Nurse Practitioner (Graduate Diploma (GDip))

Frequently asked questions

• What English score does it need?

  IELTS 6.5 overall is the score listed for this programme.

• How long is it?

  3 terms (Full-time study); 6 to 9 terms (Part-tim…, as listed by the university.

• What are the entry requirements?

  Programme admission requirements as published by Western: • Completion of a bachelor’s degree in nursing (e.g., BScN, BSN, BN). Internationally educated nurses may be asked to submit a World Evaluation Services (WES) report to confirm degree equivalence to those accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN). • Completion of a Master's degree in Nursing or a field related to health care. • GPA of 78% (B+) or higher. Admission averages are based on the last two years of full-time study or the last 10 part-time credits. • Undergraduate preparation in research and statistics. • Applicants must be registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario as a Registered Nurse (RN) in good standing with no practice restrictions. (Out of province applicants may apply with other Canadian registration, but will be required to show CNO registration as a condition of their admission). • Completion of the equivalent of two years full-time RN practice (3,640 hours) within the past five years (some of those hours must be completed in Canada). || SGPS university-wide minimum - Master's: 'Applicants must possess a four-year degree from a university, college or institute. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requires at least a 70% average across courses taken in the last two full-time years of the undergraduate degree. Equivalent qualifications may be considered based on the standards of the discipline or profession.' Doctoral: 'Applicants must possess a Master's degree or equivalent from a university, college or institute, and provide evidence of research potential. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requires at least a 70% average in the Master's degree, as determined by the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.' Source: https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/international/index.html || English language proficiency: Applicants with CNO registration are not required to provide evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language. Applicants without CNO registration whose first language is not English must provide evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language by a satisfactory achievement within the last two years in one of the following: • The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). iBT (internet-Based Test): • For tests taken before January 21, 2026 , Western requires a minimum overall score of 86, with no individual section score below 20. Some programs may require a higher minimum and/or specific band scores. Western’s TOEFL ID is 0984. • For tests taken on or after January 21, 2026 , Western requires a minimum overall score of 4.5, with no individual section score below 4. Some programs may require a higher minimum and/or specific band scores. Western’s TOEFL ID is 0984. • The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS Academic). The minimum acceptable score is 6.5 out of 9. • The Duolingo English Test . The minimum acceptable score is 115. • The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL Assessment). The minimum acceptable score is 60. • Western English Language Centre . The requirement is successful completion of the High-Advanced level. • Fanshawe College’s ESL Program . The requirement is graduation from Level 10, English for Academic Purposes, with a minimum 80% in all components. Applicants who are required to present evidence of proficiency in English must make their own arrangements to complete one of the above tests or programs and to have the official results sent directly to SGPS by the testing agency. · English: IELTS 6.5; TOEFL iBT 86; Duolingo English Test 115 · English test waiver: Western does not publish a blanket country or medium-of-instruction waiver for graduate admission. SGPS states the requirement applies to 'Applicants whose first language is not English', and under 'Exemptions': 'Applicants may request an exemption by contacting their graduate program(s) of interest. For the French and Hispanic Studies programs only, evidence of proficiency in English is a degree requirement but not a requirement for admission.' Western also offers a conditional route instead of a test: the Western English Language Centre 'allows academically eligible students interested in pursuing a graduate degree at Western the opportunity to receive a conditional offer of admission to graduate studies without successful completion of an English language proficiency test', on condition the student completes the Centre's programme. Source: https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/apply.html and https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/international/index.html · Application fee: CAD 185.00 - 2026-2027 Application Fees Table 3, Graduate Programs: 'All other graduate programs 185'. Source: 2026-2027 Application Fees (Table 3), https://registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/2026-27-Application-Fees.pdf · Deposit: CAD 2,000.00 - Table 2, line 53 'Graduate Professional Programs Tuition Deposit fee, International (Masters and PhD), 2,000', under the heading 'Faculty of Health Science (CSD, Nursing, OT, PT, Health Studies, Kinesiology, HRS)'. The general international master's deposit, Table 2 line 226, is also CAD 2,000.00 non-refundable. Source: 2026-2027 Program-Related Tuition Fees (Table 2), https://registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/2026-27-Program-Related-Fees2.pdf

• Is there a scholarship?

  Western Graduate Research Scholarship (WGRS), Graduate Teaching Assistantships, Graduate Fellowships and Graduate Student Assistantships are administered by the graduate programme; SGPS states 'Decisions regarding the structure, sources and annual amount of your graduate funding over the course of your program are made primarily at the Faculty and/or graduate program.' Doctoral funding guarantee, open to international students: 'For domestic and international doctoral students who start their program in September 2026 (September 1, 2026 - August 31, 2027), Western guarantees a minimum annual funding support package of $17,000, plus $6,487 for tuition, for a total of $23,487.' Average funding received from all sources: Doctoral CAD 35,476 (2025), Master's CAD 26,277 (2025). International students are eligible for Western's Graduate Bursary and for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS). Western lists formalised international sponsorship partnerships with: CGS-Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements, China Scholarship Council, Libya North-American Scholarship Program, Egypt Cultural and Educational Bureau, Mitacs Globalink Research Awards, Organization of American States Program, Rhodes Scholarships, Russia Global Education Program, Saudi Arabia King Abdullah Scholarship Program and the Vietnam International Education Development Program. Source View scholarship page