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Community Health:

Master of Public Health

Assess community needs. Develop innovative solutions. Implement impactful programs and policies. Focus on prevention. Build stronger, healthier communities.

MPH Admissions

Applications for Fall 2025 Admissions Open August 16, 2024


Early Deadline: November 15, 2024

Final Deadline: February 15, 2025


The Master of Public Health program is offered by the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Our admissions committee uses a holistic application review process. The MPH program welcomes anyone to apply who meets the criteria listed below. We expect to notify applicants within 4-6 weeks after each application deadline has passed.

Due to the structure of the program curriculum and the importance of cohort learning, the Master of Public Health program only accepts applications for Fall term intake. We do not have spring or Summer intake start dates.

Apply here!

*Note, students interested in joint degrees (MUP-MPH, PhD-MPH) must apply to both programs directly through Illinois, rather than through SOPHAS

Admissions Requirements:

  • A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college in the United States or a comparable degree from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad, or its equivalent
  • A grade point average of 3.0 out of 4.0, or comparable GPA for an international applicant, for the last two years of undergraduate study
  • International applicants must meet minimum requirements based on their country of origin
  • All required application materials

For more details on minimum requirements, visit the Illinois Graduate College website.

Required Application Materials:


Applying for the MPH program is easy! All materials below will be submitted through the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS).

SOPHAS Application

All the items below must be completed, and the application must be verified, online through the SOPHAS application. For assistance with the SOPHAS application, please review the SOHPAS application instructions.


Academic Credentials

Applicants must upload their academic credentials (transcripts, marksheets, certificates of degree, etc.) as required by the SOPHAS portal. For the application review process, applicants do not need to submit official academic credentials. Unofficial or scanned credentials are acceptable. If admitted, applicants will be required to submit official credentials.

  • Uploaded credentials must include applicant's name, institution name, and a transcript legend, grade scale, or grade criteria
  • For domestic degrees, applicant transcripts must have the degree awarded information and the date the degree was conferred
  • For international degrees, applicants must include the certificate of degree. The SOPHAS application portal requires credential evaluations (such as WES) to be included in your application. See International Applicants for more details. 
  • If applicants have not yet completed their undergraduate degree at the time of application, our admissions committee will review the applicant's application based on the in-progress transcripts uploaded

For help sending your transcripts to SOPHAS, use this link from their Applicant Help Center.


Resume

A detailed resume must be submitted to SOPHAS for admission consideration. While experience is not required, previous health and/or administration experience is beneficial to the application, as it will be considered by the admission committee. Please limit resume to 1-2 pages.

Applicant's professional resume should include: personal information, educational background, work experience (start and end dates for each position and brief description of responsibilities), internship experience (start and end dates and brief description of responsibilities), educational training, professional associations, leadership experience.


Personal Statement/Essay

All applicants will be required to respond to a series of short personal statements. Exact essay prompts can be found within the application. Each short personal statements should be a maximum of 1,500 characters (roughly 250-500 words). 


Letters of Recommendation

The MPH program requires three letters of recommendation. At least one letter must be from a professor or instructor who can attest to the applicant’s capability to pursue graduate studies. The admission review committee prefers, if possible, that this letter come from a professor/instructor who taught the applicant within their final 60 credit hours. 

The other letters may come from academic or professional sources who can speak to the applicant's educational endeavors, work history, internship experience, and/or team building and leadership skills. Those applying to the Epidemiology tract should make sure their recommender can attest to the applicant's quantitative, analytical or research team building and leadership skills.

Individuals who received a degree two or more years ago may submit a professional reference in place of an academic reference if desired.


English Proficiency Scores

International applicants only. If you are a non-native English speaker or do not meet one of the Graduate College's exemptions, you will need to uploaded your English language proficiency scores. All scores myst be dated within two years of the beginning of the proposed admission term. See link for full guidelines.

Applicants will be required to self-report scores in HAMPCAS Application:

  • Minimum TOEFL score for application review and admissions is 103
  • Minimum IELTS score for application review and admission is 7.5

Optional Application Materials:

Graduate Records Examination (GRE):

The MPH program does not require GRE scores to be submitted with application materials. If an applicant has taken the GRE and wishes to include the official scores with their application materials, they are more than welcome.

Optional Essay:

Applicants can use this to address any concerns with their application profile or highlight anything not discussed in other areas of the application (i.e., unusual grades in transcript).

Optional Statement of Financial Need:

The Master of Public Health strives to offer its students an excellent educational experience at a competitive tuition rate. Because we pass cost savings onto students through low tuition, we have limited scholarship opportunities available. If an applicant wishes to be considered for a partial scholarship, they would need to include this statement with their application materials. Specific prompt requests can be found within the SOPHAS application.

Contact Information

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