Programme Information Booklet - Aga Khan University

School of Nursing and Midwifery
Undergraduate Programme
2013

The University
Founded by His Highness the Aga Khan in 1983, the Aga
Khan University's (AKU) objective is “to be on the
frontiers of scientific and humanistic knowledge” while
inspiring students to be independent learners and
researchers imbued with a spirit of service and respect
for others. In the 30 years since its founding, AKU's
major focus has been in the fields of health and
education. For the decades ahead the University plans to
step beyond success in these areas and become a more
diversified university, both geographically and
scholastically.
The University currently has programmes in eight
countries spread over three continents. In Pakistan, there
is a Medical College; a School of Nursing and Midwifery;
and a 560-bed teaching hospital, Aga Khan University
Hospital; an Institute for Educational Development
offering a PhD and Master of Education degree and
includes Professional Development Centres in northern
Pakistan. In East Africa, the University has a School of
Nursing and Midwifery offering degree and diploma
programmes in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania; and Master
of Medicine programmes in Kenya and Tanzania. These
programmes are supported by a 250-bed teaching
hospital, the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi.
The Institute for Educational Development, East Africa
offers a Master of Education degree as well as certificate
courses out of Dar es Salaam. In London, UK, there is the
Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations that offers
a Master of Arts degree in Muslim Cultures.
The University is also working with the governments of
Afghanistan, Egypt and Syria to improve nursing and
medical education curriculum, teaching standards and
clinical practice.
Faculties of Health Sciences and of Arts and Sciences are
to be set up in Nairobi and Arusha, respectively, and a
Faculty of Arts and Sciences in Karachi. These are part of
the University's plans to introduce new faculties and
undergraduate, graduate and professional programmes.
The University is currently planning the launch of the
Master of Arts in Multi-Media Journalism programme in
Nairobi.
The University is also part of the Aga Khan Development
Network, with links to institutions that can apply the
University's creative solutions in the field. The Network
is a group of development agencies with mandates
ranging from health and education to architecture,
culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster
reduction, the promotion of private sector enterprise and
the revitalisation of historic cities.
As the University expands into new geographical and
academic spheres, the institution seeks to further its
vision as an international university serving primarily
the developing and Muslim worlds. Through its high
academic standard and programmes relevant to the
needs of developing societies, its work as a dialogue
partner with governments on issues of health and
education policy, and its delivery of critical social
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services, the University is redefining education as it
transcends national boundaries and strives to create a
global learning community.
School of Nursing and Midwifery
In 1980, three years prior to the establishment of the
University, Aga Khan University School of Nursing and
Midwifery was established. It became the first
operational academic unit of Aga Khan University and
the first School of Nursing and Midwifery in the country
to be affiliated with a university.
The School of Nursing and Midwifery has also
accomplished many other firsts in Pakistan. It was the
first to start a two-year Post-Registered Nurse Bachelor of
Science in Nursing (Post-RN BScN) programme for
diploma qualified nurses in 1988, the first to start a fouryear
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) in 1997, and
the first to begin a Master of Science (MScN) programme
in 2001.
The University's Founder and Chancellor, His Highness
Prince Karim Aga Khan, provides the vision for School of
Nursing and Midwifery, which in his word is “to raise the
standard and standing of the profession itself, so that it is
accorded the recognition and prestige earned and
deserved by the women whose working lives are
dedicated to the demanding and honourable task of
caring for the sick.”
The School of Nursing and Midwifery aspires towards
becoming a centre of excellence in the region, providing
the highest level of education, promoting and
disseminating knowledge and technology, and providing
education, research and service with particular
relevance to the development of Pakistan, developing
nations and the Muslims Ummah. Following the
University's international mandate, the School of
Nursing and Midwifery is currently working towards
improving the access to and quality of nursing education
initiatives in Pakistan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania,
Afghanistan, Syria and Egypt.
