Interdisciplinary Health Sciences (Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc))

Frequently asked questions

• How much does Interdisciplinary Health Sciences (Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc)) cost?

  CAD 45,000 / year.

• What English score does it need?

  IELTS 7.0 overall is the score listed for this programme.

• How long is it?

  3 years, as listed by the university.

• What are the entry requirements?

  Programme admission requirements as published by Western: The DHSc program is committed to the principles of inclusive excellence. Admission requirements are designed to recognize both academic qualifications and diverse forms of professional, community-based, and lived experience that reflect leadership and impact in health-related fields. Admission decisions are made by a Graduate Program Admissions Committee using a holistic, equity?informed review process that considers academic qualifications, professional experience, program fit, and demonstrated leadership potential. Minimum SGPS admission requirements apply and can be found at: [https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/index.html]. Applicants must meet the following program-specific requirements: • Completion of a master’s degree in health sciences, public health, nursing, rehabilitation sciences, kinesiology, or a closely related field from a recognized institution • A minimum GPA of 78% (B+), calculated over the last two years of full-time study or the last 10 half-credit courses of part-time study • A minimum of three years of full-time equivalent professional experience within the past five years in health care, health leadership, public health, allied health, rehabilitation, or health policy • Applicants may apply if an appropriate DiP project can be arranged within their current organization or through a remote placement Applicants without a master’s degree may be considered based on equivalent professional, community-based, or lived experience. Acceptable alternative qualifications may include: • A four-year undergraduate degree in a related field and a minimum of five years of progressive, relevant work experience • A three-year undergraduate degree in a related field and a minimum of seven years of relevant work experience, including leadership or project-based roles • In exceptional cases, a college diploma in a relevant field and at least 10 years of senior-level or specialized experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis || Additional requirements: • An alternate admission pathway for applicants without a master’s degree and who meet all other requirements is entry into the FHS Applied Health Sciences graduate diploma or master’s program. Upon successful completion of APPLHSCI9001: Critical Thinking in Health Sciences and an elective course, students may apply for transfer to the DHSc, including credit for the elective course already taken. • One academic and one professional reference • Referees are contacted after their names are submitted in the online application • The academic reference should be provided by a faculty member from the applicant’s master’s program who can attest to their scholarly abilities – particularly in writing, analysis, and critical thinking – as well as their professionalism, communication skills, and, where applicable, clinical or practice-based competence. If this is not feasible due to time since graduation or alternative academic pathways, a suitable substitute (e.g., a supervisor, mentor, or colleague who can speak to the applicant’s academic readiness and professional strengths) may be accepted. • The professional reference should be provided by a graduate-educated manager, or advanced practitioner or educator in the applicant’s area of practice. • It is recommended that the professional reference should be provided by someone in the applicant’s current organization who can attest to the organization’s support for the DiP project and/or to the applicant’s potential to complete a DiP. • Transcripts of any postsecondary coursework (including master’s degree(s) and any advanced degrees obtained) • Curriculum vitae (CV) • Statement of interest – one page, describing a specific challenge, opportunity, or gap within the applicant’s area of practice that has motivated their interest in this program, and explaining how pursuing this professional doctorate will help them contribute meaningfully to addressing that issue and advancing their field. • Applicants using work experience as an alternative qualification must submit: A signed letter from their employer confirming the organization name, applicant’s current or most relevant role, and years of service • Entrance interview will be required. The interview will focus on topics such as local/current organization support for the DiP, alignment of the applicant’s research interests with the supervisory capacity of the program, and alignment of the applicant’s interests and prior training and experiences with key DHSc coursework. Applications to the DHSc will be submitted online through Western’s internal graduate admissions system at https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/apply.html. || SGPS university-wide minimum - Master's: 'Applicants must possess a four-year degree from a university, college or institute. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requires at least a 70% average across courses taken in the last two full-time years of the undergraduate degree. Equivalent qualifications may be considered based on the standards of the discipline or profession.' Doctoral: 'Applicants must possess a Master's degree or equivalent from a university, college or institute, and provide evidence of research potential. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requires at least a 70% average in the Master's degree, as determined by the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.' Source: https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/international/index.html || English language proficiency: Applicants whose first language is not English are required to provide evidence of English proficiency prior to admission in one of the following ways: • TOEFL (paper-based): minimum total score of 600 and minimum score of 5/6 on the Test of Written English (TWE) • TOEFL (computer-based): minimum total score of 250 and minimum score of 5/6 on the Test of Written English • TOEFL (Internet-based): for tests taken before January 21, 2026, a minimum score of 100, with no score less than 23 on each of the 4 skill categories; for tests taken on or after January 21, 2026, a minimum score of 5, with no score less than 4.5 on each of the 4 skill categories. • English Language Testing System (IELTS) : minimum score of 7 on the overall test and on each subcomponent • Western English Language Centre (WELC) : Successful completion of the High Advanced level of the Academic English program • Applicants whose current IELTS scores are 6.5 can complete the English Boost program • Students may contact WELC for a free assessment of English fluency and a determination of the length of any recommended program • Applicants are responsible for the costs of this program • Duolingo : minimum score of 140 Students who are required to present evidence of proficiency in English must make their own arrangements to write the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo and to have the official results sent directly to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies by the testing agency. Exemptions Students whose first language is not English may be exempt from providing English Proficiency test scores if they have studied academic courses on a full-time basis for at least two years in an English-speaking university located in a country whose official first language is English. Students must contact the?graduate program in order to determine if test scores will not be required. A decision will then be made at the discretion of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for exemption. · English: IELTS 7.0 (no band below 7.0); Duolingo English Test 140 · English test waiver: Western does not publish a blanket country or medium-of-instruction waiver for graduate admission. SGPS states the requirement applies to 'Applicants whose first language is not English', and under 'Exemptions': 'Applicants may request an exemption by contacting their graduate program(s) of interest. For the French and Hispanic Studies programs only, evidence of proficiency in English is a degree requirement but not a requirement for admission.' Western also offers a conditional route instead of a test: the Western English Language Centre 'allows academically eligible students interested in pursuing a graduate degree at Western the opportunity to receive a conditional offer of admission to graduate studies without successful completion of an English language proficiency test', on condition the student completes the Centre's programme. Source: https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/apply.html and https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/international/index.html · Application fee: CAD 185.00 - 2026-2027 Application Fees Table 3, Graduate Programs: 'All other graduate programs 185'. Source: 2026-2027 Application Fees (Table 3), https://registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/2026-27-Application-Fees.pdf · Deposit: CAD 2,000.00 - Table 2, line 53 'Graduate Professional Programs Tuition Deposit fee, International (Masters and PhD), 2,000', under the heading 'Faculty of Health Science (CSD, Nursing, OT, PT, Health Studies, Kinesiology, HRS)'. The general international master's deposit, Table 2 line 226, is also CAD 2,000.00 non-refundable. Source: 2026-2027 Program-Related Tuition Fees (Table 2), https://registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/2026-27-Program-Related-Fees2.pdf

• Is there a scholarship?

  Western Graduate Research Scholarship (WGRS), Graduate Teaching Assistantships, Graduate Fellowships and Graduate Student Assistantships are administered by the graduate programme; SGPS states 'Decisions regarding the structure, sources and annual amount of your graduate funding over the course of your program are made primarily at the Faculty and/or graduate program.' Doctoral funding guarantee, open to international students: 'For domestic and international doctoral students who start their program in September 2026 (September 1, 2026 - August 31, 2027), Western guarantees a minimum annual funding support package of $17,000, plus $6,487 for tuition, for a total of $23,487.' Average funding received from all sources: Doctoral CAD 35,476 (2025), Master's CAD 26,277 (2025). International students are eligible for Western's Graduate Bursary and for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS). Western lists formalised international sponsorship partnerships with: CGS-Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements, China Scholarship Council, Libya North-American Scholarship Program, Egypt Cultural and Educational Bureau, Mitacs Globalink Research Awards, Organization of American States Program, Rhodes Scholarships, Russia Global Education Program, Saudi Arabia King Abdullah Scholarship Program and the Vietnam International Education Development Program. Source View scholarship page