FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions for Bachelor of Science in Nursing
What is the Learn and Stay Grant?
The Ontario government has announced that students who enroll in select health care programs will be eligible for free tuition through the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant. To be eligible, you must successfully apply and enrol in the program and be a resident of Ontario who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person.
This is a limited initiative, but eligible Bachelor of Science in Nursing students who enroll in the BSc.N program at the Pembroke Campus for the Fall 2023 intake can take advantage of the grant.
You can learn more about the Learn and Stay Grant here.
What are the minimum averages and prerequisite courses needed for the program?
You must have an Ontario high school diploma with at least six 4U-4M or DU-level courses to be eligible for admission to the first year of university. Please note:
- All the courses that are prerequisites for the program must be 4U-level courses unless otherwise indicated.
- The University of Ottawa uses your top six interim or final grades in 4U, 4M, or DU courses, including the prerequisites for your chosen program, to calculate your admission average.
- Please note that the requirements listed on the University of Ottawa Undergraduate Admissions page (under Health Sciences, please review Nursing) are minimum requirements only and are subject to change. Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
How do students register for uOttawa courses?
Students who have been admitted to the collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program make their class selections using the Class Search Tool.
Where do students find the BScN Course Sequence?
Students can find this by visiting the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Health Sciences website and clicking on the Pembroke Campus link under the Bachelor of Science In Nursing category.
Where do students find information on paying tuition?
Students can find this on the University of Ottawa’s Tuition Fees webpage.
Do I pay student fees to both uOttawa & Algonquin College, Pembroke Campus?
No, you only pay one set of student fees to the Pembroke Campus of Algonquin College. Through a partnership with the University of Ottawa, the University collects tuition fees only for Bachelor of Science in Nursing students who study at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus. All student activity fees, including a health services fee, are paid by students to Algonquin College. Student activity fees for the fall term are normally due by September 30 and by January 31 for the winter term.
By paying student activity fees to the college, Nursing students can access all services provided by the Algonquin College Students’ Association, such as the campus fitness centre, gymnasium, rock climbing wall, student government, field trip funding, club funding, etc.
What types of materials do I need to purchase outside of my textbooks in preparation for the fall semester?
All BScN students in their 2nd through 4th year are required to purchase a nursing lab kit. This can be done through the Pembroke Campus Proud Shop.
Do I need to purchase scrubs for the first year?
No – scrubs will not be needed until 2nd year.
Will I have an Academic Advisor?
Yes. At the Pembroke Campus, your Academic Advisor will be Frank Christinck, christf@algonquincollege.com or 613-735-4700 x2883. You also have an Academic Advisor at the University of Ottawa, Aline Winters, healthsc@uottawa.ca.
Does the Pembroke Campus have a Residence?
The Pembroke Campus does not currently have a student residence; however, students are able to secure housing in the local area surrounding the campus. There are also five privately owned and operated student residences in our community. These complexes and other housing opportunities can be found on our Pembroke Housing List.
How does the whole collaboration thing work?
The University of Ottawa and Algonquin College have partnered to meet the demand for RNs in the province by enabling more students to train in more areas. Students who attend the Pembroke Campus receive the same training that a student would receive at the University’s main campus, and when they graduate they receive a degree from the University. Algonquin College is simply the deliverer of the program. This program made MacLean’s magazine’s ranking of top Best Nursing Universities in Canada. Read MacLean’s article.
Nursing students learn how to put in IV’s in the Faculty of Nursing clinical learning and simulation lab on campus at the University of Manitoba. (Photograph by Marianne Helm)
Do students complete all four years in Pembroke?
Yes. Students who begin the BScN program complete all four years at the Pembroke Campus. However, some specialized clinical placements do occur outside of Renfrew County.
Once I have completed the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program do I have to complete the Nursing Registration Exam?
Yes. The Nursing Registration Exam is overseen by The College of Nurses of Ontario (the College) is the regulatory body for nursing in Ontario. Its mission is to regulate nursing in the public interest. The College sets the requirements for becoming a nurse in Ontario and the standards of practice that must be met to maintain that designation. Only a person with a valid Certificate of Registration from the College can practise as a nurse in Ontario and use the protected titles nurse Registered Nurse (RN). Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the Pembroke Campus have a pass rate of 100% in 2016, 86.4% in 2017, 93.9% in 2018, and 96.4% in 2019 the Nursing Registration Exam and have maintained a similar high standard for many years. Source: see page 14 of the most recent Provincial Exam Results.
What happens if I do not successfully pass my Nursing Registration Exam?
As of January 9, 2017, students writing the NCLEX-RN exam will no longer have a limit as to how many times it can be written, so if you are unsuccessful in your first attempt you are able to rewrite the exam again.