Health Informatics (PhD)
Our PhD in Health Informatics will prepare scholars to discover and extend their scientific knowledge and advance the science and practice of health informatics.
The program is built around our core interdisciplinary specializations:
- design and structure of health information systems
- implementation and evaluation of health information systems
- health information systems applications
- health data science and analytics
- patient and equity-focused health technology interventions
| Expected length | Project or thesis | Course-based |
|---|---|---|
| 7 years | Yes | No |
Quick facts
- Program options:
- Doctorate
- Study options:
- Full-time study
- Program delivery:
- Online
- Dynamic learning:
- Co-op optional
Outcomes
Students in this program will:
- generate new knowledge through research and testing of theory in health informatics
- contribute to solutions that advance health informatics and health care in a culturally diverse society
- translate health informatics research findings into practice and policy across health care systems
- represent a health informatics perspective in research, practice, education and scholarly endeavours
- demonstrate leadership and management competencies in health informatics
- develop system evaluation and digital transformation plans
Find a supervisor
You may list a potential supervisor on your application, but this is not required.
Abdul Roudsari
Professor Modelling and Simulation in healthcare; modelling methodology for health resource management; clinical decision support, machine learning and artificial intelligence – development and evaluation of decision support systems; evaluation methodologies with particular application in telemedicine. More recently my interests have developed into : Telemedicine technology, temporal representation and reasoning; utilisation of business intelligence in healthcare; shared decision-making, personalised health records and environmental sensing for health. Application area Chronic diseases.
Alex Kuo
Professor Data interoperability; Health database & data warehousing; AI & Data Mining application in healthcare, and e-health.
Andre Kushniruk
Director, Professor Usability of Health Information Systems; Human Factors in Healthcare; Clinical Informatics; Consumer informatics; Decision Support Systems; Healthcare Decision Making; Cognitive Informatics; AI in Healthcare; Evaluation methods; Healthcare System Design; Data Analytics and Visualization
Claudia Lai
Assistant Professor Digital Innovations that Promote Healthy Aging at home, Shared Decision Making, and Public Health; Community-Based Participatory Research; Digital Health Equity; Integrated Care; Learning Health Systems, Patient Portals
Dillon Chrimes
Assistant Teaching Professor Dr. Dillon Chrimes is currently not available to supervise graduate students.
Elizabeth Borycki
Professor Human Factors (Safety, Workflow and Usability); Design (User Interfaces, Heuristics and Guideline Development); Implementation Science (Technology Strategy, Implementation and Evaluation); Knowledge Management (Information Needs; Information Seeking; Decision Support Systems); Virtual Care (Mobile Health, Sensors, Medical Devices, Smart Homes, Telehealth); Data Science (Analytics, Dashboard Visualizations and AI); Clinical Informatics (ePrescribing, eMedRec, eMedication Administration Systems, Electronic Health Records); Nursing Informatics; Health Informatics (Professional Competency Development, Curriculum Design)
Helen Monkman
Assistant Professor, Undergraduate Advisor Human Factors; User Experience; Usability; Consumer Health Informatics; eHealth Literacy or Digital Health Literacy; Information Visualization.
Karen L. Courtney
Associate Professor, Graduate Advisor Areas of interest: Telehealth; m-Health; Information Technology Ethics; Community-based Informatics; Gerontechnology; Nursing Informatics; Health Services Research; Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)
Simon Minshall
Assistant Teaching Professor, Health Terminology Standards Certificate Coordinator Simon Minshall is currently not available to supervise graduate students.
Show me program details
Providing you accurate admission requirements, application deadlines, tuition fee estimates and scholarships depends on your situation. Tell us about yourself:
Your program details
Application deadlines
September 2025 entry – apply by January 15, 2025
September 2025 entry – apply by January 15, 2025
Admission requirements
Program specific requirements
- Completion of a master’s degree in health informatics from an institution recognized by UVic.
- If you have a master’s degree in a field other than health informatics, you should apply to our MSc in Health Informatics program and indicate in your letter of intent that you are interested in applying to the PhD program in the future. Admission to the MSc program does not guarantee you future admission to the PhD program.
- Successful completion of a graduate level statistics course is required before you apply
As part of your application, you must submit:
- Three assessment reports. At least two should be from academics who can assess your capacity to conduct independent scholarly work and research.
