Minimum Admission Requirements
The Ph.D. in Public Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences concentration adheres to the minimum standards set forth by the University of Florida Graduate School, including:
- A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (on a 4-point system) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework based on the semester system.
- A recognized baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution.
- International applicants: English proficiency exam with a minimum TOEFL score of 80 or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5. Visit the UF International Graduate Admissions website for a list of countries that are exempt from this requirement.
- Submission of all required application materials.
- This is a resident program and admitted students are expected move to Gainesville if not already living here.
Application materials
All applicants must submit the following documents:
- UF graduate application
- Transcripts from prior institutions
- International applicants who have received degree from outside of the US and Canada must submit a WES evaluation in lieu of official transcripts.
- WES Evaluation (International Applicants Only): World Education Services (WES) ICAP Course-by-Course evaluation of academic records from institutions outside the U.S. and English-speaking Canada (if applicable) in lieu of official transcripts. Wes.org in lieu of official transcripts. This is a requirement and will not be waived.
- Resume or CV
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- International applicants: TOEFL or IELTS scores
Application Instructions
1. Complete the Graduate School online application and pay the non-refundable $30 application fee.
- Under Program of Study select College of Public Health and Health Professions
- Then select Public Health Degree Name – Doctor of Philosophy
- Select Fall 20XX for the term (no other matriculation terms are available)
- Click “save” and under Additional Information for concentration select Social and Behavioral Sciences
- You may leave the Program Specialization and Department Contact name blank
- Please note:
- Do not leave the self-reported GPA empty
- Keep the username and password that you create in order to log in and edit your application
2. Arrange to have one set of official transcripts from each institution attended sent to the University of Florida (address listed below)
- All international applicants must submit a World Education Services (WES) evaluation in lieu of official transcripts
3. Arrange to have three Letters of Recommendation submitted.
4. Submit a one-page professional Statement of Purpose that outlines your career objectives and details how you believe the philosophy and focus of the program you have selected will help you achieve those goals. You should also indicate your research interests and faculty you are interested in working with. The statement of purpose should not be used to repeat information that is already available on your CV unless it helps to explain why you think our program is a fit for you. The statement should be no longer than one page, single spaced, 11 point font, 1 inch margins.
5. Submit a Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
6. International Students Only: Arrange to have official TOEFL, IELTS, or MELAB scores submitted. The University of Florida’s TOEFL code is 5812.
UF Graduate School Mailing Address
UF Office of Admission
PO Box 114000
Gainesville, FL 32611
Application decisions
Ph.D. faculty members evaluate and rank the applicants. Each evaluation focuses on academic achievement and the applicant’s overall potential for success. Following the initial review, applicants may be invited to participate in an interview. After the interviews, a decision will be made on each applicant.
Admitted students will receive a letter of offer detailing financial assistance and responsibilities on or after April 15.
Program FAQs
Is the GRE required?
No, the GRE is no longer required or considered for admission
How many students are admitted per year?
We typically admit 1-2 students. The number of admitted students can vary based on funding and faculty advisor availability.
Is there financial assistance available?
Yes, within the program we do offer graduate assistantships (GA). GAs will receive tuition coverage (9 credits fall/spring and 6 summer) in addition to a yearly stipend. The student is also expected to complete 20 hours per week as a teaching and/or research assistant.
Do I need to reach out to faculty to secure an advisor prior to applying?
We recommend that you do reach out to faculty prior to applying. You should also identify potential faculty advisors within your application and be assigned a faculty advisor after admission. A faculty advisor is assigned to each student based on mutual research interests and availability and there is no guarantee you will be assigned to your preferred faculty member. Please see this link to view faculty within the SBS concentration:
https://phhp.ufl.edu/academics/phd-and-professional-programs/public-health-phd/phd-public-health-social-and-behavioral-sciences/sbs-faculty-and-staff/
Am I able to request an application waiver for the fee?
Unfortunately, UF does not allow application fee waivers.
Will not having any research experience or publications exclude me from being considered for admissions?
We have a rubric we use to score applicants and students are rated higher based on their previous research experience, publications, presentations, etc., but we are a program that is very strong in both qualitative and quantitative research. Not having research experience/publications will not exclude anyone from being considered, but prospective students are competing against a pool of applicants and those with more research experience will be rated higher among a set of metrics. Non-research public health practice will be considered in lieu of research experiences or publications.
Can I submit my application with unofficial copies of my WES-evaluated transcript as part of my application?
Yes, we will accept unofficial WES-evaluated transcripts, but if you are accepted into the program, we require official transcripts be sent to UF.
Is having an MPH a requirement for admissions?
While having an MPH or related masters is helpful, it is not required. Not having an MPH or related masters will not exclude anyone from being considered. We have a rubric we use to score applicants where they are rated higher based on their previous research experience, publications, presentations, etc.
I am from a non-English speaking country, but I received my master’s degree from a US institution. Am I required to take an English proficiency exam and submit my score as part of my application?
If you received your previous degree at a US-institution, you will be exempt from taking an English proficiency test.
What does employment look like for program graduates?
Our graduates tend to receive multiple offers when searching for employment. Approximately half of our students have gone into academia as post-doctoral fellows and professors while the other half have gone into government work, private sector, public sector, or think tanks/consulting.
Do I have to live in Gainesville while enrolled in the program?
Yes, this is a resident program. Students are expected to move to Alachua County and live here while completing the program. We unfortunately cannot accommodate remote working arrangements as a GA, and the majority of our courses are in-person and not online.
Am I able to continue to work at my full-time job while completing the program?
No, our program is only available full-time and admitted students will be fully funded through a graduate assistantship which requires 20 hours work addition to your coursework.