Top 10 U.S. News & World Report ranked UF No. 6 among public universities
Six health-related colleges to collaborate with within the UF Health system
Top 10 among public colleges of nursing for NIH funding
Why a uf phd
A PhD in Nursing Sciences is the pinnacle of the academic nursing career. Nursing professionals holding a PhD in nursing sciences have an endless stream of career opportunities in health administration, clinical research and advanced clinical practice. The PhD is also the gateway to a career in nursing education, where qualified faculty are greatly needed to alleviate a growing nursing faculty shortage, a crisis that has eclipsed the nursing shortage itself.
The UF College of Nursing has the oldest and one of the most respected nursing doctoral programs in the state, and provides the nursing doctoral student access to expert nurse researchers and cutting-edge technological resources. The college is in a world-class health science center with access to a network of interdisciplinary health care centers.
The College of Nursing seeks to enroll a class of highly qualified students with varied backgrounds and interests. This contributes to the learning environment for all students and has historically produced graduates who have served all segments of society and become leaders in our profession.
WHY GATOR NURSING?
Caroline Deaterly
PhD student Caroline Deaterly shares how her mentorship experience shaped her journey to become a nurse scientist.
WHY GATOR NURSING?
Alex Carey
PhD student Alex Carey shares her path to becoming a nurse researcher.
Why Gator Nursing?
Keliy Fordham
PhD Student Keliy Fordham shares how she plans to use artificial intelligence to change clinical practice.
STUDENT SERVICES
The UF College of Nursing Student Services Team promotes the success of all students in the College of Nursing across programs, and seeks to enhance the student experience for every soon-to-be Gator Nurse! The Student Services Team provides a number of support services to students throughout their program.
PhD Entry Points
BSN to PhD
The BSN to PhD program is a curriculum option for baccalaureate graduates to enter directly into PhD study.
MSN to PhD
The MSN to PhD program is a curriculum option for students with a master’s degree to enter directly into PhD study.
Frequently Asked Questions
What funding opportunities are available for students?
All of our PhD students receive some form of funding. Federal loans and financial aid are available for the fall, spring and summer semesters for graduate students. Multiple scholarships and assistantships are available and more information can be found here.
What is the time commitment?
The PhD program is a full-time commitment. Students will be expected to participate in research and classwork on a weekly basis. For an example PhD class schedule for the fall, spring and summer semesters, visit here.
How do I apply?
To apply, all applicants must submit the University of Florida Graduate Program Application AND submit a NursingCAS application.
For complete information on how to apply, please visit the BSN to PhD or MSN to PhD homepage.
When are applications due?
The next start date for the PhD program is August 21, 2025. The final application deadline is April 1, 2025. Preference is given to applicants who submit all application materials by March 1, 2025. After March 1, applications will be accepted on a space-available basis until April 1, 2025. International applicants should apply as soon as possible to permit adequate time for processing.
What is the cost per credit hour?
Our current in-state tuition rate is $530.69 per credit hour, and the non-resident rate is $1,255.41. For a list of estimated expenses, you may visit the University of Florida Student Financial Affairs website.
Financial Aid?
The UF College of Nursing is committed to helping you meet your educational and career goals. Explore financial aid options now.
PhD in nursing sciences
The PhD in Nursing Sciences prepares nurse scholars to develop and conduct scientific research that advances the theoretical foundations of nursing practice and health care delivery.
It is also the gateway to a career in nursing education, where qualified faculty members are greatly needed to alleviate a growing nursing faculty shortage.
Our program offers comprehensive research preparation with one of the strongest cores of nursing research faculty in Florida.
The UF College of Nursing offers two entry points for research-focused doctoral studies in nursing. Select an entry point to learn more.
FUNDING FOR YOUR EDUCATION
Nurse Faculty Loan Program
The UF College of Nursing offers the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) to PhD and MSN-DNP students who intend to pursue a full-time nurse faculty position. The federal loan is cancelled through employment as nurse faculty post-graduation. This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health.
UF Nursing research faculty and current students
Advancing Nursing practice
The PhD in Nursing
Learn more about the research areas represented at the UF College of Nursing by exploring our faculty research profiles and meeting your peers:
Nursing Research Faculty
Learn more about individual College of Nursing researchers by exploring the research faculty directory.
Current PhD Students
Meet current students in both our BSN to PhD and MSN to PhD tracks to see where they’re from, their area of research, affiliations and awards.
What You’ll Experience
Upon completion of the program, the PhD graduate is expected to engage in the following:
- Research: Synthesizes and generates knowledge for the discipline of nursing.
- Scholarly Activity: Disseminates findings to researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders in healthcare.
- Leadership: Assumes leadership and advocacy positions to advance healthcare.
- Ethics: Synthesizes ethical issues and standards related to science and knowledge development.
- Collaboration: Develops and engages in interdisciplinary teams within the scientific and healthcare practice communities.
Interdisciplinary Opportunities
The University of Florida’s campus hosts 16 different colleges, all within walking distance from the UF College of Nursing, the Health Sciences Center and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). These facilities provide students with unique opportunities to enroll in a variety of electives to support their dissertations and professional development, including grant writing, as well as the selection of a secondary mentor outside of nursing who can support the student’s research, scholarship, innovation and policy interests. Collaboration within interdisciplinary teams is encouraged, and there are many opportunities for interdisciplinary work.
- CON faculty members lead interdisciplinary research teams with colleagues from medicine, pharmacy, public health, engineering, informatics and other disciplines.
- Advanced Research courses provide students practicum experiences with these teams as well as others in order to enhance their competencies in research and scholarly activities.
- T32 pre and postdoctoral fellowship opportunity in translational science to reduce the impact of alcohol on HIV infection at the University of Florida.
Additional Questions?