Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. We are fully accredited through CEPH (Council on Education for Public Health).

The traditional MPH is usually completed in two years, but some students have completed it in less time depending on their ability to carry a larger course load.

Yes. We offer an Accelerated MPH program. Most accepted candidates to this program have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or above.

Yes. We do allow post-baccalaureate students to take up to three courses before being accepted into the program.

Yes. Due to the global pandemic, we currently offer in-person, hybrid, and online courses. 

Our graduates are very successful upon graduation. 23% have reported that they work in healthcare, 19% in for profit organizations, 16% in academic institutions, 14% in government, 12% in non-profit organizations, and 15% in other industries. Find out more by visiting our Alumni page.

Complete SOPHAS application

• 3 letters of recommendation
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose
• All Official Transcripts
• Foreign Evaluation*
• English Proficiency Exam Scores*
• Test Scores**

* Required for International Applicants
** Required for the PhD in Epidemiology and Biostatistics programs

Yes, applications are reviewed continuously until the final deadline.

Students are not required to contact and/or identify a faculty member in their desired program before submitting their application.

For an application to be considered complete, all official transcripts from all institutions attended must be submitted.

The Department of Public Health Sciences does not provide application fee waivers. Students are encouraged to contact SOPHAS directly as they provide waivers on a first come, first serve basis.

The Department of Public Health Sciences does not require students to pay a fee to secure their spot at the time of admission, this means spots will fill up quickly and students may be moved to a waitlist. Priority deadline gives students the opportunity to secure their spot ahead of time rather than being waitlisted.

The University of Miami does not provide graduate housing for students. We encourage incoming students to visit our Housing page to learn about moving to Miami.

Small class sizes and high faculty to student ratio are some of the reasons our students choose to attend the University of Miami. We typically enroll about 140 students across all programs each academic year. The average class size is 40 students for the core courses and 11 students for the elective courses. The student to professor ratio is 3:1.

The Admissions Committee reviews each applicant holistically and considers both academic and non-academic indicators of success for enrollment in a graduate program.

We do not have strict minimums, but most accepted candidates have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above for MPH, MSPH and MS programs, 3.3 for the Accelerated MPH, and a 3.5 in public health courses for students applying to the BSPH MPH/MSPH programs.

The GRE is no longer required for our master’s programs.

Applicants to the Ph.D. in Biostatistics and Ph.D. in Epidemiology programs are required to submit GRE general exam scores taken within the last five years - no substitutions or waivers are granted.

Contact the Office of Admissions for more information.

Please use institution code 0629.

Upon acceptance, you will be asked to send transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities.

University of Miami
Department of Public Health Sciences
Office of Admissions
1120 N.W. 14 Street
Room 905, R-669
Miami, FL 33136

We require a minimum of three letters of recommendation from professors, professionals, researcher mentors, or employers in a related field. The Admissions Office highly recommends that at least one (1) of an applicant’s letters of recommendation is written by a professor with whom they have worked closely or under whom they have studied. All letters of recommendation should be signed and on letterhead.

No. We only allow one program designation through SOPHAS. If the review committee recommends you for a different program, the Admissions Office will contact you directly.

No. All required application materials must be received including transcripts, test scores (if applicable), and letters of recommendation in order for your application to be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

No. As soon as your application is complete with items that you have control over (Statement of Purpose, Resume/CV, all required sections of the online application, Transcripts), you should submit your application. This will allow SOPHAS to begin verifying and preparing your application. Test scores (if applicable) and letters of recommendation will be added as they are received.

No. We do not collect a seat deposit. Applicants may hold multiple acceptance offers while they research other programs and determine institution fit.

The Office of Admissions allows accepted graduate students to defer enrollment under special circumstances on a case-by-case basis for a maximum period of two semesters. If the deferral is approved, applicants will not be required to apply to SOPHAS the following semester.

Non-U.S. transcripts are evaluated exclusively through the World Education Service (WES) using the ICAP Course-by-Course evaluation service.

Yes. All international applicants are required to mail an additional complete set of all official transcripts, mark sheets, and a photocopy of the diploma(s), with English translation when applicable, at the time of acceptance to:

University of Miami
Department of Public Health Sciences
Office of Admissions
1120 N.W. 14 Street
Room 905, R-669
Miami, FL 33136

View the International Graduate Student Cost for details.

The Office of Admissions will be the liaison between you and International Student and Scholar Services. As an international student you must provide documentation so that we can issue an F-1 visa for you to enter the United States.

Required documents include:

• Signed acceptance letter
• Original official transcripts from all institutions attended
• Bank letter with Student Financial Responsibility Form and/or Financial Guarantee
• Copy of your passport photo page (and any dependents if applicable)
          Name on the SOPHAS application must match the name on your passport
• F-1/J-1 Visa Transfer Form is required of international students who hold a current and valid student visa at another institution

Yes. OPT or work authorization available to international students who have been in valid F-1 status for at least three consecutive quarters and who plan to seek employment in the U.S. in their field of study is available. In addition, students with STEM majors listed on their I-20 at the time of their Initial OPT application may be eligible for up to an additional 24 months of OPT in addition to the regular 12 months of OPT.

Tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year is $2,421 per graduate credit hour. Tuition rates are subject to change according to the University of Miami Board of Trustees. More details on tuition and fees can be found on the Graduate Professional Financial Assistance website.

Though financial aid is not awarded until after a student has been admitted and enrolled in classes, it is in your best interest to begin the process as soon as possible. The FAFSA application can be started as early as October 1. All incoming students should be in contact with ‘Canes Central.

Yes. We offer scholarships to eligible candidates.

Yes. There are opportunities to gain professional experience while working as a Graduate Assistant, Teaching Assistant, and Research Assistant.

The Department of Public Health Sciences offers funding to support students in their research, capstone and thesis experiences, and international public health projects through Public Health Travel Awards and Capstone or Thesis Project Awards.

We also provide support for the Certified Public Health (CPH) Exam.

Yes. We offer tuition remission to full-time benefitted employees and their dependents. Please contact Department of Human Resources Total Rewards Pay and Benefits Team at (305) 284-3004.