In order to meet its goal to achieve the highest
international quality, the School of Nursing and
Midwifery has forged mutually beneficial and long-term
partnerships with important universities such as
McMaster University, University of Alberta, and the
University of California San Francisco. In collaboration
with its partners, the School of Nursing and Midwifery
has been able to provide unique higher education
opportunities to prepare its faculty members for
distinguished careers in academics and has also been
able to bring international expertise to bear in developing
innovative curricula and evidence-based pedagogies.
The School combines the talents of national and
international faculty with educational and professional
experiences from Pakistan, Africa and North America.
Faculty expertise in clinical practice, education,
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management and research enriches nursing education of
students across all programmes.
Aga Khan University's School of Nursing and Midwifery
motivates young men and women from all over Pakistan,
and abroad, to choose nursing as a career in order to
strengthen the delivery of healthcare services. In the
process, these young individuals are encouraged to play
a more meaningful role in their nation's development,
and advancement for women, which is in harmony with
the traditions of Islamic society.
Admissions at the School of Nursing and
Midwifery
Admission to the Aga Khan University School of Nursing
and Midwifery (AKU-SONAM) is based on merit and
potential for leadership. Merit will be assessed by several
criteria including scholastic achievements, performance
on the admission test and interviews, productive use of
time and other experiences indicating potential for
leadership.
Fulfilment of basic eligibility requirements or a high
academic score in any single discipline or any other
outstanding achievement alone will not be sufficient for
selection.
There are no quotas and no reserved seats. There are no
admissions against donations. Students from anywhere
in Pakistan and overseas may apply.
Selection to the AKU-SONAM is made with great care
and concern. Its decisions are irrevocable and are not
negotiable.
Programme offered by the SONAM
Applications for the Post RN Bachelor of Science in
Nursing programme are invited in January of each year.
The information provided in this brochure is specific to
the four year Bachelor of Science in Nursing programme;
applications for the 2013 academic year will be invited
from April 1 - May 10, 2013.
This is a four-year academic programme with one year
mandatory Internship (please see details given under
“Service Agreement” below). At the conclusion of five
years, students will be eligible for licensure as a
Registered Nurse.
This programme equips students with knowledge, skills
and attitude needed to practice nursing. It is designed to
prepare clinically competent professional nurses. Upon
completion of the programme, nurses are able to utilize
critical thinking in providing holistic nursing care and
play a role as change agents in nursing practice and
education in any health care setting.
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Requirements for Candidates with
Qualifications other than Pakistani System
of Education
All applicants to the School of Nursing and Midwifery,
local and foreign, who have certificates of education
other than the Pakistani HSC, are required to submit an
equivalence certificate of HSC from the Inter Board
Committee of Chairmen (IBCC). Their offices are located
in Karachi and Islamabad. They may be contacted on the
following addresses:
Islamabad:
Karachi:
342, St 97, G-9/4, Peshawar Morh,
Islamabad. Ph: 051-2852041;
Fax: 051-2280665
Karachi Board of Intermediate Education,
Bakhtiari Youth Centre, North Nazimabad.
Ph: 021-36639878; Fax: 021-36639878
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programme
Eligibility Requirements
Men and women are eligible to apply regardless of age
and marital status.
Applicants having completed their HSC more than 5
years before the date of application should be able to
demonstrate capability to manage university studies
through evidence of recent formal studies of some type.
Academic Eligibility
Pakistani System
Aggregate 50% HSC (Pre-Medical)
British System
Subjects at Ordinary and Advanced level equivalent to
50% of the Higher Secondary Education (Pre-Medical)
in Pakistan.
Required O-level mark sheet must accompany the
application.
African System
Completed at least 12 years in school, achieving a
minimum aggregate of 'C' plain. Achievements in science
subjects, including mathematics and English language
should be grade 'C'.
* Other Certificates of Education
Satisfactory completion of Higher Secondary School with
at least 50% achievement or equivalent.
* Graduates and Postgraduates
Achievement of at least 50% or equivalent in degree
examination including HSC (pre-medical) respectively.
