How to Apply: Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health (PhD)

We welcome applications from candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in any major from a regionally accredited institution or the international equivalent. We suggest, but do not require, that applicants hold either a Master of Public Health degree or equivalent graduate coursework to apply. Candidates without these credentials may complete the required coursework in the first year of the PhD program. Reviewers consider the overall GPA, as well as coursework and grades, and any changes or improvements in academic performance. Successful candidates typically have achieved at least a cumulative 3.3 GPA in prior undergraduate and graduate programs and A or A- grades in quantitative courses.

The GRE is not required nor considered as part of your application.

We strongly recommend that candidates have completed applicable work and/or research experience related to public health. Successful applicants usually have 2-3 years of relevant experience, including professional, research, publications, internships or volunteer experience.

All PhD concentrations are listed on SOPHAS as individual program designations.  You must select a concentration on the application. 

Applicants must submit official transcripts for all coursework from each college or university attended. If multiple schools were attended, official transcripts from each post-secondary institution must be submitted in SOPHAS. Applicants with international educational credentials are required to submit a WES evaluation to SOPHAS.

For all international transcripts that are not verified by SOPHAS, GPH requires a course-by-course academic International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) evaluation submitted to SOPHAS by the World Education Service. Evaluations provide the Admissions Committee with US degree and grading equivalency which is required to make a decision on your application. SOPHAS will only accept WES ICAP evaluations; no original transcripts should be submitted.

Applicants whose native language is not English must provide official results of the Test of English as a Second Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Only official score reports submitted using the appropriate reporting code through SOPHAS will be accepted. Photocopies of test scores or unofficial records will not be accepted.

This requirement may be waived if the applicant received the equivalent of a US Bachelor's degree from an institution where English was the primary language of instruction for four or more years. Currently enrolled GPH Master's students applying to a PhD program are not required to submit new English language proficiency score reports.

Required Minimum Scores

TOEFL iBT: 100 or higher
IELTS – Academic Exam: 7.5 (total band score) 

Reporting Codes

TOEFL: 5688
IELTS: Report score through SOPHAS, using one of the following options

• Inform your IELTS test center that you wish to send your results to SOPHAS. You can do this during the test booking process by selecting SOPHAS or asking your test center to select SOPHAS after you receive your results. IELTS results are sent electronically.
• Send your results to SOPHAS using the IELTS test taker portal. You can send your IELTS results to as many organizations as you wish with no additional fee. IELTS. Online results are provided in an electronic format.

A current résumé or curriculum vitae is required. This document should be uploaded to the SOPHAS application. 

Applicants are required to provide a statement of purpose which addresses the following topics (maximum 1500 words).

A brief description of the formation of your academic interests and present concerns. 

• The special area(s) of interest or particular problems, theories, movements, periods, etc., upon which your studies might focus. 
• A brief description of any tentative plans for research, either specific problems or general areas in which you hope to work. 
• A brief description of your research experience, including your role and the extent to which you were independently involved in the research. 
• An explanation of how your past experience, academic training or research experience has prepared you to pursue doctoral studies in your area of interest. 
• Which NYU GPH faculty members, if any, you have identified who share your research interests or who you would like to work with.

PhD applicants are encouraged to list potential faculty mentors in the application. Potential mentors should be drawn from the list of primary GPH faculty.

You may answer these questions individually and separately within your statement, or combine the answers into a single narrative statement. Either approach is acceptable. 

Applicants are also required to submit a writing sample of 5-15 pages in length. The writing sample should be an individually-authored sample of your writing that the Admission Committee can use to evaluate your ability as a writer and potential success in the doctoral program.

Examples of possible writing samples include, but are not limited to, journal articles (sole or first author among multiple), a paper submitted for a course, or some written work product such as a manual or report.

Three letters of recommendation are required for an application to be considered complete. Note that SOPHAS requires only two letters of recommendation to proceed, so please be sure to submit three letters. Each of your three references should include a recommendation form and an accompanying letter of recommendation. Applicants who have graduated within the past three years must submit at least one academic reference. SOPHAS provides an electronic submission process for all letters of recommendation.

The final stage of the application process is an interview. Interviews are offered on an invitation-basis only.