Apply Now | PhD in Health Policy and Management

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Health Policy and Management PhD program at the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health is based on completion of a baccalaureate degree, although it is anticipated that many applicants will have completed a post-baccalaureate degree in public health or other health-related discipline.

Online Application Steps

You may apply to our Health Policy and Management PhD program online 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.

The application deadline for Fall admission is May 1, 2018 (April 1, 2018 for international students). Applications will be reviewed as they are received. The deadline to receive priority for financial support is December 31, 2017.

Apply to the Indiana University Supplemental Application.

Supporting Documentation

In addition to completing the SOPHAS application, you are also required to submit the following supporting documentation directly to SOPHAS:

  • Statement of Purpose and Objectives: Provide an essay of approximately 750 words describing your past education, experience, and current professional career objectives. You are encouraged to comment on any or all of the following: plans you have to use your education and training; the needs and/or challenges you perceive as important in your field of study; and, any personal qualities, characteristics, and skills you believe will enable you to be successful in your chosen field of study.
  • Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • 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.

    For regular mail, please send your transcript to:
    SOPHAS
    P.O. Box 9111
    Watertown, MA 02471-9111

    For Overnight Delivery ONLY :
    SOPHAS
    c/o Liaison International
    311 Arsenal Street
    Watertown, MA 02472
    Phone: 617-612-2090
     
  • 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.
  • Three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to assess your academic work; clinical, public health, or professional experiences; or, leadership potential in public health. These letters should be from professional sources who can provide an unbiased, current and critical assessment of your abilities, skills, strengths and weaknesses related to successfully completing a doctoral program.
  • Sample of scholarly writing – Applicants must submit an electronic copy of a course paper or published article in which the applicant is the sole author. This document can be uploaded to your SOPHAS application.
  • GRE test scores – GRE or other graduate entrance exam scores are required for all applicants. In addition to the GRE, the Health Policy and Management PhD program also accepts scores from the MCAT, LSAT, GMAT, DAT. However, testing services other than the ETS (GRE) may not submit scores directly to the SOPHAS system. If your testing service does not submit scores to SOPHAS, you can have them sent directly to IUPUI.
  • Test Score Waiver – If you have a graduate or professional degree from an accredited U.S. institution, you may request a waiver for the test score requirement. (Please contact fsphinfo@iupui.edu to obtain information contained in this document in an accessible format.) This form can be uploaded to the SOPHAS application or emailed to Shawne Mathis, snmathis@iu.edu.

Please Note: If you have a graduate or professional degree from an accredited U.S. institution, you may request a waiver for the test score requirement. (E-mail Shawne Mathis) If you plan to attend the PhD program as a full-time funded student, you are strongly encouraged to submit GRE scores with your application, since some funding sources require current GRE scores (less than 5 years old) in order for students to be eligible.

Recommendations

You should submit at least THREE letters of recommendation from persons qualified to assess your academic work; clinical, public health, or professional experiences; or, leadership potential in public health. These letters should be from professional sources who can provide an unbiased, current and critical assessment of your abilities, skills, strengths and weaknesses related to successfully completing a doctoral program. Examples of sources that are not acceptable include co-workers, colleagues, classmates, family acquaintances or relatives.

  • Letters of recommendation should be submitted electronically through the online application. The online application asks applicants to supply e-mail addresses for their referees.
  • Upon submission of the application, the system automatically sends recommendation forms to the referees.
  • After completing the form, referees should return them to the IUPUI Graduate Office via e-mail. They have the option of attaching a letter if they wish.

Submission of Documents

In addition to completing the SOPHAS application, you are also required to submit the following supporting documentation directly to SOPHAS:

  • Official transcript from all colleges and universities attended (except those from Indiana University. The department can access your IU transcript electronically).
  • A copy of your current resume or CV.
  • Scores on the GRE, MCAT, LSAT, GMAT, DAT or other graduate entrance exam.
  • TOEFL score for applicants whose native language is not English.
  • Sample of scholarly writing – Applicants must submit an electronic copy of a course paper or published article in which the applicant is the sole author.

Transcript

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.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

GRE or other graduate entrance exam scores are required for applicants who do not have a graduate or professional degree from an accredited U.S. institution. In addition to the GRE, the Health Policy and Management PhD program also accepts scores from the MCAT, LSAT, GMAT, DAT. However, testing services other than ETS (GRE) may not submit scores directly to the SOPHAS system. If your testing service does not submit scores to SOPHAS, you can have them sent directly to IUPUI.

Please Note: If you have a graduate or professional degree from an accredited U.S. institution, you may request a waiver for the test score requirement. (E-mail Shawne Mathis, snmathis@iu.edu) If you plan to attend the PhD program as a full-time funded student, you are strongly encouraged to submit GRE scores with your application, since some funding sources require current GRE scores (less than 5 years old) in order for students to be eligible.

World Education Services (WES)

ICAP course-by-course evaluation for all post-secondary foreign institutions attended. Go to our International Applicants web page for more information.

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.

On-site Interview Steps

In-person interview: Applicants will be invited to participate in an in-person interview with several members of the Admissions Committee. Alternative arrangements can be made for applicants unable to be interviewed on-site.

Completion of an on-site essay: Applicants participating in the interview process may be asked to write a short essay on a specific topic assigned to them using Microsoft Word. The purpose of this step is to allow the Admissions Committee to assess the applicant's English writing skills.

Review of Applications

Completed applications will be carefully reviewed by the Health Policy and Management PhD Admissions Committee after the program deadline. The Admissions Committee will determine each applicant’s acceptance or non-acceptance to the Health Policy and Management PhD program by using the following selection criteria:

  • Scientific Leadership Potential: Assessed by the applicant’s resume/CV, personal statement, and personal interview.
  • Ability to Engage in Advanced Graduate Work: Assessed by the applicant’s personal interview, evaluation of letters of recommendation, overall grade point average in prior graduate work, and scores from the GRE or other graduate entrance exams.
  • Learning Goals and Objectives: Assessed by the applicant’s personal statement and personal interview.

Helpful Websites

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 1 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. Go to www.wes.org/sophas/ for more information.

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 US and abroad.

Proof of English Proficiency

Applicants whose native language is not English or whose academic study was done exclusively at non-English speaking institutions, must 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 less than two years old.

The preferred minimum English language test scores for admission to the Fairbanks School of Public Health are:

  • Internet-based TOEFL: minimum score of 92
  • Computer-based TOEFL: minimum score of 263
  • Paper-based TOEFL: minimum score of 620
  • IELTS (total band score): minimum score of 7

SOPHAS Applicants

SOPHAS applicants should use the following designations:

  • TOEFL – DI Code: 5688 – SOPHAS  
  • IELTS - Association of Schools of Public Health (SOPHAS)

English Language Test Waiver

The English Language test requirement may be waived if an applicant has earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from the U.S. or other English-speaking country. For more information, visit (http://iapply.iupui.edu/english-speaking-countries/).