PhD in Nursing

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The PhD in Nursing program prepares future leaders with a world-class foundation in nursing knowledge, empowering the drive to innovate and influence health systems.

PhD graduates Lauren Airth and Madison Smith

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Faculty/School

Faculty of Health and Social Development, School of Nursing



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Program Components Length
PhD - full-timeCoursework and dissertation48 months
PhD - part-timeCoursework and dissertation72 months

Why study a PhD in Nursing at UBC Okanagan?

Discover innovative research and education. With over $3 million in annual research funding, our program offers exceptional learning experiences in cutting-edge research and knowledge translation.

Our fully online, flexible PhD program is offered full-time or part-time, featuring interactive sessions with peers and faculty — enabling you to advance your career from anywhere in the world.

We have financial support to put you at ease. Scholarships are available, with funding up to four years of study.

Take the next step in your career—apply now!

The School of Nursing at UBCO has pioneered flexible delivery methods for graduate students in the Okanagan region and has significant experience in providing high quality graduate education to students within the province, across Canada, and internationally. The primary methods of instruction for the PhD in Nursing include:

  • Graduate seminars
  • Synchronous (live web-conference seminars) and asynchronous online delivery
  • Comprehensive research project, including a substantive dissertation

For more information on the PhD in Nursing Program, please review the MSN/PhD Nursing Handbook.

In addition to the general academic regulations for graduate students set out by the College of Graduate Studies, the minimum requirements for the PhD in Nursing are:

  1. 12 credits of coursework:
    • NRSG 580 (3) Philosophy of Evidence in Nursing
    • NRSG 581 (3) Leadership in Knowledge Application and Translation
    • NRSG 554 (3) Advanced Research Methods
    • NRSG 601 (3) Doctoral Seminar
  2. A portfolio of research and leadership competencies.
  3. Successful completion of comprehensive examination requirements.
  4. Successful defense of the doctoral dissertation NRSG 699 (0) Doctoral Dissertation.

The residency requirement for all PhD students is a minimum of 24 months of accumulated full-time study at UBCO from the point of beginning a PhD to its conclusion. As per, CoGS policy, individual students may apply to fulfill an Engagement Requirement, replacing the need for residency.

Comprehensive Examination

Students typically complete a comprehensive examination within the first 24 months in the full-time program and 36 months in the part-time program. After completing required coursework, students prepare an annotated bibliography. This serves as the foundation for the comprehensive exam, which comprises two essays in the form of a take-home exam and an oral defense.

Candidacy Exam (Proposal Defense)

Students must complete their candidacy exam within the first 36 months in the full-time doctoral program and 48 months in the part-time program. After completing the comprehensive exam, students establish their supervisory committee and proceed to develop their proposal. The written proposal is approved by the committee and is followed by an oral defense.

The primary objectives of the PhD in Nursing program are to:

  1. Provide a rigorous, high-quality doctoral-level graduate program in nursing that builds on UBCO’s highly successful MSN program.
  2. Enable students to actively participate in the development of nursing knowledge, adding to the evidence base to enhance nursing and health.
  3. Prepare outstanding nurse leaders to have expanded spheres of influence to enhance health and well-being of individuals, families and communities through leadership roles in academic institutions, practice settings, and policy arenas.

Portfolio of Core Competencies

The following learning outcomes for the PhD in Nursing identify what knowledge, skills and abilities students will have upon successful completion of all program requirements:

Graduate students will be able to:

  1. Critically analyze the epistemological, historical, and theoretical foundations of nursing scholarship.
  2. Demonstrate a high-level, comprehensive understanding of a substantive body of knowledge at the forefront of the discipline of nursing.
  3. Conceptualize, design, and conduct rigorous and cutting-edge research to generate new knowledge/applications that will make a substantial contribution to the discipline and to the improvement of health and well-being.
  4. Critically analyze, synthesize, and apply complex information that is relevant for practice and policy development in nursing, health promotion, and healthcare.
  5. Lead developments in knowledge application and translation in collaboration with stakeholders to support evidence-based nursing and health care.
  6. Effectively communicate complex and/or ambiguous ideas within and across practice and scholarly disciplines, and in society at large.
  7. Influence and lead change aimed at improving nursing, health and health care.

