IMPORTANT NOTE(S):

See program details in GPS for requirements such as prequisites, prior degree, work experience, any test score waivers, as well as a tuition estimate and program overview.

• All UNC Gillings applications for graduate-level programs fall under the purview of the UNC Graduate School. Accordingly, you will apply to UNC Gillings via the Graduate School Application, and UNC Gillings programs will make admissions recommendations to the UNC Graduate School for final approval.
  Once a recommendation is finalized, you will receive notice via email from the UNC Graduate School. Throughout the process, most of your questions can be answered by your program contact.

• NOTE: To be considered for UNC Graduate School scholarships, apply before priority deadline.

Faculty interest(s)/mentor(s)

• We do not require that you list faculty who support your application. Such information is not considered in the admissions process. You are asked to list faculty with whom you'd like to work; this information can be helpful to the admissions committee.

Applicant information,  including North Carolina residency information.

Area(s) of interest

• Select up to three (3) areas of interest from the dropdown.

Educational history

• Please upload a copy of your most recent transcript(s), including your current term grades, if applicable. (If grades are not yet available, send them to the UNC Gillings program contact as soon as they become available.) Be sure the transcript reflects the name of the institution and any degrees you received.
• We advise that you order two copies of your transcript(s) to be sent to you.
  • If you are admitted and choose to enroll, UNC will require official transcript(s) showing degree(s) awarded.

Community standards

You will be asked about honor code, crime, academic sanction, military discharge, etc.

Upload your personal statement.

• All applicants should write an essay of 1000 words or less. The essay is a critical piece of the admissions process. We will evaluate both the content of the essay and your writing skills in considering your application. Applicants should include any additional information about their interests, prior background or special circumstances which may be helpful to the Admissions Committee in evaluation of the application. In this essay, please address the following questions:
• • What is it about epidemiology that appeals to you?
  • What have you done to prepare yourself for training in epidemiology?
  • How will you use your training in epidemiology?
  • What area(s) within epidemiology do you wish to emphasize and why?

Upload your resume or CV.

Enter names of recommenders. UNC will then send them an email with instructions for submitting a letter on your behalf. We encourage references from professors or teachers (or teaching assistants) or work/research supervisors who have worked directly and closely with you and who can speak about you with specificity.

• • 3 (academic and/or professional)

Report test scores to SOPHAS.

GRE scores are neither required nor typically recommended for applicants to the PhD Program program.

International applicants must submit official TOEFL or IELTS standardized test scores. GRE code 0311 routes to both SOPHAS and UNC. You will need to make two requests for TOEFL/IELTS scores to be sent to SOPHAS and UNC. Code 5688 routes to SOPHAS only, and code 5816 routes to UNC.. TOEFL/IELTS scores must be no more than two years old.

Document submission (check legibility of uploads)

Pay the Graduate School application fee.

Track your progress.

• You will be able to track status through the Graduate School application. Once a decision is made, you will receive an email instructing login to the Graduate School application portal to see the decision letter.

Check out our Costs and Funding page.

Note priority deadline to be eligible for UNC Graduate School scholarships and fellowships. Departments will decide which applicants to nominate. No additional application required.

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

Department funding

• Our department contacts incoming students regarding funding opportunities.
• We consider all applicants for funding.

• See Epidemiology's funding opportunities webpage.

SPH application review:

• Interview

  • Interviews are not required. However, they can be helpful to the admissions committee if you're in the area. See the Schedule a Visit tab on our Applicant Central page for more information.

• Department recommendation will be sent to the Graduate School for final approval.

UNC Graduate School application review and final decision:

• The UNC Graduate School reviews all admissions recommendations made by programs. Once final decisions have been made, the Graduate School will send you an email instructing login to the Graduate School application portal to see the decision letter.
• Most recommendations are sent to the Graduate School by March 1.

NOTE: Financial aid is separate from the admissions process. For more information, please refer to our School's Costs and Funding page and/or UNC-Chapel Hill's Office of Scholarships and Student Aid (OSSA) website.