Admission Prerequisites

• Fellows are selected from among those admitted to the Penn Nursing PhD Program through its centralized application process.
  How to start an application.
  
• Our funding for fellows is from the National Institutes of Nursing Research and thus only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible. Funding includes support of tuition and fees, limited research and travel expenses, and health insurance.
• Our program requires full time, on site study, and completion of the PhD in three years whether from the starting point of the BSN or MSN. We encourage applications from BSNs who will proceed seamlessly through PhD.

Admission Requirements 

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from an accredited nursing program with an average at the Master’s level of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. 

• Recommendations from at least three individuals who have known the applicant in a professional capacity that address the applicant’s research potential

• An essay written by the applicant discussing her/his motivation for doctoral study. The essay should also address the applicant’s career goals, research interests, strengths, and views concerning major issues in contemporary health care. It should reflect an understanding of professional issues and insights related to their resolution.

Candidates will be competitively evaluated based on the criteria outlined below.

• Match with the overall goals and objectives of the training grant and affiliated Center.
• Match with the T32 and Center-affiliated Faculty Advisor.
• Pursue the scholarly potential for nursing science inquiry that has a high impact.
• Have a strong commitment to a research career in a research intensive environment.

Helpful Links

• Sample Plan of Study 
  The graduate program of study in health outcomes research encourages students to take advanced courses in quantitative methods and to take electives from as many of the University of Pennsylvania’s prominent scholars in health and social policy as possible. 

• Course Timetable

• Penn Nursing MSN-PhD Admissions 

• Penn Nursing PhD