FAQs

When applying to GPH’s Ph.D. program, SOPHAS charges a fee structure based on how many programs you apply to; please consult SOPHAS’s FAQs page for more information. New York University does not charge or collect any supplementary application fee.

All applications are due on December 1st annually. The NYU PhD in Public Health only accepts applications for fall enrollment.

All applicants to the PhD in Public Health must hold an undergraduate or first professional degree from an accredited institution, and we strongly recommends that applicants have some amount of applicable work and/or research experience related to public health. Learn more about the qualifications you need on the Doctorate Admissions page.

The NYU PhD in Public Health reviews the overall potential of applications in order to determine which students show potential for success in doctoral public health studies and future careers. Learn more about our review process on the Doctorate Admissions page.

The admissions office expects to release decisions by late February.

Selected candidates may be invited to interview by the admissions committee.  If candidates are not in the NYC area and unable to interview in person, interviews may be conducted by telephone or via Skype.

The writing sample should be a 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 (on which you are either sole or a lead author), a paper submitted for a course, or some written work product such as a manual or report.

The Office of Admissions welcomes visits from prospective doctoral students who wish to discuss the admission process or application to the program – see how to schedule your visit in advance on our Visit Campus page.

As the PhD application asks prospective students to identify NYU faculty members with whom they share research interests, you are also welcome to contact individual faculty members with whom you are interested in working to ask for a meeting.

Although the maximum allotted time you have to complete the degree is seven years, we expect that students will typically complete the PhD program in four to five years. See a sample timeline of a typical PhD degree completion on the Doctorate page.

No. As a CEPH-accredited program, the NYU Master of Public Health degree adheres to specific criteria governing credit requirements, competencies and culminating experiences. The doctoral program is not designed to accommodate all of the requirements for completion of the MPH degree.

The PhD application asks prospective students to identify NYU faculty members with whom the applicant shares research interests. Prospective students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the research interests of faculty prior to applying and to identify ways in which NYU can support your research interests. Including specific faculty in your application does not constitute a binding commitment to work with those faculty if accepted, but helps the department better understand how the program may fit in with your academic and/or professional goals.

No. Applications will be reviewed for compatibility with the aims of the PhD program itself, and different concentrations will not have different admission requirements or different rates of selectivity. Learn more about how applications are reviewed on the Doctorate Admissions page.