Population Health PhD FAQs
Population Health PhD FAQs
A list of admission FAQs are below. If your question is not answered, feel free to contact us at phsphd@hsc.utah.edu.
Prospective students should also review the following resources:
Program at a Glance
Application opens: August 1
Application deadline: December 15 (submission by December 1 recommended)
Program start: Fall semester only
Program format: Full-time, in-person
Credits required: 53
Typical time to completion: 4-6 years
GRE: Not required
Master's degree: Not required, but preferred
Funding available: Yes, for many admitted students
Funding consideration: Automatic with application
International applicants eligible: Yes
Application fee: $55 domestic, $65 international
The Population Health Sciences (PHS) PhD program at the University of Utah prepares students to conduct rigorous research that improves population health. Our program focuses on the biostatistical and research methods needed to improve health and the interaction between the patient and the health system. There are many complementary themes and collaborations with programs that cross public health, epidemiology, and population health sciences, math, economics, and public policy.
Students complete the program within one of three emphases: Biostatistics, Clinical & Translational Epidemiology (CTE), or Health Systems Research (HSR).
These emphases are associated with the Divisions of Biostatistics, Cancer Population Sciences, and Health System Innovation and Research, respectively. Applicants use the same application portal regardless of emphasis. There are no separate applications for individual emphases. Each emphasis has a shared core curriculum as well as required and elective courses for each emphasis.
Applicants should select the emphasis that best aligns with their research interests, career goals, and academic preparation. The three emphases share a common foundation in population health sciences but differ in their methodological focus, coursework, and faculty expertise. Reviewing faculty research interests and curriculum requirements for each emphasis can help determine the best fit.
Applicants may select only one emphasis when they apply. If you are uncertain which emphasis is the best fit, we encourage you to review the curriculum and faculty research areas.
No. Applicants are not required to secure support from or contact a faculty member before submitting an application. Applications are reviewed centrally by the admissions committee, and faculty mentorship relationships are established through the admissions process and further developed during doctoral training.
Prospective students are welcome to review faculty profiles and research interests before applying. Applicants are encouraged to identify faculty whose work aligns with their interests and discuss those connections in their personal statement, but prior contact with faculty is not required for admission consideration.
Note on funding: Our program does not require students to identify funding before applying. During our admissions process we match strong candidates with a potential funder and have them interview together before offering admissions. While funding cannot be guaranteed, the department's goal is to identify funding opportunities for all admitted students.
No. Your research dissertation topic can be developed with your faculty mentor and your supervisory committee during the first two years of the program.
A master’s degree is preferred but not required for admission. While most students admitted to the program have earned a master’s degree before beginning their PhD studies, applicants with only a bachelor’s degree are also eligible to apply and have been admitted to the program. Applicants with exceptional academic preparation, research experience, and quantitative training may be competitive with only a bachelor's degree. Admissions decisions are based on the overall strength of an applicant’s academic preparation, research experience, and fit with the program rather than on degree level alone.
The HSR and CTE emphases require a graduate-level biostatistics course with a grade of B or better. The Biostatistics emphasis requires Calculus III (or three semesters of calculus) and Linear Algebra, each with a grade of B or better. Equivalent coursework from accredited institutions may satisfy these requirements.
Applicants who are missing one or more prerequisites are still welcome to apply. In some circumstances, admission may be contingent upon completion of prerequisite coursework before enrollment. Coursework completed through accredited institutions, extension programs, or equivalent university courses may satisfy prerequisite requirements. Individual situations are reviewed during the admissions process.
The program welcomes applicants from a variety of backgrounds related to population health research. Strong quantitative training may be particularly relevant for the Biostatistics emphasis, while public health, clinical, epidemiologic, health systems, or other research-oriented backgrounds may be appropriate depending on an applicant's intended emphasis and research interests.
Master’s degree programs that include graduate level courses in statistical inference, commonly used approaches to analysis of population health data (e.g. regression, survival analysis) basic skills in statistics analysis programming, and epidemiology are ideal. A master’s degree in statistics, public health, epidemiology, or clinical sciences, economics, public policy, health policy, sociology, and math may be appropriate. Individual assessments of coursework that satisfy prerequisites will occur during the admissions process.
Successful applicants to the program have earned a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees. The examples below represent degrees held by previously admitted students. These examples are intended to illustrate the diversity of academic backgrounds represented among admitted students and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive list of acceptable degrees. An asterisk (*) indicates that at least one student was admitted with only the listed bachelor’s degree and did not hold a master’s degree.
