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We offer a Master of Science, PhD and MS-to-PhD pathway at Alfaisal University, in Saudi Arabia’s capital city of Riyadh. Students experience a “hybrid” learning environment - 70% of the class sessions for Alfaisal students are held in person. This program is specifically designed for educators in health professions education who want to excel in healthcare simulation, leadership, research, innovation, curriculum design, program evaluation and learning outcomes assessment. 

Format: Hybrid
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MGH Institute of Health Professions onsite at Alfaisal University allows you to:

  • Access a worldwide interprofessional cohort across the healthcare spectrum
  • Develop the scholarship skills for implementing state-of-the-art educational research with a focus on simulation-based education
  • Fulfill the in-person requirements of local and regional educational authorities through this hybrid in-person and online version of the Masters or PhD
  • Gain innovation and leadership skills in health professions education 
  • Become part of a community of practice and be connected with experts in your simulation area of interest to join you in your dissertation work
  • Gain the credentials for academic positions in health professions programs
  • Advance your career as an educator while building knowledge and skills as a scholar
blue rectangle with a man wearing a keffiyeh and the words alfaisal university written in english and Naskh script along with a colorful number 15 year anniversary

 

The PhD in Health Professions Education is recognized by the Saudi Ministry of Education.

Alfaisal students are integrated into the part-time, two-year program with other international and U.S.- based students. Our Master of Science in Health Professions Education program can be customized to meet your career goals related to Simulation-Based Education and Simulation Operations: 

  • Simulation-Based Education: Developed for health professions educators looking to hone in their teaching skills in healthcare simulation.
  • Simulation Operations: Created for simulation program administrators, directors, and technical specialists looking to acquire skills in simulation program administration, leadership, and management of simulation technologies to support simulation-based education.

Curriculum 

Applying

MGH Institute welcomes applications from individuals holding a Bachelor’s degree who are credentialed health professionals or work in Health Professions Education in another capacity. Our professional staff will provide information and answer any pertinent questions you have during the admission and financial aid process and will offer ongoing information on tuition and fees.
 

Dates & Deadlines

We are now accepting applications for Spring 2026 entry and are on a rolling admissions basis.  If you have any questions, please email us at Admissions [at] mghihp.edu (Admissions[at]mghihp[dot]edu).

Degree

Applicants must have an earned bachelor's degree from one of the following:

  1. A regionally accredited U.S. college or university
  2. An accredited college or university (for those educated outside the U.S.)

Please refer to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation website for additional information on regional accreditation and regionally accredited institutions.

GRE

The GRE is not required as part of the application process. The faculty will carefully consider applicant's previous academic record in the admissions decision.

TOEFL/ IELTS

The language of instruction and clinical education at the MGH Institute is English and a high level of proficiency in both written and spoken English is required. Applicants who have not completed either an undergraduate or graduate program where English is the language of instruction must demonstrate English Language proficiency as part of your application to the MGH Institute of Health Professions.  If you have questions about the language requirements, please contact the Office of Admissions.

  • Applicants who are citizens of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Guyana, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean are not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
  • Applicants who are candidates for graduation from an accredited degree-granting program in the United States or at an English-speaking school in one of the countries listed above are also not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Acceptance to the IHP will be contingent upon successful completion of this degree prior to matriculation.

Please note that in some circumstances, demonstrating English language proficiency may be required by the academic program even if you are a citizen of a country in which the (or one of the) national language(s) is English. Decisions about the need for TOEFL or IELTS scores are at the discretion of the academic program to which you are applying in coordination with the department of OES.

The IHP accepts either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The test must have been taken within two years of the application deadline and official score reports are required. The minimum TOEFL (internet-based) score accepted is 89 and the minimum IELTS score accepted is 6.5.  

  • To forward your TOEFL score please contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS).  The MGH Institute of Health Professions code is 3513.
  • For IELTS, a Test Report Form may be mailed to MGH Institute of Health Professions and score information will be verified by the IHP directly. You may designate up to 5 schools to receive Test Report Forms at the time you register for the test.  To request additional Test Report Forms, contact your test center.

Please contact the Office of Admissions if you have any questions about the MGH Institute’s English Language requirements. 

Applicants are required to submit a transcript from each college and/or university attended, even if a degree was not received from that institution. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted throughout the application process, and official transcripts will only be required prior to enrolling in the program.

The Office of Admission strongly encourages the use of online electronic transcript ordering which can be sent directly via email to admissions [at] mghihp.edu (admissions[at]mghihp[dot]edu). If this is not an option and your institution does not participate in electronic transcript delivery, please request official transcripts be sent to the mailing address listed below:

Admission Office
MGH Institute of Health Professions
36 First Avenue
Boston, MA 02129

Applicants that have earned a degree from a non-US institution are required to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation from one of the following NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) members: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., SpanTran: The Evaluation Company, World Education Services (WES), or the Center for Educational Documentation. If you earned your bachelor's degree outside of the U.S. this credential evaluation must document minimum equivalency of a US baccalaureate degree or higher.

