Introduction:
Searching for the best nursing schools in Ontario? Then I’m sure you are aware that nursing has become one of the most sought-after professions in Ontario and worldwide. Most people are now looking for pathways to gain nursing access.
Some for the passion of caring for the sick and others for the sheer high earning income and the immediate employment after bagging a nursing license.
Ontario is one of the most populated cities and most significant in Canada and is known for attracting people from different cultures, backgrounds and societies.
For most of it, Ontario is known to have some nursing schools in Ontario that are among the best nursing schools worldwide, and this article will point you in the right direction.
How to Study Nursing in Ontario
As we have been made aware, Ontario has one of the best nursing schools worldwide, and most of the nursing schools in Ontario ranked top worldwide.
In most of the provinces in Canada, specifically for nursing schools in Ontario, there is a set standard for prospective international students that must be met by the prospective applicants to be given admission.
Ontario health department is highly dependent on their nurses as they provide care to the patients by spending more time with them administering their medication.
To become a registered nurse in Ontario, you will need to follow specific steps to achieve your goals.
As a registered nurse in Ontario, you will have the opportunity to work in a nursing home, Family clinic or hospital as you so wish.
As the world is still recovering from the Pandemic, nurses are in high demand in Ontario, and this has become home for many international students to grow their nursing careers.
Pathways to studying nursing in Ontario
To easily migrate to Ontario as a nursing student, the paths to achieving a degree in Ontario include;
- Diploma Certificate
- Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing
- Masters’ Degree in Nursing with options
- PhD in Nursing with options.
Requirements for studying Nursing in Ontario
For most nursing schools in Ontario for international students, some requirements are quite similar to each other.
Be it a diploma, undergraduates, postgraduates and PhDs, you will still need to meet specific requirements. The general requirements include the following:
- High school certificates with credits in English, Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry are the main subjects.
- Certificate of English Language proficiency.
- Letter of recommendation from a former school
- Statement of purpose/ motivational letter.
- Other supporting documents as requested by the school.
Cost of studying nursing in Ontario
The cost of studying nursing in Ontario for international students per annum differs from school and region.
An estimated price for tuition fees ranges from C$20,000 to C$30,000 annually.
Although tuition fees still vary, you will need to check the school website for more information.
Visa Application
To study nursing in Ontario as an international student, you will have to be granted a study visa for free entry.
More detailed steps in visa application and requirements are shown here. This includes the must-have requirements for visa application. Now let us look at the top nursing schools in Ontario.
The List of Best Nursing Schools in Ontario
- The University of Windsor – School of Nursing
- The University of Ottawa – School of Nursing
- West Coast University
- The University of Toronto – Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
- McMaster University – School of Nursing
- The University of Western Ontario
- San Joaquin Valley College Ontario
- Lambton College
- Stanbridge University
- The American Medical Career College Ontario
This section will elaborate and sheer lighter on the best nursing schools in Ontario for her citizens and international students.
1. The University of Windsor – School of Nursing
The University of Windsor offers quality and innovative approach to nursing programs in Ontario.
Windsor became official in 1963 after it was formally recognised as Assumption College in 1857 with the merging of Canterbury College, Holy Redeemer College, Essex College and Iona College.
As part of its expansion plans, the nursing school was inaugurated in 1954 and offered different certificates courses such as diplomas, graduates’ studies and even post-graduate degrees.
The undergraduate degree is in partnership with other great institutions offering top-notch education in nursing and is also seen as one of the top nursing schools in Ontario.
The institution ranges from Lambton College (Sarnia) to St. Clair College, which has Chatham, Windsor and Thames campuses.
Fees
The estimated annual fees for international students at the University of Windsor for a semester is $14,500
Degrees/ Certificates offered
Diploma, Undergraduate, Masters and PhD.
Duration
It takes four years to bag a degree in Nursing in Ontario to be considered a Registered Nurse.
2. The University of Ottawa – School of Nursing
The University of Ottawa was initially a Catholic college founded in 1848 which offers hundreds of courses in English Language and French Language.
The university is not just known as one of the prestigious nursing schools in Ontario, but it also ranks as one of the top nursing schools in Canada.
As a bilingual university, this has opened Ontario for international students from French-speaking countries to feel at home away from home.
The faculty of Health offers diplomas, bachelor’s, masters and PhD in nursing and has partnered with other prestigious colleges to deliver innovative teaching approaches.
The college is located in Woodroffe (The Algonquin College), Pembroke (The Algonquin College), and the French courses are with La Cites College for the French students.
Fees
The tuition fee is paid per semester. Undergraduate international students are expected to pay US$17,600 for a semester, master’s students spend US$8,900, and PhD students pay US$2,500.
Degrees/ Certificates offered
Diploma, Undergraduate, Masters and PhD.
Duration
It takes four years to bag a degree in Nursing in Ontario to be considered a Registered Nurse, two years for a Masters’s degree and a minimum of 4 years for PhD programs.
3. West Coast University
West Coast University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is known for its excellent learning facilities, high-quality nursing education and linking opportunities to international students in Ontario. Degrees offered include diploma, bachelor’s, Master and PhD.
The school is one of the best high-ranking schools in Ontario that offers nursing courses to students.
West Coast University has campuses in Los Angeles, Miami, Orange County, Texas and Ontario.