*Applicants with overseas qualifications are required to
procure an equivalence certificate from Inter Board of
Committee of Chairmen (IBCC). Applications cannot
be processed without these equivalence certificates.
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Application for Admission
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programme
Applications for admission to the four-year BScN degree
programme will be accepted between April 1, 2013 to
May 10, 2013. Application material will be available on
the website www.aku.edu.
Submitting an Application
An application for admission must be submitted on the
prescribed application form. Before submitting an
application, candidates must ensure that they have
complied with the instructions given with the application
form. Incomplete applications will not be processed by
the Admission Office. An application is considered
incomplete when the requested documents are not
enclosed with the application.
The following should be submitted with the application
form. Candidates are required to write their name on the
application form as stated on their Secondary School
Certificate.
! Attested copies of mark sheets/transcripts as
applicable
! In Pakistan, the CNIC or 'B' Form as applicable
! For overseas candidates, a copy of the passport pages
where passport number is available
! The Admit Card for candidates writing the
Admission Test
! Application fee: The application fee is nonrefundable;
the fee can be paid online or as a bank
draft in favour of “The Aga Khan University”. Cash,
money orders, postal orders and personal cheques
are not acceptable. For making payments, please
refer to section on “Mode of Payment”
! Application Fee:
For candidates applying from Pakistan:
Rs. 4,500/=
For candidates who will be overseas during the
admission process it is US$ 193.
It remains the responsibility of the candidate to
complete the application requirements according to
the instructions and time schedule. The Admission
Office will not send reminders. Once acknowledged,
an application will not be returned.
Aga Khan University reserves the right to revoke
admission and registration if an application form is
discovered to be inaccurate or incomplete, or if
supporting documents are discovered to be
fraudulent. Any candidate who presents a
fraudulent document in support of an application
for admission may be identified to other universities
and colleges.
Mode of Payment
Candidates may pay their application fee through the
following modes of payment:
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The payment can be made by a demand draft in favour of
“The Aga Khan University” or by online deposit to any
branch of Soneri Bank Limited. The banking details are
as follows:
Title : The Aga Khan University
Account No. : 01021227508
Branch Code: 0024
Branch : The Aga Khan University Branch,
Stadium Road, Karachi
The Original deposit slip given by the bank, which is the
acknowledgement of payment to the bank, should be
submitted with the application form to the Admission
Office.
The completed application form should be posted by
registered mail or sent through a reliable courier service
or delivered in person to the Admission Office from
Monday to Friday, between 9:00 am and 12:00 noon. The
last date to receive applications in the Admission Office
is May 10, 2013. There is no provision for processing
applications after the closing date.
All applications must be mailed to the following address:
Office of the Registrar
Aga Khan University
SONAM Admissions
P.O. Box 3500, Stadium Road
Karachi 74800
Email: sonadmission.query@aku.edu
Repeat Applications
Candidates not successful in their first attempt may
apply again with additional information supporting their
application. A candidate's most recent formal academic
qualification will be used for evaluation purposes.
A fresh application together with necessary
documentation must be submitted for a particular
admission session. The University does not have a policy
of carrying forward applications from one session to
another.
Provisional Applications
The Aga Khan University will accept incomplete
applications from candidates who will be writing their
Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination/
graduation/postgraduate examination in the summer of
2013.
All such applications will be evaluated for admission on
a provisional basis. In cases where provisional admission
is granted, candidates will be required to submit their
(pending) HSC examination or their graduation/
postgraduate examination results in accordance with the
minimum eligibility requirements by the dates specified
in this University brochure.
If the HSC/graduate/postgraduate examination result of a
provisionally admitted candidate is less than the
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minimum eligibility requirement and is not submitted
within the due dates, the admission offer made by the
University will stand cancelled.
It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that pending
results are received in the Admission Office according to
the published schedule.
The AKU Admission Test
All applicants to the BScN Degree programme are
required to write the relevant AKU-SONAM Admission
Test. The Test is administered in English and consists of
multiple choice questions designed to test application of
knowledge, deductive reasoning and problem solving
abilities.
