online phd degrees in canada

Online graduate programs

The University of Waterloo is committed to growth in our online graduate programs. 

Current online graduate programs

Master of digital experience innovation.

The  Master of Digital Experience Innovation  (MDEI) program focuses on the development of creative leaders, with a strong focus on user experience design, marketing, project management, leadership, and business development. Students will design, prototype, and evaluate innovative, forward-thinking design solutions, including problem formulation, solution design, and solution delivery.

It is a professionally-oriented program that connects you to the real world. You'll be mentored by professors and corporate partners, and complete industry projects that reflect real opportunities in the digital media sector.

The program consists of 8 core required courses which can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis, and 2 on-site intensive workshops.

MASTER OF ENGINEERING IN ELECTRIC POWER ENGINEERING

The master of engineering (meng) in electric power engineering.

This  online graduate program  provides advanced state-of-the-art training, skills development, and education to power engineering professionals. The courses, available on a part-time basis, are offered online in a multi-media environment that encourages a learn-while-you-work philosophy.

Upon completing nine courses, students are eligible to receive the Master of Engineering (MEng) in Electric Power Engineering degree.

MASTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND BUSINESS

The  Master of Environment and Business  (MEB) is a program aimed at meeting the growing need for business sustainability professionals as a distinct group of knowledgeable, skilled, confident and motivated individuals with the information, tools and expertise to integrate environment with business in very practical ways. The MEB program offers you an executive, MBA-equivalent degree through online courses with minimal on-campus study, and with course materials distributed online. Students can complete the MEB in 12 months or take the 3 year part-time option designed for working professionals.

MASTER OF HEALTH EVALUATION

The  Master of Health Evaluation  (MHE) is Canada's first professional online course-based graduate degree in the evaluation of health programs and services. The program, offered by our  School of Public Health and Health Systems (SPHHS),  will particularly appeal to those in public health, health promotion, community health, applied health care settings and health system planning and design

MASTER OF HEALTH INFORMATICS

The  Master of Health Informatics  (MHI) degree is an online program that is offered by the University of Waterloo's School of Public Health and Health Systems. Health Informatics is a rapidly developing field where health sciences and information technologies converge to support and improve the health status of individuals and communities.

By the end of the 16-month program (four months of which are spent in a placement) you will have gained the interdisciplinary knowledge, industry skills, and practical experience you need to start, or deepen, a rewarding career in health informatics. The MHI program is available full time or part time.

MASTER OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES, MANAGEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY

The  Master of Management Sciences  (MSCI) Management of Technology degree, offered by Waterloo's Faculty of Engineering, through its Department of Management Sciences, is available on a part-time basis and delivered via an online classroom environment with live lectures and class interaction.

MASTER OF MATHEMATICS FOR TEACHERS

Waterloo's  Master of Mathematics for Teachers  (MMT) degree provides current math teachers with the opportunity to expand your knowledge base. In addition to providing a deeper understanding of mathematical foundations relating to core secondary school curricula, students will also be exposed to areas of applications of modern mathematics. The primary focus of the program is on mathematics and its applications, rather than on pedagogy, but it will also challenge you to look for new and innovative ways to bring your newfound knowledge into the classroom.

The MMT program is offered on a part-time basis, over two to five years. It consists of eight half-credit online courses plus a project-based capstone course.

MASTER OF PLANNING

The  Master of Planning  (MPLAN) is an advanced, professional master’s degree offered through the School of Planning in the Faculty of Environment.

The MPLAN offers professionals with experience in planning the opportunity to expand their knowledge of planning, keep up-to-date with recent developments, and to obtain a graduate degree for career advancement. The emphasis is on upgrading planning knowledge and skills in new areas and refreshing core concepts. This program is a part-time, online, course-based program, which is open to both domestic and international applicants. The content is highly interactive including regular communication with instructors and other students. Courses are taught by faculty members who are actively engaged in planning practice and research in Canada and beyond.

MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Waterloo is offering a course and practicum-based  Master of Public Health  (MPH) degree, building on the successful MSc and PhD degrees in population health currently offered by the School of Public Health and Health Systems. The program is available for both full-time and part-time study. On-campus attendance is required on two occasions for two week block courses. The Foundations in Public Health is the first two week block course which takes place in August, at the start of the program. The Capstone course in Public Health is the second block course which takes place in the final two weeks of the program, during the month of May/June.

All other required courses have no on-campus component. On occasion, new elective courses may be offered on-campus for one term and then offered online during subsequent years.

MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK

The University of Waterloo and the School of Social Work at Renison University College is pleased to offer Canada's first health-focused online  Master of Social Work  (MSW) program. It is being offered in collaboration with the Faculty of Health.

The Master of Social Work is a professional, graduate degree program, delivered primarily online. On-campus attendance is required on two occasions for one-week Summer Institutes. The first Summer Institute is in August at the start of the program and the second is also in August, in the final semester. All other required courses are online with no on-campus component. A practicum of 462 hours will be offered in the students' own community or region, subject to the availability of suitable placement agencies/organizations, and field instructors.

The MSW program will prepare students for advanced social work practice in settings related to health, including public health and health promotion programs, primary care and long-term care, hospitals, health-related governmental agencies, community-based health services, and health advocacy groups.

Other programs

Career advancement for electric power engineers.

The following  online graduate programs  provide advanced state-of-the-art training, skills development, and education to power engineering professionals. The courses, available on a part-time basis, are offered online in a multi-media environment that encourages a learn-while-you-work philosophy.

• Graduate Diploma in Electric Power Engineering Upon completing six courses, students are eligible to receive the diploma.
• Certificate of Completion Students admitted in the non-degree track will receive a certificate after completing a course.

GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT

The  Graduate Diploma in Climate Risk Management  (GDip CRM) is designed to meet the needs of professionals who have been tasked with climate change risk management as part of their regular professional duties.Graduates will possess competence in the science of climate change and associated mitigation and adaptation challenges as well as response strategies at the global and Canadian scales, and gain in-depth expertise in applied climate risk management.

GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN PLANNING

The  Graduate Diploma in Planning  (GDip) is a post-graduate diploma offered through the School of Planning in the Faculty of Environment. The GDip offers professionals with prior experience in planning the opportunity to expand their knowledge of planning and to keep up-to-date with recent developments. The emphasis is on upgrading planning knowledge and skills in new areas and refreshing core concepts. The GDip is a part-time, online, course-based program that is open to both domestic and international applicants. The content is highly interactive including regular communication with instructors and other students. Courses are taught by faculty members who are actively engaged in planning practice and research in Canada and beyond.

The best way to learn more about a graduate program is to visit the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs  website.

PhD programs

Take a deep dive into the topic you love with a phd, at the university of ottawa, you can:.

• Join a select community of researchers and work in state-of-the-art labs – uOttawa is ranked among the top 10 research universities in Canada.
• Study in the heart of the nation’s capital, a bilingual and multicultural setting where networks of senior stakeholders take action on major issues and influence decisions.
• Receive considerable financial support.

“One of the reasons I chose the University of Ottawa is for its multidisciplinary or multi-university thesis committees available to students in their first year of doctoral studies.”

Valérie Costanzo, LL.B., LL.M., lawyer, PhD candidate

Explore ways to finance your doctoral studies

The University of Ottawa has many scholarships or financial support options available to you. As a doctoral candidate, there is also the option to earn money while gaining valuable experience through teaching and research assistantships.

“Supervising doctoral students is a privilege: it allows for the discovery of new research challenges and for the development of sustainable relationships.”

Emmanuelle Bernheim, LL.D., PhD, Full professor, Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section

Take the next step

Check admission requirements

Apply for admission

Doctor of Education in Distance Education

At a glance.

• Credential: doctorate degree
• Credits: 18
• Next start: see program details

Athabasca University’s online Doctor of Education in Distance Education is a professional doctoral degree for distance education practitioners and those with related career experience.

Be a part of the AU student community

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About Doctor of Education in Distance Education

At Athabasca University, we're proud to offer North America's first online Doctor of Education in Distance Education (EdD). Designed for professionals in distance education, adult education, and related fields, this 18-credit doctoral program provides you with the advanced skills and research opportunities you need to excel in leadership roles. The program is accessible and flexible for working professionals, with one intake per year and an online grouped study format that includes a 1-week, on-site orientation.

