International Baccalaureate (IB) – Program Specific Admission Requirements

How to Apply

Current Ontario high school applicants (regardless of status in Canada) and domestic applicants (Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident) apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) using the Undergraduate Application. International applicants (except current Ontario high school applicants) who are studying in Canada on a study permit or studying in another country with no current status in Canada apply using the Nipissing University International Application.

Required Documents

  • Applicants who are on track to completing individual IB courses or the IB diploma should ensure that their school sends any final and/or predicted grades directly to Nipissing University.
  • To meet the conditions of your offer of admission, final official IB transcripts must be sent directly to Nipissing University by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). Connect with your Guidance Counsellor for further information regarding transcripts or visit the IBO website.

Other Admission Policies

General Admission Requirements

Applicants who have successfully completed the IB diploma with at least six subjects, including three at the higher level (HL), with a minimum final score of 24 (not including bonus points), will be considered for admission. Applicants must meet program specific prerequisites.

Program Specific Admission Requirements

Bachelor of Arts

Minimum Score for Admission Consideration: 24


Majors: Anthropology, Child and Family Studies, Classical Studies, Criminal Justice (Corrections, Criminal Justice Studies, Criminology, Policing), English Studies, Environmental Geography, Gender Equality and Social Justice, Geography, History1, Indigenous Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religions and Cultures, Social Welfare and Social Development2, Sociology, Undeclared

Prerequisite Requirements: HL or SL English


Major: Economics

Prerequisite Requirements: HL or SL English; one of HL or SL Analysis and Approaches or HL or SL Applications and Interpretation


Majors: Computer Science, Mathematics

Prerequisite Requirements: HL or SL English; one of HL or SL Analysis and Approaches or HL Applications and Interpretation


1 Applicants interested in the Bachelor of Arts (History) with an Orientation to a Master of Arts in History require a minimum score of 30 for admission consideration. This is a highly competitive, limited enrollment program. The average required for admission may be higher than the stated minimum.

2 Nipissing also offers a joint Bachelor of Arts (Social Welfare and Social Development)/Social Service Worker diploma with Canadore College. Students in this program will spend one year at Canadore and graduate with both their degree and diploma in 4 years.

Bachelor of Business Administration

Minimum Score for Admission Consideration: 24

Prerequisite Requirements: HL or SL English; one of HL or SL Analysis and Approaches or HL Applications and Interpretation. Applicants admitted without one of the math courses will be required to complete MATH 1911 and/or MATH 1912 in their first year.

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Minimum Score for Admission Consideration: 24

Prerequisite Requirements: HL or SL English

Bachelor of Physical and Health Education

Minimum Score for Admission Consideration: 241

Prerequisite Requirements: HL or SL English; HL or SL Biology (HL or SL Chemistry and one of one of HL or SL Analysis and Approaches or HL or SL Applications and Interpretation is recommended)


1 The BPHE program is a highly competitive, limited enrollment program. The average required for admission may be higher than the stated minimum.

Bachelor of Science

Minimum Score for Admission Consideration: 24


Major: Biology

Prerequisite Requirements: HL or SL English; HL or SL Biology; HL or SL Chemistry; one of HL or SL Analysis and Approaches or HL Applications and Interpretation


Major: Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics

Prerequisite Requirements: HL or SL English; one of HL or SL Analysis and Approaches or HL Applications and Interpretation; one of HL or SL Biology, HL or SL Chemistry or HL or SL Physics


Major: Environmental Biology and Technology

Prerequisite Requirements: HL or SL English; HL or SL Biology; HL or SL Chemistry; one of HL or SL Analysis and Approaches or HL or SL Applications and Interpretation


Major: Environment and Physical Geography

Prerequisite Requirements: HL or SL English; one of HL or SL Analysis and Approaches or HL or SL Applications and Interpretation; one of HL or SL Chemistry or HL or SL Physics


Major: Psychology

Prerequisite Requirements: HL or SL English; one of HL or SL Analysis and Approaches or HL or SL Applications and Interpretation; one of HL or SL Biology, HL or SL Chemistry or HL or SL Physics

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Minimum Score for Admission Consideration: 241

Prerequisite Requirements: HL or SL English; HL or SL Biology; HL or SL Chemistry (one of HL or SL Analysis and Approaches or HL or SL Applications and Interpretation is recommended)


1 The BScN program is a highly competitive, limited enrollment program. The score required for admission may be higher than the stated minimum. The cut-off has ranged from 31 to 34 over the last five years.

Bachelor of Social Work

Minimum Score for Admission Consideration: 24

Prerequisite Requirements: HL or SL English (minimum grade of 4)

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Commerce

Minimum Score for Admission Consideration: 24

Prerequisite Requirements: The regular requirements for the BA or BSc major to which you are interested in applying to.

Undergraduate Degree with Concurrent Education

Minimum Score for Admission Consideration: 24

Prerequisite Requirements: The regular requirements for the Honours undergraduate program you select to complete with Concurrent Education. In addition, you will need to present HL or SL English with a minimum grade of 4 and one of HL or SL Analysis and Approaches or HL or SL Applications and Interpretation with a minimum grade of 3.