Biostatistics
- Bachelor’s Degrees
- Accounting
- Biology
- Economics
- Finance
- Information Systems*
- Mathematics*
- Nursing
- Preventive Medicine
- Quantitative Science
- Statistics*
- Master’s Degrees
- Applied Statistics
- Biomedical Informatics
- Biostatistics
- Mathematics
- Public Health
- Statistics
Clinical and Translational Epidemiology
- Bachelor’s Degrees
- Biochemistry and Physiology
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Exercise Science
- Health, Society, and Policy
- Microbiology*
- Molecular Biology
- Nutritional Sciences
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Psychology
- Master’s Degrees
- Applied Statistics
- Clinical Investigation
- Counseling Psychology
- Health and Exercise Science
- Nutrition and Integrative Physiology
- Public Health
- Emphasis in Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Emphasis in Global Epidemiology
- Doctoral Degrees
- Pharmacy (PharmD)
Health Systems Research
Bachelor’s Degrees
- Anthropology
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Exercise and Sports Science
- General Psychology
- International Health
- Mathematics
- Nutrition Sciences*
- Psychology and Communication Studies
- Zoology
Master’s Degrees
- Healthcare Administration
- Human Genetics
- Physician Assistant Studies
- Psychometrics
- Public Health
- Emphasis in Epidemiology
- Emphasis in Health Policy and Clinical Practice
- Public Policy
Doctoral Degrees
- Business Administration (DBA)
- Physical Therapy (DPT)
Prospective students are welcome to contact the PHS Education Team at phsphd@hsc.utah.edu.
Please email before visiting our office. Many faculty and staff members have research, teaching, clinical, and administrative responsibilities that make unscheduled drop-in visits difficult to accommodate. By contacting us in advance, we can help schedule an appointment, connect you with the appropriate person, and ensure your questions are addressed efficiently.
The application opens each year on August 1 for admission the following Fall. The application deadline for all applicants is December 15. International applicants are encouraged to submit their applications by December 1 to allow sufficient time for processing.
No. The PHS PhD program does not require or consider GRE, GMAT, MCAT, or other standardized test scores as part of the admissions review process.
- Strong academic preparation relevant to their intended emphasis
- Meaningful research experience
- Evidence of quantitative preparation relevant to their emphasis
- Clear research interests and career goals
- Strong written communication skills demonstrated through applicant-authored materials
- Strong letters of recommendation
- Clear alignment between their interests and faculty research areas
There is no minimum amount of research experience required for admission. However, competitive applicants typically demonstrate meaningful engagement in research through academic projects, employment, publications, presentations, theses, capstone projects, research assistantships, or other scholarly activities. The admissions committee considers both the quality and relevance of an applicant's experience rather than any single metric.
Not all applicants are interviewed. However, applicants being considered for certain funding opportunities may be invited to meet with faculty mentors or funding sources as part of the admissions review process.
Submitted applications with a paid application fee are first reviewed by the University of Utah Office of Graduate Admissions for completeness. Keep an eye on your email, because this office will email you if they need clarification or updated documents.
After the Office of Admissions clears an application for departmental review, it is reviewed by the PHS Education Team and sent to at least two members of the department’s emphasis-specific admissions committees for review. After initial reviews by these members, applications are considered in several stages of committee review. Final funding and mentorship matches may also be considered during this process. After the committee determines that an applicant would be a good fit, the admissions committee and education team work on finding a potential suitable funder and mentor. If applicants are invited to interview, this will occur virtually during February, March, or April. We will send out offers of admission in March and April. You will also receive an email from us if we decide not to move forward with your application. Because multiple rounds of review occur between December and April, applicants should not interpret a lack of communication as an indication of their admissions status.
Applications receive holistic review by the emphasis-specific admissions committee. Factors considered may include academic preparation, prerequisite coursework, research experience, letters of recommendation, personal statement, alignment with program strengths, and available mentorship and funding opportunities. No single component determines admission.
We generally send initial offers to successful applicants at the end of March. When applicable, we send second-round offers in mid-April. Occasionally, we are able to send additional offers into early May. All applicants should hear back about their application by the end of May.
Yes. Applicants who are not admitted may apply again in a future cycle. We encourage reapplicants to strengthen their applications through additional coursework, research experience, publications, professional experience, or other relevant training.
Yes. The department aims to provide funding opportunities to both domestic and international admitted students through graduate research assistantships. Funding availability depends on departmental and faculty resources and is determined during each admissions cycle.
Applicants to the program are automatically considered for available funding opportunities. In most cases, the program only extends offers of admission when an appropriate funding source has been identified, unless an applicant indicates an intention to self-fund their doctoral studies in their application. As part of the admissions process, some applicants may be matched with potential faculty funders and invited to participate in an interview focused on research fit and mentorship alignment.