- A curriculum vitae that summarizes your education background, employment history, professional/academic affiliations, and other achievements such as publications or awards.
- One or two sample publications or conference proceedings (if available). For each publication or proceeding, please include the full citation, indicate your percentage of contribution, your role and an electronic copy (preferably PDF).
- Thesis or research project (if available). Please provide an electronic copy (preferably PDF).
- Letter of intent summarizing why you are interested in earning the PhD in Health Informatics. Include your research interests and expectations of program in terms of personal and professional learning.
- Indicate if you have made contact with a faculty member regarding a possible supervisory arrangement. Having a prospective supervisor is not required.
Program specific requirements
- Completion of a master’s degree in health informatics from an institution recognized by UVic.
- If you have a master’s degree in a field other than health informatics, you should apply to our MSc in Health Informatics program and indicate in your letter of intent that you are interested in applying to the PhD program in the future. Admission to the MSc program does not guarantee you future admission to the PhD program.
- Successful completion of a graduate level statistics course is required before application.
- GRE scores must be submitted as part of the application.
As part of your application, you must submit:
- Three assessment reports. At least two should be from academics who can assess your capacity to conduct independent scholarly work and research.
- A curriculum vitae that summarizes your education background, employment history, professional/academic affiliations, and other achievements such as publications or awards.
- One or two sample publications or conference proceedings (if available). For each publication or proceeding, please include the full citation, indicate your percentage of contribution, your role and an electronic copy (preferably PDF).
- Thesis or research project (if available). Please provide an electronic copy (preferably PDF).
- Letter of intent summarizing why you are interested in earning the PhD in Health Informatics. Include your research interests and expectations of program in terms of personal and professional learning.
- Indicate if you have made contact with a faculty member regarding a possible supervisory arrangement. Having a prospective supervisor is not required.
Completion requirements
View the minimum course requirements for this program.
View the minimum course requirements for this program.
Funding & aid
Note: Co-op or assistantship is based on availability and not guaranteed.
All students are reviewed for graduate student funding annually. Funding is based on academic performance. We will consider students with a GPA of A- (7.0) or higher and adequate academic progress in the first year.
There is a maximum of two years of graduate student funding available from the school. Students on leave are not eligible for this funding.
You are encouraged to seek additional research funding opportunities through grants and additional financial assistance through university level awards, teaching assistantships and research assistantships.
Awards
- 1st year in PhD program
- PhD students meeting the eligibility requirements will receive an entrance award.
- 2nd year in the PhD program
- PhD students meeting the eligibility requirements and making adequate academic progress in the first year will be eligible for a second year of funding.
- MSc to PhD transfer students
- Students who began in the MSc program and have successfully applied to PhD program will be considered for PhD first year funds after their successful admission to the PhD program. Example: A student applying in December 2019 and receiving admission to the PhD program would receive first year PhD funding beginning in September 2020. Eligibility criteria for MSc to PhD students is the same as PhD students.
Note: Co-op or assistantship is based on availability and not guaranteed.
All students are reviewed for graduate student funding annually. Funding is based on academic performance. We will consider students with a GPA of A- (7.0) or higher and adequate academic progress in the first year.
There is a maximum of two years of graduate student funding available from the school. Students on leave are not eligible for this funding.
You are encouraged to seek additional research funding opportunities through grants and additional financial assistance through university level awards, teaching assistantships and research assistantships.
Awards
- 1st year in PhD program
- PhD students meeting the eligibility requirements will receive an entrance award.
- 2nd year in the PhD program
- PhD students meeting the eligibility requirements and making adequate academic progress in the first year will be eligible for a second year of funding.
- MSc to PhD transfer students
- Students who began in the MSc program and have successfully applied to PhD program will be considered for PhD first year funds after their successful admission to the PhD program. Example: A student applying in December 2019 and receiving admission to the PhD program would receive first year PhD funding beginning in September 2020. Eligibility criteria for MSc to PhD students is the same as PhD students.
Tuition & fees
Estimated minimum program cost*
* Based on an average program length. For a per term fee breakdown view the tuition fee estimator.
Estimated values determined by the tuition fee estimator shall not be binding to the University of Victoria.
Ready to apply?
You can start your online application to UVic by creating a new profile or using an existing one.
Faculties & departments
Need help?
Contact Sandra Boudewyn at hisgrad@uvic.ca or 250-721-6459.