Master of Health Studies

All applications for admission must be submitted electronically using the online systems described below. Applications will not be accepted by mail or fax. Application fees are not refundable.

Application deadlines

The Faculty of Health Disciplines typically recommends that students start the application process at least 12-16 weeks prior to the application deadline (noted in the chart below). Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. It may take 8-12 weeks after the deadline to receive an admission decision.

These deadlines are final, and no exceptions will be granted. There are no appeals to admissions decisions. Incomplete or late applications are not assessed nor retained for consideration for admission the following year.

 

Step 1: Apply to be an AU graduate learner

The application process has 2 parts. You must first apply to become a graduate learner at Athabasca University and then apply to your program.

Complete the Graduate Program Application Form through the AU Office of the Registrar online services to receive your student ID number, which is needed to apply for your specific program.

Current/returning students

1. Click here and login with your existing AU student ID number. Once logged in, click on "Change of Program".
2. Click on the "Graduate Application" and complete the required steps.
3. Be sure to select the appropriate graduate program.

New to AU

1. Click here, and click on "Apply Now" under the Graduate Application heading in the middle of the screen.
2. You will be assigned an AU student ID number, which will be used to access all AU services and resources.
3. Be sure to select the appropriate graduate program.

Step 2: Pay the application fee

As part of the AU graduate program application process, pay your non-refundable application fee.

Step 3: Apply to your program

Once you have received your student ID number and paid your fee, log into your myAU account to begin the program application process. You will complete your program application using the Faculty of Health Disciplines' Graduate Student Admission System (GSAS).

In your GSAS application, please select the same program as you did in Step 1.

As part of the application process, you will provide information related to:

• Academic background
• Work and volunteer experience
• Professional development activities
• Rationale for applying to the program and other pertinent information

You can log into your GSAS application and change your information at any time during the application process. However, once you finalize and submit your GSAS application for review, it can no longer be modified. You will be able to track completion of various components of the online application through the GSAS Application Checklist after submission (receipt of reference forms and hardcopy documents). You do not need to wait for your Hardcopy Materials Package to be confirmed as received before submitting your online application for review, however, the Hardcopy Materials Package must be received no later than your chosen application deadline.

To check your application status, return to the GSAS application, not myAU.

Letter of reference

Letters of reference are submitted electronically within the online application process; paper copies will not be accepted. Each applicant is required to provide 3 official letters of reference, including providing the email address of each referee. At least 1 of the letters of reference should come from someone familiar with your academic skills. If an academic reference is not provided, you will be asked to explain within the application why you were unable to meet this requirement.

All referees must be able to provide an objective assessment of your background and capabilities with respect to the prospective graduate program. Letters from friends, family members, clients, colleagues, pastors, or people currently registered in an AU graduate program, or general reference letters (letters that are not written in support of your application to the particular graduate program) are not acceptable. For professional or employment references, please select individuals who are familiar with your work, preferably if they have supervised you in some way.

You must submit current letters of reference with your application, even if you have previously applied to an AU graduate program.

Note: The application system does not allow changes in the References section after the application deadline (e.g., to modify a referee email address, changes a referee, etc.).

• Counselling Programs Reference Assistance, contact: gcapgradapply@athabascau.ca
• Nursing and Health Studies Reference Assistance, contact: cnhsgradapply@athabascau.ca

Step 4: Submit required hardcopy materials

We accept transcripts sent through MyCreds™, Parchment, My eQuals, by mail (in a sealed envelope directly from the institution attended), or email (directly from the institution attended). Please see the instructions below.

If transcripts are sent by mail, they should be assembled in one package and sent to the address below. Please print the Hardcopy Application Material Checklist and include this form with your completed hardcopy application package.

Assemble and then send all required hardcopy information. Photocopies, unsealed/opened transcripts, and transcripts sent as attachments via personal email are considered unofficial and will not be accepted. Send your hardcopy information when you have compiled all the required materials with sufficient time to be received by the Faculty of Health Disciplines and date stamped by the application deadline.

