The Queen’s School of Nursing offers a challenging and innovative MNSc program to prepare you with the critical appraisal skills needed for developing the scientific basis for nursing practice, and the knowledge and skills to conduct small research projects and participate in research teams. Situated in an academic environment that embodies scholarship, you will be well prepared for a career as a leader in clinical practice, education or health care management.
Our traditional MNSc program consists of course work and a thesis. The thesis requires independent, original research and makes up at least two-thirds of the time normally required for the program. You will be taught primarily in small graduate seminars, in which you will engage in a lively, critical examination of theory, clinical practice, and research, and delve into your own research. Nurtured by close mentoring relationships with faculty supervisors, you will normally complete the program in 2 years.
Starting in Fall 2020 we will be offering a course-based MNSc option with a focus on advanced nursing practice. Students will take the same four core courses as thesis-based students in the first year and then complete a clinical project course during the summer and continuing into the fall of Year 2. Students are also required to take three 800-level electives from a pre-approved list of courses in the School of Nursing, the School of Rehabilitation Therapy, and the Department of Public Health Sciences.
The research programs of faculty in the School of Nursing are reflected through 3 clusters of research: 1) populations with complex health conditions, 2) practice environments, and 3) health care quality. Chronic health conditions and transitions in health and illness are two fields of study in our MNSc program.
- Undergraduate university nursing degree from an accredited university
- Minimum overall average equivalent to B
- Registration (or eligible to register) as a Registered Nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario
- Two academic letters of reference (e.g. course professors)
- Undergraduate courses in research methodology and statistics
- Statement of research interest. Advance contact with supervisors is recommended
- Minimum overall average equivalent to B
- Two academic letters of reference (e.g. course professors)
- Undergraduate courses in research methodology and statistics
- Statement of research interest. Advance contact with supervisors is strongly recommended
- Proof of registration as a registered nurse in own country (will not be required to register with College of Nurses of Ontario). International students who are not registered in Ontario will be unable to conduct thesis research that requires registration;
- Proficiency in English. Applicants whose first language is not English or who have not recently studied for at least one complete year at a post-secondary institution where English is the official language of instruction, will be required to obtain satisfactory results in an English language proficiency test, as part of the application process, and before their application will be considered complete.
- Please visit the School of Graduate Studies for more details.
In addition to the online application submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, the following must be submitted by email or hard copy to the Graduate Program Coordinator in the School of Nursing, Queen’s University, 92 Barrie Street, Kingston, ON Canada K7L 3N6:
- Proof of registration as a registered nurse
- Copy of Curriculum Vitae (Resume)
- English language proficiency test (if required)
Official information on the MNSc program should be obtained from the School of Graduate Studies Calendar
The research programs of faculty in the School of Nursing are reflected through 3 clusters:
Practice environments
- Models of care
- Leadership
- Workplace culture, structure and health
- Communication strategies and systems
Populations with complex conditions
- Optimizing function and well-being
- Multimorbidity
- Mental health and/or addictions
- Outcomes monitoring
Health care quality
- Advancing safety
- Risk assessment and reduction
- Educational and technological innovations
- Health system service and delivery
In keeping with the School of Graduate Studies policy, eligible full-time MNSc students qualify for research assistantships (RA), teaching assistantships (TA), Queen’s Graduate Awards (QGA) and internal awards. We encourage you to apply for additional funding through external scholarships. Entering students with federal government Tri-council awards are automatically provided a $5,000 top-up award by Queen’s.
Nurs 802
Qualitative Methodology & Methods
Nurs 811
Theoretical Bases of Nursing Research
Nurs 899
Thesis Research (independently with MNSc Supervisor)
Nurs 800
Intermediate Statistics and Analysis
Nurs 803
Intermediate Quantitative Research Design
Special Topic Course
Nurs 899
Thesis Research (independently with MNSc Supervisor)
Nurs 899
Thesis Research (independently with MNSc Supervisor)
Thesis Proposal Defence (in late summer)
Nurs 899
Final Thesis Defense (end of year 2)
Nurs 802
Qualitative Methodology & Methods
Nurs 811
Theoretical Bases of Nursing Research
Nurs 800
Intermediate Statistics and Analysis
Nurs 803
Intermediate Quantitative Research Design
NURS 897 – Clinical Project
NURS 897 – Clinical Project (continued from Summer term)
Elective (from NURS, EPID, AGHE, or RHBS)
2 Electives (from NURS, EPID, AGHE, or RHBS)
For more course information please visit the School of Graduate Studies Calendar.
As an international applicant you are not required to be registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario, but must be registered as a nurse in your own country. If you are not registered as a nurse in Ontario during the program you will be unable to conduct thesis research that requires registration. This limitation on thesis research topics should be considered and discussed with a potential thesis supervisor prior to submitting your application.
No, this is a full-time program only. Most of the course work involved in the program occurs in the first year and classes are normally scheduled on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The decision on a supervisor is made by the Graduate Program Committee, following discussions between you and a potential faculty supervisor. A faculty member must be able to supervise thesis research in your area of interest and be willing to do so, given their current work commitments. It is recommended that you review profiles of faculty members to determine if there is someone who conducts research in your area.
Normally, you should have a general area of research interest before you begin the program, but a specific thesis topic is developed as you engage in course work and discussions with your thesis supervisor. On occasion, an applicant may have a specific plan for research, but this is not typical.
This program requires attendance at on-campus courses, most of which are organized as seminars requiring active discussion among and presentations by you and your classmates. There is an expectation that you attend and actively participate in courses, scholarly presentations and research events in the School of Nursing, within the Faculty of Health Sciences and within the Queen's community in general.
The Graduate Program Committee nominates individual applicants and students for internal scholarships and awards for which they are eligible. In order to be considered for awards in the first year, your application should be completed by February 1st. You are also encouraged to apply for external scholarships and fellowships as early as possible, as some of these may then be available to you during your first year of study. These are often offered by professional organizations or associations in nursing. You may also have the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant and/or research assistant. Contact us if you would like more information about potential external funding.