The degree of doctor of philosophy (PhD) is offered in nursing in areas reflective of the strength and expertise of current faculty members in the Faculty of Nursing. All candidates will be required to attend as full-time students during the first six semesters (two academic years) of the program. 

The following regulations must be read in conjunction with the general regulations of the School of Graduate Studies.

Qualifications for Admission:

1. Admission to the program is limited and competitive.  To be considered for admission an applicant must normally hold a Master of Nursing degree or equivalent from a recognized university and have a strong academic record, with a minimum GPA of 3.4 on a scale of 4.

2. Applicants must have completed either a graduate level course(s) in research that included both qualitative and quantitative approaches with some advanced statistical analysis in the quantitative work, or a graduate level statistics course.

3. Applicants must hold an active practicing license from the Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador or must be currently registered as a practicing nurse in another Canadian jurisdiction. Applicants from other countries who do not meet the above criteria will be assessed on an individual basis and must submit proof of registration as a practicing nurse (or an equivalency) from their country or jurisdiction.

4. Applicants must submit a statement about research focus that is compatible with expertise within the current faculty of the Faculty of Nursing. 

Application Procedure:

Applicants must complete an online application at https://apply.mun.ca/apply and include the following supplemental documents:

1. Post-secondary transcripts
2. Proof of degree
3. CV
4. Proof of English language proficiency (if required)

In addition, each applicant must also submit the following to gradapply@mun.ca:

1. A letter of confirmation from a faculty member who has agreed to be their supervisor if the applicant is accepted;

2. A five-page research project overview consisting of a statement of the research problem and supporting background and rationale, specific research questions, and an outline of potential methods to address the questions;

3. An explanation (maximum 1 page) about the importance of the research topic and how it links to the applicant’s experience, expertise and future goals; and

4. An explanation of how the applicant will manage the workload associated with full-time doctoral studies given other commitments (e.g., family, work).

Applicants will need to have a potential supervisor identified and confirmed prior to submission of the application. Therefore, it is important for applicants to begin their search by reviewing faculty profiles and contacting a potential supervisor as soon as possible. Individual faculty members will identify what information they require from applicants and make arrangements for face-to-face, telephone or Skype interviews.

Because the 'fit' between student and supervisor has been identified as the main predictor of success in doctoral programs, the applicant's research interest must align with that of one of our research-intensive faculty members. The faculty member must agree to be the applicant’s supervisor should the applicant be accepted. However, agreement by a faculty member does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Admission to the PhD program is on a competitive basis. Decisions about acceptance of applicants are made by the Faculty of Nursing and the School of Graduate Studies, not by individual faculty members or potential supervisors.

For additional information about the PhD program or the application process please contact the Academic Program Assistant, Graduate Programs, at gradnursing@mun.ca