When assembled, send your hardcopy materials to:

Graduate Programs
Faculty of Health Disciplines
Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
Canada

If transcripts are sent by email, they must be received electronically directly from the post-secondary institution to our program office. Please use the following email in your transcript request:

cnhsgradapply@athabascau.ca (Nursing and Health Studies applicants)

gcapgradapply@athabascau.ca (Counselling applicants)

You may also send any additional required documents (e.g., verification of registered nursing (RN) hours and licensure, English language proficiency assessment) by email from the email address you have provided in the program application. Please scan these documents and email them with your full name and student ID number in the email body.

Required hardcopy materials

Official transcripts

Request and submit official transcripts from ALL institutions (including Athabasca University, if applicable) regardless of the number of courses taken or the amount of time spent there. Please note the following:

• To be considered official, transcripts in your package must be:
  • mailed directly from the institution, received in envelopes that have been sealed and endorsed by the issuing institution,
  • emailed directly from the institution, or
  • submitted through MyCreds™, Parchment, My eQuals, or another approved electronic document-sharing platform.
  • Athabasca University transcripts shared through MyCreds: please review the information in the MyCreds Sharing Documents webpage, and watch the video ‘How to share a document to a recipient’s email’ prior to requesting transcripts for our programs. Do not share to Organization. The transcripts will be shared to the incorrect administrative unit.
  • please request that your transcripts be shared to the program specific email address: cnhsgradapply@athabascau.ca (Nursing and Health Studies applicants) gcapgradapply@athabascau.ca (Counselling applicants)
  • Transcripts shared to Athabasca University (Organization) will be delayed. Late transcripts will not be accepted.
• Only send your transcripts one of the ways listed above, not more than one.
• Do not include transcripts from high school.
• Transcripts must state the degree awarded and must be dated within 1 year of the application deadline.
• To prevent loss or delay of transcripts sent by mail, we recommend that applicants utilize mail tracking to ensure that their package arrives on time.
• Official translated transcripts must be submitted for applicants with transcripts issued in a language other than English (Canadian French language post-secondary institutions included).

Additional materials for Internationally-Educated Applicants (all programs)

• Applicants with international credit (completed outside Canada and the US) must request a course-by-course educational assessment from a member of the  Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (members include: World Education Services ( WES) or International Credential Evaluation Service ( ICES)). The assessment must be dated within 5 years of the application deadline. If your assessment was issued more than 5 years prior to the deadline, it must be reassessed or reissued by the credentialing agency prior to your package submission. We require that the official evaluation/assessment report be mailed to our program office directly from the credentialing agency to the program office. Unsealed evaluations received from applicants will not be accepted.
• Official translated transcripts must be submitted for applicants with transcripts issued in a language other than English (Canadian French language post-secondary institutions included).
• Applicants without Canadian citizenship must provide a photocopy of permanent resident documentation.
• Proof of English language proficiency. See the English language proficiency requirements.

Note: All transcripts, references, test scores, and other documents become the property of Athabasca University and will not be returned to the applicants or forwarded to another program or institute.

Additional materials for Master of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner and Post-Masters Diploma – Nurse Practitioner ONLY

You must provide the following documents in your Hardcopy Application Package:

• Photocopy of current nursing registration (the registration and licensure must be in the provincial jurisdiction where the student will be completing their NP clinical practicum hours,
• Copy of current Basic Life Support (BLS) Certificate,
• Photocopy of nurse practitioner (NP) license (if applicable), and
• Letter of verification (from employer or provincial regulatory body) confirming 5,000 hours of recent clinical practice as a registered nurse.

Step 5: Track your application status

Track receipt of your hardcopy documents and your application status by logging into your Graduate Student Admission System (GSAS) application.

Nursing/Health Studies applicants

Counselling applicants

It is your responsibility to ensure that all components of your application package have been received by the Faculty of Health Disciplines (FHD) program office and date-stamped no later than the application deadline.

Allow sufficient time prior to the deadline for the assembled package containing transcripts, etc. to be received by the FHD program office. Begin the application process early—we recommend that you prepare your application package and mail or email it to our program office at least 8 weeks before your chosen deadline. Late documents will not be accepted.

