Master of Public Health in Public Health Data Science (MPH)

1. See SOPHAS website for complete checklist of SOPHAS steps as not all are listed here.

2. Applicants will enter all coursework information into SOPHAS and submit an official transcript to SOPHAS.
Admitted students who choose to enroll at UNC Gillings will be required to submit another official transcript showing degree awarded to the UNC Graduate School. Applicants who attended a foreign school or earned their degree outside of the United States must submit a course-by-course evaluation through World Evaluation Services (WES) along with their transcript to SOPHAS. A WES evaluated transcript is not an acceptable substitute for an official transcript.

3. Upload a statement of purpose.
Applicants must respond to the following questions without exceeding 1500 words:

• Why are you interested in pursuing a Master of Public Health degree and how will this prepare you for your career?
• How have the previous work and volunteer experiences led you to apply to the MPH?
• Racism has been identified as a public health crisis by the American Public Health Association. How do you plan to be actively antiracist and use your public health training to interrupt systems of oppression, discrimination and abuse that exists where you study, live, and work?
• Please explain why you are interested in applying to your first-choice concentration and second choice concentration (if applicable).

4. Provide the names and contact information for 3 recommenders. SOPHAS will then send them an email with instructions for submitting a letter on your behalf:

• 3 academic and/or professional letters of recommendations are required.

5. Report test scores, if applicable, to SOPHAS.

GRE scores are neither required nor reviewed for applicants to the Master of Public Health program.

International applicants must submit official TOEFL or IELTS standardized test scores. Two requests are needed for TOEFL/IELTS scores; one to be sent to SOPHAS and a second to be sent to UNC. Code 5688 routes to SOPHAS only, and code 5816 routes to UNC. TOEFL/IELTS scores must be no more than two years old.

6. Send official transcripts from every institution attended directly to SOPHAS. Do not mail these to UNC.

Once admitted, students who choose to enroll at UNC Gillings will be required to submit an official transcript to the UNC Graduate School showing degree awarded.

7. Check SOPHAS portal to track progress.
Applicants should check the SOPHAS portal to ensure that all required documents have been received by SOPHAS.

8. Do NOT apply to UNC Gillings via The Graduate School application until receiving an email with instructions for accessing the supplemental application.

1. Once the SOPHAS application has been received by UNC, an email with instructions for completing the UNC Graduate School supplemental application will be sent to the applicant. This usually takes a few business days.

Although the Graduate School application will import some information from SOPHAS, applicants will be asked to answer residency and honor code questions, upload a copy of their unofficial transcript(s) and pay the application fee. Applicants only need to provide required information and should not change the program/degree information. This  supplemental application usually requires less than 30 minutes to complete.

2. Applicants do NOT need to enter recommender information, upload a CV/resume or add a personal statement to the UNC Graduate School supplemental application as this information is provided through the SOPHAS application.

1. Concentration(s) review the application and recommend a decision:
Time-to-decision varies. Applicants who choose to apply to two concentrations will be required to rank them as their first and second choices. An applicant will only be reviewed by their second choice concentration if they are denied by their first choice concentration. Concentrations make recommendations to the UNC Graduate School for admitting and denying applicants. Final decisions are rendered by the UNC Graduate School.

2. UNC Graduate School reviews concentration recommendations and renders a final decision:
UNC will not render a decision until both the SOPHAS and UNC Graduate School applications are completed. The UNC Graduate School reviews all admissions recommendations made by programs. Once final decisions have been made, the UNC Graduate School will send the applicant an email instructing them to login to their application portal to see the decision letter.

When estimating costs, please visit the UNC Cashier’s Office and use the Graduate and Professional Program Tuition and Fees link. Please note that the tuition and fees of graduate programs at Gillings vary from other graduate programs at UNC.

Gillings departments and concentrations consider both domestic and international applicants for funding. Please see below for helpful tips and resources:

1. Applicants are encouraged to apply before the priority deadline to be eligible for UNC Graduate School scholarships and fellowships. Departments and concentrations will decide which applicants to nominate. No additional application is required.

2. Please refer to our School’s Costs and Funding page and/or UNC-Chapel Hill’s Office of Scholarships and Student Aid (OSSA) website.

3. Apply for FEDERAL financial aid by March 1 (please verify this date via FAFSA). If you have been admitted and completed the FAFSA form by their deadline, the UNC Office of Scholarship and Student Aid will create a financial aid package for you.

4. Departments and concentrations contact admitted students regarding award packages throughout the admissions cycle, but most commonly in March. Occasionally, additional funding will become available later in the cycle and students may hear in April, or possibly into the summer months.

5. Admitted students are encouraged to consider applying for assistantships across the UNC campus. Many assistantships provide tuition assistance, student fees, health insurance, and a stipend. Many student positions at Gillings are posted here. The UNC Graduate School also provides resources for funding, including a listserv for incoming and current students, here.