PhD Population Health at University of Kansas

Programme overview

Our PhD in Population Health prepares high-level health services researchers for careers in academic settings or in public and private organizations where advanced research, leadership and analytic skills are required. Health services research is a multidisciplinary field that examines the uses, costs, quality, accessibility, delivery, organization, financing and health outcomes of healthcare systems in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Faculty: School of Medicine (KU Medical Center) | Department: Masters and Ph.D. Programs› | Location: Lawrence, KS, United States

What you will study

Stage 1 consists of basic courses in health policy, health systems, culture, occupations, health care management, and quantitative and qualitative research methods. A notable feature of this stage is that students begin to participate in the research process immediately upon beginning the program through a series of 1-credit-hour immersion courses, taken within the first 2 semesters along with other basic courses.

Career pathways

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

The application process is done online. Detailed instructions on how to apply and the application deadlines are posted on the Population Health website. Admission requirements: A master's degree in health services administration or a related field (e.g. public health, public administration, business, social sciences, biological sciences, nursing) from a regionally accredited institution and documented by submission of official transcript indicating the degree has been conferred before entering the program. Official transcripts from all other institutions attended, both undergraduate and post-baccalaureate, are also required.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms follow the KU academic calendar; the application for first-year and transfer students is submitted through the KU application portal (go2.ku.edu). The fall freshman scholarship deadline is Dec. 1, the FAFSA priority deadline is Feb. 1 and the fall transfer scholarship deadline is Aug. 1.

Graduate application fee: $65 domestic degree-seeking, $100 international degree-seeking; waivers available. Requirements and deadlines are set by each programme.

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