Masters in Nursing (MSN) in Canada: Universities, Fees & Jobs

Pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing in Canada can be an opportunity. Ideal for those Indian students looking to advance their nursing careers. These programs teach nurses specialized knowledge and skills. A four year bachelor's degree in nursing and good scores in standardized tests are required to pursue MScN in Canada.

With a 1.4% boom in the Canadian population annually, the regulated 1.9% nursing workforce seems to be diminishing. This, in turn, implies that job opportunities in the Nursing sector in Canada would increase by at least 4% in the upcoming 5 years. This is the reason for more and more international students opting for MS in Nursing across 20 renowned Canadian Universities. 

MS in Nursing in Canada admission is based on the applicant’s bachelor’s degree and ELP scores. They are also required to hold a nursing license in order to study at a Canadian University for an MS in Nursing. This sector is ranked #1 in Canada in terms of job prospects as well. The opening job offers for MSN students vary with their area of expertise. Around CAD 75,000 - 80,000 on average is the starting salary of a Nursing practitioner. As per CIHI 2019 data, Canada has over 4 lakh regulated nurses practising with operational or active nursing licenses.

Master's in Nursing in Canada Highlights

Reasons to Study Master's in Nursing in Canada

Nursing in Canada as a profession is a strong choice since it requires strong leadership skills, logical thinking and sound decision-making. Here are some point-wise reasons to pursue MSN in Canadian universities: 

• Workforce Shortage: Canada is facing a shortage of nurses to take care of their population. Due to the ageing population and retiring professionals, the demand for healthcare services, including nursing care, is increasing. So, it is a good opportunity.   

• Pathway to Permanent Residency (PR): Nursing course is one of the selected courses under the Canadian PR program. This course is eligible under Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), and Healthcare-focused immigration streams.

• One of the Highest Paid Jobs in Canada: Nursing job is one of the top paying jobs in Canada. The average basic salary of nurses in Canada is CAD 76,619 (INR 48.00 Lakhs) per year.
• Diverse Job Profiles: You are not limited to general nursing job roles only. You can explore other high-demand specialisations such as Geriatric Nursing, ICU Nursing and Cardiac Nursing. 

Top Universities to Pursue MSN in Canada 

There are multiple universities and colleges in Canada which offer MS in Nursing. Here, we have mentioned only top 10 universities along with their the annual program fee:

Read more: Cost of Living in Canada

Eligibility to Study Masters in Nursing in Canada

To be eligible for MS in Nursing admission in Canada, students must fulfil the following given basic requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree: A 4-year bachelor's degree and 10+2+4 years of education completion.

• Experience: Clinical experience of 1 year is recommended for those holding a Nursing License.

• English Language Proficiency: Applicants must submit ELP scores if they have not studied at an English-speaking institution in the past.

• Additional Eligibility: Applicants would have to submit along with the applications their LORs, resume, SOP and transcripts.

MSN in Canada Application Requirements

Each Canadian university offering MS in Nursing admission requires students to submit either TOEFL or IELTS score along with the following set of information in the application:

 *Note: Every university has a different set of standards for admitting Nursing students for Master’s programs. It is important that applicants check the official website for all details before applying to any university for admission.

Masters in Nursing in Canada: Careers & Job Opportunities

Broadly there are three types of nursing practitioners in Canada:

1. Registered Nurses: Nurses who have passed the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam

2. Registered Psychiatric Nurses: Responsible for providing nursing care, and counselling to psychiatric patients who are hospitalised.

3. Licensed Practical Nurses: They provide nursing care under medical practitioners. 

Job Opportunities:

After completing a master’s degree in Nursing from Canada, applicants can opt for the following job roles and their expected corresponding annual CTC:

• Nursing Manager: CAD 85,000

• Registered Practical / Psychiatric Nurses: CAD 40,000 - CAD 80,000

• Nurse Practitioner: CAD 94,000

• Family Nurse Practitioner: CAD 100,000

• Clinical Informatics Specialist: CAD 75,000

• Clinical Research Manager: CAD 89,000

There is a strong demand for Nursing professionals in Canada despite 59% of them working in hospitals, full time. Since nurses play an important role in patient care, their presence has become more evident at the administration level also. Thus, a Master’s in Nursing is a degree of good repute because this profession in Canada is highly regarded, remunerated and in great demand as well.

For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. The comments section below allows candidates to contact us as well.