Research assistantships generally include:
Annual stipend of approximately $33,000 to $41,000 for a 12-month contract
- The actual rate is dependent on annual budget and whether the student works 20 or 40 hours per week during Summer.
Tuition Benefit Program (TBP) enrollment (subject to university policies)
- TBP covers tuition and fees with some exceptions.
Graduate Student Health Insurance (GSHIP)
- GSHIP covers the premium for medical, dental, and vision insurance.
A 0.50 FTE Research Assistantship position (approximately 20 hours per week)
- Some students may have the option to work for 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week) during the 3 months of Summer.
We offer admitted students funding for up to 4 years. Continued funding depends on satisfactory academic progress, employment performance, mentor funding availability, and university policies. Should your research trajectory require additional time, extensions beyond the initial four-year window may be granted based on the availability of funds and at the discretion of the funder.
No. Applicants do not need to submit additional funding applications. All applicants are automatically considered for available funding opportunities as part of the admissions process. Applicants who do not require funding should also note that in their application.
The PHS PhD is a full-time doctoral program. Students are expected to devote substantial time to coursework, research activities, and academic milestones.
Applicants who intend to maintain full-time employment while enrolled should understand that the program offers limited flexibility and that all students are expected to meet the same academic and progress requirements. Students who retain full-time employment are generally not eligible for department-funded research assistantships.
Please note that employees of the University of Utah who work at least 0.75 FTE may be eligible for the University’s Tuition Reduction program.
In addition to research assistantships, students may be eligible for university and external fellowship opportunities. Examples include Graduate School fellowships, dissertation fellowships, travel awards, and nationally competitive funding opportunities. Students work with faculty mentors to identify and pursue appropriate opportunities.
Examples of external fellowships pursued by students may include the AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship, NIH F31 awards (when eligible), University of Utah Graduate Research Fellowship, foundation-supported dissertation funding, and discipline-specific research fellowships.
Yes. International applicants are eligible for consideration for research assistantships through the same admissions review process as domestic applicants. However, some research assistantships may be limited to domestic students due to restrictions associated with the funding source. For example, certain federal grants prohibit the use of grant funds to support international students.
Funding decisions are generally made concurrently with admissions decisions. Applicants selected for consideration for a funded research assistantship may be invited to meet or interview with potential faculty mentors before an offer is finalized.
Applicants should email phsphd@hsc.utah.edu with:
- A brief description of financial need
- Unofficial transcripts
- A draft personal statement that includes research interests, or A brief description of research interests
Applicants who meet academic requirements and whose interests align with departmental research areas may be provided with a fee waiver code.
Applicants should submit unofficial transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended as part of their application. Students admitted to the program will subsequently be required to submit official transcripts.
The program requires three letters of recommendation. Academic references are preferred, although one professional reference may be included. Tailored letters that describe an applicant’s research experience, strengths, and alignment with the PHS PhD program are more helpful to the admissions committee than general letters that simply offer a positive endorsement.
Applicants provide the names and contact information of three recommenders within the application system. Recommenders are then contacted directly and provided with instructions to upload their recommendations. Applicants may monitor recommendation status through the Application Status Portal.
Applicants should describe their research interests and experience, academic preparation, career goals, and how the PHS program aligns with those goals. Applicants may also discuss salient lived experiences that have shaped their research interests, preparation for doctoral study, or long-term goals. Discussing potential research areas and relevant faculty interests may also be helpful.
The University of Utah accepts several methods of demonstrating English proficiency, including TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo English Test scores. Additional qualifying methods may also be accepted by the Office of Admissions.
The University's minimum requirements are:
- TOEFL iBT: 80
- Duolingo English Test: 110
- IELTS: 6.5
Official scores must be submitted by the testing agency prior to the December 15th application deadline.
English proficiency requirements are administered by the Office of Admissions, not the PHS Department. Applicants should review the University's English proficiency policies for all accepted methods of demonstrating proficiency. If you have questions about your eligibility for a waiver of proof of English proficiency, please direct your question to the Graduate Admissions Office at graduate@utah.edu.
No. International applicants are not required to submit a transcript evaluation, such as WES, as part of the application process.
Yes. If a transcript is not issued in English, applicants should submit both the original document and a certified English translation.
Yes. International applicants are eligible for consideration for research assistantships through the same admissions review process as domestic applicants. However, some research assistantships may be limited to domestic students due to restrictions associated with the funding source. For example, certain federal grants prohibit the use of grant funds to support international students.
