Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

The PhD in nursing program prepares students for careers as scholars, nurse scientists., and academics ready to contribute to nursing science, knowledge, theory, and practice through systematic inquiry. By graduation, PhD in nursing students will:
demonstrate advanced knowledge of nursing, related sciences and humanities, and methods of inquiry
expand the research base of nursing theory and practice
serve the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world by addressing major nursing and healthcare issues through research and in a scholarly manner
All applicants for the PhD must possess a BSN. Many also possess an MSN and nurses with other graduate degrees (MPH, MBA, MS in Health Administration, etc.) are also encouraged to apply.
Every year, UVA PhD nursing students earn grants to support their doctoral studies, and many publish and present around Virginia, the U.S., and internationally.
UVA's PhD in nursing program is focused on research, and the curriculum includes courses in qualitative, quantitative, and historical research. Over the course of the program, all PhD students submit a research proposal for peer review, and many submit proposals to the NIHNR's annual service awards competition.

Submit a completed application to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (not the School of Nursing) and pay an $85 application fee Have at least a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program and a minimum "B" average Submit transcripts for all post-secondary work Submit three letters of reference that speak to the applicant's ability to pursue doctoral studies (two must be from doctorally-prepared nurse educators and one may be from a current or recent employer) Submit a CV reflecting professional achievements and productivity Submit an essay (1,000 words or fewer) describing the applicant's educational, research, and professional goals, including a specific description of the planned focus of study and a researchable topic for development Have completed a recent course in statistics (with software applications) Be available for an interview with one or more faculty members (conducted in Charlottesville or via Zoom as needed) The minimum internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score requirement is 90 (including sectional minimums of 22 in speaking, 22 in writing, 23 in reading, and 23 in listening). The minimum paper-based TOEFL score requirement is 600. Applicants may submit scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as an alternative to the TOEFL exam. The minimum IELTS score requirement is 7.0 in each section. In any case, the date of the reported test must fall within two years of the application deadline. Admissions committees will consider applications with scores that do not meet the minimum requirements.