Admission requirements

Normally, admission requirements include a master’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum grade point average (GPA). See full Doctor of Education in Distance Education admission requirements

Program details

Tuition and fees, career options.

The EdD provides rigorous preparation for advanced responsibilities and leadership in the distance-learning field, including:

• implementing
• researching

Research is an important focus, as you will be expected to make an original and significant contribution to their profession as part of your doctoral program. Research opportunities include:

• examination of practice
• theory-building
• basic research

More conceptual or theoretical interests may also be accommodated.

Why take the Doctor of Education in Distance Education?

AU is a global leader in distance education teaching, scholarship, and program innovation. You will be learning from leaders in the field.

As a professional doctoral degree, the EdD program provides a relevant and accessible learning context designed for the working professional. This program may be of interest to:

• distance education
• adult education
• continuing education
• policy development and implementation
• academics, teachers, and instructors who wish to specialize in aspects of distance education research and scholarship
• instructional design specialists
• senior-level managers and program planners

The Doctor of Education in Distance Education is an 18-credit online doctoral program. You must normally complete the entire program through Athabasca University. (Inquire if you have questions.)

Application deadlines and start dates

There is only 1 EdD intake each year. The application deadline is in January, and classes start in May. An orientation in Edmonton or Athabasca for 1 week is a program requirement. All courses are online grouped study, with defined start and end dates. As noted above, the program includes a 5-day on-site orientation.

Completion times

Finish this program in as little as 4 years of study. You can take up to 5 years to complete all requirements.

Understanding how higher education fees and tuition are calculated is important to ensure you stay within your budget and make informed decisions.

Financial aid and awards

We're dedicated to supporting your academic goals and committed to helping you overcome financial barriers by providing many funding and award options.

The following fees are effective Jan. 1, 2024, to Aug. 31, 2024. All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change. Academic-related fees are exempt from the Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST). GST is added to all other goods and services, for example, workshops, some publications, self-help seminars, and Athabasca University promotional sales items.

The EdD fees consist of a yearly program fee and individual course fees. The annual program fee is paid in three installments (see the example below). Individual course fees are due by the course registration deadline.

If a company or other organization is sponsoring your tuition, we will require a Letter of Guarantee.

* Students may take up to 5 years to complete their degree. After year 4 (12 installments of $1,810 already paid), there will be a continuation fee of $1,810 payable each 4-month term.

†Should Candidacy and/or EDDE 806 not be completed in year 3, they may be completed in year 4. Students work towards completing their dissertation in year 4. Please note that students must pay a minimum of 12 program installments even if they complete the program in less than 4 years

Fee information effective Jan. 1, 2024, to Aug. 31, 2024.

At Athabasca University, our Doctor of Education in Distance Education (EdD) program is thoughtfully structured to facilitate collaborative learning and professional growth. The program is cohort-based, admitting around 12 students each year who will generally progress through the program together, offering you a chance to network and learn within a diverse community of skilled professionals. Your journey kicks off with a mandatory 5-day orientation, combining instruction, program planning, and community-building activities. The coursework is paced and sequential, featuring 6 core online courses along with important milestones like the proposal defence and dissertation, ensuring you meet the highest standards of proficiency in scholarship, research, and teaching.

To complete the program you will need to fulfill all the general requirements of the Doctor of Education in Distance Education.

Our program regulations can give you an idea of what courses you need to finish this program, and how to plan the order you’ll take them in. If you’re feeling stuck, our academic advisors can help.

Program regulations

Courses to explore

Below are some of the courses that our students take in this program. Please consult an advisor to confirm any course planning , as some of these courses may not apply to you.

Focus areas

With a Doctor of Education in Distance Education from Athabasca University, you'll be well-equipped for high-level roles in distance and adult education, including academic research, policy development, and program planning. Whether you're eyeing positions as a senior educational administrator, instructional design specialist, or a consultant in educational technologies, this credential will give you the expertise to lead and innovate in your field.

Depending on your experience and goals, some careers may include:

• chief learning officer
• academic researcher
• director of distance education
• academic dean of online programs
• education policy advisor
• senior instructional designer
• research director in educational technology
• educational consultant
• program director for adult education
• university provost
• educational technology strategist

Resources and links

Additional information that you need to know about AU and this program.

Program resources

• Visit program website
• Apply online
• View Calendar

Additional resources

• The AU Advantage
• View program listings

Program contact

• Toll free: 1-800-788-9041 ext.6179
• Email program

Take your first step to online learning

We'll send you helpful information about programs, financial options, applying, and studying at AU.

PhD in Nursing (Online)

Launched in 2008, the Queen's Nursing doctoral degree has an online and in-person blended delivery model. Our experienced faculty use both synchronous and asynchronous teaching modalities to lead small graduate seminars, engaging you in a lively, critical examination of philosophy, policy and theory while you delve into your own areas of research interests.

This innovative research program will not only give you the tools you need to become an expert in clinical, theoretical, and health system issues, but it will also prepare you for a career as a leader in health research, nursing education, clinical practice, and health care administration.

Questions? Contact the graduate nursing office →

Program overview, general information.

Our PhD program consists of six courses, five in the first year and one in the second year. There are three mandatory on-site intensive weeks ranging from 5-10 days in length, normally held in early September, mid-January, and early May of the first year of the program. After the intensive weeks, the courses continue with weekly online seminars.

Following the completion of the first-year courses, students will write the comprehensive exam and then take the sixth and final course which is designed to support students in developing a thesis proposal. After a successful oral examination of the thesis proposal, students submit their project for ethics review and then proceed to data collection, analysis, and writing. The thesis requires independent, original research and makes up at least two-thirds of the time normally required for the program.

Upper year students are expected to visit campus at least once per year, normally coinciding with the annual student research conference in spring (usually May); students are required to attend the final thesis examination in person. Nurtured by close mentoring relationships with faculty supervisors, the Queen’s model is to ensure graduate students present and publish their research, and normally complete their program in 4 years.

Additional Resources

• School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (SGSPA)
• SGSPA Academic Calendar
• SGSPA Academic Calendar - Nursing Section
• Society of Graduate and Professional Students
• Queen’s Nursing and Health Research
• Queen’s Collaboration for Health Care Quality (QcHcQ)

Interprofessional Education

Interprofessional education is essential to equip health professional students with the knowledge, expertise, and fundamental values required for collaborative practice. Learn more about how Queen’s Faculty of Health Sciences supports interprofessional education .

• Mandatory o nsite residency in September
• NURS 901: Philosophy of Nursing Science   (online)
• NURS 902: Qualitative Research Methods (online)
• NURS 999: Thesis Research (independently with PhD supervisor) 
• Mandatory o nsite residency in January
• NURS 900: Advanced Statistics and Analytic Techniques (online)
• NURS 903: Advanced Quantitative Measurement, Methods and Design (online)
• NURS 999: Thesis Research (independently with supervisor)

Spring/Summer:

• Mandatory o nsite residency in May (includes NURS 905)
• NURS 905: Nursing, Health Services and Public Policy in Canada  
• Prepare for comprehensive exam (independently with supervisor)
• Write c omprehensive examinations in early fall
• NURS 906: Thesis Seminar Course   (online)
• NURS 999: Thesis Research   (independently with supervisor)
• Graduate Research Day (May)
• Oral t hesis proposal exam late summer/early fall

Year 3/Year 4

• Participate in Graduate Student Research Day each spring
• Final oral t hesis exam, onsite at the end of fourth year

For more course information please visit the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs Academic Calendar .

School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs

International student resources, funding & awards, indigenous applicants.

Deadline to apply: Applications for Fall 2024 are due February 1, 2024.

Applications to all graduate programs are made through the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs starting in September for admission the following year.

Please note, only complete applications will be reviewed by the Graduate Program Committee in the School of Nursing.

Academic Requirements

• Master's degree in nursing science or equivalent, and a b accalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited university.
• Minimum overall average equivalent to B+.
• Two academic letters of reference (e.g. course professors).
• Statement of Interest  (see Additional Required Information tab).
• We strongly encourage applicants to contact  potential supervisors before applying.
• Applicants without an baccalaureate degree in nursing will be considered, but are strongly encouraged to contact the program prior to applying.

Additional Required Information

In addition to the online application submitted to the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, the following documents must be submitted to [email protected] :  

• Describe your research experience to date (e.g. grants, publications, unpublished studies). Max. 250 words.
• Describe your proposed plan of research. What problem do you plan to address and why? What is its importance to the discipline? Describe a possible study design (e.g. framework, methodology). Max. 400 words.
• Describe how you have advocated for health equity, diversity, inclusion, indigeneity, and/or accessibility (EDIIA) within the healthcare system. How has your experience influenced your career path and other pursuits to this point? Max. 300 words.
• What will be your strategy in your personal and professional life to manage the time commitment this program requires? This can include any academic accommodations that you plan to request. Max. 250 words.
• Proof of registration as a nurse in local province or own country; and
• Curriculum Vitae .

International Applicants

The required  b accalaureate degree in nursing must be equivalent to a 4-year Canadian program.

In addition to the academic requirements, applicants must provide:

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 and Postdoctoral Affairs for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions

I am an international student who is not registered with the college of nurses of ontario, can i still apply.

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.

Can I take the program part-time?

No, this is a full-time program only. Most of the course work involved in the program occurs in the first year and most classes are organized for Mondays and Tuesdays.

How do I decide on a thesis supervisor?

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 on the  School of Nursing website  to determine if there is someone who conducts research in your area.

Do I have to have a thesis topic before I come?

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.

Are there scholarships available?

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. 

My experience as a student in the Doctorate of Philosophy in Nursing was so many things. The courses were taught by brilliant professors who are experts in the subject matter. I learned the fundamental skills necessary to be a successful researcher and academic. The program encourages dissemination of student research and provides opportunities for national and international networking. After completing the program, I was recruited for a tenure-track faculty position at my university of choice. I have a career that I love and the knowledge and ability to help make a difference.

Amanda Vandyk , RN, PHD (Queen’s 2013) Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa

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We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

Ontario Tech University launches fully online doctoral program in Education

November 29, 2021

To help educators better navigate the increasingly complex and constant changes to educational frameworks, Ontario Tech University now offers an ease-of-access online applied research degree for working professionals.

Ontario Tech’s Doctor of Education (EdD) is a graduate degree program positioned at the core of the modern digital landscape. The fully online program allows educators working in elementary and secondary schools, universities, colleges, and in public and private sector organizations to address challenges that require sophisticated and research-informed responses.

Graduates are prepared to analyze complex problems of practice and use collaborative skills to develop innovative solutions to community issues.  

The cross-faculty and interdisciplinary EdD program focuses on specific aspects of the use of technology in education, including digital practice.

It draws on Ontario Tech faculty members from a wide range of programs within the faculties of Education, Science, Health Sciences, Social Science and Humanities, Business and Information Technology, and Engineering and Applied Science.  

• First intake: September 2022
• Program length: approximately three years
• Learn more about the EdD program, including admission requirements and applications deadlines on the Ontario Tech Doctor of Education website .

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Doctor of Business Administration

Address real-life problems and contribute to the advancement of academic scholarship through this research-intensive program. The DBA program offers the rigour of a Ph.D. with the applied focus of a professional doctorate.

Program intakes

Filter upcoming intakes, january 06, 2025, application deadline ℹ, delivery model, domestic tuition, international tuition, related schedules, program description.

Are you an ambitious professional looking to drive transformation within your sector, or an academic in higher education interested in pursuing your doctoral degree?

Royal Roads' DBA program will advance your understanding of management and organizational practices, and position you as a leader in your field or industry.

Through applied research, you'll contribute to the advancement of academia and drive conversations to solve today's most pressing industry problems.

Align your passion and professional experience with academic scholarship

The DBA program positions you to pursue careers within and beyond academia, where you will inspire meaningful change now and into the future.

Graduates work in a variety of sectors, including academic, for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, and governmental organizations. 

Meet the DBA students and see yourself here.

What you'll study

Royal Roads University is a public, research-intensive university. The DBA focuses on applied and interdisciplinary management and organizational research.

Delivered through an innovative, hybrid design, you'll advance through three phases of deep learning and professional reflection. 

Your course work is designed to advance your knowledge in management theories, emerging research themes and methodological approaches. 

Focusing on your research problem, you'll have the opportunity to dive deep into academic scholarship and reflect on your experience.

Through your doctoral research, you'll scrutinize assumptions that underpin dominant management theories and practices. You'll develop and produce knowledge that empowers organizations, industries and communities. 

Explore the full course list.  

Understand the difference at RRU

Unique to British Columbia, the Doctor of Business Administration combines the research focus and rigor of a traditional PhD with the practical nature of a professional doctorate.  

Compare the differences.

Your doctoral research

As part of your DBA, you'll conduct rigorous, empirical research, and write and defend a dissertation. As a scholar-practitioner, your research will address current challenges facing businesses and industries or issues that are likely to affect these in the future.

Your research must contribute to the advancement of professional, value-driven and innovative management and business practices and research.

DBA research at Royal Roads showcases different applied scholarly approaches, focus, modes, theories and methods investigating contemporary issues in the various management fields.

These fields include, but are not limited to, management and leadership, business, finance and economics, marketing and communications, public and social sectors, entrepreneurship and ethics, labour and employment, and more. 

Supervisory committee

Unlike other doctoral programs, you do not need to identify an academic supervisor as part of your application package. 

During your first year in the DBA, you'll work with the program head to identify potential supervisors and advisors, either internal or external to RRU, who best support your research. 

You'll work with your supervisor to refine the initial research proposal you submitted as part of your application to the DBA.

Program delivery

The DBA is a rigorous research-based program that promotes innovation and produces relevant knowledge responding to global, national and community-based issues. 

As part of your DBA, you'll conduct research and write and defend a dissertation. As a scholar-practitioner, your research will address current challenges facing businesses and industries or issues that are likely to affect these in the future.

Earn your degree without putting your career on hold

Delivered through a blend of online learning and in-person residencies, this 60-credit program usually takes four to seven years to complete, although timelines may vary. 

Your experience will include:

• online learning, including course work, research, workshops, seminars, conference participation and self-directed study
• three intensive and immersive residencies on campus

Integrate your classroom study and research with your current work experience and make an impact in your field of practice.

DBA in phases

The DBA program takes place in three phases:

Program at a glance

Dba foundations (year 1).

The foundation phase lasts one calendar year and consists of a two-week residency, three online blocks and a self-directed study period.

The goal of this phase is to ground you in theory and sound methodological approaches to help you engage in quality research.

Research Preparation (Year 2)

The research preparation phase runs over one calendar year and consists of a one-week residency, followed by a self-directed study period. During the study period, you'll participate in online activities, which will help you to engage in meaningful dialogues with other students, scholars and colleagues.

The aim of this phase is to develop a focus for your original research study, which will become your dissertation. Upon completion of the candidacy exam, you'll submit your research proposal for approval. You'll also participate in a relevant conference.

Execution and writing (Years 3-4)

The execution and writing phase runs over two years. In this stage, you’ll conduct your research in coordination with your dissertation supervisory committee.

Toward the end of your third and fourth year, you’ll participate in online activities designed to share your conference papers and research contributions.

At the beginning of your fourth year, you'll take part in a third and final residency for one week. This will take place at the same time as the residencies of DBA students who started after you. You'll network and share knowledge with your colleagues on campus.

Your learning community

You'll learn from faculty who are leaders in organizations and communities, and from fellow students who bring a wide range of life experiences and perspectives.

You'll actively develop your leadership skills and capacity, and contribute to the learnings of others in your cohort.

Throughout the experience, you'll build strategic and life-long connections with other mid-to-senior level professionals in leadership positions. 

Introduction to Academic Integrity

0.0 Credits

On-Campus Residency: Program Foundation

On-Campus Residency: Research Preparation

On-Campus Residency: Dissertation Progress

The Development of Management Theories and Practices

3.0 Credits

The Development of Management Theories and Practices - Research Themes

Applied Research Design

Applied Management Research Design and Strategies: Qualitative Methods

Applied Management Research Design and Strategies: Quantitative Methods

Self Directed Study

Dissertation

42.0 Credits

Letters of reference

Three letters of reference that attest to the qualities of intellectual curiosity, ethical behaviors, independent thinking, responsible leadership, and motivation to complete the program.  Ideally, two of which should be from individuals qualified to speak specifically to the applicant's academic qualifications and ability to conduct research at the doctoral level.

Program proposal

Candidates will be expected to develop an initial three to five-page proposal which includes:

• Statement of proposed investigation that defines an actual problem situation and draws on relevant literature;
• Statement of anticipated contributions of proposed investigation in relation to the areas of management research, management practice, knowledge economy, globalization and sustainability;
• Statement of career goals and how the program links to those goals as well as the impact the program may have.

Structured résumé

• Education: Include all higher education institutions attended and specify if any degrees, diplomas, and certificates were awarded.
• Professional experience: Please include name of organization, position, length of service (including months and years), and a description of responsibilities. As well, indicate all progressively senior-level appointments and/or points of increased levels of decision-making authority.
• Voluntary/unpaid work experience: Include organization title, length of service, and a brief description of duties and responsibilities.
• Professional memberships/affiliations: List memberships and positions held in professional associations, service clubs, and the community/volunteer sector.
• Other relevant information: Provide any other information that may be of assistance to the review committee.

If applicable:

• A writing sample may be requested (e.g., thesis chapter, academic or professional report/publication).
• An interview may be required with the applicant to determine their suitability for admission.
• Applicants declaring permanent resident or Convention Refugee status in Canada, must submit a copy of their Permanent Resident Card (PR card) along with their application.
• Transcript evaluation fee or credential evaluation report , if submitting international transcripts.
• An official English language proficiency score report or other evidence of proficiency if English is not your primary language.
• Any other information or documents as may be requested to determine your eligibility.

For information on how and where to send your supporting documents, please refer to the document submission guidelines .

Financial aid and awards

Rbc community integrated learning grants.

Funding for students completing a required career learning and development (CLD) work term in the community of at least 420 hours with an organization that cannot provide wages or compensation.

Up to $8,500

Development

ACT WEST Community Foundation Fund

The ACT WEST Community Foundation helps support single mothers build better lives for themselves and their children.

up to 4 years tuition

Single Parents

Admiral John Charles and Mary Charles Scholarship

Awarded annually to a second year School of Humanitarian Studies student who is currently serving or retired military.

Active students (In-course)

AEBC/Allyant Scholarship

The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC) works to improve the lives of blind, deafblind and partially sighted Canadians...

From $1,500 to $2,500

Allan Cahoon Global Advancement and Diversity Award

Assist students in underrepresented populations who wish to promote diversity.

Allan Cahoon Scholarship

This scholarship aims to encourage academic excellence, supporting students who excel both academically and through their leadership.

Andrea Fallan Memorial Bursary

Provides financial assistance to a second year BCom student for exceptional leadership, community involvement, and dedication to promote a cohesive team environment.

Asper Foundation Communications Award

Awarded to students in communications-related degree working in, or seeking to work in the communications industry.

Assistance Program for Students with Permanent Disabilities

This program helps students with permanent disabilities pay for exceptional education-related services and adaptive equipment.

Up to $10,000/year

Accessibility

Meet DBA students

DBA research at Royal Roads University showcases different applied scholarly approaches, focus, modes, theories and methods investigating contemporary issues in the various management fields.

These fields include, but are not limited to, human resource management, labour relations, leadership, accounting, finance and social financing, marketing and communication, economics, business strategy, business ecosystem, management of technologies and artificial intelligence, supply chains and operations, public administration, entrepreneurship, corporate governance, business ethics, business and social innovation, critical management studies, business sustainability, Indigenous business and climate change. 

DBA students come from different sectors, including private and not-for-profit sectors and governmental organizations. 

Explore the full list of DBA students at RRU.

Karly Nygaard-Petersen

Karly Nygaard-Petersen is a brand and marketing strategist with BCAA and Evo Car Share. She partners with technology firms, designers, artists, entrepreneurs and other marketing gurus to share compelling stories in the mobility arena. After working for nearly two decades in marketing and strategic ventures, Nygaard-Petersen believes that micromobility has the potential to be the next big (disruptive) thing.

In 2015, she was a key driver in the launch of Evo Car Share – North America’s fastest growing car share. An experiential marketing specialist, she has garnered partnerships with major brands and events such as Lululemon’s SeaWheeze and Skookum Music Festival. Nygaard-Petersen is a celebrated leader within the BCAA team, her work contributing to winning the BCAMA Marketer of the Year in 2016.

Passionate about mobility and a serial innovator, Nygaard-Petersen’s doctoral research focuses on primary factors in micromobility adoption in urban populations. She aims to understand what will drive long-term adoption of new mobility modes in urban centres, ultimately aiming to support cities globally to become better equipped in implementing strategies for first and last mile transit options that are both smart and truly zero emissions.

Nygaard-Petersen holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Visual Arts from Simon Fraser University (2006) and a Master of Business Administration from Royal Roads University (2015).

Scholarships awarded

• British Columbia Graduate Scholarship
• Doctoral Entrance Award
• Mitacs Accelerate

Publications

Nygaard-Petersen, K. Book review: Lazy, Crazy, and Disgusting: Stigma and the Undoing of Global Health. Organization . [IF: 2.619] ( October 23, 2020)

Prasad, A., & Nygaard-Petersen, K. An opt-out organ donor system could address Canada’s shortage of organs for transplant. The Conversation (Canada) (9 September).

Dawn Schooler

Dawn Schooler is a consultant with Family Enterprise Consulting Group in Vancouver, BC. Dawn works with a variety of enterprising families as they navigate the often-tricky waters of working together in the family business. In earlier iterations of Dawn’s career, she has owned a large counselling clinic in the Lower Mainland, in addition to being a university basketball coach and professor.

Dawn has accrued more than 15,000 hours with clients, and was the recipient of numerous teaching and coaching awards. Her background in Counselling and Psychology allows her to quickly understand the dynamics at play within different systems and to facilitate necessary but challenging discussions across multiple stakeholders in family enterprise. An ability to create a safe atmosphere in which to confront issues which are often avoided in families who are in business together, has made Dawn a go-to consultant for families and advisors alike.

Schooler’s doctoral research will investigate the lack of non-male voices in the decision-making processes of family-owned businesses. This research aims to inform and influence new ways of bringing forth more diverse voices and experiences in the family enterprise space which will contribute to the broader community of enterprising families and the systems that support this crucial component of the Canadian economy year after year.

Schooler holds a Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Alberta (1986), as well as a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from City University of Seattle (2002), and a Family Enterprise Advisor ™ designation from the UBC Sauder School of Business (2015).

Shelley Legin

Shelley Legin is the general manager – Corporate Services for the City of Nanaimo and has three decades of senior-level experience and innovation in all levels of government and the financial and post-secondary sectors. Legin is known for her transformational leadership skill and a track record for excellent strategic and operational outcomes.

Legin believes impact investing is a possible mechanism to collaborate across corporations, not-for-profits, the private sector, institutions and government to address significant social issues.

Legin’s research will focus on the role of the intermediary in mobilizing both the field of impact investing and higher education system actors to address low participation rates of non-traditional learners in post-secondary education in a scalable way.

Grounded in a theoretical framework based on institutional and field theories, Shelley recognizes there is an opportunity to research and construct a catalytic intermediary role to address a gap in the extant literature specifically to:

• Elucidate the current and possible future role of the intermediary in impact investing.
• Expose opportunities to further the institutionalization of the social impact field.
• Detect barriers and enablers to mobilization and scale.

Legin holds a Bachelor of Administration from the University of Regina (1985), a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University (2000) and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Portia Mtizira-Nondo

Portia Nondo is a business leader and entrepreneur and is a McDonald’s franchisee based in South Africa. She is passionate about empowering other aspirant entrepreneurs on the African continent; she firmly believes that empowering fellow African entrepreneurs is one of the most sustainable ways of stimulating job creation and economic growth.  Personally, done her bit through recently co-founding Zettuu, an eCommerce platform that partners with budding entrepreneurs to help them grow their own businesses by scaling up into global markets.

Nondo previously worked in the banking industry in South Africa responsible for providing financing to start-up and small businesses, amongst other roles. This exposure provided her with the insight, understanding and appreciation of the different challenges (as well as opportunities) start-up and small businesses face. She herself became a McDonald’s franchise operator in 2007 and has since grown to be a multi-store owner. Indeed, her success as a business leader was exemplified when she was recognised for a prestigious award within McDonald’s Corporation globally in 2018; she received the Fred Turner Global Award, presented to the top performing 1% of franchisees that year. Furthermore, she currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of a significant bank in South Africa.

Nondo’s doctoral research intends to investigate the lending risk appetite of Southern African investors in the diaspora, who may be looking to fund start-up entrepreneurs in their home countries. This research will investigate this lending appetite in relation to the current lending

Academically, Nondo holds an MBA from Wits Business School, South Africa (2001) and a MSc degree in Textile Engineering Degree from the Technical University of Mechanical and Textile Engineering, Liberec, Czech limitations of traditional financial institutions and funding options. She will focus on establishing if this lending risk appetite is favourable and can be practically applied to provide capital for start-up entrepreneurs. Republic (1990).

Empowerment and enablement lie at the centre of her ambitions to play her part in assisting the efforts of fellow Africans, to become more self-dependent and self-sustaining. She firmly believes that with the right training and backing, the continent’s business leaders will rise, leading to the continent eventually rising to reach its true potential.

Nondo is a business leader and entrepreneur who believes in the empowerment of the African entrepreneurs in order to positively impact on the economic growth of the continent. Nondo’s doctoral research intends to investigate the lending risk appetite of Southern African investors in the diaspora, who may be looking to fund start-up entrepreneurs in their home countries. This research will investigate this lending appetite in relation to the current traditional lending options.  

Benjamin Ameh

Benjamin Eneojo Ameh is a supply chain and logistics professional with more than 18 years of experience in import/export operations, transportation, logistics, project management, inventory control, budget planning, industry benchmarking, process improvements, cost reduction and purchasing. Ameh believes work processes should add value, and any steps that do not add value should be examined, changed, or eliminated.

Ameh’s research interests include supply chain optimization for business process re-engineering. He will investigate the impact of full-scale deregulation of the downstream oil and gas industry in Nigeria. His research aims to deepen understanding of the challenges hindering effective supply chain management of the downstream oil sector, and the impact of oil subsidy removal on the urban and rural households. Hopefully, the findings of the study will provide policy evidence for Nigeria oil sector reform, which will guide Nigeria economic managers to maximize the expected gains from subsidy removal in the O&G sector.

Ameh holds a Master of Business Administration from Rivers State University (2008). He is a Chartered Accountant (ICAN) and a certified Logistics Professional (CITT).

Bill Danielsen

Bill Danielsen works as the executive director for Enterprise Identity Services with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Throughout his more than 23-year career in the federal government, Danielsen has championed a number of significant change management initiatives and has overseen the implementation of several multi-national and international projects. Additionally, Danielsen has chaired federal committees reporting to the Privy Council Office that have directly impacted the operations and machinery of government. A seasoned leader, he has led crisis and emergency response for a portfolio of more than $120B. Danielsen has been a leader in working to address corporate risk associated with insider threat across a number of federal departments. Insider threats include intentional and non-intentional events caused by employees that can have significant and catastrophic impacts to organizations, largely linked to data breaches.

Danielsen’s doctoral research interests include the identification of corporate risks linked to insider threat through the implementation of psycho-social testing that identifies potential vulnerabilities. This information will bolster the technological tools that exist in some organizations as a means to further reduce insider threat risk.

When not working, Danielsen can be found out on the trails running, or on the ice curling. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Royal Roads University (2014) and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from the University of Victoria (2008).

Srini Chelian

Srini Chelian is an associate vice-president at TD Bank. Chelian is accountable for developing, evolving, and executing on the technology strategy for TD’s General Insurance business.

As a Technology Executive, Srini has successfully led multiple large transformations within the financial services industry across Europe and North America. Most recently, he led the transformation to scaled agile (across people, process, and technology) for one of the top 3 insurers in Canada and implemented the foundation elements to enable accelerated business value delivery. He has successfully led multiple mergers and acquisitions and one of the transformation programs led by him, was awarded the IT Outsourced Project of the Year by National Outsourcing Association, UK in 2013. His work has taken him around the globe in many capacities, primarily focused on creating a meaningful impact to financial services industry by leveraging technology as an enabler.

Chelian is a certified Agile, ITIL and Prince 2 practitioner with hands on experience in Information Technology delivery, sales, process consulting and transformation leveraging co-located and distributed teams. In 2007, Srini was the youngest to achieve Six Sigma Black Belt certification in Tata Consultancy Services and has since successfully led multiple business improvement / optimization engagements in the financial services industry. He is a trained trainer for Lean Six Sigma and Managing Diverse Teams in the modern-day workplaces.

Chelian’s doctoral research will investigate ‘the reasons for leadership’s failure to positively impact employee engagement in the modern-day workplaces at such large scale, despite the abundance of leadership books, blogs, classes, and leadership-development programs seeking to make leaders more effective?’ He will focus specifically on identifying leadership traits and/or behaviors that could positively influence employee engagement in modern-day workplaces. As it is a well-researched fact that an engaged workforce contributes to a net positive impact across customers, employees, and shareholders.

Srini holds a Master of Science in Technology Management from Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada (2018) and a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Anna University, India (2005).

Lisa Sansom

Lisa Sansom is a Positive Interventionist who works with leaders, teams, and organizational units to help them be more effective and supportive. Lisa works from a basis of applied positive psychology, bringing research-based tools and methodologies into her consulting, speaking, corporate training and coaching. She believes in taking the best of “what is” and leveraging these insights to move forward to help workplaces be better places to work.

Lisa has run her own business, LVS Consulting, for the past 15+ years, and has been employed in higher education, government, financial, manufacturing and retail. Her global clients span many industries in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. Lisa is certified in Prosci change management methodologies, ShiftPositive 360 leadership tools, Gallup StrengthsFinder, Stanford’s Design Your Life, and The Change Cycle. She is also a PCC (Professional Certified Coach) with the International Coach Federation.

Her research interests include leadership of all sorts – whether that be formal or informal. Her research will propose an empirical framework for the effective delivery of spoken positive feedback that enhances both relational qualities, such as trust, and task performance. This area of interest brings together her experience and expertise in business, education, and positive psychology. Lisa has already presented her early research in Iceland, Philadelphia, Toronto, and virtually, at various international conferences. She is leveraging this research to create corporate workshops and informational webinars.

Lisa holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania (2010) and her MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto (2000). She also holds an Honours BA in French from the University of Waterloo (1992) and a B.Ed. from Brock University (1992). She is thrilled to be in the DBA program and add yet another wonderful university to this list.

Coltan Fagan

Coltan Fagan is an Associate Faculty Member for Royal Roads University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management and a Business Administration Instructor for AGA Academy. As a Faculty Member, Fagan has thrived in the typical and atypical challenges of working overseas while upholding the standards of Royal Roads along the way. 

He has taught various courses such as Tourism Marketing, Hospitality Sales, Service Management, Special Events, Product Development, Meetings and Conventions, and Human Resources Management. Fagan believes that using inclusion, multiple teaching techniques, and changing delivery systems is the best way to engage students in cross-cultural learning. His work in tourism has also expanded to several projects across multiple organizations in Calgary, Alberta.

Fagan’s passion for exploration began contributing to the National Health and College Improvement Program (NCHIP), various Tourism Feasibility Studies, and Visitor Services Initiatives. He has received awards in both promoting inclusivity and academic achievement. Currently, Fagan’s research focuses on mobilizing LGBTQ+ culture and community as a force towards urban regeneration through creative economic development. 

Fagan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (2014) from Acadia University and a Masters of Arts in Tourism Management (2017) from Royal Roads University.

