Doctor of Nursing (D.N.)

The D.N. program is governed by the general graduate guidelines of the College of Graduate Studies' policies and procedures. Minimum requirements for admission to the College of Graduate Studies are available here. 

Applicants to the D.N. program normally: 

• Hold current registration/licensure as a Registered Nurse (R.N.), Registered Midwife, Registered Psychiatric Nurse (R.P.N.), or Nurse Practitioner (N.P.) in the province/country where they will study and practice.
• Hold a completed master’s degree in nursing or a closely related health discipline (or an approved equivalent).
• Have achieved a minimum B+ average in prior graduate-level coursework.
• For special considerations, consult with the program coordinator. 

Program Requirements 

Students in the D.N. program complete 24 credits as follows: 

• HINT_O 540/NRSG_O 540 (3 credits)
• NRSG_O 581 (3 credits)
• HINT_O 603/NRSG_O 603 (6 credits)
• HINT_O 649/NRSG_O 649 (6 credits)
• Two elective courses (6 credits total) 

As per College of Graduate Studies’ policy, the residency requirement for all doctoral students registered in programs on the UBC Okanagan campus is a minimum of 24 months of accumulated full-time study at the University from the point of beginning their degree to its conclusion. Programs may choose to allow students to fulfill an Engagement Requirement, replacing the need for residency. In order to meet this Engagement Requirement, D.N. students: 

• Join the program as part of a cohort, starting in September annually
• Participate in a one-week intensive on campus as part of HINT_O/NRSG_O 540
• Participate in synchronous sessions throughout the HINT_O/NRSG_O 603 seminar course
• Participate in any other synchronous online or in person learning activities as part of their chosen elective courses  

The Doctor of Nursing (D.N.) program is delivered primarily online. Programs that are normally delivered online are generally not eligible for the Post‑Graduation Work Permit (P.G.W.P.). As a result, students should not plan on the D.N. program leading to P.G.W.P. eligibility. 

P.G.W.P. eligibility depends on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (I.R.C.C.) rules, including requirements related to how much of a program is completed in person in Canada (for example, I.R.C.C. guidance commonly references completing at least 50% of the program in-class in Canada). Because delivery and immigration policies can change, applicants should confirm their individual situation with an international student advisor and I.R.C.C.. 

If students are physically in Canada while taking courses, they will require a valid study permit (and must maintain immigration status).  

If students remain outside Canada for their studies, a Canadian study permit is generally not required for online study completed abroad. 

Program Learning Outcomes