George Brown College's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honours), delivered through the Waterfront Campus's dedicated health-sciences simulation labs, is one of the college's flagship degree programs and a genuinely strong PGWP (Post-Graduation Work Permit) bet: as an honours Bachelor's degree, it sits outside IRCC's 2024 field-of-study restriction that now limits which diploma and certificate programs qualify for a post-study work permit. For international applicants targeting healthcare in Canada, that combination, a four-year honours degree at a downtown Toronto polytechnic ranked Canada's #1 research college, plus healthcare's inclusion on IRCC's priority sector list, makes this one of the more strategically sound nursing pathways among Ontario's colleges.
This guide walks through what it takes to get into George Brown's BScN (Honours): admission realities, cost, requirements, English-test rules, and what graduates go on to do.
Acceptance Rate
George Brown College does not publish an official acceptance rate for its Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or for any program. Admission works differently from a percentage-based competitive process:
- Admission is rolling and capacity-based through the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS): applications are accepted until the program's seats are filled, then that intake closes.
- This makes George Brown considerably more accessible in structure than a fixed-percentage admit process, but Nursing is one of George Brown's most in-demand Health Sciences programs and frequently fills before any formal deadline, so applying early matters more here than it would for a less popular program.
- Nursing also typically sets a higher English-proficiency bar than George Brown's general diploma/degree minimums, given clinical placement and regulatory-body expectations, which functions as an additional selection filter beyond seat availability alone.
Bottom line: treat George Brown Nursing as accessible in process but genuinely competitive in practice, given how quickly its Health Sciences intakes close relative to other programs.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Based on George Brown's published cost data for its honours Bachelor's degree programs (which include the BScN):
| Cost Item | Amount (CAD/year) |
|---|---|
| Tuition (international) | $18,475 |
| Living expenses (Toronto) | $16,500 |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | $34,975 |
The BScN (Honours) is a four-year program, so total program cost before any funding runs roughly CAD $140,000 across the full degree, dominated by living costs in one of Canada's most expensive cities alongside tuition. The application fee is CAD $100 (about $73 USD), plus a non-refundable tuition deposit once an offer is accepted.
Admission Requirements
George Brown's BScN (Honours) admission runs through OCAS, with program-specific health-sciences prerequisites. Based on George Brown's published requirements:
- Application via the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS)
- Official secondary school transcripts (and post-secondary transcripts where applicable), meeting Nursing's specific prerequisite course requirements
- Proof of English language proficiency at the higher degree-level threshold (see below), given clinical placement and regulatory-body expectations
- CAD $100 application fee
- Non-refundable tuition deposit once an offer is accepted, to secure a seat
George Brown does not publish a single minimum GPA; secondary prerequisite grades are assessed per program rather than through one university-wide cutoff. Intakes run rolling, with Fall as the primary entry point for Nursing; applying as early as possible in your target window is the single highest-leverage action, since Health Sciences programs are among George Brown's fastest to reach capacity.
How to Get Into George Brown's BScN (Honours)
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Apply as early as possible in your target intake window. Because admission is rolling and capacity-based, Nursing routinely fills before any formal deadline; waiting to finalize documents or English scores is the most common reason applicants lose their preferred intake.
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Confirm Nursing's specific, higher English-proficiency threshold before testing. Nursing and other Health Sciences programs typically set requirements above George Brown's general degree-level minimums, given clinical placement and nursing-regulatory-body expectations, so check the specific program page rather than assuming the general degree standard applies.
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Make sure your secondary transcripts meet Nursing's specific prerequisite courses, not just a general secondary credential; health-sciences programs commonly require specific science prerequisites that a general diploma applicant might not have.
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Secure your tuition deposit promptly once offered a seat. Given how quickly Health Sciences intakes close, delays in accepting and paying the deposit risk losing the seat to another applicant.
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Understand the PGWP advantage of the honours degree route before committing. As an honours Bachelor's degree, the BScN is not subject to IRCC's 2024 field-of-study PGWP restriction that limits many diploma and certificate programs, unlike some other nursing-adjacent college credentials.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
For a general overview of George Brown's admissions and international-student profile, see the George Brown College guide. George Brown has not published a dedicated IELTS or TOEFL requirement article, so here are the numbers directly from George Brown's own published policy for degree-level programs (which include the BScN):
- IELTS: minimum 6.5 overall, recommended 7.0, with no individual band below 6.0
- TOEFL: minimum 88, recommended 95, with no individual skill below 22
- PTE: minimum 58
- Duolingo: minimum 120
- Waiver: a prior credential completed and examined fully in English at an approved institution may exempt an applicant, subject to program-level confirmation
- Conditional admission: George Brown's English Language Certificate/pathway program is available for applicants below the threshold
- Score validity: 2 years
George Brown's general FAQ notes that Nursing and several Health Sciences programs typically set higher requirements than these degree-level minimums given clinical placement expectations, so confirm the exact current figure on the BScN program page specifically before testing.
Career Outcomes
George Brown does not publish graduation-rate, employment-rate, or salary figures specifically for the BScN (or for any program), but its published recruiter data gives a useful directional picture:
- Top recruiters (undergraduate, degree-level programs): Ontario healthcare and long-term-care employers are explicitly named as George Brown's leading destination for Nursing and Health Sciences graduates, alongside the college's broader base of Toronto-area employers across hospitality, construction, and community services.
- PGWP pathway: as an honours Bachelor's degree, the BScN remains broadly PGWP-eligible regardless of field, typically qualifying for the maximum 3-year work permit given the degree's 4-year length, unlike many of George Brown's diploma and certificate programs which are now subject to IRCC's 2024 field-of-study restriction.
- Regulatory context: graduates pursue registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) to practice as a Registered Nurse in Ontario; healthcare's inclusion on IRCC's priority sector list also supports strong long-term skilled-migration prospects for internationally trained nurses in Canada.
FAQ
Does George Brown publish an acceptance rate for Nursing? No. Admission is rolling and capacity-based through OCAS rather than a fixed percentage. Nursing is one of George Brown's most in-demand programs and typically fills faster than most other programs, so applying early matters significantly.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for George Brown Nursing? The general degree-level minimum is IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0) or TOEFL iBT 88 (no skill below 22), but Nursing and other Health Sciences programs typically set a higher bar given clinical placement expectations. Confirm the current exact figure on the BScN program page.
How much does the BScN cost for international students? International tuition runs about CAD $18,475/year, with total cost of attendance (including living expenses) around CAD $34,975/year, across a four-year program.
Is the BScN eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)? Yes. As an honours Bachelor's degree program, the BScN is not subject to IRCC's 2024 field-of-study PGWP restriction and remains broadly PGWP-eligible, typically for the maximum 3-year permit given the degree's length.
Do I need a specific credential evaluation for my transcripts? George Brown requires official transcripts and program-specific prerequisite courses; international applicants should confirm whether a WES or comparable credential evaluation is needed for their specific secondary or post-secondary background.
Does George Brown offer a pathway if my English score falls short for Nursing? Yes, in principle, George Brown's English Language Certificate/pathway program is available generally, but given Nursing's typically higher and clinically driven English threshold, confirm directly with George Brown whether the pathway route is accepted for this specific program before relying on it.