Personal Statement

All applicants are required to compose an essay that addresses the following:

Share/discuss your vision for yourself in the role of health professions educator, including your future goals and plans. Your comments may reflect your personal experiences and beliefs about teaching and learning that have influenced your interest in the area of education.

Specify the types of teaching roles and responsibilities that have contributed to your decision to pursue study in health professions education. You may choose to share stories of influential educators to illustrate your points.

Answers should be typed, double-spaced, and no more than three pages in total. Margins should be no more than one inch, and type size should be no smaller than 10-point, with 12-point type preferred. Please make sure your full legal name is included on each page. The statement of intent should be uploaded directly to your online application.

Recommendation Letters

Applicants are required to provide two recommendation letters. All recommendations will be processed electronically through our online application. Please provide contact information for each recommender within the online application.

Recommendation letters should come from individuals who are able to address your academic ability, character and integrity, as well as your potential for graduate professional study. At least one letter should come from an academic reference and one from a professional reference.

An optional third recommendation letter may be included; however no more than three recommendation letters will be reviewed as part of your application.

Resume or CV

Applicants are required to submit a current resume or CV.

The most important and exciting aspect of earning a PhD is the opportunity to master a subfield related to your work and experience while conducting original scholarship that contributes to your subfield and pushes it forward. Students come to MGH Institute from all areas of healthcare with a variety of goals. We offer students an opportunity to apply once, to our MS-HPEd program, and continue through to their PhD without another application. This is especially valuable to students with less experience in health professions education. Our faculty are available to meet with you to help you decide what path is right for you.

MS-HPEd degree (or equivalent) must be completed before the PhD. Applying to the MS-PhD combined degree program enables synergies and one application for the combined degree.

Curriculum 
 

Applying

MGH Institute welcomes applications from individuals holding a Bachelor’s degree who are credentialed health professionals or work in Health Professions Education in another capacity. Our professional staff will provide information and answer any pertinent questions you have during the admission and financial aid process and will offer ongoing information on tuition and fees.
 

Dates & Deadlines

Thank you for your interest in the Alfaisal Master of Science in Health Professions Education (MS-HPEd) program.  We are now accepting applications and are on a rolling admissions basis.  If you have any questions, please email us at Admissions [at] mghihp.edu (Admissions[at]mghihp[dot]edu).

Degree

Applicants must have an earned bachelor's degree from one of the following:

  1. A regionally accredited U.S. college or university
  2. An accredited college or university (for those educated outside the U.S.)

Please refer to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation website for additional information on regional accreditation and regionally accredited institutions.

GRE

The GRE is not required as part of the application process. The faculty will carefully consider applicant's previous academic record in the admissions decision.

TOEFL/ IELTS

The language of instruction and clinical education at the MGH Institute is English and a high level of proficiency in both written and spoken English is required. Applicants who have not completed either an undergraduate or graduate program where English is the language of instruction must demonstrate English Language proficiency as part of your application to the MGH Institute of Health Professions.  If you have questions about the language requirements, please contact the Office of Admissions.

  • Applicants who are citizens of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Guyana, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean are not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
  • Applicants who are candidates for graduation from an accredited degree-granting program in the United States or at an English-speaking school in one of the countries listed above are also not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Acceptance to the IHP will be contingent upon successful completion of this degree prior to matriculation.

Please note that in some circumstances, demonstrating English language proficiency may be required by the academic program even if you are a citizen of a country in which the (or one of the) national language(s) is English. Decisions about the need for TOEFL or IELTS scores are at the discretion of the academic program to which you are applying in coordination with the department of OES.

The IHP accepts either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The test must have been taken within two years of the application deadline and official score reports are required. The minimum TOEFL (internet-based) score accepted is 89 and the minimum IELTS score accepted is 6.5.  

  • To forward your TOEFL score please contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS).  The MGH Institute of Health Professions code is 3513.
  • For IELTS, a Test Report Form may be mailed to MGH Institute of Health Professions and score information will be verified by the IHP directly. You may designate up to 5 schools to receive Test Report Forms at the time you register for the test.  To request additional Test Report Forms, contact your test center.

Please contact the Office of Admissions if you have any questions about the MGH Institute’s English Language requirements. 

Applicants are required to submit a transcript from each college and/or university attended, even if a degree was not received from that institution. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted throughout the application process, and official transcripts will only be required prior to enrolling in the program.

