PhD in Nursing Frequently Asked Questions

Students with a desire to become independent scientists must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing or a master's degree in nursing or master's degree in a health care related field and potential to develop new scientific knowledge related to nursing and/or health care.

Students can complete the PhD program on a full- or part-time basis. Full-time students can complete the program in three years, while part-time students take longer, depending on how many courses they take in any given term. All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed within nine consecutive years of starting the program. Students have five academic years (pre-candidacy) to reach candidacy and the four following years (post-candidacy) to complete their research. A doctoral student must be enrolled for at least 10 graduate credits in their program in two out of three consecutive semesters of study. 

For full-time students, the first two years are devoted to coursework designed to prepare students to develop and disseminate knowledge that will guide nursing practice. The third year is devoted to independent research.

A cadre of nurse researchers and clinicians are available to guide students through the doctoral program, making the possibilities in nursing research vast. Additionally, students are highly encouraged to participate in interdisciplinary courses at the University of Cincinnati, which expands possibilities even further. Essentially, the research possibilities in the field of nursing are endless!

PhD students compete with other College of Nursing graduate students for University Graduate Scholarships (UGS) and graduate assistantships. Applications for scholarships offered by the College of Nursing can be submitted each spring. For more information, visit the Scholarships and Financial Aid page.