To assume leadership as a nursing scholar, students will develop a portfolio of relevant experiences that show how they have achieved selected leadership competencies in conjunction with NRSG 601. These will be accomplished through a range of learning experiences tailored to individual needs. Leadership competencies may include the following:

  • Writing competitive research funding proposals (e.g. SoN Internal Research Grants)
  • Conducting peer reviews (e.g. manuscripts, grant proposals)
  • Conference & seminar participation (e.g. presentations, networking, planning)
  • Research teamwork (e.g. participation, management)
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration (e.g. committee work, project leadership)
  • Knowledge application (e.g. KT planning, implementation, policy innovation)
  • Community engagement (e.g. leading a clinical research team)
  • Teaching (e.g. planning, leading)
  • Mentoring & consulting skills (e.g. advising a clinical research team)
  • Writing for peer-reviewed publication

The required coursework comprises nine credits (NRSG 580, NRSG 581, and NRSG 554), plus two terms enrolled in the NRSG 601 (3 credits).

Additional courses may be recommended based on the individual candidate profile.

NRSG 580 (3) Philosophy of Evidence in Nursing
This course introduces the philosophy of science and evidence as this is understood in the context of nursing scholarship. It creates the philosophical foundation upon which students can create informed claims about knowledge, theory and evidence regarding phenomena of concern to the discipline.

Prerequisite: NRSG 500

NRSG 581 (3) Leadership in Knowledge Application and Translation
Through an examination of philosophies, theories and praxis in the application of nursing knowledge, this course will prepare students to lead innovative research, education and practice in knowledge application and translation.

Pre-requisites: NRSG 504 (or equivalent graduate level course in knowledge and evidence-based practice).

NRSG 554 (3) Advanced Research Methods
This course involves intensive inquiry into research design issues relevant to nursing and health research, including the conduct of interdisciplinary research. It addresses issues in quantitative and qualitative research and extends the discussion to consider the design and conceptual complexities of mixed and multiple method designs, and community-based research.

Pre-requisites: NRSG 506, and NRSG 507 or equivalent graduate level quantitative and qualitative methods courses.

NRSG 601 (3) Doctoral Seminar
This course is designed as a set of student-centered seminars to provide an ongoing opportunity for PhD students to discuss phenomena relevant to nursing science, academia, the process of undertaking doctoral thesis research, and building sustainable careers in nursing science.

Dissertation Research

Students complete their dissertation research under the supervision of their committee.

Submission of the written dissertation/completion of the final oral examination must be no later than 72 months after admission into the full-time PhD program or 96 months after admission into the part-time PhD program.

Dissertation Planning

The PhD dissertation is an original piece of work that offers you the opportunity to hone your research skills, become an expert in a specialized area of knowledge, and contribute to your field of scholarship. It will set the stage for your future research career.

Dissertation Supervisor

Your PhD dissertation is guided by your dissertation supervisor, along with your supervisory committee. Prospective students should have identified and contacted potential supervisors before applying to the program. See list of available supervisors below.

In consultation with your supervisor, you will establish a dissertation supervisory committee comprised of at least three members, two of whom must be tenure-track faculty members within the School of Nursing, holding the rank assistant professor or higher.

The College of Graduate Studies has many excellent resources for students and supervisors that outline how to get the most out of the supervisor-graduate student relationship at UBC. View the College of Graduate Studies Handbook of Supervision.

Year of Program Full-Time PhD Part-Time PhD
Year 1
  • NRSG 580 – Philosophy of Evidence in Nursing
  • NRSG 554 – Advanced Research Methods
  • NRSG 581 – Leadership in Knowledge Application and Translation
  • NRSG 601 – Doctoral Seminar
  • NRSG 580 – Philosophy of Evidence in Nursing
  • NRSG 554 – Advanced Research Methods
Year 2
  • Successful completion of comprehensive examination within 24 months
  • NRSG 581 – Leadership in Knowledge Application and Translation
  • NRSG 601 – Doctoral Seminar
Year 3
  • Approval of proposal and advancement to candidacy within 36 months
  • Successful completion of comprehensive examination within 36 months
Year 4
  • Dissertation submission and complete final oral examination within 48 months
  • Approval of proposal and advancement to candidacy within 48 months
Year 5
  • Dissertation submission and complete final oral examination within 72 months
Year 6
  • *Time limit for completion (72 months)
Year 7
Year 8
  • *Time limit for completion (96 months)