The Office of Admission strongly encourages the use of online electronic transcript ordering which can be sent directly via email to admissions [at] mghihp.edu (admissions[at]mghihp[dot]edu). If this is not an option and your institution does not participate in electronic transcript delivery, please request official transcripts be sent to the mailing address listed below:

Admission Office
MGH Institute of Health Professions
36 First Avenue
Boston, MA 02129

Applicants that have earned a degree from a non-US institution are required to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation from one of the following NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) members: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., SpanTran: The Evaluation Company, World Education Services (WES), or the Center for Educational Documentation. If you earned your bachelor's degree outside of the U.S. this credential evaluation must document minimum equivalency of a US baccalaureate degree or higher.

Personal Statement

All applicants are required to compose an essay that addresses the following:

Share/discuss your vision for yourself in the role of health professions educator, including your future goals and plans. Your comments may reflect your personal experiences and beliefs about teaching and learning that have influenced your interest in the area of education.

Specify the types of teaching roles and responsibilities that have contributed to your decision to pursue study in health professions education. You may choose to share stories of influential educators to illustrate your points.

Answers should be typed, double-spaced, and no more than three pages in total. Margins should be no more than one inch, and type size should be no smaller than 10-point, with 12-point type preferred. Please make sure your full legal name is included on each page. The statement of intent should be uploaded directly to your online application.

Recommendation Letters

Applicants are required to provide two recommendation letters. All recommendations will be processed electronically through our online application. Please provide contact information for each recommender within the online application.

Recommendation letters should come from individuals who are able to address your academic ability, character and integrity, as well as your potential for graduate professional study. At least one letter should come from an academic reference and one from a professional reference.

An optional third recommendation letter may be included; however no more than three recommendation letters will be reviewed as part of your application.

Resume or CV

Applicants are required to submit a current resume or CV.

The PhD program incorporates and builds on the Institute's Master of Science in Health Professions Education (MS-HPEd) by providing additional part-time (or full-time) blended learning with outcomes commensurate with a research-based PhD. Candidates from similar MS-HPEd programs are welcome to apply.

MS-HPEd degree (or equivalent) must be completed before the PhD. Applying to the MS-PhD combined degree program enables synergies and one application for the combined degree
 

Curriculum

Applying

We are welcoming applications for Spring 2026 entry and are on a rolling admissions basis. If you have any questions, please email us at admissions [at] mghihp.edu (admissions[at]mghihp[dot]edu).

Applicants may apply for the PhD through one of two tracks:

  1. Post MS-HPEd PhD: 33 credits

    Applicants who have a master’s level degree in health professions education from other institutions should apply through this track and include materials related to completed courses so that they may be applied toward the PhD. 
     
  2. Combined MS-HPEd and PhD: 66 credits

    Applicants who have very similar master's degrees or higher, should apply through this track. Some MS courses may be waived, and in other cases courses will not be waived. 

For either track each individual case will be considered on its own merits.  

Degree

Applicants must have an earned bachelor's degree from one of the following:

  1. A regionally accredited U.S. college or university
  2. An accredited college or university (for those educated outside the U.S.)

Please refer to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation website for additional information on regional accreditation and regionally accredited institutions.

Important: Applicants applying for the PhD in Health Professions Education program (33 credits) must have successfully earned a Master of Science in Health Professions Education (or equivalent) from MGH Institute of Health Professions, or a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

GRE

The GRE is not required as part of the application process. The faculty will carefully consider applicant's previous academic record in the admissions decision.

TOEFL/ IELTS

The language of instruction and clinical education at the MGH Institute is English and a high level of proficiency in both written and spoken English is required. Applicants who have not completed either an undergraduate or graduate program where English is the language of instruction must demonstrate English Language proficiency as part of your application to the MGH Institute of Health Professions.  If you have questions about the language requirements, please contact the Office of Admissions.

  • Applicants who are citizens of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Guyana, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean are not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
  • Applicants who are candidates for graduation from an accredited degree-granting program in the United States or at an English-speaking school in one of the countries listed above are also not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Acceptance to the IHP will be contingent upon successful completion of this degree prior to matriculation.

Please note that in some circumstances, demonstrating English language proficiency may be required by the academic program even if you are a citizen of a country in which the (or one of the) national language(s) is English. Decisions about the need for TOEFL or IELTS scores are at the discretion of the academic program to which you are applying in coordination with the department of OES.

The IHP accepts either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The test must have been taken within two years of the application deadline and official score reports are required. The minimum TOEFL (internet-based) score accepted is 89 and the minimum IELTS score accepted is 6.5.  

