School of Nursing

Faculty of Health

Submission of Application Materials

To begin your application, complete the听听and pay the $115 application fee.

Payment must be received before your application is processed. Details about methods of payment are included on the online application portal.

Please be reminded that the application deadlines for Graduate Nursing听Programs are specific to the School of Nursing and may differ from other听programs at 海角社区app University:

Effective for the 2026/2027 academic year (ie. September 2026/January 2027 entry and moving forward)

  • Deadline for receipt of the complete application package for September admission to all graduate nursing programs (MN,听MScN,听PhD听Nursing):听February 1
  • Deadline for receipt of the complete application package for January admission to Master of Nursing, Nurse Practitioner; Master of Nursing, Advanced Practice, Mental Health and Addictions; and Master of Nursing Professional:听June 1
  • It is the applicant鈥檚 responsibility to ensure that all application materials have been received.

Also required for MN Mental Health and Addictions and MN Nursing Practitioner Degree Programs ONLY:

  • Submission of Verification letter/document(s) from your HR Department(s) (signed by appropriate HR department rep)听that听verifies that you have met the minimum requirement and which听includes the number of hours worked听with the agency/organization.听
  • Please ask your HR Department to send the verification letter to听graduate.nursing@dal.ca听and to include your name in the body of the email so we can add it to your application file.
  • Letter(s) must include the total number of hours worked with the agency(ies)/organization(s) as a Registered Nurse
  • RN roles other than bedside nursing (ie. research, educator, etc.) must be identified and RN hours completed in this role/these roles specified.
  • Please ask your HR Department to send the verification letter DIRECTLY to听graduate.nursing@dal.ca听and to include your name in the body of the email so we can add it to your application file.

Remaining supporting documents should be uploaded by the applicant to the appropriate section within the application portal.

  • CV/Resume
  • Proof of licensure as a registered practitioner (must be current and valid).
  • 听(click link to access) 鈥� upload this document and the answers to each question (for the听program听to which you are applying), together with your Statement of intent/interest):
  • Statement of Intent/Interest:
    • This is like a letter of introduction or a cover letter and is in addition to those questions answered on the supplemental application form.
    • In your statement of intent, discuss the following points:
      • Introduce yourself and your background as an RN. Focus on the Advanced Practice Role and your goals, both as a nurse practitioner student and after graduation as a Nurse Practitioner.
      • How will the School of Nursing Graduate听Programs help you achieve them?听 What are the strengths you would bring to the听program听and to the profession?
      • Explain any gaps or deficiencies in your academic record, or any other factors you wish to have considered.听
      • There may be some overlap with your supplemental application form.
    • Ensure you upload your statement of intent, the supplementary form and the answers to the supplementary form as one document, under 鈥淪tatement of intent鈥� when uploading supporting materials in the application portal.
    • Proof of licensure as a registered practitioner (must be current and valid); this can be a screenshot or a copy of your license renewal receipt.
  • Official or unofficial transcript(s)
    • Transcript submission for new applicants
      • For your initial application to graduate studies, you may upload unofficial academic transcripts. We require transcripts for听each post-secondary institution you have attended.听Please include degree certificates if degree conferral is not stated on your transcripts.
      • If you听are听accepted for admission, your听final and official transcripts will be required within 90 days of the start of your听program. This is the responsibility of the applicant to determine whether official transcripts have been submitted.听
    • Transcript submission听for听newly accepted听students
      • If you听are admitted to our MN听NP听Program, please send your final and official transcripts, stating degree completion, to the Faculty of Graduate Studies in any of the听following听ways within 90 days of the start of your听program:
      • Electronic file-transfers鈥痜rom鈥痶he issuing institution and from services such as Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, eScript-Safe, TranscriptsNetwork听or MyCreds. Electronic transcripts are to be sent to听graduate.studies@dal.ca.听鈥�
      • PDFs鈥痵ent鈥痓y鈥痚mail directly from the issuing institution. These emailed transcripts are to be sent听to听graduate.studies@dal.ca.听鈥��
      • If you are unable to have your official transcripts sent from the issuing institution, you may email an unofficial copy of your transcripts to听graduate.studies@dal.ca听from your听official 海角社区app email听account. You may be required to provide proof of the inability for the issuing institution to send documents directly.
      • While official e-copies of your transcripts are preferred, official paper copies can be mailed to:
        听听听听Faculty of Graduate Studies
        听听听听Room 314, Henry Hicks Academic Administration Building
        听听听听6299 South Street
        听听听听PO Box 15000
        听听听听Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 4R2
      • Transcripts must include your first and last name, degree,听program听type, name of degree issuing university and date of degree completion. Degree and graduation certificates must be included if your transcript do not indicate the type of degree and date granted.
      • Additional important information:
        • Transcripts in languages other than English or French must be accompanied by an English translation provided by the institution issuing the transcript.
        • Notarized copies of transcripts are not permitted.
        • Degree and graduation certificates must be included if the transcript does not indicate the type of degree and date granted.听
        • Transcripts submitted with applications become the property of 海角社区app University, are subject to verification, are not available for copying and will not be returned to the applicant.
        • Official transcripts are not required for any courses or degrees you have completed at 海角社区app University.
  • Applicants must include the contact information for three referees via EREF听on the 海角社区app Application Portal
    • One (1) current employer 鈥� MUST be a direct supervisor/manager (not a charge nurse or colleague. Must be a current manager 鈥� ie. a Health Services Manager). For MN Professional, this reference may be an alternative professional, supervisor or director reference.
    • Two (2) academic references.
CLICK HERE FOR AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SELECTING YOUR REFERENCES

