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Congratulations on taking the next step towards earning your PhD!
The application link is at the bottom of this page. Please read the entire page before you begin the application. This content outlines all materials and resources you need on hand to complete your application. Allow time to complete the steps below and put together a strong application – typically, 3-4 weeks.
All required materials must be completed per application instructions. Hard copy or emailed documents are not accepted.
*Application deadline is December 1.
Candidate interviews take place in January.
Final decisions will be sent to applicants in early February.
UIC undergraduate alumni and soon-to-be alumni who are applying to graduate Master’s and PhD programs could have their application fee waived. Only full or expected UIC alumni are eligible. This includes (1) Those students who have fully earned, or will earn, a UIC bachelor’s degree by the proposed term of enrollment in a UIC graduate program and (2) UIC seniors who are seeking concurrent graduate enrollment for the final year of their undergraduate study. Waiver does not apply to those who have attended UIC but not earned a degree, applicants to UIC professional programs, or alumni of UIUC or UIS.
*Please note some deadline exceptions may apply for our active military applicants. If you are active military please reach out to congradapply@uic.edu if you have any questions.
Be sure to read: Requirements for admission
Academic Credentials/Transcripts Heading link
1). Submit Graduate Application
Visit the UIC Graduate Application page. Once on the page, you can either search for the program or select the Doctorate program link under the program search bar. Select, or search for “Nursing – PhD” from the list of available programs. After you have selected Nursing – PhD, click on Apply and create a log in.
You will be able to complete Steps 2 – 5 (listed below) within the online application portal.
Complete and submit the application along with the $70 non-refundable application fee.
Note: Be sure to check the box under the “Financial Aid and Support” section of the application if you need to receive funding from UIC to attend.
2). Upload Transcripts
All UIC graduate and professional applicants must scan and upload copies of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended directly to the application. Please do not mail or email transcripts directly to the College of Nursing or to the UIC Admissions Office.
- You can upload transcripts as a single, multipage standard PDF, or you may upload each page separately as a JPG, PNG or TIFF image file.
- Additional credentials will be requested by Office of Admissions staff if submitted documents are insufficient, incorrect or illegible, which will result in an incomplete application status.
Please address any transcript questions directly to the UIC Office of Admissions at applygrad@uic.edu or submit this contact form.
3). Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Upload your most recent resume or CV that details educational background, work experience and honors/awards/activities, if applicable, directly to the application.
Supplemental Materials Required by the College of Nursing Heading link
4). Application Essay
Within the application, you’ll be prompted to answer the following essay questions. We recommend that you draft your responses to the questions before beginning your application. Once submitted, you are not able to edit your responses.
- What are your short- and long-term professional goals?
- How will a PhD assist you in attaining your career and educational goals? Why did you select UIC?
- Comment on your qualification and readiness for doctoral study, especially at a research-intensive college of nursing. Describe your experience(s) with research.
- In which area of scientific inquiry are you are interested and why?
- The mission of the UIC College of Nursing is to transform health, healthcare and policy through knowledge generation and translation and education of future leaders from diverse backgrounds. Our vision is to be a preeminent leader in advancing global health and nursing. Please comment on how you can contribute to the UIC mission and vision as a student and future alumnus.
- What do you see as the major challenges that you will need to overcome (i.e., financial constraints, family responsibilities, analytical or statistical skills) in pursuing a PhD? What are your plans for addressing these challenges?
- What does it mean to have a commitment to diversity and how would you develop and apply your commitment to diversity at UIC?
5). Three Letters of Recommendation
Enter the names and email address for three recommenders to your application. Each recommender will then receive an email with a link to the College of Nursing Recommendation form. Please inform each recommender that the Nursing Recommendation Form is required; the system does not allow the option of uploading a separate letter.
College of Nursing Interview
Not within application, but important to know before applying.
All applicants with completed applications will be contacted by the College of Nursing for an application interview. The interview is a required part of the application process. Applicants who do not sign up for an interview will not be considered for admission.
Go to the application
After submitting your application ... Heading link
Please be sure to read any e-mails sent to you by the UIC Office of Admissions. If there is a problem with any of your documents, UIC Admissions will contact you to ask that you to re-submit the document in question.
Need More Information? Heading link
Submit this form and an Enrollment Advisor will contact you to answer your questions.