All applicants to the School of Nursing and Midwifery
programmes are required to demonstrate proficiency in
the English language.
For applicants residing overseas, the University will
administer the Admission Test at a centre convenient to
the applicant.
BScN Degree programme: The test comprises sections in
English Language, Mathematics Reasoning, Chemistry,
Biology and Physics. (Please see sample test paper for
details.)
Validity of AKU-SONAM Admission Test Scores
The AKU Admission Test scores are valid for a period of
two years from the date the Test is written. For admission
to the 2013 session, Admission Tests written in 2011 and
2012 are valid. The Test scores of previous years will be
used for shortlisting purposes only in cases where
applicants do not write the Admission Test in the year of
application and inform the Admission Office in advance.
Candidates applying to programmes in the School of
Nursing and Midwifery in the 2013 academic year are
encouraged and advised to write the Admission Test even
if they have written the Admission Test in the preceding
two years with adequate preparation.
Shortlisting
On the basis of the Admission Test scores, applicants are
shortlisted and invited for Interviews.
Interviews
Interviews are held at the Aga Khan University. Alternate
arrangements are made in other cities in Pakistan if a
sufficient number of applicants request for it. Each
applicant meets a panel of two interviewers for
approximately half an hour.
Applicants should note that interviews are a component
of the application process and do not guarantee selection.
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For all applicants who are residing overseas, every effort
is made to conduct the interviews in the applicant's home
country. However, if this is not possible, alternate
arrangements are made and information is conveyed to
the applicants.
Service Agreement
All students entering into the four-year BScN programme
are required to complete one year of internship. This is a
mandatory requirement for obtaining licensure from the
Pakistan Nursing Council. The internship will begin after
the completion of the fourth year of BScN studies in
which the students are expected to work in the assigned
units as nursing interns to strengthen their clinical
experience.
The AKU will be responsible to arrange internship of
their graduates in AKUH/ AKDN teaching hospitals
approved by Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC). An
internship programme will be planned between the
school and the hospital to facilitate rotation in several
clinical areas. The graduates will receive basic salary of
staff nurse at AKUH or according to the institution policy
during their internship. The internee will submit a formal
letter/certificate issued by the Nursing Director at the
completion of the internship period to the Dean, School
of Nursing and Midwifery. The Dean, School of Nursing
and Midwifery will send the final list of eligible
candidates for licensure examination to Pakistan Nursing
Council (PNC).
Sponsorship
BScN Programme
All applicants are eligible to apply for Aga Khan
University Hospital sponsorship.
Tuition and other Charges
AKU charges fees for all its programmes. The tuition and
fees structure and schedule for the 2013 - 2014 session is
available separately. Those responsible for a student's
financial obligations should plan accordingly.
The University reviews its tuition and other fees annually
to cover inflation and other cost increases. Therefore,
students are advised to plan their financial obligations
for the course of study accordingly.
The University categorises students as domestic and
overseas. Fees for overseas candidates are charged and
payable in US dollars only; fees for domestic student are
paid in Pakistani rupees.
A student shall be categorised as “overseas” (whether
holding Pakistani or dual citizenship), if the student
meets any one or more of the following criteria:
a) Residence of the principal earning member of the
family and source of income during the previous
three years;
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) Whether the student was educated in Pakistan or
abroad during the three years prior to the application
for admission;
c) Whether the student is eligible for State-supported
education overseas;
d) Whether the candidate's parents are reimbursed
educational expenses by their employer.
Students holding Pakistani nationality, CNIC and / or
passport should be aware that this does not guarantee
“domestic student” classification for the payment of
tuition fee and any other charges. The University's
conditions stated above for the application of “overseas”
fee status will prevail.
Overseas students will be required to pay tuition and
other charges based on the criteria provided above, are
advised to plan their financial support from sources
available to them before applying for admission. The
University may consider applications for financial
assistance where such students have demonstrated
financial need and have thoroughly explored all other
possible sources of assistance.