The university has the students at heart even in their approach as it drives students to be cultivate learning spirit and skills.
Fees
An estimated tuition fee for international students for undergraduate program costs US$116,900, a master cost US$31,500, and for PhD, US$35,400
Duration
It takes four years to bag a degree in Nursing in Ontario to be considered a Registered Nurse, two years for a Master’s degree and a minimum of 4 years for PhD programs.
4. The University of Toronto – Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
The University of Toronto– a top university founded in 1827, offers the best nursing courses in Ontario.
The research-based institution is pivoting innovation as its core strategy in delivering evidence-based education. It has partnered with international institutions to provide the best quality education to its students.
Most international students come for exchange programs and educational tours.
The university has campuses in Mississauga, Scarborough and Sr. George.
The university has a sense of community ownership and, as such, places a memorandum of understanding which allows students to pursue education through a scholarship at the University of Toronto
Fees
The tuition fee for undergraduate nursing is estimated to be US$6,400 per year, US$9,600 for Master’s, and US$11,800 for PhD.
Duration
It takes four years to bag a degree in Nursing in Ontario to be considered a Registered Nurse, two years for a Master’s degree and a minimum of 4 years for PhD programs.
5. McMaster University – School of Nursing
McMaster University, an Ontario based university, was founded in 1887 in Toronto before setting its main campus in Hamilton in 1930.
According to the Times Higher Education Ranking, McMaster University remained the 4th best university in Canada and ranked 16th worldwide when it comes to nursing programs.
The faculty of Health Sciences, founded in 1934, offers the nursing course and has become one of the well-known nursing schools in Ontario and Canada for providing market demand nursing courses.
McMaster University is in collaboration with other institutions such as the Conestoga Bachelor of Science and Mohawk university since 2004.
This has increased the yearly admission of international students. The students can receive practical training in Halton, Niagara, Hamilton, Brantford and other nearby state’s health care.
Fees
An estimated tuition fee for an international student per year to study nursing in Ontario is US$34,200
Duration
It takes four years to bag a degree in Nursing in Ontario to be considered a Registered Nurse, two years for a Master’s degree and a minimum of 4 years for PhD programs.
6. The University of Western Ontario
This is a public university in Ontario, that offers the best nursing courses in the country.
As an accredited university, the students are allowed to practice nursing in any part of the world.
Founded in 1878 by Bishop Hellmuth, the University of Western Ontario has opened its doors to many students since then.
Fee
An estimated annual fee for international students is $39,836 for undergraduate studies.
Duration
It takes four years to bag a degree in Nursing in Ontario to be considered a Registered Nurse, two years for a Master’s degree and a minimum of 4 years for a PhD.
7. San Joaquin Valley College Ontario
Founded in the year 1977 by Robert and Shirley, San Joaquin Valley College is a private nursing college with over fifteen campuses scattered across the United State of America and in Ontario.
The nursing college offers diploma certificates and degrees.
The college offers a Registered Nurse certificate which takes about 14 months to complete.
It takes 20 months to complete a registered nursing degree program and the school has a campus open to international students in Ontario and Visalia
Fees
The tuition fee for a certified nursing program at San Joaquin Valley College is $14,415.
This applies to international students which covers both supplies and books.
Duration
It takes 20 months to complete a certificate course in San Joaquin Valley College to be considered a registered nurse.
8. Lambton College
This accredited college provides and equips future nurses with the technical, practical and required knowledge to enter the workforce.
The certificate Lambton college provides gives the student an edge and advantage when furthering their academic pursuits.
Nurses who want to spend fewer years obtaining bachelor’s degrees are encouraged to apply for this specific type of certificate as they can finish their degree in less than three years instead of the normal four years.
Fees
The tuition fees for Lambton Nursing College change with time and with each session.
Duration
It takes 24 months to complete a certificate course in Lambton College to be considered a registered nurse.
9. Stanbridge University
Stanbridge University founded and established in 1996 offers quality and innovative education to international students that want to pursue a career in Nursing.
It has admitted and graduated more than 1,800 students from around the world.
Stanbridge University is one of the nursing schools in Ontario, that is accredited and endorsed by the California Board of Registered Nurses. It has campuses and facilities in Los Angeles and Orange County.
Fees
The cost of tuition fee for a year is about $57,980 excluding books and other supplies
10. The American Medical Career College Ontario
The American Medical Career College is keen to provide, support and meet the crucial needs of students through the high standard of education, facilities, structures and services while promoting a serene environment that motivates and stimulated academic excellence, pursuits, sense of community, social responsibility, intellectual among a host of others.
The American Medical Career College- is a privately owned college that offers healthcare courses/programs site and off-site.
Fees
The American Medical Career College fee ranges from $1,200 to $2,500 per semester liable on the qualification.
Duration
It takes a minimum of 12 months to complete a certificate
Scholarships
Many of you will wonder if scholarships are available for international students to study in the nursing schools in Ontario.
The answer is yes! You can apply for as many scholarship programs as possible to make your dreams come true.
For more exciting information on how to study in Ontario, Canada, you can search for Canada Scholarships that can help you pay for your fees at any of the nursing schools in Ontario.
Please ask your questions about the nursing schools in Ontario in the comment section.