PhD Admissions

Applications for this program must be submitted through NursingCAS at http://www.nursingcas.org/.  Simply create an account, search for this program for your intended semester of entry, and complete the required steps to apply online. 

Applicants are only permitted to apply to 1 program at the SONHS per application cycle (i.e., the same semester).

Questions about the NursingCAS application portal should be directed to NursingCAS.

The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies only reviews completed applications.  Be sure to monitor the status of your application by checking the “View My Notifications” and “Check Status” sections of NursingCAS and following up or responding appropriately to ensure all admission materials are submitted by the application deadline.

Questions about the NursingCAS application portal should be directed to NursingCAS.

Applications are processed as they are received and held until the application deadline. The admission committee will review all applications at that time. Applicants who are invited for interviews will receive notification via e-mail or phone. The admission committee will begin to communicate admission decisions once all interviews are complete. In the meantime, applicants will receive updates via e-mail regarding their application status as they become available.

Interviews may be scheduled at the discretion of the faculty.  Interviews may be in person or via telephone or webcam.  Applicants are responsible to cover all associated travel expenses.

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution, in nursing

Check your institution's accreditation: https://www.chea.org/ 

• Degrees in nursing from NLN or CCNE accredited programs are preferred.
• Official transcripts for each institution attended must be mailed from the issuing institution’s Registrar directly to NursingCAS. NursingCAS cannot process transcripts that are stamped “Issued to Student.”  To expedite the process be sure to include the Transcript Request Form from the “Colleges Attended” section in “Academic History.”
• Applicants are required to list all institutions attended in the “Colleges Attended” section under “Academic History” even if no degree was awarded.
• Applicants with international transcripts should refer to the “Additional Requirements for International Transcripts” section below. International degrees must be equivalent to those in the U.S.

Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

Questions about GPA calculation?
NursingCAS Applicant Help Center: https://help.liaisonedu.com/NursingCAS_Applicant_Help_Center

Introductory statistics course

Note: Compare the UM course description to that of your home institution to ensure your course covers the appropriate material

Three letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s disposition towards scholarship 

• Preferably from individuals with doctorates in nursing.
• At least one reference from an academic source. 
• Complete the “References” section to request electronic recommendations.

• Discuss specific research interests and how areas of interest might fit in with the ongoing research activities of the (SONHS) faculty. Reasons for applying to the PhD program at the University of Miami, future professional goals, and related clinical, teaching, and/or research experience should also be addressed. 
• It is important to match research interests with the research content matter or methodology expertise of the SONHS faculty. It is recommended that applicants review the faculty areas of research listed on the SONHS website, https://www.sonhs.miami.edu/faculty-and-staff/faculty-directory/index.html, as well as faculty publications before applying (see CINHAL, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, or Google Scholar databases to search for research articles).
• Upload in the “Documents” tab under “Personal Statement.”

• The CV/resume should include work and volunteer activities, licensures and other certifications, awards, professional organizations, and academic experiences.
• Upload in the “Documents” tab under “CV/Resume.”

Current, unrestricted RN license to practice nursing in the State of Florida or the state/territory of current practice

• Upload in the “Documents” tab under “License.”
• International students must have a United States Social Security number to obtain a Florida RN license.

Admission is contingent upon completion of all requirements outlined in the Certificate of Admission.  This includes a mandatory online pre-immersion course, valid immunizations, a negative drug test, and clearance of an FBI background check, among others.  Clinical rotations are a component of the nursing program and require that students have a background report without any infractions.  If a student’s background report contains any infractions, regardless of how they were resolved or adjudicated, his/her offer of admission will be rescinded.

Applicants must upload a copy of their passport in the “Documents” tab under “Other.”

Applicants (international and domestic) who have attended a college or university outside of the United States must request a course-by-course degree evaluation, complete with degree equivalency and GPA calculation information, by submitting all international transcripts and diplomas (if applicable) to one of the following approved evaluation services:

• World Education Services (WES)
• Josef Silny & Associates (JS&A)
• Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)

Complete evaluations must be sent by the evaluation company directly to NursingCAS.  Copies of all official transcripts and diplomas must be included by the evaluation company when the evaluation is sent to NurisngCAS.

Applicants who use WES can request their completed evaluations be sent electronically to NursingCAS to post to their application.  Students who choose to send their complete evaluation to NursingCAS by mail must request it be sent directly by the evaluation company to NursingCAS, P.O. Box 9201, Watertown, MA 02471.

Note: Any foreign documents received by the School of Nursing and Health Studies become the property of the University of Miami and will not be returned to the applicant or sent to a third party, including third party evaluation services.

Applicants whose native language is not English must submit passing Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores--click here to view passing score. TOEFL scores should be sent directly to NursingCAS using code #B506. IELTS should be sent directly to the following address: University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies, Office of Student Services, P.O. Box 248153, Coral Gables, FL 33124-3850. 

Note: Students whose native language is not English but who attended and earned a degree from a regionally-accredited higher education institution in the United States are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement.