Health Sciences
The PhD in Health Sciences is designed to be a research-intensive program emphasizing the development of research skills with a particular focus on populations who historically have higher rates of poorer health (such as seniors and Indigenous populations). It is a high quality graduate program in which students faculty, and staff together engage in research and scholarly work, including creative and innovative endeavours.
The PhD program is housed in the Department of Health Sciences, whose mission is to create and mobilize knowledge, to protect and promote health, and to reduce health inequities. Through applied research, community engagement, and provision of diverse learning opportunities, we help to build capacity to understand and address the complexities of both current and emerging health issues. Our vision is to be a leader in applied health research and comprehensive health education that enables and supports individuals and communities to achieve optimal health. Applied health research is an integral part of the PhD in Health Sciences program. It includes a hands-on experience through an innovative Research Internship that provides students with the opportunity to apply program content in a real-world, applied health research setting.
The objectives of the PhD in Health Sciences program are to prepare graduates who are able to:
- Discuss and critique current and emerging issues and trends in the field of health sciences;
- Design, carry out, and defend research at an advanced level to create knowledge relevant to the field of health sciences;
- Conduct research and scholarly activities in a way that is consistent with expected guidelines, processes, and procedures in the field of health sciences.
Please note, you must have a potential supervisor or co-supervisor identified before you apply. This person should be a core faculty member in the Department of Health Sciences.
The PhD in Health Sciences program may be completed either over 4 years (12 terms) on a full-time basis, or over 8 years (24 terms) on a flexible full-time basis. Note that, once admitted to the PhD in Health Sciences program, students are not permitted to change from the full-time option to the flexible full-time option, and vice versa.
Admission Requirements for PhD
Applicants for admission must be graduates of a recognized university and show evidence of scholarly achievement. Except where otherwise stated in the Admission Requirements of a particular program, students must have a Masters degree or its equivalent with an academic average as specified by the academic unit. An applicant holding a degree other than one in the discipline area to which admission is sought will be considered on the basis of Master's courses taken and academic standing.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not necessarily guarantee admission. No candidate will be admitted unless the academic unit recommends admission. All applicants will be advised in writing by the Office of Graduate Studies of their admission status.
Academic Fees and Important Payment Information
Graduate Funding
At Lakehead University, we realize the importance of financial support for graduate students.
Therefore, financial assistance opportunities are available in several forms and are generally awarded to students by individual programs on the basis of academic promise and financial need.
The different funding options available include:
For your convenience, a searchable database of graduate scholarships, bursaries, and awards is provided below. Award eligibility, criteria, and application procedures for graduate funding is indicated for each award. Please use the general search tool to find available funding by program. Alternatively, you may also click the advanced search link to specify available funding by program level, award category and/or award amount.
Although financial support cannot be guaranteed to all graduate students in all programs, we encourage you to inquire about financial assistance with your Graduate Coordinator in your program of study. You may also contact the Graduate Funding Officer in the Faculty of Graduate Studies to learn more about your graduate funding options.
Conditions of Graduate Awards
Graduate scholarships are based on academic merit. Graduate bursaries are based on financial need, although there may be a merit component to the bursary. Where the award designates that an application is required, only those students who have submitted the specified application by the deadline will be considered for those awards. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered. Only successful applicants will be notified.
Recipients of scholarships, awards and bursaries must be registered in order to receive funding. Graduate awards are applied to any outstanding balance on the student's account. Students are entitled to their awards only after their fees are paid in full. Only students with credit account balances will be refunded the balance of the overpayment. Overpayment refunds of these awards will be issued at the end of September, January and May each year.
The University reserves the right to make changes without prior notice to the terms, conditions and award values listed in this section and in the University Calendar.
The most up-to-date internal awards and applications are on our new award system MyAwards
Graduate Studies Funding Database
Required Application Documents
The application deadline is January 15th, 2024. Only complete applications, including references, will be reviewed.
Supervisor Information
Please note, you must have a potential supervisor or co-supervisor identified before you apply. This person should be a core faculty member in the Department of Health Sciences.
The first step in the application process is to complete the online graduate studies application form.
After you have submitted the online form along with the required $100 CAD application fee, you will be provided with an online account where you can complete the remaining steps of the application process which include uploading the required supporting documents and monitoring the status of your application.
Click Here to Apply to Graduate Studies
After you have applied
After you have submitted the online application form, you can access your account here. Any change in your application status will be reflected in this portal.
- An electronic reference form will be automatically sent by email to the references you identify on the graduate studies application form. These should be academic references.
- This form is requested in support of the applicant's ability to undertake advanced study and research.
- For a list of program specific documents, please see this program's Additional Application Information section
- For information about English language proficiency requirements, please see the Academic Calendar.