Tasha Brooks

Tasha Brooks works as an Indigenous education navigator at Vancouver Island University (VIU), where she taught the Introduction to Management course as a term instructor in 2019. She is the president of the board for Quw’utsun Kwa’tlkwa Enterprises, a member of VIU’s alumni board and a previous national student director for Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) and the lead researcher on a national project investigating Indigenous business incubators.

Brooks is a member of the Cowichan Tribes First Nation and has extensive experience working with and for Indigenous communities and organizations. She understands the need for Indigenous-led research and looks forward to contributing to the body of knowledge in Indigenous entrepreneurship. In her first term at Royal Roads she has been awarded 5 National scholarships.

Brooks’ research aims to enhance and encourage capacity building and self-determination through entrepreneurship by conducting research for First Nation entrepreneurs and Indigenous business support organizations. More specifically, why is there a disproportionately lower number of self-employed First Nation entrepreneurs despite the large number of entrepreneurial support services available to entrepreneurs throughout Canada? She aims to inspire and empower people along their journey and progress towards strong, unified nations. 

She has completed coursework for a Doctor of Business Administration through Walden University and has transferred to Royal Roads to She holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Science in International Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration (2011) from Vancouver Island University. She received a Technician of Aboriginal Economic Development Certificate (2015) from CANDO.

Kimberly Tholl

Kim is a Supply Chain Director at TRIUMF, leading the procurement and logistics divisions for Canada’s national particle accelerator centre. She has 15 years of experience specializing in procurement, vendor management, and supply chain management. Kim has led cross-functional teams, built supplier relationships across cultures and continents, and managed multimillion dollar contracts in different industries. She is also a part-time faculty member teaching project management and supply chain management at a number of post-secondary institutions.

Kim’s doctoral research will investigate the effect of skilled labour shortages on supply chains. The labour shortages will not only continue but increase in severity in the coming decade due to lack of replacement for the retiring workforce, and the widening differential between the skills the market demands, and the skills workers possess. Kim will seek to determine how companies can overcome this problem to protect their supply chains which are inherently labour-intensive. Relying on recruitment and higher compensation may not be enough. Will automation and robotics be needed to reduce reliance on human labour? Will firms move production from traditionally more cost-effective offshore facilities to domestic facilities to minimize logistics complexity? Her research will seek to answer these questions.

Kim holds a Bachelor of Mathematics (BMath) and a Master of Applied Science (MASc) from the University of Waterloo.  She is also a Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) and a Project Management Professional (PMP). Kim is the author of the Supply Chain Management II textbook and the online learning system including lecture videos and lesson slides for the International University of Applied Sciences (IU) in Germany.

Anne Reiffenstein

Anne Reiffenstein examines future learning systems and supports the Department of National Defence, focusing on leader development. As one of the first women to serve in the Canadian Army’s combat arms, Reiffenstein spent 28 years in the military in operational and educational roles, publishing an article that reflected her experiences with Canadian Army gender integration in 2009. One of the highlights of her career was working as an Assistant Professor at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she published an article exploring Canada – United States Homeland Security. 

After retirement from the military, Reiffenstein developed educational podcasts discussing issues related to institutional military leadership, cybersecurity, human security, and space operations. She has also designed serious games to support learning about applied ethics and peace support operations.  Reiffenstein believes that inclusive teams are fundamental to healthy learning organizations and that professional development is essential to organizations.

Reiffenstein’s research interests are focused on leader development, adult learning, and serious game development for ethics and character development. Her current research will investigate the effect of leader judgement in the digital age, exploring how judgment is impacted by incorporating technology in the leader decision-making process.

Reiffenstein holds a Bachelor of Military Arts and Science (2000) and a Master of Defence Studies (2009) from the Royal Military College of Canada, as well as a Bachelor of Education (Adult) (2019) from Brock University and a Master of Business Administration (2013) from Carleton University.

Sana Ramzan

Sana Ramzan is an accounting professional with experience as an accounting expert and also has several years of experience in teaching accounting courses such as Financial Information for Marketing, Business Computer Applications, Microcomputer Applications in Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Management Accounting, Financial Accounting, Bookkeeping etc. Currently, Sana Ramzan works as an accounting and payroll instructor in two colleges in Vancouver; Vancouver Premier college and CDI college.

Sana Ramzan’s research interests include the impact of artificial intelligence in the accounting field where she will investigate how artificial intelligence will impact accounting conservatism and audit quality using machine learning and python. She will investigate this by analyzing financial ratios of profitability, solvency and liquidity using python and machine learning capabilities. Her research aim is to deepen her understanding about the changes machine learning capabilities will have on prediction and analyses of fraudulent activities of companies. Additionally, she also wants to examine how machine learning with python will help eliminate and reduce the manipulation of financial statements while increasing accounting conservatism and audit quality. The findings found in this research will help various accounting firms especially the Big Four to incorporate machine learning capabilities in their accounting processes and increase their overall audit quality.

Sana holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from the American University of Sharjah of United Arab Emirates (2018). Sana has presented a research paper, Accounting Conservatism and Audit Quality, in ISER 194th International Conference and successfully published it in the IJMAS journal. She has also published another research paper, Leveraging Big Data and IoT technology into Smart Homes, in the IJSRP journal.

Naomi Parker

Naomi Parker works as the senior operating officer at PolicyWise for Children & Families. In this role Naomi seeks to inform, identify, and promote effective social policy and practice to improve the well-being of children, families, and communities. Simply put, Naomi works to promote better evidence for better decisions.

Naomi’s research interest lies in how collaborative service delivery between primary and mental healthcare can be implemented and adapted across contexts and settings while achieving common outcomes. Much is known about the essential ingredients, facilitators, and barriers to collaborative services delivery. Despite all that is known, often such collaborative approaches fail. Recent evidence indicates that failures are due to a lack of understanding of contextual factors and influences, complexity, and implementation processes. Naomi would like to develop a deep understanding of the outcomes, underlying mechanisms and context that contribute to successful collaborative service delivery between primary and mental healthcare. In other words, to answer the question: ‘what works for whom, in what circumstances, and how?’.

Naomi has a Bachelor Arts, Sociology from University of Calgary (2004) and a Masters of Business Administration from Heriot Watt University (2011).

Nathan Banda

Nathan Banda is an administrator with Alberta Health Services at the Drumheller Health Centre Site, where he leads the local management team and frontline professionals in nursing and allied health in patient and family centred care. Banda believes in the power of collaboration, teamwork and a shared vision in ensuring that there is continued betterment in service delivery along the continuum of care. He is a passionate and dedicated health care administrator with a strong background in patient safety and quality.

While working at Olds Hospital and Care Centre in central Alberta, Banda implemented changes in the nurse-to-nurse reporting system and also implemented the “Big White Board” for discharge planning and RAPID rounds. This initiative was key in bringing all the patients information in one place and updating the information with clear plans from admission to planned discharge.

In 2018, as a manager in the Drumheller Operative Room, Banda initiated debriefings after major surgical cases as a way of improving patient safety and quality. He also initiated changes in the orientation program for new nurses on the medical surgical unit and the Emergency Department at the Drumheller site. His doctoral research focuses on nursing retention and recruitment challenges in rural Alberta, with interest in strategies to deal with perpetual and growing challenges in patient care delivery in these areas.

Outside of work, Banda enjoys spending time with his wife and four children. His hobbies include writing, gospel music, evangelism and counselling. In 2016, he self-published his memoir, “Moments That Shaped My Life: Life of an Ordinary Malawian Boy,” in which he chronicles his upbringing in Malawi, the heart of Africa, in the 1980s.

Banda holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from Excelsior College, Albany, New York (2016).

Denise Prindiville

Denise Prindiville is a business consultant and executive coach, based in Toronto, in the health and life sciences sectors. Prindiville offers her experience and skills to her community as an Executive on the Board of Directors for one of Ontario’s largest Family Heath Teams.

She has worked in both the public and private sectors. She was honoured to have once been among 300 young international strategic advisors to then Secretary-General Kofi Annan on combating infectious diseases and access to medicines. From coast to coast, she has helped bring health programs to Indigenous communities and continues to advocate for equitable access to health technologies and services for all populations.

