PhD program

During their doctoral studies, an individualized program of study is developed in collaboration with the faculty advisor that takes into account the students’ previous experiences as well as their personal goals and objectives.

Faculty members in the doctoral program are active in a number of areas including family health, psychosocial oncology, palliative care, cardiovascular health, pain, and chronic illness. They bring expertise in both quantitative and qualitative approaches to inquiry. The Ingram School of Nursing also offers support to students in nursing intervention research (R.R.I.S.I.Q.). Click here for further information.

Admission requirements

Applicants to the Doctoral program in Nursing at McGill University are required to:

• Have completed master’s level studies with either their undergraduate or graduate degree in nursing.
• Have a C.G.P.A. (Cumulative Grade Point Average) of 3.3 (B+) or higher on a scale of 4.0.
• O.I.I.Q. (Ordre des infirmières and infirmiers du Québec) registration required only if candidate is planning to practice as a nurse in Québec.

Competency in English

Applicants to graduate studies must demonstrate an adequate level of proficiency in English prior to admission, regardless of citizenship status or country of origin. Normally, applicants meeting any one of the following conditions are NOT required to submit proof of proficiency in English:

1. Mother tongue (language first learned and still used on a daily basis) is English;
2. Has obtained (or is about to obtain) an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction (applicants need to provide the School of Nursing an official letter from a foreign institution confirming the above);
3. Has obtained (or is about to obtain) an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized institution in Canada or the United States of America (Anglophone or Francophone);
4. Has lived and attended school, or been employed, for at least four consecutive years, in a country where English is the acknowledged primary language.

Applicants who do not meet any of the above-listed conditions must demonstrate proficiency in English using one of the following options:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): minimum acceptable scores are:

*The CBT is no longer being offered. CBT Test results will be accepted as long as considered valid by ETS.

N.B. an institution version of the TOEFL is not acceptable.

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System): a band score of 7.5 or greater.

• McGill must receive appropriate exam results directly from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language – visit www.toefl.org) or IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems – visit www.ielts.org). Applications will not be considered if test results are not available upon review of dossier in February.

Admission process

Consult our Applying to Graduate Programs page for more information and detailed instructions regarding program-specific requirements.

Information on McGill's current registration fees for doctoral studies can be found here.

Important dates

Application deadline

All supporting documents should be submitted by these deadlines

Canadian applicants:

• Fall - March 1
• Winter: November 1
• Summer: No admission

International applicants:

• Fall: January 1
• Winter: August 1
• Summer: No admission

Note: the School of Nursing does not accept Special/Exchange/Visiting applicants to the PhD program.

Visiting scholars who wish to apply to specific courses at the PhD level should contact sonia.semenic [at] mcgill.ca (Dr. Sonia Semenic), Academic Advisor.