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UF Health University of Florida
College of Nursing UNIVERSITY of FLORIDA
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Exciting News!

Fall 2025 Applications Now Available!

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.

PhD

about the bsn to PhD program

The BSN to PhD program is a curriculum option for baccalaureate graduates to enter directly into PhD study.

An applicant whose prior academic experience and proposed research focus are congruent with the research focal areas of the College of Nursing will be given priority. This degree program is not for students seeking certification in advanced practice nursing.

admission criteria

Applicants are required to show evidence of the following:

  • No GRE required
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with an upper-division grade point average of 3.5 or higher from a CCNE or ACEN accredited program.
  • Licensure, or eligibility for licensure, to practice as a registered nurse in Florida.*
  • International students or students whose native language is not English are required to meet Graduate School requirements: English Language Proficiency Requirements and Exemption Qualifications for Admission*
  • Students must be either a U.S. Citizen, legal U.S. resident or hold a valid visa.

*International students may request an exception to the admission requirement for licensure or eligibility for licensure.

*UF’s TOEFL school code is 5812.

Important notification: All admitted nursing students, regardless of campus status, must complete a background check, mandatory immunization verification (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Hepatitis B, Varicella, Influenza, Tetanus, Tuberculosis), fingerprinting*, and drug screening. The College of Nursing follows CDC guidelines and adheres to the safety regulations of our clinical partners. Additionally, all students must provide proof of current health insurance. Upon admission into the program, students will be given the steps to complete this process.

* Students must disclose any arrests or criminal charges in their UF Program application. Upon disclosure, further information may be requested. All students must undergo a new background check, fingerprinting, and drug test. Disclosure of arrest or conviction information may impact your admission to the Nursing Program.

application process

The application process for the BSN to PhD program is a two-part application process. All applicants are required to complete the following:

  • First- Submit the University of Florida Graduate Program Application.
    • If admitted, official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended must be submitted to the University of Florida in addition to the Graduate Program Application.
    • Any necessary test scores must be sent to the University of Florida in addition to the Graduate Program Application.
    • Applicants who have completed college coursework outside the United States must submit a credential evaluation. This evaluation must include a detailed course-by-course analysis, including credits, grades, and grade point average calculation, from a NACES member. Additionally, transcripts and degree certificates will be required if admitted to our program.
    • Please refer to the University of Florida Office of Admissions website for more information.
  • Second – Submit the NursingCAS application for the University of Florida BSN to PhD program. (NOTE: Applicants will not be able to submit the NursingCAS application without first completing the University of Florida Graduate Program application.)
    • A statement of goals, 3 letters of reference, a CV or resume must be submitted with the NursingCAS application.
      • Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the PhD Program Director and/or faculty who have been identified as having a similar research interest and discuss possible dissertation topics and mentorship prior to submitting the admission application.
    • Unofficial transcripts from all colleges/universities attended are submitted with the NursingCAS application.
    • Please refer to the NursingCAS website for further instructions.
  • Complete an interview with College of Nursing graduate faculty. Once all application materials are received, the College of Nursing will coordinate a virtual or phone interview with you that will take approximately 30-60 minutes. This interview is intended to supplement your application materials and will include questions for you to elaborate on, including such questions as:
    • Can you describe a lived event or encounter that resulted in a new discovery or enrichment of your nursing practice?
    • What are some of your personal attributes that you think will be crucial to your success in the PhD program?
    • Please provide an example of how you’ve shown resilience during your academic education and training?

Questions? Contact Us 

Tuition and Costs

We understand the importance of financial planning. Explore our tuition costs, estimated expenses and available scholarships and fellowships to support your PhD journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a few frequently asked questions:

I have submitted the UF Graduate School application. Do I also have to apply through NursingCAS?

I have started the NursingCAS application and it asks for a UFID number. How do I get this?

Do I have to submit references or letters of recommendation with both the UF Graduate School application and NursingCAS?

I have copies of my references or letters of recommendation. Can I submit those myself?

Do I have to submit official transcripts with my NursingCAS application?

I do not have a Florida RN license. Can I still apply?

What type of funding can I expect as a PhD student?

Are there any financial resources available to help with the application fees?

I am an international student and have accepted a graduate research assistant position. When do I need to arrive in Gainesville in order to make sure that my employment is all in order?

Are there any mandatory meetings before the program starts?

I submitted my application several weeks ago, how do I check on the status?

I have submitted the UF Graduate School application. Do I also have to apply through NursingCAS?

I have started the NursingCAS application and it asks for a UFID number. How do I get this?

  • You need to complete the UF Graduate School application first to acquire a UFID number. Within 24 – 48 hours of submitting your UF Graduate program application you should receive an email from the Admissions Office inviting you to create your login for the Application Status page. Once you are able to login you will be able to access your UFID for your records. 

Do I have to submit references or letters of recommendation with both the UF Graduate School application and NursingCAS?

  • No, references or letters of recommendation are only required for the NursingCAS application. More information regarding this process may be found here.

I have copies of my references or letters of recommendation. Can I submit those myself?

  • No, references cannot be completed or submitted by the applicant or another party on behalf of the reference. References are submitted by the references themselves. More information regarding this process may be found here.

Do I have to submit official transcripts with my NursingCAS application?

  • No. Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be submitted with your NursingCAS application. If admitted, the UF Office of Admissions will require official transcripts to finalize admission.

I do not have a Florida RN license. Can I still apply?

  • Yes. Applicants who hold an RN license in another state are eligible for licensure in Florida but do not need to hold a Florida RN license at the time of application. International students whose research focus does not involve direct patient contact may request an exception to the admission requirement for licensure.

What type of funding can I expect as a PhD student?

  • This varies based on availability. PhD students may be eligible to receive a College of Nursing scholarship award in the amount of $18,000.The list of available scholarships and fellowships for graduate students may be found here.
  • Funding for tuition, stipend, and health care is dependent upon open graduate research assistant (GRA) positions provided by the individual faculty, ideally, a faculty member whose research is aligned with the focus of your research question. We encourage applicants to reach out to the research faculty whose research aligns with their focus area and to inquire about whether there are any open GRA positions they may have or anticipate.
  • More information regarding financial assistance may be found here. Your acceptance letter will include the details of any funding offers (scholarships or graduate research assistant positions). For applicants who are U.S. citizens, the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) may also be available to eligible students; please contact the director of this program if interested.

Are there any financial resources available to help with the application fees?

  • No, we do not have waivers for these fees and they must be paid at the time of the application. The non-refundable application fee for the Graduate School is $30 and for NursingCAS is $80 for a total of $110.00

I am an international student and have accepted a graduate research assistant position. When do I need to arrive in Gainesville in order to make sure that my employment is all in order?

  • Foreign nationals who are accepting a graduate appointment should plan to arrive in Gainesville a month before the academic year starts (July). This is necessary to make all the deadlines needed for your appointment to ensure you get paid and your tuition waivers get processed in a timely fashion.

Are there any mandatory meetings before the program starts?

  • Yes, the College of Nursing graduate orientation is mandatory and typically held 1-2 weeks before the start of classes. You will receive information about the orientation through email. The UF Graduate School orientation is also held in August but is often recorded for accessibility.

I submitted my application several weeks ago, how do I check on the status?

  • Please keep in mind that your application process will take several weeks after your interview is complete as the UF Graduate School also reviews it. Please feel free to reach out to Mailing Pauzauskie to check on the status of your application.