Questions related to visas, immigration status, and international student services should be directed to the University of Utah's International Student and Scholar Services office. You may also want to consult the Office of Admissions’ webpage on I-20s.
All students complete a shared 12 credit core curriculum that provides a strong foundation in research design, epidemiology, biostatistics, scientific communication, and population health sciences. In addition to the core curriculum, students complete coursework specific to their emphasis (Biostatistics: 9 credits, CTE: 19 credits, HSR: 10 credits), and elective courses (Biostatistics: 18 credits, CTE: 8 credits, HSR: 17 credits). All students complete 39 credits of course work and 14 credits of dissertation work, for a total of 53 credits.
The curriculum is designed to prepare students to become independent researchers through a combination of coursework, research training, qualifying examinations, dissertation proposal development, and completion of an original doctoral dissertation. Students work closely with faculty mentors throughout the program and gain hands-on experience through research assistantships and collaborative research projects.
Prospective students can review detailed curriculum requirements for each emphasis on the program website.
Most students complete the PhD in 4 or 6 years.
The exact timeline varies based on dissertation progress and individual academic goals. Students typically complete core coursework during the first two years and then focus primarily on dissertation research and writing.
Students are expected to make continuous progress toward degree completion and follow Graduate School and departmental milestone requirements.
No. The Population Health Sciences PhD program is a full-time in-person program. We do not offer online, remote, or periodic attendance. Students are expected to take a minimum of 9 credit hours a semester.
You will be assigned a faculty mentor during the admission process. As your program progresses, you may elect to change your faculty mentor with permission from the faculty involved and the program administration.
Yes. Students frequently collaborate with faculty across divisions, departments, and colleges. Dissertation committees include faculty members from multiple disciplines.
No. Currently there is no master’s degree offered in PHS.
Other departments at the University of Utah offer related master’s degrees:
Graduate credit may be transferred from other institutions according to Graduate School policy. Credits transferred from another institution may be used for only one degree. Up to six semester hours of transfer credit may be applied toward fulfillment of graduate degree requirements if they are of high letter grade (B or higher; ‘credit only’ grades are unacceptable), are recommended by the student’s supervisory committee, and were taken within seven years of semester of admission to the University of Utah.
Yes. You may switch your emphasis once admitted to the program. Switching requires approval from the Director of Graduate Studies, your faculty mentor, and the Graduate School.
Research is a central component of the Population Health Sciences PhD program. Students work closely with faculty mentors on funded research projects and may participate in studies related to health systems improvement, health services research, epidemiology, biostatistics, cancer prevention and control, clinical and translational science, population health measurement, health policy, and other areas of population health sciences.
Research opportunities vary based on faculty interests, available projects, and funding opportunities. Applicants are encouraged to review faculty profiles to learn more about current areas of research.
Most graduates pursue careers in academia, healthcare systems, government agencies, industry, consulting, and nonprofit research organizations. Depending on their emphasis and professional interests, alumni may work as epidemiologists, biostatisticians, health services researchers, health policy analysts, research scientists, faculty members, data scientists, clinical research leaders, or healthcare analytics professionals.
Employers may include universities, healthcare organizations, federal and state agencies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, insurance organizations, consulting firms, and independent research institutes.
Each new cohort of PhD students begins in the Fall semester, and we require students to be on campus in Salt Lake one week prior to the semester’s start. For the Fall 2027 cohort, classes begin on August 23, 2027, and students should be available for orientation activities beginning August 16, 2027.
New students will start their research assistantships and participate in a variety of orientation activities during the week preceding the start of the semester. Students who have accepted an offer of admission should plan to be in Salt Lake City, Utah, in time to attend all required orientation events on the University of Utah campus.
Students moving to Salt Lake City to enter the Fall 2027 cohort should plan to arrive no later than Sunday, August 15, 2027. Arriving earlier is encouraged to allow time to secure housing, become familiar with the area, and settle in before beginning the demands of doctoral study.
Students who will be employed as research assistants and do not yet have a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) are strongly encouraged to arrive at least two weeks before the start of the semester to allow sufficient time to complete hiring and onboarding requirements.
Additional information about orientation, onboarding, and employment will be provided to newly admitted students during June and July 2027.
Still have questions?
Prospective students are encouraged to review the program website, including the Overview, Curriculum, Emphases, Faculty, and Funding pages before contacting the department. If your question is not answered there or in this FAQ, please contact the PHS Education Team at phsphd@hsc.utah.edu with specific details about your situation.
Education Team
Contact Us
Phone: 801-587-1606
Email: phsphd@hsc.utah.edu
Williams Building, Room 1N490
295 Chipeta Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84108