Application Deadline
Applications for the PhD Program are due Dec. 1 for early acceptance and Feb. 1 for regular acceptance. All students begin coursework the summer following program acceptance and are required to attend the June On Campus Orientation.
Online
The PhD application is fully online via the MU Graduate School website.
Nov.
20
PhD Admission and Application Process Webinar – November
Join us for a live information session to learn about the PhD in Nursing program at the Sinclair School of Nursing. Our interdisciplinary, research-focused PhD prepares scholars and leaders across health care, public health, industry and academia. During this webinar, you’ll explore the curriculum and application process and have time to ask questions. Use the link below to attend on Nov. 20, 2025 at 5 p.m. Central Time.
Dec.
18
PhD Admission and Application Process Webinar – December
We will offer another live information session to learn about the PhD program at the Sinclair School of Nursing in December. Join us to learn how our interdisciplinary, research-focused PhD prepares scholars and leaders across health care, public health, industry and academia. During this webinar, you’ll explore the curriculum and application process and have time to ask questions. Use the link below to attend on Dec. 18, 2025 at 3 p.m. Central Time.
Steps to Apply
- 1. Submit the online Mizzou’s Graduate School PhD application.
- 2. Submit your fee to Mizzou’s Graduate School when you apply. ($145 for domestic students; $170 for international students).
- 3. You will not send any items to the Mizzou Nursing at the time of application.
- 4. Competitive applicants with a strong research mentor match are invited to participate in an interview.
- 5. Applicants to the International Residential PhD Option are strongly encouraged to apply by the December 1st deadline to allow sufficient time for processing immigration paperwork.
- 6. Early acceptance applicants are notified in early January.
- 7. Regular acceptance applicants are notified no later than mid-March.
- 8. All new PhD cohorts start in the summer session.
Application Requirements
PhD applicants entering with a bachelor’s degree: Bachelor’s degree in nursing from CNEA, ACEN, or CCNE-accredited school OR equivalent for non-nurse applicants; 3.3 minimum GPA (4.0 scale).
- Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements or do not have a cumulative GPA must submit acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and the exam must have been taken within the last five years.
PhD applicants entering with a graduate degree: Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing from CNEA, ACEN, or CCNE-accredited school OR equivalent for non-nurse applicants; minimum 3.5 GPA (4.0 scale).
- Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements or do not have a cumulative GPA must submit acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and the exam must have been taken within the last five years.
Additional Requirements
- Completed Mizzou’s Graduate School Online Application.
- Current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.
- Three (3) professional recommendations – Describing professional competence, potential for success in the PhD program, and potential for making a contribution to nursing and/or health care. Ideally, two of these recommendations should be from PhD-prepared individuals.
- Statement of Purpose – Reasons for applying to the nursing PhD Program at Mizzou; Strengths you bring to doctoral study; Statement of personal research interest including the rationale for your intended research focus; Any Mizzou Nursing research faculty that you contacted and discussed being a potential mentor and/or committee member; Anticipated career goals and how completing the program will help you achieve them.
- Writing sample if available; Post-DNP applicants need to include an artifact of their DNP scholarly project.
- Registered Nurse (RN) license – Does not apply to non-nurse PhD applicants; international nursing applicants should submit license from their country.
- Satisfactory English language test score within last 2 years (non-native English speaking applicants only).
Comprehensive Review
Mizzou Sinclair School of Nursing strives to prepare students to meet the needs of individuals, communities, and populations they will serve. We believe a quality education must provide a learning environment in which individuals from various backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can gain the knowledge and skills needed for their career trajectory. Admission to any Mizzou nursing program is based on a combination of criteria including: each student’s unique experiences, attributes, and academic metrics.
Mizzou nursing PhD program uses a comprehensive review process that considers factors such as a research mentor match, academic and professional goals, student’s strength of undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) coursework, grade trends, circumstances, and experiences. In doing so, we evaluate applicants based on who will contribute to the Mizzou Nursing’s academic community in meaningful ways.