Prindiville believes that managerial effectiveness must consider the human element and the system in which an organization operates. In healthcare, the patient experience and the potential health outcomes are products of more than the application of medical science and provider training. Physician well-being is fundamental to the quality and efficacy of our healthcare system. Physician burnout is a signal for a call-to-action to review management practices.

Prindiville’s research will focus on physician burnout prevention at the systemic and organizational levels, from strategic planning through management practices.

Prindiville’s research will investigate the knowledge gap towards understanding which key organizational and executive management theories and practices will bring a significant and sustainable impact on reducing burnout. This research aims to contribute to the management practice knowledge economy in healthcare.

Prindiville is a Certified Executive Coach from Royal Roads University (2019). She holds a Master of Business Administration, Management of Technology, Biotechnology (2006) from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor of Science, Cell Biology & Medical Genetics degree from the University of British Columbia (1998).

Nidal Mousa

Nidal Mousa is an associate faculty member in the Faculty of Management at Royal Roads University and a financial analyst at Federal Government of Canada. Mousa teaches applied research and business analytics, and corporate and international finance courses for Master of Global Management students. 

His teaching goal is to inspire students in applying finance and business analytic research methods to make their organizations financially healthier, socially responsible, and create enhanced choices for them and for future generations. Mousa’s research fields are applied research, financial analysis and planning. Mousa has published two financial cases with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and two cases with Nahariyah College. He also has more than twenty years of industry experience in financial analysis and planning and trade financing.

Mousa has broad theoretical and practical teaching experience at business schools and financial institutions in Canada and Israel. He has taught finance and banking courses at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Nahariyah College. Mousa was a visiting scholar at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, before relocating to Canada. He has also worked at Scotia Bank, CIBC and Investors Group in different senior planning and consulting positions.

Mousa holds a Master of Global Management from Royal Roads University, Canada (2013), Master of Business Administration from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (2004), and a Bachelor of Economics from University of Haifa, Israel (2002). Mousa has been certified as a Certified Financial Planner by the Canadian Institute of Financial Planners (2019).

Tade Owodunni

Tade Owodunni is a corporate lawyer, corporate governance practitioner and a certified chartered tax professional and compliance and ethics specialist. He currently manages a corporate services firm that specializes in corporate restructuring, company incorporation and management, compliance and ethics advisory as well as governance services. He also serves as a consultant to many firms on director assessment and board performance issues. Prior to this, he was Senior Manager and Head of Corporate Governance at Deloitte Corporate Services Limited in Nigeria and provided Board assessment and other governance support services to several local and global brands in diverse sectors.

Tade’s areas of focus in his research relates to the examination of the potential impact of the adoption of governance practices built around environmental, social and governance (ESG) and related business sustainability concepts on small and medium-scale enterprises operating in emerging markets. His research will examine how the adoption of governance precepts and practices by both regulated and self-governed entities can enhance their growth and long-term sustainability and how this can help stimulate wide-scale economic advancement for emerging market economies.

Tade holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from University of Ibadan, Nigeria (2001), a Master of Laws from University of Lagos (2008) and a Masters’ Degree in Business Administration (with Distinction) from Business School Netherlands (2018), where he graduated at the top of his class. He is a qualified lawyer with license to practice in Nigeria and a certified chartered tax practitioner, dispute resolution specialist, compliance and ethics professional and distinguished corporate governance professional.

Ndidi Uzo-Ojimadu

Ndidi Uzo-Ojimadu is a management consultant and business instructor for post-secondary institutions in Canada. She is responsible for providing instruction to students and curriculum development; and providing professional services in the areas of strategic and business planning, business analysis, project management and financial management for organizations.

Ndidi has worked in various financial and business management roles in corporations and as a Management Consultant in Africa and the Middle East before moving to Canada. In addition to her corporate roles, she is experienced as an instructor and facilitator, covering business courses in the areas of Organisational Behaviour and Change Management, Leadership, Strategic Management and Accounting in Canada. She is a member of the board of directors, Hakili Community for Sustainability in Calgary.

Single-minded about solving problems, Ndidi’s doctoral research focuses on examining economic diversification opportunities for the Alberta economy from its oil dependency. She aims to determine resilient strategies that should be adopted for sustained diversification and future economic stability within the province in a post Covid-19 era.

Uzo-Ojimadu holds a Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) in Actuarial Science from University of Lagos, a Master of Business Administration at Delta State University (MBA) and has her CPA certification with an emphasis in Management Accounting (CPA, CMA).

She enjoys swimming, and various expressions of music, including singing and dancing. She lives in Calgary with her husband and their children.

Mina Sahota

Mina Sahota is a faculty member in the Melville School of Business at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Mina is responsible for providing students enrolled in the human resources undergraduate and post-baccalaureate programs with real-world business skills, practical application and a well-rounded approach to Canadian people-practices in business. Mina strives to cultivate inclusive, safe and rich learning experiences in her classrooms by incorporating intercultural teaching methods, decolonizing education through incorporating diverse literature and by supporting students in sharing their diverse perspectives.

From 2008-2021 Mina held various human resources practitioner roles within BC’s heavily unionized public sector including Fraser Health Authority, Surrey School Board and various municipal organizations. Mina gained invaluable experience delivering results and building relationships in these highly complex organizations over 13 years.

Mina is the Principal at Mina Sahota Consulting & Research Inc., an inclusion and belonging consultancy. The foundation of Mina’s work is rooted in her belief that those who know better, do better. Mina enjoys working with a broad range of organizations to support their inclusion and belonging efforts. For more info visit:  www.minasahota.com .

In 2021, Mina began volunteering on the Diversity and Equity Committee with Cloverdale Minor Hockey Association and stepped into the Chair role shortly after. This diverse minor hockey organization’s executive board recognized that more needed to be done to address systemic discrimination in ice hockey. Over the past year this small committee has developed key programs and activities to continue growing a culture of inclusion and belonging in the association. For more info visit:  https://cloverdaleminorhockey.teamsnapsites.com/diversity-inclusion/

As a Second Generation South Asian Canadian, Mina holds a strong interest in understanding the experiences of those who grew up straddling the line between two cultures. Mina’s doctoral research will seek to understand the experiences of inclusion and belonging for South Asian Canadians in BC’s business sector.

Mina holds a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies from Royal Roads University (2020) and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Kwantlen Polytechnic University (2008). Mina also holds her Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation (2008).

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Canada is a global leader in research and innovation

Canadian universities conduct research at one of the world’s highest rates. Canada’s thriving research culture exceeds the G7 average in terms of impact in the fields of clinical medicine; biology; information and communication technologies; agriculture; fisheries and forestry; earth and environmental sciences; economics; and business.

To put it into context, Canadian universities conducted CAD 14.3 billion in research and development (R&D), representing 40% of the total 2017 Canadian R&D (Statistics Canada, Spending on Research and Development , 2020).

Canadians have a long, proud history of developing innovations that have changed the world, including the electric wheelchair, Canadarm space technology, IMAX film, Java programming language and wireless radio transmission.

We also have a long list of medical and scientific breakthroughs. Among them: insulin, the pacemaker, the HAART therapy treatment as HIV prevention, open heart surgery and transplantable stem cells. More recently, a Canadian PhD student made a groundbreaking cancer discovery at Queen’s University. Caitlin Miron discovered a chemical compound (DNA binder) that could ‘switch off’ cancers cells and prevent them from spreading (Global News, Canadian PhD student makes groundbreaking cancer discovery , 2017).

Why not add your name to the list? Our teaching and research programs offer endless possibilities for you to work with world-leading researchers in cutting-edge research laboratories.

Graduate program options

In virtually every field of academic study, Canadian universities offer graduate degree programs.

• Master’s degrees require 1 or 2 years of study after completing your bachelor’s degree. In Canada, your master’s studies can include a thesis, practicum, research paper or a course‑based program.
• PhD and doctoral degrees involve 3 to 5 years of study, including a thesis. This usually is pursued after completing your master’s degree. Your PhD path will include a dissertation that you prepare based on extensive and original research in your field.

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Canadian institutions offer both in-person master’s degrees and PhD programs as well as online or distance education options.

