Admissions FAQs

• Official transcripts from any and all institutions required
• Statement of Purpose and Objectives 
• Two letters of recommendation (3 for PhD or DrPH)
• Resumé or CV

International students should view the International Students section of this FAQ for more information, as they are required to provide additional materials.

Since public health is such a broad field, we accept students from all educational backgrounds into our programs. Some departments do have specific prerequisites, which you can find on each department web page.

This is not a requirement for any of our programs. However, for PhD applicants, since so much of the admissions decision is based on fit, we highly recommend reaching out to potential faculty advisors prior to or during the application process. This is not necessary for DrPH applicants.

• For both online and residential programs, apply through SOPHAS
• Dual degree applicants, combined degree, certificate(s), and NDSS applicants, please follow the instructions here.

There are no standard GPA requirements, however, it is highly recommended to have a GPA of 3.0 out of a 4.0 scale for master applicants. For PhD and DrPH applicants it is highly suggested to have a GPA of 3.5 out of a 4.0 scale.

The GRE is not required for any program, and GRE scores are not considered as part of the application review process.

Master's Degree Prompt:

A personal statement should clearly and directly address the following: 

• Why are you applying to Tulane SPHTM, and the specific program/option/concentration you chose?
• How will earning this degree help you achieve your professional goals?
• What have you learned from successes and/or challenges in your past educational, professional, and/or personal experiences? Please use specific examples, as applicable.

PhD Prompt:

A personal statement that will help the admissions committee understand your research interest, your preparation to undertake PhD training in this area, your fit with the program, and your intended professional goals with this degree. To do so, please address the following:

• What are your research interests? What are the intellectual issues you want to better understand? 
• What experiences, skills, and background will enable you to carry out graduate work on your proposed research interests? 
• If you have written a thesis, worked in a lab, or helped an advisor who did something similar to the research you want to pursue, please describe this experience and how it relates to the program.
• How do your scholarly interests match with the department you are applying to and/or with two to three of its faculty members?

DrPH Prompt:

A personal statement that should clearly and directly address the following:

• Describe your professional experience that has demonstrated leadership in advocacy and equity. 
• Discuss your future goals in the field of public health and how a DrPH from Tulane will help you achieve these goals. (2-3 pages max) 

Master's Degree:

• The length of the statement of purpose should be single-spaced and 1-2 pages max.

PhD: 

• The length of the statement of purpose should be single-spaced and 1-2 pages max. 

DrPH:

• The length of the statement of purpose should be single-spaced and 2-3 pages max. 

Two letters of recommendation are required for master’s programs. Three are required for PhD or DrPH programs. We suggest having the letters written by instructors who can speak to your academic capabilities or employers who can indicate characteristics for success in public health graduate study.

SOPHAS will ask you to provide the names and contact information for each of your references and will solicit the letters on your behalf via email (advise your references to check their spam folders, and please remember to thank them after they’ve submitted their letter of support).

For master’s programs, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis after the priority deadline passes (October for spring applicants, late January for summer/fall). Once decisions have started being released, it can take up to a month from the time your application becomes complete to receive a decision (though we do aim for a quicker turnaround when possible).

For doctoral applicants, both DrPH and PhD, since admissions is based so much on fit, this process can take longer.

Tulane does not provide SOPHAS fee waivers, but SOPHAS itself offers a variety of fee waiver options.

This is possible; however, we highly recommend that you apply for the program that you are more interested in. You will be required to select one program at the time of application on SOPHAS.

Master’s students may defer admission for up to a year. You must first pay your enrollment deposit in the applicant portal before a deferral can be processed.

It is not possible to defer admission for the PhD or DrPH. We recommend you only apply for the semester you will actually be able to start the program.

SPHTM offers a variety of scholarships. Many students also find positions on campus (or remotely) via Handshake, which you have access to once you pay your enrollment deposit and set up your Tulane email account. Federal financial aid (loans) are available to eligible students who file a FAFSA (be sure to send your FAFSA to Tulane!). Your loan eligibility will be affected by any scholarships received.

