Admission Requirements

Admissions Criteria:

• Master’s degree or Professional degree, minimum A- average, and 
• Demonstrable evidence of capacity to undertake research at the doctoral level, and 
• Demonstrable experience (minimum 3 years) working or studying in a context relevant to global health. 

Students whose first language is not English must have a minimum TOEFL score of 600 or equivalent. For further information regarding English Language Proficiency requirements please visit the Graduate Admissions website.

Application Requirements and Instructions:

Applications are open from October 15 to December 15 for admission to the subsequent Fall term. Applicants from health and non-health backgrounds, who have experience working or studying in global contexts, and meet the admission requirements, are welcome to apply. Visit How to Apply to begin the process.

The application process is two staged. There may be a 2–10 day waiting period between the first and second stages, hence applicants are recommended to begin the application process no later than December 4.

In the first stage, the following information is collected: name, identity, citizenship, language, address, contact information, demographic information, previous education including names of institutions, degrees, start and end dates, goals for degree (select PhD in Global Health), full/part time study (select full time) and start date (select September/Fall), and evidence of English language proficiency (required if your last degree was earned in a country where English is not the first language, regardless of previous degrees, education, or citizenship). An application fee is also collected (usually C$140, there are no waivers). In the second stage, the documents listed ahead are collected.

1. Transcripts
   Include transcripts from all undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, including completed degrees, incomplete degrees, and degrees in progress.
   • Unofficial copies are acceptable at the time of application; they must be in English or French. Applicants who go on to receive an offer of admission will later be required to submit official transcripts.
     
2. Statement of Interest
   Include a statement attending to the following (up to 1500 words, single-spaced, no bibliography)
   • Personal reflection of your interest, objectives and existing knowledge or capacity for pursuing a PhD in Global Health.
   • Rough outline of your proposed PhD research including relevant thematic interest/s or topic/s, preferred methods and frameworks, and preferred settings and populations.
   • Up to three disciplines you plan to draw upon, and how these can shape your research.
   • Courses or trainings you plan to take, with rationale, aside from the required courses.
   • Briefly, correspondence with a Graduate Program of Global Health Faculty Member regarding PhD supervision (recommended for all applicants, confirmed support required for international applicants), and where applicable, interest and rationale for a cotutelle arrangement.
     
3. Writing Sample
   Include a sample of scholarly written work for which you have been a sole or lead author, and that was developed in an academic or employment context (up to 10 pages, single-spaced).
   
4. Letters of Reference
   Include the contact details of two referees (name, email, position, institution, and department).
   • Academic referees are highly recommended. Minimum 1 academic referee is required, unless your last degree was awarded over 5 years ago.
   • Referees must speak to your experience and interest in global health, and capacity to undertake doctoral-level studies. They will be asked to rate your performance on set indicators (required) and invited to share additional comments (highly recommended).
   • The application portal defaults to three referees, but the School of Global Health will only review the first two references received.
     
5. Curriculum vitae
   Include your qualifications and experiences that are relevant to a PhD in Global Healths (up to 3 pages, single-spaced). The CV must include your:
   • Name
   • Contact information (website, if applicable)
   • Education, including complete degrees, incomplete degrees, and degrees in progress
   • Work experience relevant to global health, including research, professional practice, teaching, voluntary, and other
   • Presentations, publications, and contributions to collective outputs relevant to global health (applicants should specify their role in collective outputs)
   • Other experience or skills relevant to global health
     
6. Supplementary Information
   Complete the supplementary information form, as follows:
   • Awards. Indicate if you have applied or plan to apply for PhD awards, scholarships or other financial aid. International applicants are required to include potential sources of financial aid.
   • Language skills. Indicate your competency in English and, where applicable, other languages.
   • Areas of specialization. Include the same thematic area/s or topic/s that were included in your statement of interest.
   • Supervising professors. Name up to three professors you seek to work with, in order of preference. Minimum 1 professor must be a Faculty Member in the Graduate Program of Global Health. Additional information may be shared within the statement of interest.¹
   • Self-identification statement and description of lived experience. Complete at your discretion.

¹ All applicants are recommended to contact Faculty Members for their research interests, and willingness and availability for supervision prior to submitting an application. Supervisor-supported applications, that is where a Faculty Member confirms willingness to supervise are recommended for all applicants. Supervisor-supported applications are mandatory for international applicants. Supervisory support can be expressed through a letter of reference or a note within the applicant’s statement of interest.