Admissions FAQs

• Official transcripts from any and all institutions required
• Statement of Purpose and Objectives (not required for DrPH)
• 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, 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 and DrPH applicants. For PhD 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.

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.

We don’t have a minimum or maximum length for the statement of purpose, but most students submit about 1 page double-spaced. If you have more to write, please feel free to share more with 2 pages at the most.

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 deposit in the applicant portal before a deferral will 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 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.

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

Once you are admitted to a program and pay your deposit, you will be prompted via email 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, who will process the I-20 and send to you via email.