The UTM nursing program has officially launched at the University of Toronto Mississauga, with its inaugural cohort beginning an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree this fall.
The Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing marked the launch during an event held Oct. 21, 2026, at the Rotunda in UTM’s Innovation Complex.
Faculty members, university leaders, government representatives, clinical partners and students attended the event, which highlighted the program’s goal of expanding access to nursing education in Peel Region and communities west of Toronto.
The new cohort includes 30 students who will complete their academic courses at UTM, receive simulation instruction through the University of Toronto’s nursing faculty and undertake clinical and community placements across the western Greater Toronto Area.
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What the UTM nursing program offers
The UTM nursing program is part of Bloomberg Nursing’s accelerated, two-year BScN degree, which is designed for students who already hold an undergraduate degree or meet the program’s admission requirements.
The Mississauga-based cohort gives students in Peel and surrounding communities the opportunity to study closer to home while preparing for careers in hospitals, community health organizations and other care settings.
According to the faculty, students will complete placements with leading health-care organizations in the western GTA, including Trillium Health Partners.
The university has said that training students in the communities where they live could support local recruitment and improve the likelihood that graduates remain in the region after completing their studies.
The program’s official information states that the UTM cohort will welcome 30 students annually, subject to the university’s admissions process and program requirements.
A response to local health-care needs
University and nursing officials framed the expansion as a response to changing health-care needs across the western GTA.
Robyn Stremler, dean of the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, said the expansion is intended to advance nursing education while supporting more equitable access to health care in areas where services are needed.
At the launch event, Stremler described the initiative as more than an increase in student spaces, saying it is also intended to strengthen the future nursing workforce as communities face increasingly complex health needs.
Trillium Health Partners is among the clinical partners supporting the program.
Terri Irwin, the organization’s executive vice-president of patient care services and chief nursing executive, said students will gain experience across the continuum of care while learning from clinical preceptors and interdisciplinary teams.
That arrangement is expected to connect classroom learning with the needs of patients and providers in Mississauga, Brampton and other communities in the western GTA.
Students bring local experience to the first cohort
The inaugural group includes students with existing connections to the Mississauga campus and the surrounding region.
Abeeha Shuja, one of the first-year students, said her interest in nursing developed while working at a group home supporting children with autism spectrum disorder, developmental delays, dual diagnoses and traumatic brain injuries.
She has also spoken about the importance of improving access to community resources and ensuring that patients are treated as people rather than simply as medical cases.
Jacelynn Su, another member of the cohort, is already a UTM graduate and residence don.
Su said studying nursing at the Mississauga campus allows her to remain connected to the community she built during her first degree.
The university has presented both students as examples of how the new program may help train nurses who understand the communities they will eventually serve.
How the program fits into Bloomberg Nursing’s expansion
The UTM launch is one of two major Bloomberg Nursing expansions announced for 2026.
The faculty also welcomed an inaugural cohort of Nurse Practitioner students at the University of Toronto Scarborough through the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health.
Together, the two initiatives extend nursing education into the eastern and western GTA and are intended to strengthen regional health-care capacity.
The UTM program is offered alongside Bloomberg Nursing’s established BScN program at the St. George campus in downtown Toronto.
Applicants can indicate a preferred campus during the admissions process, although the faculty says campus preferences are considered but not guaranteed.
What happens next
The first UTM nursing cohort will continue its two-year accelerated program through classroom instruction, simulation training and clinical placements.
Students are expected to complete placements in hospitals and community settings throughout the western GTA, giving them practical experience before graduation.
Applications for the BScN program opened Nov. 1, 2026, with the first application step due Jan. 15 and the supplementary application due Feb. 1, according to Bloomberg Nursing’s admissions information.
The faculty says prospective students applying for future intakes can express a preference for the UTM or St. George campus while completing the admissions process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new UTM nursing program?
It is an accelerated two-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered by the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto Mississauga.
How many students are in the first UTM nursing cohort?
The inaugural cohort includes 30 students, and the program is expected to welcome 30 students annually.
Where will UTM nursing students complete clinical placements?
Students will complete clinical and community placements with health-care organizations in Peel Region and the western Greater Toronto Area, including Trillium Health Partners.
When did the UTM nursing program begin?
The program began in fall 2026, with the official launch celebration held on Oct. 21, 2026.
When are applications due for the BScN program?
Bloomberg Nursing lists Jan. 15 as the Step One application deadline and Feb. 1 as the Step Two supplementary application deadline.
Fact-Checked: Key program details, dates, cohort size, placement information and application deadlines were checked against University of Toronto and Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing sources.
Disclaimer: Program offerings, deadlines and admission requirements may change, so applicants should confirm current details directly with Bloomberg Nursing.