Yes! Master’s students who submit their complete application by the priority deadline are considered for scholarships. All PhD applicants are considered for scholarships. DrPH students are not eligible for scholarships. More information about scholarships can be found here.

No, scholarships are determined during the admissions process. Any scholarship offer will be included in your letter of admission.

You can find current tuition rates here. The cost of attendance worksheet is based on the assumption of taking 24 credits in one academic year (2 semesters), and estimates costs for transportation, room and board, parking, etc. Your actual costs will vary based on the number of credits you register for each semester (we charge per credit hour), and how much you spend on rent, food, transport, etc.

We have two Tulane-affiliated housing options available for our graduate students: 

• Deming Pavilion and Thirteen15 apartments.

To view our graduate housing options, please view our Housing YouTube playlist.

Deming: 

• Building Manager: Eddie Sandifer esandifer@tulane.edu 
• Housing Director: Katina Walker kfrench2@tulane.edu 

Thirteen15:

• Leasing Specialist: Maya Suarez team@thirteen15nola.com

Before accessing the Deming housing application, it is imperative that you first read through their requirements for current Tulane students, and non-Tulane students here. 

You may access the Deming housing application once you have been admitted and paid your enrollment deposit through the housing portal.

Please contact Eddie Sandifer directly if you have any trouble with the housing portal. 

You may access the Thirteen15 apartment application through their website here. It is important to note that you will first have to select a floor plan before you can begin the application process.

If you have an acceptance letter to any of our programs here at SPHTM, you are eligible for graduate housing. This includes NDSS and residential certificate students.

For information about off-campus housing, please view the official Tulane off-campus housing portal here.

• Proof of English language proficiency. If you are not a native English speaker, please submit official results from TOEFL or IELTS.
• Transcript Evaluation. International students (or students who have earned their degree outside the US or Canada) must submit a course by course evaluation of international coursework. Evaluations can take a month to complete from the time the agency receives your international transcript(s), so we recommend getting an early start on this process in order to ensure the evaluation is received by the deadline for which you are applying.

We can also accept WES, ECE, and SpanTran evaluations. SOPHAS will only accept WES, but if you have SpanTran or ECE evaluations, please send it to sphtmadmissions@tulane.edu.

Scores of 89 or higher on TOEFL or an IELTS band of 6.5 are required.

The English language proficiency test requirement is waived if at least one of the below criteria below applies to the applicant:

• U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident
• Earned or in the process of earning a degree from an accredited U.S. institution that must be at least two years in duration
• Citizen of one of the countries listed where English is the official language or if you have earned, or in the process of earning, a degree that is two years or longer, from an accredited institution in one of the countries where English is the *official language (view countries here).
• Can provide a WES credential evaluation verifying that English was the language of instruction for a two-year degree or longer
  *If you feel this applies to you, please email us at sphtmadmissions@tulane.edu to verify that you meet this criterion.
• If you have any questions regarding F-1 visa status, please look here.

Yes! The following programs are STEM-eligible:

MPH: Disaster Management, Epidemiology, Health Policy, International Health and Sustainable Development, Tropical Medicine
MS: Biostatistics, Clinical Investigation, Epidemiology, Tropical Medicine
MSPH: Biostatistics, Industrial Hygiene, Nutrition
PhD: Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Policy and Management, International Health and Sustainable Development

Once you are admitted to a program and pay your enrollment deposit within your admitted student portal, you will see an updated section in your portal titled "Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS)." There you will be prompted to fill out a form and provide documentation for:

• A copy of your passport
• Completed Declaration of Finances form (will be linked)
• Bank statement or other supporting financial documents
• A copy of your current visa (if you are currently in the US)
• Documents for dependents (spouse or children)

Once you submit this form, the Office of Enrollment Management and Admissions enters the information and forwards it to the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS), who will process the I-20 and send to you via email within 3-5 business days.