  • To forward your TOEFL score please contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS).  The MGH Institute of Health Professions code is 3513.
  • For IELTS, a Test Report Form may be mailed to MGH Institute of Health Professions and score information will be verified by the IHP directly. You may designate up to 5 schools to receive Test Report Forms at the time you register for the test.  To request additional Test Report Forms, contact your test center.

Please contact the Office of Admissions if you have any questions about the MGH Institute’s English Language requirements. 

Applicants are required to submit a transcript from each college and/or university attended, even if a degree was not received from that institution. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted throughout the application process, and official transcripts will only be required prior to enrolling in the program.

The Office of Admission strongly encourages the use of online electronic transcript ordering which can be sent directly via email to admissions [at] mghihp.edu (admissions[at]mghihp[dot]edu). If this is not an option and your institution does not participate in electronic transcript delivery, please request official transcripts be sent to the mailing address listed below:

Admission Office
MGH Institute of Health Professions
36 First Avenue
Boston, MA 02129

Applicants that have earned a degree from a non-US institution are required to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation from one of the following NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) members: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., SpanTran: The Evaluation Company, World Education Services (WES), or the Center for Educational Documentation. If you earned your bachelor's degree outside of the U.S. this credential evaluation must document minimum equivalency of a US baccalaureate degree or higher.

Personal Statement

All applicants are required to compose an essay that addresses the following:

Share/discuss your vision for yourself in the role of health professions educator, including your future goals and plans. Your comments may reflect your personal experiences and beliefs about teaching and learning that have influenced your interest in the area of education.

Specify the types of teaching roles and responsibilities that have contributed to your decision to pursue study in health professions education. You may choose to share stories of influential educators to illustrate your points.

Answers should be typed, double-spaced, and no more than three pages in total. Margins should be no more than one inch, and type size should be no smaller than 10-point, with 12-point type preferred. Please make sure your full legal name is included on each page. The statement of intent should be uploaded directly to your online application.

Recommendation Letters

Applicants are required to provide two recommendation letters. All recommendations will be processed electronically through our online application. Please provide contact information for each recommender within the online application.

Recommendation letters should come from individuals who are able to address your academic ability, character and integrity, as well as your potential for graduate professional study. At least one letter should come from an academic reference and one from a professional reference.

An optional third recommendation letter may be included; however no more than three recommendation letters will be reviewed as part of your application.

Resume or CV

Applicants are required to submit a current resume or CV.

The IHP Advantage

A man working at a desk with a notebook and laptop

Customize Your Program

You will work with an advisor to focus your program of study on different aspects of our program’s goals related to: developing and strengthening your skills in teaching and learning; or generating scholarship that will address gaps or implementing and leading change—or personalized combinations of each. 

two men look at an apple laptop

Simulation Professionals Certificate

Designed for novice and mid level simulation faculty and operations professionals. Choose 3 of 5 online courses which can be completed in one year, and 6 credits can be applied to our MS-HPEd.
adults sitting around a table with a tv above them showing a medical room

Lead Change

Improve your ability to recognize innovation opportunities, and build skills to facilitate and lead change in health professions education—enhanced  by engaging in interactive study with an interprofessional, international community of colleagues. Achieve synergies based on our partnerships with the Harvard Macy Institute.

Attend International Conferences

  • In-person seminar focuses on the creation of a high-impact, innovative, and engaging workshop. We submit to preeminent Simulation conferences nationally and internationally where our faculty attend.
  • Once accepted, our faculty, who are renowned global keynote speakers, will work with you closely to create high-quality workshops, developing your speaking and presentation skills through dry runs and feedback.
  • Faculty will provide detailed feedback following your live presentation.

Our students, pivotal to the future of healthcare simulation, showcased their remarkable contributions at the International Meeting for Simulation in Healthcare 2024 in San Diego, California, USA:

From Script to Screen: Crafting Engaging Simulation Cases 
Sara Maaz & Sadek Obeidat shared their expertise in developing engaging written scenarios for distance simulation.

Psychological Safety in Distance Simulation
Sharouk Khanjar addressed the critical aspect of psychological safety in distance scenarios.
 

group of people stand in front of and within large letters spelling IMSH
HP AU Simulation Track Students, Alumni and Faculty: Front row: (l-to-r) Sara Maaz, MS HPEd student, Dawn Wawersik, PhD HPEd alumni, Melissa Morris, PhD Candidate, Alex Morton, PhD HPEd alumni, Janice Palaganas, IHP faculty and Back row: (l-to-r) Sharouk Khanjar, MS HPEd student, Rami Ahmed, IHP Adjunct Faculty, Hani Lababaidi, IHP Adjunct Faculty, Cynthia Mosher, IHP Faculty, Anne Weaver, PhD HPEd Candidate and Sadek Obeidat, MS HPEd student.
Alfaisal University

IHP AU Simulation Track Shines at International Conference

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