PhD Program | UCLA School of Nursing (2024)

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Funding sources for doctoral students are available in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, campus scholarships, and grant awards.The School of Nursing typically provides full support for resident tuition and fees during the first two years of the PhD program.

Types of Financial Aid for Doctoral Students

Direct Unsubsidized Loans are federally guaranteed loans that all students, regardless or need, are eligible to receive. Interest begins accruing after the first initial disbursem*nt. Students are not required to start making payments on this loan until six (6) months after they graduate or drop below half time.

For more information please see our Loan Guides on thePublicationspage.

The Direct PLUS Loan is a loan option for Graduate/Professional students to help pay for their educational costs. Students can borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid that the student is receiving. Interest begins accruing upon first disbursem*nts. Students are not required to start making payments on this loan until sixty (60) days after the loan is fully disbursed. Students may also defer payment if the student is enrolled at least half-time, or during the six (6) month period after graduation, or after the student drops below half-time enrollment.

For more information please see our Graduate Loan Guide on ourforms and publications page, or ourPLUS vs Private Loan fact sheet, for a quick comparison of the two types of loan.

The UCLA Graduate Division offers several types of need/merit based support. These fellowships are described in the financial support section onwww.grad.ucla.edu. Please see the listing below.

Graduate Dean's Scholar Award:This Fellowship provides a tuition paying award plus a $21,000 stipend a year for two years to an outstanding applicant in the entering class.

Eugene Cota Robles Fellowship:This Fellowship provides a tuition paying award plus a $25,000 stipend a year for four years to students who are socioeconomic disadvantaged. If necessary, nonresident supplementaltuition for the first year only.

University Fellowship:Each entering doctoral student will receive a fellowship to cover tuition for their first year if they are not covered by another fellowship.

Special Fellowships:Various special fellowships are described onwww.grad.ucla.edu.Applicants from across the campus compete for these awards.

A Teaching Assistantship (TA) is a meaningful way for graduate students to obtain teaching experience. Teaching assistants are selected on the basis of scholarship and promise as teachers. A Graduate Student Researchers (GSR) assists faculty with scholarly research under the direction and supervision of a faculty member. GSRs are selected on the basis of scholastic achievement and promise as creative scholars. Students who are placed in a TA or GSR position will be awarded fee remissions to pay that quarter'stuition plus a stipend starting fall quarter of their second year.

Fee remissionsare benefits paid for by the hiring department to cover partial graduate tuition and fees. Graduate students who meetAAP eligibility requirementscan expect to see credits in their BruinBill account.

The following fee categories are covered by fee remissions benefits:

  • Health Insurance - 100%
  • Tuition - 100%
  • Student Services Fee - 100%
  • Campus Fee - 100% (ASE only)
  • Nonresident Supplemental Tuition - 100% (GSR only)

Learn more aboutworking at UCLA.

Qualifying career employees at UC may be eligible to receive a two-thirds (66%) reduction in the Tuition and Student Services fees. Enrollment for nursing students is limited to twelve (12) units or four (4) courses, whichever is greater. More information on Employee Reduced Fee Enrollment may be foundhere.

Applications must be submitted quarterly once term fees are assessed. UCLA employees may access theEmployee Experience Centerto submit the Employee Reduced Fee Enrollment Application. Employees at other UCs must complete a paper application.

Choosing how to finance your education is one of the most important decisions you will make - and the impact of that decision will follow you well beyond graduation. Once you have exhausted your eligibility for Federal, State, and University financial aid and loans, you may need to consider applying for a private educational loan, also called an alternative loan. These loans are not federal student loans. They are offered by private lenders and are used to supplement other types of financial aid. The interest rates and repayment terms on these loans may vary.

Students may refer to theUC Preferred Lender Listwhich includes lenders that have been extensively evaluated by the University of California Office of the President and found to provide competitive rates and loan terms to students.

UC Code of Conduct for Preferred Lender Arrangements

Applying for Aid

Students entering the UCLA School of Nursing are advised to submit theFree Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)orCalifornia Dream Act Application (CADAA).The priority deadline isMarch 2. The UCLA school code is001315.

Learn more about applying for aid

Corbett Disclosure Statement

Students considering student loans need to be aware of the differences between federal student loans and private studentloans.

