First offered in 2008, the PhD program at the Queen’s University School of Nursing transitioned to an online program in Fall 2018. This innovative program will prepare you with the skills required to expand knowledge related to clinical, theoretical and health system issues. Situated in an academic environment that embodies scholarship, you will be well-prepared for a career as a leader in research and scholarship, clinical practice or health care administration.
Our online PhD program consists of a series of six courses, five of which are offered online and one on-campus during the Spring onsite residency. In total, you will attend three mandatory onsite residencies in early September, mid-January, and early May of the first year of the program then be expected to be onsite each spring for the Graduate Student Research Day. Following the completion of courses after the first year, you will focus on your comprehensive exams then on your doctoral thesis. The thesis requires independent, original research and makes up at least two-thirds of the time normally required for the program.
Our experienced faculty members use both synchronous and asynchronous teaching modalities to teach you in small graduate seminars, in which you will engage in a lively, critical examination of philosophy, policy and research, and delve into your own research. Nurtured by close mentoring relationships with faculty supervisors, the Queen’s model is to ensure graduate students present and publish their research, and normally complete their program in 4 years.
Watch our Webinar Info Session to learn more about our Online PhD in Nursing. The webinar was hosted by Dr Rosemary Wilson, Associate Director of Graduate Nursing Programs.
- Master's degree in Nursing Science or equivalent
- Minimum overall average equivalent to B+
- Undergraduate university degree in nursing
- Two academic letters of reference (e.g. course professors)
- Statement of academic, research, and professional plans. Advance contact with potential supervisors is strongly recommended.
- Applicants without an undergraduate university degree in nursing will be considered, and are strongly encouraged to contact us prior to applying.
The required undergraduate university nursing degree must be equivalent to a 4-year Canadian program.
In addition to the Academic Requirements, applicants must provide:
Proof of registration as a registered nurse in own country (will not be required to register with College of Nurses of Ontario). International students who are not registered in Ontario will be unable to conduct thesis research that requires registration;
Proficiency in English. Applicants whose first language is not English or who have not recently studied for at least one complete year at a post-secondary institution where English is the official language of instruction, will be required to obtain satisfactory results in an English language proficiency test, as part of the application process, and before their application will be considered complete.
Please visit the School of Graduate Studies for more details.
In addition to the online application submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, the following form must be completed and the following documents uploaded with the form
Doctoral Nursing Program Questions
- Proof of registration as a nurse in local province or own country; and
- Copy of Curriculum Vitae (Resume).
Mandatory Onsite Residency in September
NURS 901
Philosophy of Nursing Science (online)
NURS 902
Qualitative Research Methods (online)
NURS 999
Thesis Research (independently with PhD Supervisor)
Mandatory Onsite Residency in January
NURS 900
Advanced Statistics and Analytic Techniques (online)
NURS 903
Advanced Quantitative Measurement, Methods and Design (online)
NURS 999
Thesis Research (independently with Supervisor)
Mandatory Onsite Residency in May (includes NURS 905)
NURS 905
Nursing, Health Services and Public Policy in Canada
Prepare for Comprehensive Exam (independently with Supervisor)
NURS 999
Thesis Research (independently with Supervisor)
Write Comprehensive Examinations in Early Fall
NURS 999
Thesis Research (independently with Supervisor)
NURS 906
Thesis Seminar Course (online)
Graduate Student Research Day onsite in May
NURS 999
Thesis Research (independently with Supervisor)
Oral Thesis Proposal Defence late summer/early fall
Graduate Student Research Day onsite each spring
NURS 999
Thesis Research (independently with Supervisor)
Final Oral Thesis Defence Onsite end of year 4
The research programs of faculty in the School of Nursing are reflected through 3 clusters:
Practice environments
- Models of care
- Leadership
- Workplace culture, structure and health
- Communication strategies and systems
Populations with complex conditions
- Optimizing function and well-being
- Multimorbidity
- Mental health and/or addictions
- Outcomes monitoring
Health care quality
- Advancing safety
- Risk assessment and reduction
- Educational and technological innovations
- Health system service and delivery
For more course information please visit the School of Graduate Studies Calendar.
As an international applicant you are not required to be registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario, but must be registered as a nurse in your own country. If you are not registered as a nurse in Ontario during the program you will be unable to conduct thesis research that requires registration. This limitation on thesis research topics should be considered and discussed with a potential thesis supervisor prior to submitting your application.
No, this is a full-time program only. Most of the course work involved in the program occurs in the first year and most classes are organized for Mondays and Tuesdays.
The decision on a supervisor is made by the Graduate Program Committee, following discussions between you and a potential faculty supervisor. A faculty member must be able to supervise thesis research in your area of interest and be willing to do so, given their current work commitments. It is recommended that you review profiles of faculty members on the School of Nursing website to determine if there is someone who conducts research in your area.
Normally, you should have a general area of research interest before you begin the program, but a specific thesis topic is developed as you engage in course work and discussions with your thesis supervisor. On occasion, an applicant may have a specific plan for research, but this is not typical.
The Graduate Program Committee nominates individual applicants and students for internal scholarships and awards for which they are eligible. In order to be considered for awards in the first year, your application should be completed by February 1st. You are also encouraged to apply for external scholarships and fellowships as early as possible, as some of these may then be available to you during your first year of study. These are often offered by professional organizations or associations in nursing. You may also have the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant and/or research assistant. Contact us if you would like more information about potential external funding.
In keeping with the School of Graduate Studies policy, eligible full-time PhD students qualify for research assistantships (RA), teaching assistantships (TA), teaching fellowships (TF), Queen’s Graduate Awards (QGA), and internal awards. We encourage you to apply for additional funding through external scholarships. Entering students with federal government Tri-council awards are automatically provided a $5,000 top-up award by Queen’s.