University of New Brunswick

What you'll study

The UNB Master of Nursing curriculum builds advanced knowledge in clinical practice, research methods and health systems with flexibility for clinical and non-clinical career paths. Core topics commonly covered include advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology for advanced practice, advanced practice nursing role and ethics, research design and statistics, evidence-based practice, health policy and leadership.

Students typically choose between streams or options that emphasise practice (including advanced clinical practicum hours for advanced practice roles), a thesis-based research route, or a course-based project route. Typical modules and learning activities include:

• Advanced Clinical Practice: extended assessment and diagnostic reasoning, management plans, clinical decision-making and supervised practicum placements for advanced roles.
• Research and Evidence: quantitative and qualitative methods, critical appraisal, systematic reviews and completion of a thesis or applied research project.
• Health Systems and Leadership: healthcare policy, quality improvement, interprofessional collaboration and leadership in complex care environments.
• Specialist Topics: primary care, chronic disease management, mental health, maternal-child or gerontology subjects depending on supervisory expertise and clinical placement availability.

Learning is delivered through seminars, simulation and clinical placements, mentored research supervision, and supervised practice with clinical partners. Programme length and exact course load depend on chosen route (thesis, practicum or course‑based) and whether study is part-time or full-time.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing (or equivalent) from a recognised institution and be a registered/licensed nurse in their jurisdiction. Typical admission requirements include:

• A completed Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent) with an academic record that demonstrates capability for graduate study; a competitive grade-point average is generally required.
• Current, active registration/licensure as a registered nurse.
• Relevant clinical experience, often at least one to two years of professional nursing practice; applicants for advanced clinical streams typically need demonstrable practice experience in relevant settings.
• Supporting documents: curriculum vitae, personal statement outlining professional goals and reasons for graduate study, and academic references (and sometimes a professional reference).
• Where required, proof of English language proficiency from recognised tests if previous study or professional registration was not in English.

Some streams (for example, advanced practice or nurse practitioner pathways) may involve additional selection processes such as interviews, evidence of supervised clinical practice, or specified prerequisite coursework (e.g. advanced pharmacology or health assessment) if not completed previously.

Career prospects

Graduates of the UNB Master of Nursing move into a broad range of roles across clinical practice, education, research and administration. Common career trajectories include:

• Advanced Clinical Roles: nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or advanced practice nurse working in primary care, emergency care, community health, mental health or specialty services.
• Education and Professional Development: nursing educator roles in universities, colleges and clinical education departments.
• Research and Policy: positions in health services research, applied clinical research teams, policy development and program evaluation.
• Leadership and Management: roles in clinical unit management, quality improvement, health service administration and nursing leadership positions in hospitals and community organisations.

The programme also prepares graduates for doctoral study (PhD) if they wish to pursue academic or high-level research careers.

Why study at University of New Brunswick

UNB offers nursing graduate education within a research-informed and practice-focused environment with close links to regional health authorities and community partners. Students benefit from:

• Established clinical partnerships: opportunities for supervised practice across acute, primary care and community settings through links with regional hospitals and health networks.
• Research supervision: access to faculty active in health services, primary care, rural health and population health research, enabling thesis and applied research projects on relevant provincial and national issues.
• Simulation and learning resources: clinical skills labs and simulation facilities that support advanced assessment and decision-making training.
• Supportive cohort and flexible delivery: small cohort sizes, options for part-time study and a combination of on-campus and blended learning to accommodate working nurses.
• Regional relevance: particular strengths in rural and primary care practice, Indigenous health partnerships and community-focused models of care, reflecting health priorities in New Brunswick and similar jurisdictions.

Together these features make UNB’s master’s-level nursing study suited to nurses seeking a practical route to advanced practice, research-led careers or leadership positions in health care.