  • References must include:
    • One (1) current manager/employer听鈥� MUST be a direct supervisor/manager.
    • Two (2) academic references.
    • Please note the following:
      • for those听applicants who have been out of school for some time, we do accept letters of reference from clinical instructors听(if you are still in contact with any of them), clinical nurse educators with whom you have worked closely, or instructors from a certificate听program听(for example, the Nova Scotia Health RNPDC).
      • Your academic reference should come from someone who can speak to your academic ability, areas of expertise, ability to learn and problem solve, and your suitability for the听NP听program. They should be able to evaluate your specific skills and potential for success as a nurse practitioner.
      • Your managerial reference must be from a current manager听to whom you directly report. It should听not听be a peer, coworker, charge nurse or colleague 鈥� these references will not be considered when evaluating your application 鈥� it听must听be someone who manages you directly (ie. your HS Manager). Please ensure you are asking well in advance of the due date, so they don鈥檛 feel rushed in writing it, and ask a manager who can provide details on your skills and attributes that make you suitable for the MN听NP听Program.
      • Reference letters should be submitted through the electronic reference system via the online application portal听when you complete the application. We do not require letters of recommendation other than the standard format provided through the e-reference system. If using the e-reference system, make sure to have the email addresses of your referees ready to list when completing the online application. 海角社区app University will only accept university, teaching hospital, and government email addresses (i.e. not personal email addresses, such as Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, or business addresses). If you made an error in the submission of an email address, please contact听eref@dal.ca.
      • Referees will receive your reference request immediately, as soon as you save the reference details, so please request permission from your referee, before adding their details to the application.
      • We prefer that all reference forms are sent using the electronic reference system. However, if you are using a professional reference for your application and are unable to use the graduate online e-reference system because of their email address (ie. Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail听or business address), please email听graduate.nursing@dal.ca听with your request and provide the name(s) and email address(es) for your referee(s).
        • IMPORTANT NOTE WHEN APPLYING: During the application process, you will be prompted to provide contact details for your referees.听When prompted, please select the option to have the reference requests electronically sent to the referees.

The wording can be a bit confusing. 听To ensure that your referees receive a request by our electronic e-reference system, please ensure you have selected the correct option when prompted.

WHEN YOU SEE THE FOLLOWING MENU, PLEASE ENSURE YOU SELECT NO

听

Applicants whose first language is not English must also provide proof of English language competency, with a score of: IELTS (7 minimum acceptable score) or TOEFL (minimum acceptable results - 580 paper based; 237 computer-based).

Residency Requirements

According to Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) Regulation 2.3, 海角社区app School of Nursing has specific residency requirements for all MN-听NP听Students. For full-time students, this commences at the beginning of Year 1, and for part-time students, this commences at the beginning of Year 2. The residency requirements are as follows:

Students in听听(required of听all听NP听Students),听must听attend the weekly lab sessions that are scheduled on site (Halifax campus) during the first 7 weeks of the Fall semester, and are required to be on site for objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) associated with other clinical courses

Full-time students are required to take 1 clinical course per term for听program听duration; Part-time students are required to take 1 clinical course per term, starting in year 2.

Clinical preceptorships may take place throughout Nova Scotia or the Atlantic provinces ONLY.听Clinical placements are not possible outside of Atlantic Canada (NS, NB, PE, NL).

For applicants residing outside of Atlantic Canada at time of application, you will be required to relocate to NS and be required to apply for a NS Registered Nursing license.

Please note that theory courses are offered either synchronously or asynchronously online.

Before undertaking clinical practica, Nurse Practitioner students must provide evidence of appropriate immunization and their immune status, as required by the 海角社区app University Faculty of Health and the clinical agency. This will include, but may not be restricted to:听polio, diphtheria, tetanus, rubella, measles, mumps, varicella and Hepatitis B. Evidence of 2-step tuberculin testing (Mantoux) is also required. Evidence of COVID-19 vaccination is also required.

Clinical practice courses include:

, Advanced Health Assessment (50 hrs);

, Principles and Theories for Nurse Practitioner Practice (150 hrs);

听Principles and Theories for Health and Disease Management in Family All Ages Nurse Practitioner Practice (150 hrs);听 and

, Advanced Practice Role Practicum (350 hrs).

Full-time students are expected to complete the听program听in two years, while part-time students are expected to complete the听program听in three years.

Also required for MN Mental Health and Addictions and MN Nursing Practitioner Degree Programs ONLY:

Verification letter/document from your HR Department (signed by appropriate HR department rep) that verifies that you have met the minimum requirement and which includes the number of hours worked with the agency/organization.听Please ask your HR Department to send the verification letter to graduate.nursing@dal.ca and to include your name in the body of the email so we can add it to your application file.

  • Again, please note that all documents should be uploaded directly on the Dal Application Portal.
  • PLEASE NOTE: Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) and the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are not required by the School of Nursing Graduate Programs.