Students whose parents are Pakistani citizens deputed to
a government mission overseas will be charged the fee
prescribed for students in Pakistan. In such cases,
documentary evidence will be required.
Candidates doubtful of their fee status should seek
clarification from the Office of the Registrar before
applying. The Registrar's decision on fee status shall be
final.
Students may pay the tuition fee in monthly instalments.
Students defaulting on payments within the due dates
will not receive examination results and, thus, may not be
permitted to progress in their studies from one year to the
next.
In cases where a student withdraws or is asked to
withdraw from the University after commencement of a
term, tuition for the entire term will be charged.
Payments may be made in cash or through a bank draft in
favour of “The Aga Khan University”. Personal cheques
are not accepted..
University Financial Assistance
Programme
Admission into the University's academic programmes is
based strictly on merit and on a needs-blind admission
policy. Because of its needs blind admission policy, the
University operates a Financial Assistance Programme
which ensures that no student who qualifies for
admission is excluded because of his / her inability to pay
tuition and fees.
Financial Assistance is offered on the basis of
demonstrated need as evaluated by the University from
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data provided by the student, his / her family and other
avenues that the University may deem appropriate. It is
strongly recommended that every student desirous of
receiving Financial Assistance from the University,
thoroughly explore all other possible sources of
assistance. Every student is required to make some
contribution towards fees, living expenses and other
costs so as not to totally depend on the University for
assistance. Financial Assistance decisions are finalized
and communicated to the students before the
commencement of the academic session.
The continuation of Financial Assistance is conditional
upon a yearly assessment of the financial needs of the
student.
Financial Assistance is awarded in the form of a
combination of grant-in-aid and student loan. Students
are not required to repay the grant-in-aid portion of
Financial Assistance. The student loan portion of
Financial Assistance is interest free with only an
administrative charge of 5% per annum levied from the
time of the award of the student loan. The loan portion of
Financial Assistance becomes payable following
graduation but with payments starting after two years of
graduation with a requirement that the loan be paid off
within the next 5 years.
Applications for financial assistance for students
admitted to the 2013 academic year will be acceptable
within seven working days after receipt of the admission
letter. Application forms are available online. These are
also available from the Student Financial Assistance and
Counselling Office.
Accommodation
Preference in allocation of rooms is given to students
from outside Karachi. Accommodation for
undergraduate outstation students is arranged in the
hostels managed by the University. These hostels provide
single and shared, non-air-conditioned, furnished
accommodation.
A fee is charged for all accommodation on campus. The
charges for the hostel for the 2013 session are given
separately. Meals may be purchased separately from the
University's cafeteria.
All students living in the hostels are expected to conform
to rules and regulations. Residence is conditional upon
proper use and care of the property, considerate
behaviour and periodic reappraisal of the student's need
for such accommodation.
For University graduates who continue to work or study at
AKU after graduation, the University offers a 50% waiver
of the loan payable in that particular year.
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Date
Application Schedule - 2013 Session
Four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programme
Applications accepted for registration
April 1 to May 10, 2013
Centre
Pakistan:
Chitral, Gilgit, Hyderabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi
Test Centres In Pakistan
Saturday, June 29, 2013
International: Dubai
Timings and address for the venue will be stated on the admit card. In case of a
change, candidates will be notified through the press.
(Venue and timings are noted on the admit card. In case of changes, applicants will be notified through press).
Based on Admission Test scores or its equivalent, the University shortlists
applicants for interviews. An Admissions Committee reviews scholastic
achievements, interview reports, test scores, and all other accomplishments
to determine appropriate candidates for each programme.
Shortlisting and Selection - August 2013
All applicants receive letters informing them of the University's decision.
Announcement of Results – September 2013
Orientation - December 2013
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Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
Fax: (92) 2134934294; Tel: (92)21 34930051
E-mail: sonadmission.query@aku.edu