Program Overview

Program Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in the Faculty of Nursing develops nurse scientists who are expert clinical scholars equipped to provide leadership in nursing practice, research, and education. The degree is designed to educate professionals for excellence in nursing scholarship through original research.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies admission requirements, the Faculty of Nursing requires that an applicant must:

• a) Normally be a Registered Nurse.
• b) For applicants required to provide proof of proficiency in English, submit a minimum TOEFL score of 97 (Internet-based test); IELTS score of 7.0; PTE score of 68; or a CAEL overall score of 70 (no less than 70 on reading and writing sections).
• c) Have successfully completed graduate-level research courses, including at least one qualitative research methods course and at least one quantitative research methods course.
• d) A current resume/curriculum vitae that includes education, work history, leadership roles, awards, achievements, honors or distinctions, scholarly presentations or publications with links when available, and roles and affiliations with academic or professional organizations.
• e) Provide a letter of commitment from the identified supervisor indicating willingness to provide supervision throughout the program of studies and supporting the applicant’s study plan.

Required Courses

The following courses are required:

• NURS 783: Winter - Advanced Qualitative Research Methods
• NURS 724: Winter - Philosophy, Knowledge and Research in Nursing
• NURS 726: Spring - Developing a Scholarly e-Portfolio
• NURS 744: Fall - Health Policy & Advocacy
• NURS 721: Fall - Advanced Quantitative Research Methods

Application Package

The application package must include:

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Supervisor's Notice of Support
• Referee contact information
• Unofficial Transcripts

Application Questions

Applicants will be asked to provide answers to the following questions:

• Please provide a description of your professional nursing or related experience and how it has informed your interest in pursuing a PhD.
• Please describe how you envision completing a PhD program in nursing aligns with your career goals.
• Please describe the questions, problems, or topics you hope to address through your PhD research, why your proposed research is important, and how you envision it contributing to the nursing profession.
• Please provide an overview of the graduate-level research and statistics courses you have taken, including the course name and number, institution, grade received, and date completed.
• Please indicate if you have applied for financial support for your program in the form of an award, sponsorship, or other, including the title of award, the dollar amount, and duration of the support.
• Please share if you plan to work while in the PhD program and approximately how many hours per week.
• Students are responsible for identifying a supervisor prior to applying. Please identify your proposed supervisor from the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary and share why they are a good fit for you and your proposed research.

Technology Requirements

To successfully engage in learning experiences at the University of Calgary, students taking online, remote, and blended courses are required to have reliable access to the following technology:

• A computer with a supported operating system, as well as the latest security and malware updates.
• A current and updated web browser.
• Webcam (built-in or external).
• Microphone and speaker (built-in or external), or headset with microphone.
• Current antivirus and/or firewall software enabled.
• Broadband internet connection.

Fees & Funding

Achieve funding support through awards, faculty research programs, teaching assistantships, and research scholarships. All graduate students are expected to apply for internal and external awards, fellowships, and studentships for their program.