Apply to our doctoral program in Global Health Leadership (DrPH)
A degree in public health is not required to be admitted to the DrPH program. However, individuals must have a master’s degree or earned doctorate to be eligible for the program.
Individuals without a master’s degree in public health from an accredited school of public health will also need to complete core master’s-level courses in epidemiology, health policy and management, biostatistics, social and behavioral science, and environmental health science, or document their equivalencies before a DrPH degree can be conferred.
We strongly recommend completion of these courses prior to beginning the DrPH program, though it is also feasible to complete the MPH core courses concurrently with the doctoral coursework.
Application, admission, and degree-granting requirements and regulations shall be applied equitably to all individuals, applicants and scholars regardless of age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or national origin.
Application criteria and requirements
In addition to completing the SOPHAS application, you are also required to submit the following supporting documentation directly to SOPHAS.
While they are not required for admission, you are strongly encouraged to submit GRE scores with your application, since some funding sources require current GRE scores (less than five years old) in order for students to be eligible. Applicants must submit GRE scores to SOPHAS using the following designation DI Code 0167.
Each applicant needs to submit a written personal statement. The personal statement will be weighted heavily in the application process.
While there are no set guidelines for the length or format of the personal statement, we encourage applicants to submit statements no greater than five single-spaced pages in length. Responses, however, should be detailed enough to give the admissions committee a thorough understanding of the applicant's background and motivations for pursuing this particular program.
Personal statements should address the following questions:
Why are you interested in this particular DrPH program?
Why do you care about the public’s health?
Students in this program will learn as much from each other as they will from faculty and guests. What will other students learn from you?
What are your career goals? Be as specific as possible.
What has been your most significant professional leadership accomplishment to date? Please explain.
What are some risks you've taken in your career?
What is the biggest disappointment or failure you've had in your career? What did you learn from this experience?
Anything else you would like to tell us about your background, personality, work style, or other points?
For each position on the résumé or CV, provide the job title, employing agency, dates employed, and responsibilities held. Indicate any additional strengths or skills such as fluency in foreign languages, research experience, teaching experience, community service, and demonstration of leadership skills. Include professional certifications, honors, and awards.
Official post-secondary transcripts from all U.S. institutions attended must be sent directly from the institutions to SOPHAS. This includes previous study at Indiana University.
It is strongly recommended that all transcripts be submitted no later than 15 days before the application deadline to allow SOPHAS adequate time to verify transcripts. Please note it can take up to four weeks for transcripts to be verified. Transcripts must be sent from institution in the institutions sealed envelope directly to SOPHAS.
World Education Services (WES) ICAP course-by-course evaluation for all post-secondary foreign institutions attended.
Please note: U.S. applicants who studied at foreign institutions as part of a study abroad experience at their U.S. college or university, do not need to provide a WES evaluation of their study abroad coursework.
International applicants
Applicants who have attended post-secondary institutions outside of the U.S. are also required to submit the following supporting documentation to SOPHAS with their application:
World Education Services (WES) ICAP evaluation of foreign academic credentials
The Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health requires all applicants with foreign academic credentials to provide a World Education Services (WES) ICAP course-by-course evaluation of those credentials. Applicants should submit their transcripts to WES at least one month in advance of the application deadline to ensure that the evaluation is completed in time.
Through special arrangements with SOPHAS, WES will deliver its credential evaluation report directly to SOPHAS by secure electronic transmission. This expedites the delivery of the evaluation report—as well as images of the applicant’s verified transcripts—to SOPHAS and allows SOPHAS to process the report most efficiently.
U.S. applicants who have attended post-secondary institutions outside of the U.S. as part of a study-abroad program at a U.S. college or university, do not need to provide a WES evaluation of their foreign coursework as long as it is noted on their U.S. transcript.
Please note: Upon admission to IUPUI, international students will be required to provide the Indiana University Office of International Affairs with original transcripts from all universities attended in the U.S. and abroad.
Applicants will need to submit three letters of recommendation. Letters should be from qualified individuals who can comment on the applicant's leadership abilities. Qualified individuals include supervisors and colleagues who can provide a critical assessment of the applicant's abilities. It is preferred that letters of recommendation come from professional sources rather than academic references.
All finalists for admission to the DrPH program will be interviewed via distance by representatives of the admissions committee. At the point in time when finalists have been identified, they will be contacted by the program to find a convenient date and time for the interview.
The Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health requires applicants whose native language is not English or whose academic study was done exclusively at non-English speaking institutions to prove English proficiency by providing either official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. Scores must be under two years old.
Applicants who reside in the U.S. at the time of application must submit TOEFL, ILETS, or IUPUI EAP (English for Academic Purposes) exam scores.
Applicants who are admitted with TOEFL score of 100 and IELTS score of 7.5 will not require any additional English test or courses.
Applicants who are admitted and do not meet TOEFL score of 100 or IELTS score of 7.5, must also enroll and successfully complete ENG-G 513 Academic Writing Grad Students through IUPUI during Summer Session II. This course is completely online and designed to meet the academic writing needs of ESL graduate students.
The USMLE and ECFMG do not fulfill the required proof of English proficiency when applying to this program. Applicants who have passed the USMLE or ECFMG must also submit TOEFL, IELTS or EAP Scores.
SOPHAS applicants
SOPHAS applicants should use the following designations:
TOEFL scores to SOPHAS using the following designation DI Code 5688.
IELTS scores can be uploaded electronically to SOPHAS and official copy sent to IUPUI School Code 1325.
You may apply online to our DrPH in Global Health Leadership program via SOPHAS, the centralized Schools of Public Health Application Service.
Remember to designate the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health as one of your school choices along with your desired program.
We'll notify you by email once your application has been received. If you have questions about the application process, or about the DrPH program, contact Shawne Mathis at snmathis@iu.edu.
Note: All applications must be verified by SOPHAS prior to the deadline to be guaranteed review by the DrPH admissions committee. Applications that are not verified by the deadline are not guaranteed review. Applications take four to five weeks to be verified by SOPHAS. We recommend submitting your application to SOPHAS no later than one month prior to the deadline.
Upon offer of admission, applicants will need to complete the IU Graduate CAS, a secondary application, by using the coupon code and link provided with the admission offer. The IU Graduate CAS application resembles the SOPHAS application. To apply, unofficial transcripts earned at bachelor's, master's, or doctorate-granting institutions must be uploaded.
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