# Nursing
**Source**: https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/discover-opportunities/explore-programs/nursing-phd
**Parent**: https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/discover-opportunities/explore-programs/biomedical-engineering-msc-thesis
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Thesis-based program
[Applications open June 1 for January 2026](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/how-apply)
## Program overview
This doctoral program 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. Our thesis-based degree offers opportunities to become research-intensive, gain core disciplinary knowledge and develop expertise within a substantive field. Before applying, candidates are required to seek out members of our award-winning faculty who they believe would be a good “fit” with their research plans. The University of Calgary is committed to helping new doctoral students get funding support through awards, faculty research programs, teaching assistantships, and research scholarships.
**PLEASE NOTE**: **International applicants please contact the Faculty of Nursing to verify your eligibility before applying**
### Completing this program
- **Courses:** Topics include philosophy of science in nursing, contemporary issues, e-portfolio development, health policy and advocacy, quantitative and qualitative research and others.
- **Thesis:** Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.
- **Candidacy:** Students will complete both oral and written candidacy exams.
### Outcomes
Healthcare, community health, advanced practice nursing, pediatrics, gerontology, mental health, acute care, ICU, oncology, palliative care, maternal/child health, NICU, pulmonary care, clinical simulation, nursing research, nursing education, critical incident stress, health policy, spiritual care.
**A PhD in nursing is usually considered a final degree, but may lead to post-doctoral study.**
### Thesis-based program
Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.
### Courses
Five courses
[Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/programs/NURSPHD)
### Classroom delivery
### Time commitment
Four years full-time; six years maximum
### Supervisor
A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before admission will be granted
### Fees and funding
See the Graduate Calendar for information on [fees and fee regulations,](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/uofcregs/tuitionandfeesoverview/grad) and for information on [awards and financial assistance](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/uofcregs/studfinsupport/awardsgrad).
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## Supervisors
Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.\
Please note: additional supervisors may be available. [Contact the program](mailto:nursgrad@ucalgary.ca) for more information.
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1. [Karen Benzies](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/karen-benzies)
Accepting Inquiries
Parent-Child Relationships, Early Childhood Development, Family Integrated Care, Welcome to Parenthood
2. [Merilee (Meredith) Brockway](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/node/3456)
Accepting Inquiries
Early life nutrition, breastfeeding, health systems, Patient Oriented-Research
3. [Colleen Cuthbert](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/colleen-cuthbert)
Accepting Inquiries
Health Services Research, Cancer Survivorship, Mixed Methods
4. [Añiela dela Cruz](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/aniela-dela-cruz)
Accepting Inquiries
HIV Cascade of Care; Vulnerable Populations; Population Health Promotion; Social Determinants of Health
5. [Tam Truong Donnelly](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/tam-truong-donnelly)
Accepting Inquiries
Health services research; Women’s health; Multicultural/Cross-cultural health; Population health, health promotion and disease prevention; Mental health; Cardiovascular health; Cancer prevention; Infectious diseases; Mix-methods (qualitative and quantitative) research
6. [Andrew Estefan](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/andrew-estefan)
Accepting Inquiries
Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing, Gender, Sexuality, Sexual Orientation, Narrative Inquiry
7. [Kathryn King-Shier](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/kathryn-king-shier)
Accepting Inquiries
cardiovascular health, ethno-culture, gender, access to care, secondary prevention
8. [Catherine Laing](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/catherine-laing)
Accepting Inquiries
Pediatric and adolescent oncology; psychosocial oncology
9. [Laurie Lee](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/laurie-lee)
Accepting Inquiries
Nursing, Epidemiology, Health Services Research
10. [Nicole Letourneau](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/nicole-letourneau)
Accepting Inquiries
Vulnerable children, Social support, Parent-infant/child relationships, Maternal mental health, Domestic abuse, Family environmental effects on child development, Genetics and epigenetics
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## Admission Requirements
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#### GPA
A minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units).
#### Minimum education
- Normally be a Registered Nurse.
- Have successfully completed graduate level research courses including at least one qualitative research methods course and at least one quantitative research methods course.
#### Work samples
Samples of written scholarly work.
#### Documents
- 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.
- 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. The letter must also include what financial support the supervisor is able to offer.
#### Reference letters
Three, one of which must be from the Master's degree supervisor.
#### Test scores
None
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#### **English language proficiency**
An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in different ways. For accepted criteria, please refer to the program “Admissions” tab in the [**Academic Calendar.**](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/programs/NURSPHD)
*\*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements.*
#### Deadlines
**For admission on January 1:**
Canadian and permanent resident
- Applications open June 1.
- September 1 application deadline. Document deadline September 15.
International Students
- Applications open June 1.
- September 1 application deadline. Document deadline September 15.
If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about
[international requirements](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/international-students)
## Are you ready to apply?
[Application process](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/how-apply)
## Learn more about this program
### Nursing Graduate Programs
Faculty of Nursing, Professional Faculties, Room 2260\
2500 University Drive NW\
Calgary, ABT 2N 1N4
[Contact the Graduate Program Administrator](mailto:nursgrad@ucalgary.ca)
[Visit the departmental website](https://nursing.ucalgary.ca/graduate)
## Related programs
If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.
#### [Nursing](#collapse1843152460)
[Course-based Certificate](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/nursing-cert)
[Course-based MN](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/nursing-mn-course)
[Thesis-based MN](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/nursing-mn-thesis)
[DN](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/doctor-nursing)
## Curious about the University of Calgary?
Located in the nation's most enterprising city, we are a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude.
[Learn More about student life at UCalgary](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/student-life)