Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Nursing students at MGH Institute of Health Professions don’t just learn about providing health care. Through clinical placements and scholarly projects, you will also learn about how providing health care can change the world. All ABSN students are in clinical at MGH for their first two semesters.

The Dr. Charles A. and Ann Sanders IMPACT Practice Center houses the Ruth Sleeper Nursing Center for Clinical Education and Wellness, a nurse-led screening, referral, education, and support resource for Charlestown and Greater Boston-area residents.

The IMPACT Practice Center enables student teams from across the health professions to deliver integrated services as part of their uniprofessional and interprofessional clinical education.  By providing this free care under the  supervision of the Institute's practicing clinician faculty, students enrolled in the nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, speech-language pathology, and genetic counseling programs receive a priceless benefit: real-life experience.

Students provide care to a variety of clients, tackling complex problems, supported by the latest technology and state-of-the-art facilities. Client populations include those with chronic conditions across the lifespan.

The MGH IHP is committed to accepting students from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. The application materials submitted should reflect the applicants complete academic background, outline their motivation for pursuing a nursing career, and inspire confidence that the applicant will be successful at IHP.  The admissions committee is particularly interested in your service to the community; evidence of compassion, leadership and professionalism; and your understanding and commitment to inclusivity.  If you feel that you have overcome significant life challenges, please outline what those challenges have been and how you have overcome them. 

All materials submitted are carefully reviewed after a file is complete, and a variety of factors are used to determine eligibility, including:

• Cumulative undergraduate GPA 3.0 or above is preferred
• Prerequisites coursework with a minimum letter grade of C+ or higher, completed within the last 7 years
• Consistently strong references, and well written personal statements
• Up-to-date resume

Baccalaureate Degree Requirement

Admission into the ABSN program requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited US college or university. An applicant’s bachelor's degree may be in-progress at a US institution at the time of application, provided proof of baccalaureate completion is provided prior to matriculation into the ABSN program. Applicants who are graduates from outside the US, please see the “Transcripts” section below for additional evaluation requirements.

Prerequisite Coursework

Completion of the courses listed below is required to satisfy the ABSN program's prerequisite requirements.  They must be taken at a fully accredited college or university where college credit and a transcript are earned.

All of these courses are offered online by the MGH Institute. Learn more about our online prerequisites or select a course below to view its description.

• Chemistry (no lab): Basic Chemistry, Intro to Chemistry, or Intro to Chemistry for Health Professions will be accepted.
• Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 & 2 (no lab) or Human Anatomy (no lab) and Human Physiology (no lab).
• Human Growth & Development (aka: Developmental Psychology): Course must cover lifespan including physical, cognitive, and emotional development.
• Microbiology: Must include content on microbes. No lab component is required.
• Human Nutrition: Exercise, sport, or weight control courses do not meet this requirement.
• Statistics: Must include inferential statistics.

Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the last seven (7) years. Time is measured from the time of course completion to the time of anticipated matriculation. Applicants with extenuating circumstances may apply for a waiver of the 7-year policy by completing and submitting the ABSN Prerequisite Time Limit Waiver Form. (Example: Courses completed in or after the Spring 2017 term will be accepted for the Spring 2024 admissions cycle)

Applicants may have prerequisite coursework planned or in process at the time of application with no more than two (2) outstanding prerequisites during the semester prior to anticipated matriculation. (Example: An applicant must have only two courses remaining in the Fall 2025 semester, for admissions consideration for the Spring 2026 admissions cycle) 

Important: All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to starting the program.

Complete and submit our ABSN Prerequisite Inquiry Form if you have any questions about prerequisite course equivalency and/or suitability. Upon submission of the form, replies can be expected by email within 5-7 business days.

TOEFL/ IELTS

The language of instruction and clinical education at the MGH Institute is English and a high level of proficiency in both written and spoken English is required.  Applicants who have not completed either an undergraduate or graduate program where English is the language of instruction must demonstrate English Language proficiency as part of your application to the MGH Institute of Health Professions.  If you have questions about the language requirements, please contact the Office of Admissions.

• Applicants who are citizens of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Guyana, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean are not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
• Applicants who are candidates for graduation from an accredited degree-granting program in the United States or at an English-speaking school in one of the countries listed above are also not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Acceptance to the IHP will be contingent upon successful completion of this degree prior to matriculation.

Please note that in some circumstances, demonstrating English language proficiency may be required by the academic program even if you are a citizen of a country in which the (or one of the) national language(s) is English. Decisions about the need for TOEFL or IELTS scores are at the discretion of the academic program to which you are applying in coordination with the department of OES.

The IHP accepts either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The test must have been taken within two years of the application deadline and official score reports are required. The minimum TOEFL (internet-based) score accepted is 89 and the minimum IELTS score accepted is 6.5.  

• To forward your TOEFL score please contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS).  The MGH Institute of Health Professions code is 3513.
• For IELTS, a Test Report Form may be mailed to MGH Institute of Health Professions and score information will be verified by the IHP directly. You may designate up to 5 schools to receive Test Report Forms at the time you register for the test.  To request additional Test Report Forms, contact your test center.

Please contact the Office of Admissions if you have any questions about the MGH Institute’s English Language requirements. 

Applicants are required to submit an official transcript from each college and/or university attended directly to NursingCAS, even if a degree was not received from that institution. For transcripts to be considered official they must be in their original signed and sealed envelopes when received. Please visit our Program Page in NursingCAS for additional information and requirements.

Transcripts from an institution where a student participated in a study abroad program (completed as part of an undergraduate program) are not required for the application process if an applicant is not using the courses to fulfill prerequisites. If an applicant is planning on using study abroad courses to fulfill prerequisites, the foreign transcript is required to be evaluated by one of our approved credential evaluation services.

Applicants that have earned a degree from a non-US institution are required to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation from InSpring or one of the following NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) members: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., SpanTran: The Evaluation Company, World Education Services (WES), or the Center for Educational Documentation. If you earned your bachelor's degree outside of the U.S. this credential evaluation must document minimum equivalency of a US baccalaureate degree or higher.

Personal Statement

A personal statement is required for all applicants and must be submitted directly to NursingCAS. The prompt should address:

In what way(s) do you envision that your entry into the nursing profession could help address pertinent issues in nursing? In reference to MGH IHP’s core values, what ways do you envision you will foster an inclusive environment at the IHP. How will you contribute to the IHP community to make it a welcoming and inclusive place to learn?

The personal Statement should be approximately three (3) pages in length, double spaced.

Recommendation Letters

Applicants are required to provide two (2) recommendation letters directly to NursingCAS. Recommendation letters should come from individuals who are able to address your academic ability, character, and integrity, as well as your potential for post-baccalaureate study. At least one letter should come from an academic reference and one should come from a professional reference. No more than four (4) recommendation letters will be reviewed as part of your application.