Important Notice:Federal student loans are available to most students regardless of income and provide a range of repayment options including income-based repayment plans and loan forgiveness benefits, which other education loans are not required to provide.

  • Federal student loans are required by law to provide a range of flexible repayment options including, but not limited to, income-based and income-contingent repayment plans, as well as loan forgiveness benefits that private lenders are not required to provide.
  • Federal direct loans are available to most students regardless of income. Other qualification criteria do apply. For more information, please visit theFederal Student Aid Website.
  • Private student loan lenders can offer variable interest rates that can increase or decrease over time, depending on market conditions.
  • The interest rate on a private loan may depend on borrower's and/or cosigner's credit rating.
  • Private student loans have a range of interest rates and fees and students shoulddetermine the interest rate of, and any fees associated with, the private student loan included in their financial aid award package before accepting the loan.
  • Students should contact the lender of the private student loan or their UC campus'financial aid office if they have any questions about a private student loan.
PhD Program | UCLA School of Nursing (2024)

FAQs

How many years does it take to get a PhD in nursing? ›

Students might spend 4-6 years earning a PhD in Nursing. However, PhD in Nursing programs do not typically require a certain number of clinical practice hours for graduation.

Is it worth it to get a PhD in nursing? ›

Nurses with PhDs can equip the future generation of nurse scientists as faculty. In addition, they can serve as leaders in diverse settings such as clinical agencies, health policy organizations, professional organizations, governmental and state agencies, and industry.

Can you get a PhD in nursing without a Masters? ›

Types of Nursing PhD Programs

Many schools offer MSN to PhD programs, which require a Master of Science in Nursing for admission. Students who possess a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and want to jump straight into their doctorate program without first earning an MSN, can opt for a BSN to PhD program.

What PhD do you need to be a nurse? ›

There are two doctorate pathways nurses can take to earn a terminal degree — a Ph. D. in Nursing or a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP). A terminal degree refers to the highest academic credential for a given discipline.

Can a DNP be called a doctor? ›

DNPs are doctors, but are usually not called that in clinical settings to prevent confusion with MDs (medical doctors). It may be more common for DNPs, or nurse PhDs, who teach in academia to be referred to as doctors, in the same way that non-medical professors can be called doctors of their field.

Which is better, DNP or PhD? ›

Typically, nurses with a DNP degree have a higher annual salary than those with their PhD. That's in part due to the settings in which they work; since DNPs often practice clinically and see patients, they have a higher earning capacity than nurses in higher education or governmental positions.

Are you a doctor if you have a PhD in nursing? ›

For example, California and Georgia forbid nurses, pharmacists, and other professionals from using the "doctor" title. Most states allow practitioners with doctorate degrees to use the title “doctor” as long as they immediately clarify their role and qualifications.

Does a DNP require a dissertation? ›

The DNP requires the student to carry out a Scholarly Project in a clinical setting where as the PhD requires scientific research and a dissertation.

What is the highest degree in nursing? ›

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The DNP is the highest degree for nursing practice. In addition to APRN concentrations, DNP programs may prepare graduates for careers in organizational and executive leadership, health policy, or nursing informatics.

What percentage of nurses have a PhD? ›

Although less than 1% of today's nursing workforce has earned a PhD (NCSBN, 2021), these individuals are in high demand with the need for nurse scientists, faculty, and leaders on the rise.

Should nurses with PhDs be called doctors? ›

In an academic setting, they could appropriately ask to be called “Doctor.” But, to call themselves “Doctor” in a clinical setting misleads the patient and perpetrates a fraud which defies their patient's trust.

What can a DNP do that a NP cannot? ›

A DNP nurse can influence healthcare policies, take on administrative roles and provide clinical education for nursing programs. An NP without a DNP degree has not reached a terminal educational level that might be required for some roles.

What's the highest degree in nursing? ›

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The DNP is the highest degree for nursing practice. In addition to APRN concentrations, DNP programs may prepare graduates for careers in organizational and executive leadership, health policy, or nursing informatics.

What is the average age of nursing PhD students? ›

On average, it took 5.7 years for the students to graduate and 3.7 years for the students who left without graduating to drop out. The mean age at matriculation and graduation was 42.4 and 47.5, respectively.

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