Admission Requirements

Applicants for the Health Policy PhD program must have a bachelor鈥檚 degree in a related discipline. Nearly all admitted applicants have a master鈥檚 degree, and preference is given to those with backgrounds in the health sciences or public health. 聽For applicants who do not have an MPH, prerequisite course requirements include the completion of graduate courses covering theories of biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health behaviors and health policy, and political and economic aspects of health (the five core courses of the MPH curriculum).

Program admissions are highly competitive; only a small number of well-prepared students are admitted each year. We recommend that students to discuss their areas of interest and opportunities for mentored research before applying to the Health Policy PhD program.

Supporting Materials

Laptop Requirement

Laptops are integrated into the curriculum at the College of Public Health to improve opportunities for active learning and provide greater access to specialized software and required tools in and out of the classroom. Incoming students are required to have a laptop that meets certain minimum hardware specifications. .

Additional requirements for international students

  • For applicants whose native language is not English, the TOEFL is required with a minimum score of 79 on the iBT. These scores should be sent officially to SOPHAS using the SOPHAS-specific TOEFL code of:聽5688.
  • A 聽is required for applicants who completed their degree outside of the United States. This can be requested and submitted through SOPHAS.

Application Deadline

Fall Priority: Dec. 15

This deadline enables students to be nominated for fellowships. Applications must be submitted AND complete (i.e., all required materials must be received and verified by SOPHAS) by Dec. 15 to be considered.

Go back to AcademicsMore in Health Policy and Health Services Research PhD