Please ensure that your former institution does not send your transcripts directly to Athabasca University's Office of the Registrar. You must assemble and mail/courier/email the Hardcopy Materials Package directly to the Faculty of Health Disciplines Graduate Program Office (address or emails listed above).

Once your file has been reviewed the status of your application will be updated online. It is your responsibility to continue to check you GSAS application for updated information. Due to the large volume of applications, the FHD administrative staff are unable to provide information on the status of your application by phone or email.

As already stated, application deadlines are final, and no exceptions will be granted. There are no appeals to admission decisions. Incomplete or late application packages will not be assessed nor retained for consideration for admission the following year.

Please read all the application procedures carefully before you begin the application process.

Visiting students and prospective students who have not yet been admitted to the Master of Health Studies or Master of Nursing program may be permitted to register in up to 5 approved MHST or NURS courses on a first-come, first-served basis, space permitting.

Registered nurses in good standing with a Master of Nursing and Nurse Practitioner preparation seeking to return to practice after a period of inactivity may be approved to register in up to 5 courses as a non-program student. Recommendation for the student's learning plan shall be obtained by the student from the College of Registered Nurses in the province where the student wishes to be licensed.

Students who wish to add a Family All Ages designation to their license may be approved to register in a maximum of 5 courses as a non-program student. The number of courses to be taken will depend on the student's individualized learning plan as recommended by their province's College of Registered Nurses. Additional courses may be required by the Nurse Practitioner Program Council.

Courses taken as a non-program student can be applied toward the Master of Health Studies or Master of Nursing program requirements, when a student becomes a program student. Grades on courses completed as a non-program student will be considered in the admission process. However, successful completion of courses as a non-program student does not guarantee admission into the Master of Health Studies or Master of Nursing program.

Non-program student application deadlines

The following deadlines apply to non-program students:

• May 15 for Fall session courses (September to December)
• Sep. 15 for Winter session courses (January to April)
• Jan. 15 for Spring session courses (May to August)

Late applications are not assessed nor retained for future consideration.

Steps in the application process

New non-program students must complete and submit a non-program application and then register in their chosen courses. Current non-program students do not have to submit a non-program application. You can just register in your chosen courses.

Non-program application

Must be completed by all new non-program students.

Following are the procedures required to apply as a Centre of Nursing Health Studies (CNHS) non-program student. It is strongly recommended that you print and read this entire document prior to proceeding with your application. Failure to complete all steps will result in your application not being reviewed for approval or processed.

Note: Transcripts are not required for CNHS non-program applications.

1. 1. You must first log in by clicking the Login link (left-hand side, under the General heading);
   2. Click on Graduate Application and complete the required steps;
   3. Be sure to select "Non-program application for the Centre for Nursing and Health Studies." Do not select a major;
   4. You are required to pay the CNHS Non-Program Application Fee (which is a separate fee than the Program Application Fee) even if you have already applied to a program.
      Note that all application fees are non-refundable—review the Centre for Nursing and Health Studies graduate fees. Complete the Application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies online through the Office of the Registrar at Athabasca University. Disregard the request for official transcripts.
      
      Important: If you have been a student at Athabasca University (AU) or have received an AU student ID number as part of a previous application:
   
   If you are new to AU, then you will be required to complete steps b to d as noted above. You will be assigned a student ID number. Your AU student ID number will be used to access all AU services and resources.
   
   
2. Proceed to the Centre for Nursing and Health Studies Graduate Student Admission System.
3. Select the non-program option to start your CNHS non-program application.
4. Complete all components of the online non-program application. Each component must be finalized.
5. Click on the "Proceed to Final Review" button in the checklist after all components have been completed and submitted. At that point you will no longer have access to view or modify your application.
6. You can make changes or additions to your application at any time prior to the application deadline (and prior to submitting your application for final review). You will be able to track completion of various components of the online application through an online application checklist. To check your application status, use the link provided in Step 2 above.
7. The status of your application will appear as "Under Review" if all steps have been completed and the application has been submitted for final review. All applications will be reviewed for acceptance during the 2-week period prior to the course registration deadline. Note that telephone confirmation will not be provided.
8. If the status of your application appears as "Review Complete," your application has been processed. Click on the link beside your status to review the results of your application.

