BScN Accelerated Nursing at St. Francis Xavier University

Programme overview

The accelerated option of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing at StFX is an in-person, on-campus program for students with prior post-secondary credits. It is completed over six continuous semesters totalling 24 months, with graduates applying to the Nova Scotia College of Nurses to write the NCLEX licensure exam to become Registered Nurses.

Faculty: Faculty of Science (Elizabeth and Thomas Rankin School of Nursing) | Duration: 24 months (six continuous semesters) | Intake: January | Study mode: full-time | Location: Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada

What you will study

Students complete three continuous semesters (Winter, Spring/Summer, Fall) in the first year covering Health and Health Systems, Evidence-Informed Practice and the Fundamentals of Research, and are about halfway through the program by the end of that year.

Career pathways

Registered nurse, nurse practitioner, nursing educator, public health, researcher; graduates can pursue graduate education and specialty certification in areas such as perinatal, neonatal and pediatric care, cardiology, oncology, palliative care, and mental health and addictions.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

BScN Accelerated Option (program-specific): all required core and open courses must be completed at university level by January 1 of the starting year and within 10 years of the program start date, each with a minimum grade of 65% and an overall average of 70% or higher. Core requirements include six credits in Human Anatomy and Human Physiology (minimum three credits in each) with a lab component in both (virtual labs accepted). Transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended are required. Priority is given to Nova Scotia residents and international applicants are not accepted for the January 2027 intake. Application deadline for January 2027 start: December 9, 2026.

Main intake: September (classes begin 2 September 2026; Welcome Days 29-30 August 2026). January intake (classes begin 5 January 2027) for eligible programmes; competitive programmes such as BSc Nursing are not available for January admission. Spring term (May 2027) and Summer term (July 2027) undergraduate studies are also offered.

Domestic applicants: 1 September deadline for September entry (2026 and 2027); 9 December 2026 for January 2027 entry. Applications for September 2027 open 15 September 2026. Bachelor of Education: last date to submit application is 1 December 2026. LPN to BScN: 9 December 2026. Four-year BSc Nursing: 3 March 2027. Spring term (May 2027): 12 April 2027. Summer term (July 2027): June, date to be confirmed. Major scholarship consideration: apply by 1 March 2027.

International applicants: 30 May 2027 deadline for September 2027 entry (later applications reviewed case by case according to visa processing times); 30 September 2026 for January 2027 entry, with confirmation by 30 October 2026. Applications for September are made at apply.stfx.ca.

Explore more study programmes

Health Sciences