Admissions
We are excited that you are pursuing a PhD degree in Public Health from UCI Public Health and look forward to receiving your application. We encourage you to begin the application process early to ensure that your file is complete by the deadline.
Applicants are encouraged to start the application process early by consulting with faculty members whose research activities align with the applicant’s interests and academic background. Applications are reviewed after the posted application deadline. Applicants are admitted for the Fall quarter only and must choose one of the two available concentrations at the time of application.
The deadline for receipt of all application materials for the PhD in Public Health program is December 15, 2024 for a Fall 2025 start.
Who Can Apply
There are no specific course prerequisites needed to enroll, and the program is open to students with bachelor’s degrees in a variety of disciplines. Individuals from diverse cultural, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible to apply to the PhD, an applicant must meet the minimum academic requirements:
- Successful completion or expected completion of a master’s level degree in a health-related discipline (or foreign equivalent) from a recognized academic institution prior to enrollment at UCI, however, applicants who come with undergraduate degrees from other related majors might be required to take supplementary courses in addition to the preparatory module of the PhD program.
- All applicants must have an overall grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better
- Possess strong verbal and quantitative skills as reflected by GRE General Test scores (GRE required for Fall 2024 admissions cycle)
Application Instructions
Applicants must submit both the UCI Application for Graduate Admission and the School of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) application in order to be considered for admission. Evaluations of applicant files for admission to the Ph.D. program will consist of an assessment of transcripts of previous academic work, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and other relevant qualifications. Applicants must choose one of the two concentrations at the time of application.
Please note: Students enrolled in the PhD in Public Health are required to serve as Teaching Assistants in public health courses for two quarters during their graduate study. Teaching is an important component of graduate training, as it helps graduate students learn how to communicate effectively about their field of knowledge. In addition, teaching experience is valuable to those planning for a career in academia. Graduate students with comparable prior teaching experience (e.g., through postgraduate degrees earned at UC Irvine or other comparable institution) may request a waiver of the teaching requirement.