Non-program course registration deadlines

The following deadlines are for non-program course registrations:

• June 15 for Fall session courses (September to December)
• Oct. 15 for Winter session courses (January to April)
• Feb. 15 for Spring session courses (May to August)

Register in courses

New non-program students must complete and submit their Non-Program Application prior to registering in courses. Existing non-program students can proceed to registering in courses.

1. View course offerings to review the syllabus for your course selection. Note: Non-program students cannot normally register for NURS 522, NURS 524, NURS 526, NURS 528, NURS 530, MHST/NURS 611, MHST/NURS 719, or MHST/NURS 720. Please contact fhdgradadvise@athabascau.ca to request an exception. Access to courses will depend on availability with priority given to program students.
2. Review Centre for Nursing and Health Studies graduate fees. Ensure you include the appropriate Course Tuition Fee as well as the Athabasca University Graduate Student Association (AUGSA) Fee.
3. For those students taking a FHD course through the Western Dean's Agreement, online registration cannot be completed. Refer to the second paragraph in step 4 below. Note that the fully completed and approved Western Dean's Authorization Form must be received in the CNHS office by the applicable course registration deadline noted below.
4. Complete the online course registration—refer to Course regulations and procedures. Ensure you are aware of the applicable course withdrawal regulations. Contact the FHD program office at cnhsgrad@athabascau.ca at least 1 month before the applicable course registration deadline.
5. Tuition paid by student loans: you must contact the Student Financial Aid Office at Athabasca University 3 months prior to your anticipated start date to ensure funding is in place for your start date. For more information, contact AU Student Financial Aid. Students are required to pay out-of-pocket for their courses while they await reimbursement from their student loans.
6. Late registrations will not be accepted.

Course registration

It is the student's responsibility to register by the course registration deadline and ensure that all prerequisite requirements are fulfilled. If a student registers in a course that they are not eligible to take, the registration will be cancelled and the tuition fee refunded. The tuition will not be applied to an alternative course.

NURS 675, NURS 676, and NURS 678 are Master of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner practicum courses. All clinical practice must be completed in Canada and the student must hold current registered nurse licensure in the province where they are completing their clinical practice program.

If a preceptor request is not received by the appropriate deadline as outlined in each student’s Clinical Practicum Guide, the student will be automatically withdrawn from the corresponding course. Students taking clinical courses are required to submit proof of a criminal record check, respiratory fit testing, and current immunization status, at the student’s expense, before they are accepted as a practicum student. Participating health authorities may require additional documentation.

Course registration procedures

Log in at the Office of the Registrar Online Services site and select "Register for a Course."

Please refer to your Academic schedule for all applicable registration deadlines.

For other forms of registration, please contact the Faculty of Health Disciplines.

Course re-registration

Students will be permitted 1 registration and 1 re-registration in each course. Courses for which students withdraw from prior to the start date or within the first 30 days of the course start date will not count towards this total. Subsequent registrations in the same course require approval of the appropriate  graduate program director or designate.

Students may not re-register in a course in which they have attained a passing grade. Students seeking to re-register in a course from which they have previously withdrawn in good standing or received a final course grade of F must pay the full course tuition fee. Students re-registering in a course will be required to complete all course requirements. Assignments completed previously cannot be carried forward or re-submitted when re-registering in a course. Practicum hours in the nurse practitioner program must be repeated in full when re-registering in NURS 675, NURS 676, and/or NURS 678.

Course withdrawal

Students may withdraw from a course up until 1 month before the end of the session (refer to the current Academic schedule). To withdraw from a course, students submit a Graduate Course Withdrawal Formto their program office. The date of withdrawal will be the date of the emailed form.

Learners who withdraw from a course any time after their course registration is finalized and up until the early withdrawal deadline (1 month after the course start date) will have the record of registration deleted from their official transcript and will be refunded the course tuition less the Course Withdrawal Processing Fee. Do not return course materials (if applicable) as there will be no additional refund.

