Admissions Requirements

The Office of Public Health Studies degree programs, like all other University graduate degree programs, operate within the broad policies and specific regulations established by the Graduate Division. Accordingly, master's and doctoral degree candidates should inform themselves of all applicable academic requirements in the current University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Catalog. The Catalog is available online. Regulations and procedures governing admission to the Graduate Division at the University of Hawai‘i are subject to change without prior notice. Please consult the most current Catalog before applying for admission. 

An applicant for admission to the master's degree program must hold or expect to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or its equivalent from a recognized institution of higher learning (see international credentials in the Graduate Admissions Application & Information Brochure and/or visit the Graduate Division's website for detailed information). The standards of the degree in question must be equivalent in both the distribution of academic subject matter and the scholarship achievement requirements to those maintained at the University of Hawai‘i. Professional degrees, such as the MD, DVM, and DDS, that are equivalent in depth to a U. S. bachelor’s degree also qualify an applicant for consideration. At a minimum, the applicant needs to demonstrate above average academic performance (B average or its equivalent) for his or her undergraduate work and for any post-baccalaureate or graduate course work.

Applicants to the doctoral program in public health must have either a master's degree in public health or a graduate degree in an allied profession. 

Applicants to the doctoral program in epidemiology must have a master's degree and a strong background in the natural and/or social sciences.

At a minimum, the applicant needs to demonstrate above average academic performance (B average or its equivalent) for his or her undergraduate course work and for any post-baccalaureate or graduate course work.

Please note that meeting the minimum admissions standard does not guarantee admission.

OPHS Documentation for Admission (MPH, MS, and PhD Programs)

All applicants must submit the following:

**Students seeking admission to the NHIH specialization must have one of their recommendation letters from an Indigenous Community. Please contact the NHIH specialization head if clarification is needed.

In addition, select applicants may be required to submit the following:

  • The Residency Declaration Form (for applicants claiming Hawai‘i residency for tuition purposes)
  • Official TOEFL or IELTS scores for applicants whose native language is not English 
  • The Confidential Financial Statement Form for international applicants only
  • Writing sample that demonstrate aptitude for scholarly writing 

Please retain a copy of your application for your records. Once submitted, application materials (which includes the public health application and statement of objectives, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and test scores) are not released except for the purpose of admission and cannot be returned or photocopied for the applicant.

Selection and Notification

Completed applications are reviewed by the public health faculty. An admission decision is generally reached through comparison of the relative merits of all applicants and the availability of faculty to guide the student in his/her area of interest. Selection is made without regard to the applicant’s age, sex, race, creed or national origin.