MSc Nursing Admission for GNM Graduates: Eligibility & Colleges
Know all about the MSc Nursing Admission Criteria for GNM Graduates. Get complete information about the MSc Nursing eligibility criteria, top colleges, and entrances for which you can prepare.
MSc nursing offers great career growth for aspirants planning a future in the medical industry. Not only in India, but there are plethora of opportunities in foreign lands for such aspirants. However, candidates who pursue a GNM degree are often in a fix about whether they can pursue the MSc Nursing programme or not.
In this article, find out all about the career trajectory, open for the GNM aspirants, and which route they should follow to pursue MSc nursing in India. Get complete details about the MSc Nursing Admission for GNM Graduates. Find out who the eligible candidates are and which are the top MSc Nursing colleges in India in the upcoming sections:
- Can a GNM Nurse do MSc Nursing?
- MSc Nursing Admission for GNM Graduates: Eligibility Criteria
- Can I pursue MSc Nursing after completing GNM?
- Top MSc Nursing Entrances in India
- MSc Nursing Admission in Government College
Can a GNM Nurse do MSc Nursing?
Yes, a GNM-qualified candidate can plan to pursue MSc nursing. However, he/she must first enroll for the BSc nursing degree in order to level up for the postgraduate course. After completing GNM, a candidate will get a six-month clinical experience. Then the logical progression is a BSc nursing degree. Know the eligibility criteria to apply for the programme.
Commonly asked questions
There are 19 AIIMS in India that offer BSc nursing programme to the medical aspirants. AIIMS BSc nursing score will be accepted by all the AIIMS in India that offer the BSc nursing programme.
Yes, cutoff of reserved categories such as SC, ST, OBC, and PwD categories is different from unreserved categories (General category). Generally, the AIIMS nursing cutoff for the reserved category candidates is lower than the cutoff for the unreserved category candidates.
As per the guidelines issued by the exam conducting body, students must not be more than 25 years of age and should not be less than 17 years on 1st September, 2026. Hence, applicants born after 01.09.2008 and before 01.09.2000 are not eligible to apply for the course. For the BSc Nursing course (4 years), only FEMALE students are eligible to apply within this age bracket.
The UP CNET qualifying criteria for admission to the BSc nursing course are shared in the official prospectus. Candidates can take a look at the category-wise table mentioned below:
Category | Qualifying Percentile |
|---|---|
General / Unreserved (UR) | 50th Percentile |
EWS | 50th Percentile |
PwD (General & EWS) | 45th Percentile |
SC / ST / OBC | 40th Percentile |
SC / ST / OBC PwD | 40th Percentile |
MSc Nursing Admission for GNM Graduates: Eligibility Criteria
Here are the eligibility conditions that a candidate must fulfill if they aim to seek admission in the MSc nursing entrance exam:
- The aspirant must have passed the BSc Nursing or Post Basic Nursing programme from a recognized university or college.
- The candidate must have scored 55% aggregate marks in the qualifying degree (for reserved categories, this score can be 45% to 50% aggregate marks).
- The applicant must have been registered as a Registered Nurse (RN) and Registered Midwife (RM) or equivalent with a State Nursing Council.
- It would be preferred if the candidates had gained a minimum of one year of experience after completing their graduation.
- Medical Fitness is a mandatory requirement to thrive in the field as per the Indian Nursing Council (INC).
Can I pursue MSc Nursing after completing GNM?
No, you cannot pursue an MSc Nursing just after completing the GNM degree. There is an academic progression that you must follow to pursue an MSc nursing.
Also Read: GNM Nursing Admission 2026: Application Form, Dates, Eligibility & Counselling Process
In case a candidate is pursuing or plans to pursue Post Basic BSc Nursing, then also he/she will be eligible to apply for the postgraduate nursing degree programme. The applicant must be a Registered Nurse with a State Nursing Council. In the upcoming sections, find out all about the top colleges and important entrance exams to prepare for admission.
Commonly asked questions
The UP CNET 2025 (Uttar Pradesh Common Nursing Entrance Test) cutoff is released by Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University (ABVMU) every year for the candidates who are called for counselling. Find out the cutoff score for the academic year 2025-26 as mentioned below:
Category | Percentile | Cutoff Marks |
|---|---|---|
General | 50th | 105 |
EWS | — | 98 |
OBC | 40th | 100 |
SC | 40th | 90 |
ST | 40th | 85 |
General PwD | 45th | 90 |
SC/ST/OBC PwD | 40th | 85 |
Special Quota | — | 80 |
AIIMS Delhi releases the cutoff every year depending upon the number of candidates who sat for the entrance exam and the difficulty level of the entrance. The AIIMS nursing cutoff varies for every year. The minimum cutoff score to qualify for admission into AIIMS for a BSc in nursing is 55 for General category, 45 - 50 for OBC category, 30 - 40 for SC/ST category.
Yes, the CNET expected cutoff is based on the exam analysis and the question paper solved by the experts. However, the actual cutoff is shared by the conducting body to help candidates know their qualifying status for counselling.
The UP CNET 2026 qualifying criteria determines the candidates eligibility in following ways:
- It showcases if an aspirant is eligible to participate in the couselling process
- Percentiles help normalize scores, especially if the exam is conducted in multiple shifts
- Different percentiles for categories (UR, OBC, SC/ST, PwD) are provided to determine the eligibility and reservation criteria for each category
- It provides a benchmark for selection in further rounds of admission.
Explore colleges based on JEMScN
Top MSc Nursing Entrances in India
Here is a list of the top MSc nursing entrance exams for which BSc nursing aspirants can appear to secure a seat in both government and private colleges:
- AIIMS MSc Nursing: This is a top PG-level entrance exam for nursing aspirants, which will be conducted on June 13, 2026, in online mode. After the result announcement on June 20, 2026, candidates can participate in the counselling process to seek admission.
- PGIMER MSc Nursing: This is another sought-after entrance whose score will only be accepted by the PGI Chandigarh. Candidates can appear for this exam in July 2026, tentatively.
- UP CNET: Some premier colleges, such as KGMU, SGPGIMS, and RMLIMS, are among the highly sought-after choices among other colleges. Do appear for this entrance if you wish to secure a seat in these top nursing colleges.
- JEMScN: The candidates hailing from West Bengal domicile can appear for this exam as it offers admission to the best colleges in the state itself.
Also Read: Nursing Courses: All About Eligibility, Top Exams, Career Scope, Jobs
MSc Nursing Admission in Government College
Here is a list of the top 10 MSc nursing government colleges in India for which aspirants can apply in the academic year 2026-27. Shortlist a college of your choice from the ones given below and prepare for the entrance exam accordingly:
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi
- Armed Forces Medical College
- KGMU - King George's Medical University
- JIPMER Puducherry
- National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences
- Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur College of Nursing
- Madras Medical College, Chennai
- PGIMER Chandigarh
- BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad
- Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
Read More:
MSc Nursing Admission Through AIIMS NORCET: Dates, Pattern & Selection
ANM Vs GNM Vs BSc Nursing: Which Course is the Best after Class 12?

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