Learners who withdraw from a course after the first month of the course start date and before the last month of the course will have their official record and transcript indicate that they withdrew without credit and without prejudice or academic penalty (W). No fees will be refunded for withdrawals after the first month of a course.

Learners may not withdraw from a course within 30 days of the final day of the course.

A learner will only be allowed to withdraw from a core course 2 times (non-medical) before being asked to leave the program. Continued enrolment and withdrawing from a course—in particular a core course—is interpreted as the inability to successfully meet the academic requirements of the program.

Course extensions

In exceptional circumstances, and where the course instructor concurs, students can receive a 1-month extension to complete and submit their course work.

Students must receive written permission from the appropriate graduate program director or designate to extend their course and must submit an Extension Request Form and pay the Course Extension Fee. One month after the original course completion date, a final grade will be assigned to the course based on the assignments completed prior to that date. If no assignments have been submitted, a final grade of F will be assigned.

Thesis continuations

Thesis students will be permitted one continuation of up to 12 months in which to complete course requirements of MHST/NURS 719, and 1 continuation of up to 12 months in which to complete course requirements of MHST/NURS 720. A continuation fee equivalent to one 3-credit course registration will apply to each continuation.

For each continuation, students obtain the approval of their thesis supervisor and program director when submitting the Thesis Continuation Request Form and the continuation fee.

Grading system

Some MHST/NURS courses are pass/fail. The remainder are graded using a percentage system. A minimum of C- (60%) is required to pass any course, however, some course minimums are higher. Please visit the Evaluation section of each course syllabus for that course's assessment structure. Students must achieve a B- (70%) overall average to graduate.

All final course percentage grades are converted and recorded on student transcripts according to the Alpha/4.0 grading scale.

Please review the Graduate Grading Policy and information about academic records on the Office of the Registrar site for more information on grading scales.

Late assignments

Late assignments may be penalized 5% for each day that they are late. Late assignments will not be accepted after 5 days unless there are extenuating circumstances that have been discussed with the instructor before the assignment deadline, and the instructor has agreed to extend the deadline.

Transfer credit and letter of permission

Students wishing to take graduate courses from other institutions and/or wishing to transfer graduate credit from coursework completed at other institutions may apply to receive credit towards the completion of a Centre for Nursing and Health Studies (CNHS) graduate program for up to a combined total of 15 credits.

Letter of permission to complete a course at another university

Students enrolled in Centre for Nursing and Health Studies (CNHS) programs may take up to 5 graduate-level courses (15 credits) from other post-secondary institutions in fulfillment of the program requirements, provided such courses are applicable to the CNHS program. Students are not normally permitted to seek credit for core program courses from other institutions.

Students wishing to take courses from other institutions must obtain and submit a detailed course outline, Letter of Permission Request Form, and the appropriate Letter of Permission Fee to the Faculty of Health Disciplines office for review. If approved, the Office of the Registrar will issue a Letter of Permission.

Students may take courses through the Western Dean's Agreement and submit a form through the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

To allow for the paperwork, requests for a Letter of Permission or a Western Dean's Agreement course should be made at least 1 month before the registration deadline at the institution where the student plans to complete the course. To receive credit for the course, an official transcript must be submitted to the CNHS office after the course is completed.

Transfer credit

Some students may have completed course work at other post-secondary institutions that is applicable to the Centre for Nursing and Health Studies (CNHS) graduate programs. Students seeking transfer credit are required to submit to the CNHS a written request including supporting rationale, official transcripts (if these were not submitted in support of their application for admission), detailed course descriptions and outlines for such courses, and appropriate fees.

Transfer credit application informationThe program director will review such work to determine if the student should be awarded transfer credit and/or "not to takes" for specific courses in the student's CNHS program. Only graduate-level courses that were successfully completed with a final grade of B (75%, or 3.0 on a 4-point scale) or higher within the last 10 years will be considered for transfer credit. Students may apply for transfer credit for up to 15 credits of graduate study from other post-secondary institutions in fulfillment of the program requirements. Transfer credit for 500-level courses in the nurse practitioner program must have been completed in the past 5 years.

