Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Admission Criteria

Admission Criteria

  1. Graduate School Application:  Applicants must complete the Graduate School application, which can be found at www.gradschool.unh.edu.
  2. Official Transcripts:  Applicants must submit one official transcript from each post-secondary institution attended.  Applicants must have completed a master's degree in nursing from a CCNE or NLNAC accredited institution.  A minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA for graduate work is preferred.
  3. Registered Nurse Licensure:  An unencumbered registered nurse license in the United States must be documented at the time of application.
  4. Advanced Nursing Certification:  Applicant must have obtained an MS in Nursing and national board certification in their area of specialty as appropriate.  National certification is optional for applicants with an MSN in health systems management (nursing administration) or nursing informatics. 
  5. Letters of Recommendation:  Applicant must submit professional references from three persons who hold a doctoral degree addressing academic skills, including oral and written communication, as well as clinical competence.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to select a doctorally prepared nurse as one of the three referees.
  6. Curriculum vitae or resume that includes academic preparation, clinical experience and professional activities.
  7. Professional Statement:  The professional statement must include a written essay responding to each of the following.
    1)  How will a Doctor of Nursing practice degree from the University of New Hampshire help you attain your professional goals?
    2)  Describe your current advanced nursing role, or if you are pursuing a new specialty, explain what you are planning to do with your nursing career in your specialty after you complete the Doctor of Nursing Practice.
    3)  In addition to the information contained in your resume, what strengths do you possess that would contribute to your success in the Doctor of Nursing practice program and in a community of interprofessional scholars?
    4)  Identify one scholarly inquiry from your practice you would like to explore as part of the DNP program (e.g., quality improvement initiative, evidence-based practice guidelines, new model of care, policy analysis).
  8. Interview:  After initial review of the application, applicants may be contacted for an interview.
  9. Technical Requirements:  UNH Department of Nursing considers the Internet communication link an essential learning resource for doctoral students.  DNP students will be required to have a home computer with Microsoft Office Suite (or equivalent), printer, and Internet service provider that has high-speed, broadband Internet access.  Proficiency required in PowerPoint and scholarly paper writing in APA format (American Psychological Association).

FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ONLY

All prospective international students are required to complete the pre-application process.  Prospective international students submit the UNH Graduate School international preapplication form.  Complete the form and email it to grad.docs@unh.edu with the subject line, "International Preapplication Form."  Once the department has made a decision about your preapplication, you will be notified by email. Depending on the time of year, this entire process can take from 1 to 6 weeks.  If your preapplication is approved, it is not a guarantee of getting accepted into the program. Approval of a preapplication only indicates that you have a fair chance of getting admitted and, therefore, it might be worth your time and money to apply as a full applicant.  If the preapplication is approved, the applicant continues the application process as outlined above and below.

  1. Graduate School Application:  Applicants must complete the Graduate School application, which can be found at www.gradschool.unh.edu. (pending)
  2. TOEFL:  Non-native English speaking international applicants are required to submit TOEFL examination scores http://www.toefl.org. Demonstration of a sufficient level of English language proficiency is a prerequisite for admission. Submitted scores that fall below our minimum requirement will be considered unacceptable and grounds for denying admission.   Scores should be less than two years old. The minimum acceptable score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language to demonstrate proficiency are as follows: 

    1)  80 on the Internet-based test;
    2)  213 on the computer-based test; or
    3)  550 on the paper-based test.

    Applicants may also take the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS).  The minimum acceptable score on the International English Language Testing Service test is 6.5 http://www.ielts.org.

  3. International student applicants are required to have an interview with the program director and a member of the admissions committee.  Personal interviews are preferred, however, an interview via the Internet (Skype) can be arranged.
  4. International student applicants must hold a current registered nurse (RN) license in the United States and U.S. advanced nursing certification.  National certification is optional for applicants with an MSN in health systems management (nursing administration) or nursing informatics.
  5. International student applicants who have completed college or university course work at an institution in a country other than the United States must obtain a complete, course-by-course evaluation of foreign transcripts, degrees and other relevant documents.  In all instances, the evaluating agency will require original, official documentation.  Evaluating agencies include:

    1)  World Education Services, P.O. Box 745, Old Chelsea Station, New York, New York 10113-0745 USA, telephone (212) 966-6311, web site www.wes.org

    2)  Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., P.O. Box 514070, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203-3470 USA, telephone (414) 289-3412, web site www.ece.org, e-mail eval@ece.org.

    3)  Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., International Education Consultants, 7101 SW 102 Avenue, Miami, Florida 33173 USA, telephone (305) 273-1616, web site www.jsilny.com, e-mail info@jsilny.com.

    4)  CGFNS International (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools), 3600 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-2651 USA, telephone (215) 222-8454), web site http://www.cgfns.org/sections/programs/ces/.

  6. International students who are accepted into the program may also be required to complete an intensive English language program at UNH prior to beginning classes in the Department of Nursing.  Information about UNH's English language program may be found at www.unh.edu/oiss/ and http://www.unh.edu/esl/index.cfm?id=EF65E830-9682-2FC7-299C5472CB6701DA.

Admitted International Students

International students admitted to UNH you will be required to submit the International Applicant Financial Declaration form, which must be completed whether or not funds have been requested from the university. Only submit this form if you have been admitted. Do not send the financial form, statements or passport copies with your application materials. They are only required if you are admitted.

New International Students

New international students should visit the website of the Office of International Students and Scholars for information on new student orientations and other information important to new international students. Please plan on arriving prior to the beginning of the fall or spring terms in time to participate in international student orientation and, if on an assistantship or fellowship, in time to participate in the mandatory Graduate Assistant Orientation.

New international students who are unable to arrive for either of these orientations due to issues with immigration, may, with the prior approval of the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) and the Graduate School, arrive late. Under no circumstances may a new student arrive later than the last day to register for that term, usually the third Friday of classes.