.3166
FHSc-GraduateStudies@ontariotechu.ca
Contact the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies:
905.721.8668 ext. 6209
gradstudies@ontariotechu.ca
