Nursing programs for international students in Canada: admission, tuition, licensing and PGWP

Can international students study nursing in Canada?

Yes, but it is harder than most programs. Nursing students must do clinical placements in hospitals. Those places are limited. Provinces fund many nursing seats to train nurses for their own health system. As a result, some programs admit only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and refugees.

Two examples, as of October 2026:

• UBC Vancouver (Bachelor of Science in Nursing): the school lists international students under “Who is ineligible to apply”. Only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and people with refugee status may apply. UBC still publishes an international nursing fee ($1,720.94 per credit, or $51,628.20 for 30 credits in 2026/27). A fee on a fee page does not mean you can be admitted.
• Conestoga College (Practical Nursing diploma, Ontario): international students are not admitted directly. They must first complete the Pre-Health Sciences pathway, and Conestoga says admission after it is not guaranteed.

Before you pay any application fee, find the program’s admission page and look for a line about international or “visa” students.

What kinds of nursing programs are there?

Second-entry programs ask for earlier university study. For example, UBC asks for at least 48 transferable credits outside nursing, and U of T’s program is an accelerated 2-year degree. The Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) is the national accrediting body for nursing education. Ask whether your program is accredited and approved by the regulator in that province.

How much does nursing cost for international students?

Real 2026-27 numbers from school fee pages:

At U of T, the international program fee ($53,610) is about 6.4 times the domestic program fee ($8,350). The two international years add up to $114,009.16 before rent, books, clinical costs and health insurance.

For averages by province, see tuition fees in Canada. Nursing programs also have costs that other programs do not: uniforms, a police record check, immunization records and CPR training. Schools do not always list these on the tuition page. Budget for them using our hidden costs checklist.

How do I become a licensed nurse after I graduate?

A nursing degree or diploma is not a licence. Each province has a regulator (a “college”) that registers nurses. Here is how three large provinces work as of October 2026:

In Quebec, the OIIQ says French is considered sufficient if you studied full-time in French for at least three years at secondary or post-secondary level. Otherwise you take the French exam of the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF). For applicants who graduated outside Quebec, the OIIQ can issue a temporary permit valid for one year while they wait to pass the French exam. With OQLF approval, it can be renewed three times.

If your credential is from another country, the path is different. See find your regulator and credential recognition.

Does a nursing program qualify for a PGWP?

The post-graduation work permit (PGWP) lets you work in Canada after you graduate. Since November 1, 2024, many college programs must be in an eligible field of study. IRCC’s rules as of October 2026:

• Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees are exempt from the field of study requirement. A BScN or BSN from an eligible school qualifies on this point.
• College diplomas must be in an eligible field. IRCC’s list includes registered nursing (CIP 51.3801) and licensed practical or vocational nursing (CIP 51.3901). Check the dates shown next to each code on IRCC’s table.
• IRCC says it will not add or remove fields during 2026.

Your program must also meet the other PGWP rules, such as length and school eligibility. Try the PGWP eligibility checker.

Spouse work permits

Since January 21, 2025, a spouse or common-law partner can get an open work permit only in some cases. IRCC’s list includes students in certain professional degree programs, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN), Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) or Bachelor of Nursing (BN). Master’s programs of 16 months or longer and doctoral programs also qualify.

Can nursing help me get permanent residence?

Express Entry has category-based draws for healthcare and social services occupations. IRCC’s 2026 list includes registered nurses (NOC 31301), licensed practical nurses (NOC 32101) and nurse aides (NOC 33102).

To be eligible for that category, IRCC says you need at least 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible job. Part-time work can count if it adds up to the same amount. The experience must be within the past 3 years. Check IRCC’s rules on which work experience counts before you plan around this category. IRCC does not publish a schedule of future draws.

Read study permit to permanent residence for the full path.

Checklist before you apply to a nursing program

1. Confirm the program admits international students (admissions page, not the fee page).
2. Check it is approved by the nursing regulator in that province and ask about CASN accreditation.
3. Ask how many seats are open to international applicants and what the prerequisites are.
4. Ask for a list of clinical placement costs: uniforms, police check, immunizations, CPR.
5. Check the language requirement for the licence, especially in Quebec.
6. For a college diploma, check the CIP code against IRCC’s PGWP field of study list.

Common questions

Sources

• UBC School of Nursing: BSN admission requirements
• UBC: Undergraduate tuition fees 2026/27
• University of Toronto, Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing: Tuition and fees 2026-2027
• Conestoga College: Practical Nursing program
• College of Nurses of Ontario: Ontario nursing graduates
• BC College of Nurses and Midwives: NCLEX-RN exam
• OIIQ: Connaissance de la langue française
• CASN: Accreditation
• IRCC: PGWP field of study requirement
• IRCC: Open work permits for spouses of students
• IRCC: Express Entry category-based selection

Checked against these sources on October 10, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.