Supervisors & Research

Meet Our Supervisors

Name Supervisor Program Availability Research Areas Research Methods
Clare Harvey
Director & Professor
clare.harvey@ubc.ca
MSN thesis-based, PhD Nurse-led care; nursing workforce; continuity of care; community health; health equity; policy Qualitative methods; theory of change; critical discourse analysis
Carla Hilario
Assistant Professor
carla.hilario@ubc.ca 
MSN thesis-based, PhD Child and youth health; social determinants; health services Mixed methods; community-engaged; implementation science
Elizabeth Keys
Assistant Professor
Elizabeth.Keys@ubc.ca
MSN thesis-based, PhD Pediatric sleep; parent-child interactions; infant and parental mental health; eHealth and precision health; community and public health Mixed methods; knowledge synthesis; integrated knowledge translation; implementation science
Nelly Oelke
Associate Professor
nelly.oelke@ubc.ca 
MSN thesis-based, PhD Integrated health systems and services delivery; primary health care; mental health; rural health; climate change Integrated knowledge translation; implementation science
Lise Olsen
Associate Professor
lise.olsen@ubc.ca
MSN thesis-based, PhD Child and family health promotion; inclusive recreation participation; injury prevention; well-being for children with neuro-developmental disabilities Mixed methods; community-engaged research
Barbara Pesut
Professor
barb.pesut@ubc.ca
MSN thesis-based, PhD Palliative and end-of-life care; medical assistance in dying; volunteer and peer navigation models; nursing philosophy Qualitative methods
Katrina Plamondon
Associate Professor
katrina.plamondon@ubc.ca
MSN thesis-based, PhD Health equity; global health governance and policy; knowledge mobilization; critical pedagogy Dialogue-based research; narrative inquiry; reflective inquiry; arts-informed research; equity science
Charlene Ronquillo
Assistant Professor
charlene.ronquillo@ubc.ca
MSN thesis-based, PhD Health informatics; nursing; health equity; health services research Implementation science
Kathy Rush
Professor
kathy.rush@ubc.ca
MSN thesis-based, PhD Atrial fibrillation; rural cardiac service delivery; rural health equity, telehealth; aging; new graduate nurse transition Mixed methods research; user-centered design
Sana Shahram
Assistant Professor
sana.shahram@ubc.ca
MSN thesis-based, PhD Health equity; public health, system change and policy; critical population health; maternal, child and youth health; mental health substance use and suicide prevention; Indigenous sovereignty and resurgence Framework development, implementation and evaluation; mixed methods research; participatory and transformative research; qualitative research
Laura Struik
Associate Professor
laura.struik@ubc.ca
MSN thesis-based, PhD Nicotine dependence; cancer prevention; tobacco control; youth and young adults; behaviour change using digital technologies, vaping; oral nicotine pouches Qualitative methods; youth engagement; integrated knowledge translation; Indigenous methodologies
Marie Tarrant
Dean & Professor
marie.tarrant@ubc.ca
MSN thesis-based, PhD Maternal and child health; infant feeding; baby-friendly hospital initiative; maternal and childhood vaccinations Quantitative methods

Note: Other faculty members in the School of Nursing, including Assistant and Associate Professors of Teaching, Professors of Teaching, and Emeritus faculty, may serve as co-supervisors or join a student’s supervisory committee with approval. See a full list of faculty members.

Members of the supervisory committee are selected based on their expertise to offer advice on the proposed research project. The selection of supervisory committee members, including co-supervisors, is generally done by the supervisor with input from students.

Research Labs

The School of Nursing is home to five areas of research excellence with labs that offer opportunities to grad students:

Palliative and end of Life care

PareNt, Child, Youth, and Family Health

Rural Health + Nursing Services Innovation

Supportive Environments for Health Equity

Technologies for Health and Wellbeing

Careers and Outcomes

Earning a PhD in Nursing opens doors to distinguished, high-impact careers that shape the future of health care, education, and policy.

As a nurse scientist, you’ll generate new knowledge, influence nursing practice, and lead transformative change across healthcare systems and communities.

PhD in Nursing graduates may pursue roles such as:


  • Tenure-Track Faculty: Mentor the next generation of nurses at leading universities.
  • Program Director or Dean: Lead nursing education through strategic vision and innovation.
  • Principal Investigator: Lead research that drives innovation and improves health outcomes.
  • Senior Research Scientist: Oversee interdisciplinary research in health systems.
  • Health Equity Research Leader: Conduct research to address social determinants of health for underserved populations.
  • Implementation Scientist: Drive adoption of evidence-informed interventions to improve care.
  • Health Policy Advisor: Inform national or global health policy through research.
  • Public Health Strategist: Develop population-level solutions for healthcare challenges.
  • Nursing Scholar and Author: Publish pioneering work that advances nursing science.
  • Interdisciplinary Collaborator: Lead innovation alongside national and global experts

Tuition and Funding

Tuition

For official tuition and fee information, scroll to the bottom of the Academic Calendar page for Doctoral programs and look for “Standard Doctoral Degree Programs.”