The case for higher education in Canada

• Canada is seen as the #3 destination in the world for the quality of education we offer international students (U.S News & World Report, Best Countries for Education, 2021 ).
• Graduate studies in Canada are affordable at an average cost of CAD 19,252 for a degree (Statistics Canada. Canadian and International tuition fees, 2020-2021 ).
• A total of 26 Canadian universities feature in the QS World University Rankings 2021, an achievement matched only by a handful of other countries ( QS World University Rankings, 2021 ).

Cost of graduate studies in Canada

Your graduate studies are a smart career investment. Canada’s master’s and PhD programs are recognized around the globe, and our relatively lower cost of living makes the opportunity even more appealing to international students like you. Even Canada’s larger cities are more affordable than many cities around the world. 

Graduate tuition fees in Canada can vary depending on the program and location you choose. 

Study costs

Scholarships to study in Canada

You may be eligible for a scholarship, fellowship or grant to complete your postgraduate studies in Canada. The Government of Canada, our provinces and territories and many educational institutions offer funding for international students.

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Admission requirements and credits

Each university in Canada has its own admission requirements. To learn out about admission requirements for the program you want to pursue, visit the website of the university you would like to attend. Contact the university directly to determine whether your existing credits can be applied toward that program.

To study at a Canadian university, you must provide proof of your English or French language capabilities, depending on the language you choose for your studies.

• English-language universities may require you to write a Test of English as a Foreign Language  (TOEFL),  International English Language Testing System  (IELTS), Cambridge English Assessment or the  Canadian Academic English Language Assessment  (CAEL).
• French-language universities assess students individually. To learn what a certain university requires, check with the Office of the Registrar at the school you wish to attend.

Keep exploring

5 steps to study in Canada

Explore the 5 key steps to follow to get ready to make Canada your study destination.

Common pathways to college and university

Canada's education system is flexible. Discover all the paths you can take to achieve your goals.

Top reasons to study in Canada

Discover the many reasons why international students choose to study in Canada.

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8 Free Online PhD Programs in Canada (Plus Free Scholarships)

Deciding to further your education down to a Ph.D. level doesn’t come cheap, in fact, it takes some level of determination to do it because you won’t only consider the time, but also the cost. Most likely, you now have a family, and a job or business you do, so the responsibilities are very high now.

That’s why most Universities in Canada decided to make some of their programs to also be available online, thereby allowing students to participate in their research work from anywhere in the world and also have time for other responsibilities.

The best part is that some free online PhD programs in Canada help eligible students fund their expenses through scholarships, bursaries, grants, and other financial aid. The United Kingdom also provides the same kind of programs and you can even enroll in them from anywhere including Canada.

Before we list these free distance learning PhD programs in Canada, let’s first briefly explain the importance of online PhD in Canada, and later list some requirements you need to study these programs.

Reasons to Study Online Ph.D. in Canada

More affordable.

First of all, the tuition of a distance learning Ph.D. program is more affordable than an on-campus degree. Then the cost of living also adds up especially if you’re an international student.

More Flexible

You also get to perform your research at the appropriate time for you, which also helps you to have time for your other activities like job and family.

Maintain Job

If you’re already working, an online Ph.D. will help you to remain on your job, unlike an on-campus Ph.D. that might require you to change your city or if possible country.

This is not to say that a campus-based Ph.D. doesn’t come with its own perks.

Requirements to Study Online Ph.D. Programs

Here are some basic admission requirements you need to enroll in these free virtual Ph.D. programs in Canada;

• You need to have gotten your master’s degree from an accredited university (it doesn’t matter the country you got it).
• Submission of post-secondary transcripts and graduation certificates (if necessary) of all previous undergraduate and graduate work.
• Letters of reference
• Proof of English Language Proficiency depending on the country you completed your post-secondary education
• Statement of academic intent
• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• A substantive writing sample

Free Online PhD Programs in Canada

It is worth noting that it’s very competitive to get any of these programs that provide free courses through scholarships. It’s good to have very good grades, especially above the minimum required grades to have a higher chance.

1. CAREY – Doctor of Ministry

For more than 60 years, Carey Theological College has been training thousands of leaders in Canada and around the world who serve as pastors, missionaries, and lay leaders in local churches today. Their Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) program is an advanced degree for experienced pastoral leaders who have completed a Master of Divinity or equivalent and will be completed within 3 years.

This is one of the free online Ph.D. programs in Canada that provide fully funded scholarships through the Carey Theological College President’s Scholarship. And because the D.Min is totally online, it means you can be eligible for this scholarship regardless of location.

To spice it up, they still have other scholarships that will benefit those that won’t get the Carey Theological College President’s Scholarship, they include;

• Church Group Discount
• President’s Bursary: also another scholarship that fully covers your tuition
• Carey Student Scholarship
• Carey Student Bursary

And many others.

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2. Athabasca University – Doctor of Education

This Doctor of Education program might interest you if you’re a mid-career professional involved in

• Distance Education
• Adult Education
• Continuing Education
• Policy Development and Implementation

It will take a minimum of 4 years, and a maximum of 5 to complete the program. Just like CAREY – Doctor of Ministry, this program provides free education through scholarships like:

• AU Doctoral Level Student Bursaries 
• AU Award for Graduate Studies 
• AU Graduate Level Student Bursaries 
• Dan Coldeway Memorial Award 

3. AU – Doctor of Business Administration

The Doctor of Business Administration at Athabasca University is for experienced managers and senior leaders who hold an MBA (or an equivalent master’s degree) and want to combine their skills with practical research. You can complete the program in a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 7 years.

This is among the free online PhD programs in Canada that also use scholarships to help their students reduce financial expenses. Besides the scholarships listed in the Doctor of Education above, AU also accepts some external scholarships like:

• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships: worth $70,000 per year for 2 years
• Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral program: worth $35,000 per year for 26 months
• Globalink Research Award: The amount varies
• SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships: worth $20,000 per year for up to 4 years.
• SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships: worth $40,500 per year for up to 2 years.

4. Doctoral Program in Canadian Studies at Trent University

This Ph.D. program offers five fields of study, which are:

• Culture, Heritage, and the Arts;
• Environment and Place
• Policy, Economy, and the State;
• Identities and Social Movements; and
• Feminist, Gender & Women’s Studies

The program can be completed within 4 years.

They claim to be #1 in Ontario for Scholarships and Bursaries for more than 20 years, and it’s not far from the truth because they have numerous scholarships that can help you further your Ph.D. for free.

5. Ontario Tech University – Online Doctor of Education

This Ph.D. program is focused on working professionals in K-12, universities, colleges, and public and private sector organizations. Their research theme is “Education in the Digital Age,” which should give you a glimpse of what to expect.

Just like other free online PhD programs in Canada, we’ve listed, this program also awards scholarships one of my favourites is the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. It awards $70,000 per year in funds.

6. Royal Road University – Doctor of Social Sciences

Actually, this is not 100% online, but rather a hybrid program that combines both online and on-campus research. Your courses will include;

• Dissertation
• Social Change and Interdisciplinarity in Global Context
• Social Science Theory and the Globalized World

And others.

Though their tuition costs CAD 89,464 for both domestic and international students, they have several scholarships and grants to reduce or if possible waive this fee.

7. University of Waterloo – Graduate Diploma in Planning (GDip)

One of the interesting things about this program is that the University of Waterloo understands you’re busy, so they created the online program to fit your busy schedule. They provide several funding opportunities, where you can get minimum funding of $25,962 if you’re in good academic standing.

International students are eligible for the International Doctoral Student Award (IDSA). 

8. University of Manitoba – Education (PhD)

This Ph.D. program will help you gain an in-depth understanding of theories within the field of education, and the program can be completed within a minimum of 3 years. There are several faculty-specific and university-wide funding opportunities available to Faculty of Education graduate students to support academic and research goals, Some of them include;

• Delta Kappa Gamma Manitoba Mary E. Lamont Fellowship
• Faculty of Education Truth and Reconciliation Fellowship
• NEW Indigenous Master’s Scholarship in Education
• NEW Indigenous Doctoral Scholarship in Education

You can see that these free online PhD programs in Canada use scholarships – whether fully funded or partially funded – to help you reduce or totally offset the cost of a Ph.D.

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