Call for Applications for the Doctoral (PhD) Programme in Nursing – Fall 2026

The University of Nicosia announces the opening of two (2) positions for admission to the Doctorate (PhD) in Nursing, for the Fall 2026 semester of the academic year 2026-2027.

How to Apply

For academic information regarding the doctoral programme, please contact the Programme Coordinator, Dr Evangelos Latzourakis, by email at: [email protected]

The application must be submitted only via the online procedure available at: https://www.unic.ac.cy/apply

About the Programme

The Doctoral Programme in Nursing prepares doctoral students to address current and emerging healthcare challenges through advanced, interdisciplinary research in nursing science, public health, digital health, epidemiology, health services administration, and evidence-based practice. The programme develops academic and clinical leaders who advance healthcare quality and patient safety, reduce health inequalities, and strengthen health systems and policy at national and international levels.

The specific objectives of the programme are to:

• Advance rigorous scholarly dialogue that promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, critical thinking, and innovation.
• Develop advanced expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, preparing graduates for research careers in clinical and academic settings.
• Advance knowledge of health policy, leadership, crisis and disaster management, climate change and health, and social determinants of health in complex care environments.
• Advance excellence in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, patient safety, ethics, and research integrity.
• Cultivate leadership, strategic, managerial, and educational competencies for senior roles in academia, healthcare organizations, research institutes, governmental bodies, and international agencies.
• Critically evaluate the evolving global healthcare landscape, including pandemics, population aging, chronic disease burdens, technological innovation, and digital transformation. They demonstrate the capacity to analyze complex systems, navigate uncertainty, and design innovative, evidence-informed interventions that improve health outcomes.
• To recognise the diverse needs of health and social care professionals and offer flexible, learner-centred pathways that facilitate lifelong learning, international collaboration and sustained professional development.

PhD holders in Nursing:

• Critically appraise and integrate advanced and specialized knowledge at the forefront of nursing science to shape and refine their doctoral research focus.
• Evaluate, synthesize, and generate new theoretical and interdisciplinary insights from complex empirical and conceptual literature to advance nursing knowledge and inform research, policy, and practice.
• Critique, design, and refine qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research methodologies to ensure methodological rigor and innovation in nursing research.
• Develop and justify original research questions, hypotheses, and theoretical propositions that address complex scientific and practice-related problems in nursing.
• Design, defend, and optimize independent research protocols that meet and exceed international standards of scientific rigor and ethical integrity.
• Select, evaluate, and innovate advanced data collection, analysis, and interpretation strategies aligned with the research problem and methodological framework.
• Construct, defend, and disseminate scholarly arguments and research findings through authoritative publications, presentations, and formal academic defenses at national and international levels.
• Produce and validate independent, original research that makes a substantial and recognized contribution to the advancement of nursing knowledge.
• Lead, evaluate, and transform complex research processes and scholarly and professional communities by integrating ethical integrity, reflexivity, mentorship, and disciplinary advancement into academic and organizational practice.

The language of instruction of the programme is English and Greek.

The programme focuses on the following multidisciplinary research key themes:

• Management of Chronic diseases and Healthy aging
• Transcultural and Diversity Nursing care
• Public Health Care and Climate Change
• Digital Health
• Cancer care and Oncology
• Nursing Education, Clinical Communication and Health Psychology
• Infectious diseases & epidemiology

In addition to these broad topics, students may select one of the following more specific projects:

• Development and testing of a nurse-led intervention focused on education and social support to improve mental health outcomes in patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) undergoing haemodialysis (HD).
• Development and evaluation of an AI-driven module for reducing medication errors and enhancing medication safety in nursing practice.

Admission Requirements and Procedures

1. Academic Qualifications: Master Degree (MSc) in Nursing or other Health Sciences, Bachelor Degree (BSc) in Nursing or other Health Sciences, Accredited Apolyterion of Secondary Education, Registered in the registrar of the profession they belong. Applicants that do not fulfil this requirement may still apply to the programme subject to the evaluation of their academic qualifications by the Department Doctoral Programme Committee. Copies of degrees awarded must be submitted as part of a complete application package.
2. Application Form: Applicants must submit an application form for admission and enrolment to the programme. The application form requests general information about the applicant, their qualifications, relevant experience.
3. Curriculum Vitae: a complete CV specifying all academic and professional activities
4. Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must obtain two recommendation letters from individuals who have known the applicant in an educational and/or professional environment. At least one of the recommendation letters must be from an academic institution where the applicant has studied previously.
5. English Language Proficiency: TOEFL (paper-based test 600, computer-based test 250, internet-based test 100) or IELTS 6.5. For students who graduated from an English-speaking University, English language is not a requirement. Proficiency in English Language is an essential requirement even in cases where the thesis is to be submitted in Greek as research undertaken towards completing the thesis is expected to include English-language resources.
6. Publications: Previous theses/dissertations and any published work of academic relevance (if any).
7. Initial Research Proposal: An initial proposal (1,000 – 2,000 words) outlining the research topic, aims and objectives, research questions and proposed research methodology as follows:
   • Title
   • Literature review (brief)
   • Identifications of gaps in existing literature and rationale for proposed research
   • Aims and objectives
   • Research hypotheses
   • Research methodology
   • Ethical Considerations (if applicable)
   • Expected output
   • Time plan for completion
   • References
8. Statement of Purpose: Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive outline highlighting their academic and individual competencies and state why they believe they are suitable for admission to the Programme, as well as their reflections regarding the expectations and value of the Programme for their personal advancement and career development.
9. Individual Interviews: The Department Doctoral Programme Committee may decide whether to hold an individual interview of the applicant prior to deciding. The Department Doctoral Programme Committee, having examined the applicant’s suitability against the entry criteria, having reviewed the application and interviewed the applicant, will determine his or her suitability and the appropriateness of their initial proposal.
10. Final Evaluation: In view of the limited number of applicants to be admitted to the programme, the Department Doctoral Programme Committee will decide on the basis of merit and by evaluating specific criteria who are the most suitable candidates to be admitted to the programme. The Committee will exercise its judgment, taking into account the overall quality, merit and feasibility of the research proposal, the quality of the prior research work of the candidate and the candidate’s academic and other relevant qualifications as included in the curriculum vitae and the applicant’s performance during the individual interview (if such an interview is conducted).