Funding Opportunities

In accordance with UBCO’s minimum funding policy, full-time PhD students are eligible for a minimum amount of funding per year for their first four years. The funding package may consist of any combination of scholarships, academic assistantships, grants, etc.

PhD students who continue to work in the field of Healthcare or Nursing during their degrees often lack the capacity to take on the work related to the funding packages. As a result, they are exempt from a portion of the guaranteed funding.

Part-time students are expected to be self-funded and may not be eligible for funding or scholarships. They are exempt from the PhD guaranteed minimum funding policy.

Assistantships

Research Assistantships (RA)

As a paid RA, PhD students assist their supervisor or other researchers in conducting high-level research, which often contributes to the student’s thesis. Contact lead investigators directly to inquire about opportunities. See positions currently available.

tEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS (ta)

As a paid TA, PhD students assist course instructors in marking examinations, tests, laboratory exercises, or assignments; providing instruction to students in laboratories, discussion periods, tutorials or lectures; invigilating examinations and providing academic assistance to students during office hours. See positions currently available.

Sessional Teaching OpportUNITIES

PhD students with relevant professional experience may apply to teach classroom or clinical courses offered in the School of Nursing as paid sessional instructors. Students interested in these teaching opportunities should discuss this with their supervisors.

Scholarships and awards

UBCO’s College of Graduate Studies is responsible for merit-based graduate awards. Please visit the College of Graduate Studies for a list of available scholarships and awards, and for more information about application information.

All prospective graduate students should explore and apply for relevant awards and fellowships. A variety of competitive scholarships are available to PhD in Nursing students. Please consult with faculty for assistance with developing your application:

Admission and Applying

Find a Supervisor

A supervisor is a faculty member within the School of Nursing who mentors graduate students in their research. As a first step in the application process, start by reviewing faculty member research profiles and publications to locate potential supervisors with research interests similar to your own.

Reaching out to potential supervisors with a concise email highlighting your research interests and their alignment with the supervisor’s work is an effective way to begin.

Please note that prospective supervisor support of an application does not guarantee admission into the program.

Eligible supervisors are listed in the table above.

Approaching a prospective PhD in Nursing supervisor – send a brief email (no more than 2 paragraphs) including:

  • A short description of the project you are interested in and how your background aligns with the project aims OR the research question(s) you are interested in and how these align with the faculty member’s expertise
  • A brief note about how you plan to fund your studies
  • Details on your background in health or nursing, including supporting publication/written documents
  • Copies of unofficial transcripts
  • Your CV

Due to the large number of emails faculty receive, supervision inquiries that do not follow the above instructions are less likely to receive a response.

Admission Requirements

Admission to UBC graduate programs is competitive. Applicants must meet the following criteria.

Please review the College of Graduate Studies “Prepare Your Application” guidelines and consider attending an MSN/PhD Information Session prior to submitting your application.

The School of Nursing welcomes applicants from underrepresented groups and a variety of experience levels.

Domestic/international student admission requirements:

In addition to the below requirements, applicants must meet the Minimum Academic Requirements for Doctoral Applicants from Canadian, American, or international institutions from the College of Graduate Studies.

The following requirements are specific to the PhD in Nursing program at UBCO:

  • MSN or a graduate degree in a health-related discipline from an approved institution with clear evidence of research ability and potential
  • Canadian students must hold practicing nursing registration in BC or another Canadian province
  • International students must meet general eligibility criteria for nurse registration in BC

A complete application package will contain:

  • Record of academic and professional achievement
  • Online application and application fee
  • Official transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended
  • English language test (if required – see the College of Graduate Studies English Language Proficiency Requirements for details)
  • CV or resumé
  • Two reference forms or letters (a minimum of one academic; both academic is preferred)
  • A written Statement of Intent, outlining your proposed research project
  • An academic writing sample (such as a research paper or thesis)

How to Apply

Applying takes time. We recommend you start your application two months in advance.

For full consideration students should apply by the following deadlines:

September Intake Application Deadline
Domestic applicants January 15 annually
International applicants January 15 annually

Global and Close-Knit

At UBC Okanagan, you gain all the benefits of attending a globally ranked, top 5% university while studying in a close-knit learning community. 50% of graduates, from all across the globe, choose to stay in the region.

Discover the Okanagan

A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful farms, vineyards, orchards and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan is an inspirational landscape perfect for those seeking leisure or outdoor adventure.

UBC's Okanagan campus borders the dynamic city of Kelowna, a hub of economic development with a population of more than 150,000 people— the fourth fastest-growing population in Canada.