Interdisciplinary Health Sciences

The Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc) program is designed for mid- to senior-level professionals in health care, public health, and related sectors who are seeking advanced, career focused education.

This fully online, 3-year professional doctorate program emphasizes strategic leadership, innovation, and practical problem solving to address the complex challenges facing Canada’s health systems. Through coursework and structured milestone activities, the DHSc takes a practice oriented approach by focusing on leadership development, critical analysis of real-world challenges, and the application of knowledge to improve health services, workforce performance, and policy implementation.

Rooted in applied scholarship, equity-driven leadership, and interdisciplinary learning, the program supports students in acquiring and applying advanced knowledge across multiple contexts — including policy, education, organizational leadership, and practice innovation. A core feature of the DHSc is the Dissertation in Practice, an applied project that tackles a real organizational or sector based challenge and delivers actionable solutions.

Overall, the program aims to equip experienced professionals with the leadership and systems thinking skills needed to drive meaningful transformation across the health continuum.

*Prospective students are advised that offers of admission to a new program may be made only after the university's own quality assurance processes have been completed and the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance has approved the program.

Program Length

• 3 years (Full-time study)

Program Design

• Full-time
• Course-based

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fee schedules (per term) are posted on the Office of the Registrar's website at http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/fee_schedules.html

Use this helpful tool, although designed to reflect costs associated with in person programs, to estimate how much money you will need to pay for your tuition, fees, and other expenses for a 12-month (three term) academic year.

Admission Requirements

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.

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.

Application Deadline

Deadline

• July 15th - Applications received after the deadline will be considered if space in the program is available