PhD in Health Informatics
Admission requirements
To be considered for admission, you need:
- Successful completion of a graduate level statistics course prior to application
- A Master’s degree in health informatics from an accredited university
- International applicants must also submit GRE scores as part of their application
Wondering if your graduate statistics course is sufficient for admission?
Graduate Statistics Course Content
We require successful completion (B or better) of a graduate level statistic course prior to applying to our PhD program. We expect your graduate statistics course content to have included some of the content listed below. If you’re unsure if your course meets expectations, please contact the Graduate Advisor (hinfgradadvisor@uvic.ca). You may be asked to provide more details on your course.
Statistical Testing
- Reliability analysis
- T-tests
- ANOVA/MANOVA
- Sampling & Sampling Variability of a Proportion
- Correlation
- Linear Regression
- Multiple Regression
- Logistic Regression
Do you have a Master’s degree, but not in health informatics?
PhD Entry for Students Without an MSc in Health Informatics
If you have a Master’s degree in a field other than health informatics, and you are interested in pursuing PhD studies in health informatics, you first need to apply to our MSc program and indicate in your letter of intent that you are interested in applying to the PhD program in the future.
Students in the MSc in Health Informatics program, already holding a Master's degree, but not in the field of health informatics, may apply to the PhD program following satisfactory completion of at least 6 units of the MSc program in Health Informatics. The six units from the MSc program must include at least the following courses:
HINF 501 (1.5 units) Database Design
HINF 503 (1.5 units) Research Methods in Health Informatics
HINF 550 (1.5 units) Health Information Systems Design
HINF 572 (1.5 units) Health Informatics Overview
Depending on your background, additional coursework may be recommended. Students interested in applying to the PhD program should follow the MSc program of study and work closely with their supervisor on course selection. Typically, the PhD program starts in September. The application deadline for September 2025 is January 15, 2025.
Admission to the MSc in Health Informatics is not a guarantee of future admission to the PhD program.
When should you apply?
| Entry Point | Deadline |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | December 15, 2025 |
How to apply?
To apply, you need to complete a UVic Graduate Studies online application.
Step 1
Standard UVic Graduate Studies Application Package
- You will need to obtain the appropriate transcripts, assessment reports, test scores and other documents as outlined in the application package.
- If you are an international student, please visit the UVic Graduate admissions page for the information on minimum requirements, proper submission of your documents, Language proficiency, visas, and more.
Step 2
Additional material required by our school:
- Three letters of reference - At least two of these appraisals should be from academics who know you well enough to evaluate your capacity to conduct independent scholarly work.
- Letter of Intent (3-page limit) – The letter should address how you will fit with the program: specifically, research interests and/or work background, and your expectations in terms of personal and professional learning.
- CV/resume - This must include 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) – Please include the full citation, indicate the percentage (%) contribution, your role, and an electronic copy (preferably PDF).
- Thesis or Research Project (if available) – Please provide an electronic copy (preferably PDF).
- Indicate if you have made contact with a faculty member regarding a possible supervisory arrangement. Having a supervisor prior to application is not required.
- If you are an international applicant, you will also need to submit your most recent GRE scores with your application.
Step 3
Submit the online Graduate Studies Application Package along with the School’s requirements to the Graduate Admissions and Records Office (GARO).