Offered by University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, Canada, Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing is a doctorate in Nursing programme. The programme runs for 4 years, delivered in a hybrid format. Tuition for international students is CAD 5,514 per semester (CAD 3,080 per semester for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Doctorate
Field:Nursing
Duration: 4 years
Delivery: Hybrid
Local tuition: CAD 3,080 / semester
International tuition: CAD 5,514 / semester
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
This is UNB's research-intensive doctoral program in Nursing, designed for registered nurses seeking advanced research training, and structured to prepare graduates for roles as nurse researchers, educators, and leaders. The full-time-only program is designed to be completed in four years and combines coursework, comprehensive examinations, and dissertation research carried out under a supervisory committee. Delivery is primarily online, using a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning that allows students to study from anywhere in New Brunswick, across Canada, or internationally, though the first year requires attending a three-day residency on campus in both the fall and winter terms to build community with faculty and peers. Admission requires a Bachelor of Nursing degree, current RN or RPN registration, a master's degree in nursing or a related field with a minimum 3.3 GPA, and prior graduate-level coursework in statistics and research methods. Faculty research areas include violence and gender, equity-oriented care, Indigenous health, healthy aging, care transitions, reproductive health, and newcomer health. The program suits experienced nursing professionals aiming for academic, research, or senior leadership careers.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.30
Admission Requirements: Applicants to UNB's PhD in Nursing must hold a Bachelor of Nursing (BN/BScN) degree with proof of current registration as a registered nurse or registered psychiatric nurse, and a Master of Nursing (MN/MScN) or equivalent degree in a related field, having completed graduate-level courses in statistics and research methods with at least a B. The overall cumulative GPA required is at least 3.3 (B+). Applicants must submit a current CV, a letter from a prospective supervisor confirming willingness to supervise, a writing sample (a thesis chapter or published article), and two letters of reference, one professional and one academic; those with credentials from outside Canada or the United States require a WES ICAP evaluation. International applicants whose first language is not English must meet UNB School of Graduate Studies minimums, as this program page defers to them rather than stating its own: IELTS 7.0 overall, TOEFL iBT 94, or TOEFL paper-based 550. Admission is Fall intake only.
Application Details
Start Date:Fall
Application Deadline:Domestic and international applicants apply through UNB's own application portal by the same published dates: for Fall 2027 entry the general deadline is 31 March 2027, and for Winter 2027 entry it is 15 November 2026, with undergraduate scholarship applications due 1 March 2027. UNB continues to accept applications after these dates while seats remain in the program, so admission is effectively rolling once the deadline passes. UNB publishes no international-specific deadline distinct from these dates. Limited-enrolment programmes close earlier: the Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education (Fredericton) close 1 December 2026, and the Bachelor of Nursing closes 15 February 2027. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
