Call for Applications | Doctoral (PhD) Programme in Nutrition and Dietetics | Spring 2025  

For the Spring 2025 semester, the University of Nicosia announces the opening of four (4) positions for admission to the Doctorate (PhD) in Nutrition and Dietetics.  

How to Apply

The application must be submitted only via the online procedure available at: https://www.unic.ac.cy/apply.  

About the programme: 

The Ph.D. in Nutrition and Dietetics programme aims to prepare doctorate students to achieve advanced knowledge and skills in the fields of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics, and prepare them for positions in the management and administration of Nutrition practice and academia. In addition, the candidates will have the opportunity to develop independent and innovative research related to their chosen field. 

The programme provides Ph.D. candidates with in-depth academic and practical knowledge in modern research equipment and methodologies related to Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics. The programme directs students in research design and execution as well as in the interpretation of the results. 

The specific aims of the programme are to: 

• Develop students’ advanced knowledge and expertise in Nutrition research methods, including qualitative and quantitative methods, and to conduct rigorous research studies.
• Advance students’ understanding of theoretical and conceptual frameworks relevant to all specialties of Nutrition and Dietetics.
• Cultivate students’ skills in grant writing and securing funding for research studies.
• Develop students’ ability to disseminate research findings through publications in academic journals, presentations at conferences, and other venues, and to contribute to the advancement of their field.
• Help students to prepare for a career in academic research or leadership roles in Nutrition and Dietetics.

PhD holders in Nutrition and Dietetics: 

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge in a specialized area consistent with the focus of their graduate programme.
• Demonstrate skills in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis typically used in their chosen field of research.
• Construct and create research questions and hypotheses, in order to answer original and innovative questions in their chosen field of research.
• Design, construct, and execute independent research protocols in order to contribute to previous empirical and theoretical knowledge in the field of Nutrition and Dietetics.
• Conduct independent research, resulting in an original contribution to knowledge consistent with the candidates’ field of interest.
• Produce written and oral communications of the highest quality, in order to communicate the results of their research.
• Demonstrate proficiency and ethics both in conducting their research project as well as in the interpretation and communication of their results.

The language of instruction of the programme is English and Greek. 

The programme focuses on the following multidisciplinary research key themes based to the faculty research interests: 

Prof Eleni Andreou, DProf, RDN, Professor of Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition 

• Exploring the Efficacy of Mindful Eating Interventions in the Treatment of Eating Disorders (A Comprehensive Study on the Role of Mindful Eating in the Management and Prevention of Eating Disorders)

• Evaluating the Impact of Nutritional Interventions on Renal Function in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (The Role of Personalised Nutrition Plans in Improving Renal Health and Patient Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease)

Dr. Elena Philippou, PhD, RD Associate Professor of Nutrition-Dietetics 

• Evaluating the effect of a Mediterranean diet intervention on quality of life and cognitive function in people with subjective cognitive impairments  (Investigating the feasibility and acceptability of a Mediterranean diet intervention in people of subjective cognitive impairments and effects on quality of life, cognitive function and other health outcomes)
• Investigation of chrono-nutrition aspects and other dietary patterns on cognitive function in middle-aged adults (Exploration of associations between chrono-nutrition and other dietary factors with cognitive function in middle-aged adults)

Dr Evelina Charidemou, PhD, Assistant Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry 

• The Influence of Dietary Patterns on Gut Microbiome Composition and Metabolic Health (The impact of goat milk consumption (vs cow’s milk) on the lipidome)
• The impact of histone metabolite reservoirs on fatty liver disease (Characterization of how histone acetylation reservoirs can affect acety-co metabolite pools to induce lipogenesis)

Dr Dona Hileti, PhD, RD, Lecturer of Nutrition and Dietetics 

• The Impact of eating behaviour on the development of childhood obesity
• Assessing the effects of dietary Patterns in early life on childhood obesity and metabolic health 

Other faculty members from the School of Life and Health Sciences can propose additional PhD topics or serve as members of the supervisory team for these projects. 

Admission requirements and procedures:

• Academic Qualifications:
  • Master’s Degree (MSc) in Nutrition, Dietetics, or other Health Sciences 
  • Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) in Nutrition, Dietetics, or other Health Sciences 
  • Accredited Apolyterion of Secondary Education 
  • Registered in the registrar of the profession they belong to 
  • Applicants who do not fulfill these requirements may still apply to the programme, subject to the evaluation of their academic qualifications by the Department Doctoral Programme Committee. Copies of degrees awarded must be submitted as part of a complete application package. 
• Application Form: Applicants must submit an application form for admission and enrolment to the programme. The application form requests general information about the applicant, their qualifications, and relevant experience.  
• Curriculum Vitae: A complete CV specifying all academic and professional activities. 
• Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must obtain two recommendation letters from individuals who have known the applicant in an educational and/or professional environment. At least one of the recommendation letters must be from an academic institution where the applicant has studied previously. 
• English Language Proficiency: TOEFL (paper-based test 600, computer-based test 250, internet-based test 100) or IELTS 6.5. For students who graduated from an English-speaking university, English language proficiency is not a requirement. Proficiency in English is essential even in cases where the thesis is to be submitted in another language, as research undertaken towards completing the thesis is expected to include English-language resources. 
• Publications: Previous theses/dissertations and any published work of academic relevance (if any). 
• Initial Research Proposal (template will be provided by the admissions office): An initial proposal (1,000 words) outlining the research topic, aims and objectives, research questions, and proposed research methodology as follows:
  • Title 
  • Literature review (brief) 
  • Identifications of gaps in existing literature and rationale for proposed research 
  • Aims and objectives 
  • Research hypotheses 
  • Research methodology 
  • Ethical Considerations (if applicable) 
  • Expected output 
  • Time plan for completion 
  • References 
• Statement of Purpose: Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive outline highlighting their academic and individual competencies and state why they believe they are suitable for admission to the programme, as well as their reflections regarding the expectations and value of the programme for their personal advancement and career development. 
• Individual Interviews: The Department Doctoral Programme Committee may decide whether to hold an individual interview of the applicant prior to deciding. The Department Doctoral Programme Committee, having examined the applicant’s suitability against the entry criteria, having reviewed the application and interviewed the applicant, will determine his or her suitability and the appropriateness of their initial proposal. 
• Final Evaluation: In view of the limited number of applicants to be admitted to the programme, the Department Doctoral Programme Committee will decide based on merit and by evaluating specific criteria who are the most suitable candidates to be admitted to the programme. The Committee will exercise its judgment, considering the overall quality, merit, and feasibility of the research proposal, the quality of the prior research work of the candidate, and the candidate’s academic and other relevant qualifications as included in the curriculum vitae and the applicant’s performance during the individual interview (if such an interview is conducted).