Stale dating of courses

CNHS clinical courses (NURS 518, NURS 522, NURS 524, NURS 526, NURS 527, NURS 528, NURS 530, NURS 531, NURS 675, NURS 676, NURS 678) will be stale dated 5 years after completion in the Master of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner program. These courses will not be stale dated in the Master of Nursing – Generalist or Master of Health Studies program when a Master of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner learner changes to the Master of Nursing – Generalist program.

Faculty of Health Disciplines theory courses (i.e. all courses except those listed above) will not be stale dated; this applies for the Master of Health Studies, Master of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner, and Master of Nursing – Generalist programs.

Clinical Placement

FHD students in a clinical placement are bound by the Clinical Placement Misconduct Policy. Any actions or behaviours that fall under the scope of the university’s Academic Misconduct Policy, Non-Academic Misconduct Policy, or Academic Integrity Policy will continue to be dealt with under those policies.

Grade appeals

A student may appeal any grade assigned to written assignments or participation that contribute to the student’s final course grade. If appealing a grade assigned to group work, the entire group must submit the appeal and the entire group will receive the subsequent outcome of the remark. Appeals must be submitted within 30 days from the time that the students receive the mark for the assignment being appealed.

Face-to-face class presentations and demonstration examinations that cannot be reproduced in original format are not open to appeal on substantive grounds. The student shall determine whether the grounds of their appeal are substantive or procedural and follow the appropriate guidelines.

Academic grade appeals on substantive grounds

The student shall FIRST contact the course instructor who assigned the grade to discuss the grade in question. If the student is dissatisfied with the outcome of the meeting with the course instructor, the student shall forward the Appeal Request Form and provide the reason for the appeal as well as include all additional information or documentation you wish to have considered to the CNHS graduate administrative assistant at cnhsgrad@athabascau.ca.

The program director will review submitted documentation and determine if there are grounds for an appeal. If so, the program director or designate will forward the written assignment/examination to a second marker who is familiar with the course and assignment/examination expectations, but who is unaware of the grade originally assigned to the assignment/examination or the feedback of the original marker provided.

The assignment/examination will be remarked and the grade awarded communicated to the student within 1 month of the request for remarking. The appeal of a grade, and subsequent remarking, will result in 1 of 3 possible outcomes: (1) the grade remains the same; (2) the grade is raised; (3) the grade is lowered. The resulting grade will be the grade that is used to calculate the student’s final, composite grade in the course whether that grade is higher, lower, or the same.

If the student is dissatisfied with the result of the remarking, the student may appeal in writing to the dean of the Faculty of Health Disciplines within 1 month of the second marking. The student must specify in detail the reasons for making the appeal and enclose all additional information or documentation they wish to be considered. The dean shall review the case, consulting as needed with faculty, staff, the student concerned, and other persons they consider appropriate.

The dean shall inform the student in writing of the decision within 1 month of the appeal. The dean’s decision of an appeal on substantive academic grounds shall be final. A copy of the correspondence will be kept in the student’s file.

Academic appeal on procedural grounds

For information related to appeals on procedural grounds please consult with the program director, or reference the Athabasca University Calendar Student Code of Conduct and Right to Appeal Regulations.

The following fees apply to all CNHS graduate programs and courses, unless specifically noted otherwise.

Course tuition fees (includes all required materials)

¹The course tuition fees include a Course Administration and Technology Fee of $58, a Course Materials Fee of $37, and Athabasca University Graduate Students Association (AUGSA) Fees of $14 per credit.

Students applying for financial assistance should apply for funding a minimum of 3 months before the applicable course registration deadline.

Estimated program tuition cost for MN and MHS students (2024–2025):

The total tuition cost for a student living in Canada who takes all courses from Athabasca University would be $20,526 ($1,866 x 11 three-credit course equivalents). AUGSA fees are included in this calculation. Application and admission fees are not included in the above calculation.

Other fees

²The Course Withdrawal Processing Fee is a mandatory administrative fee charged when a student withdraws from a course. For early withdrawal only, the student will be refunded the full course tuition fees less the Course Withdrawal Processing Fee. Refer to course withdrawal.

Special course related fees