PhD Public and Population Health at University of the Witwatersrand

Programme overview

The Interdisciplinary PhD in Public and Population Health at the Wits School of Public Health was launched in 2009 and has grown into a dynamic programme that nurtures the next generation of public health researchers and policy influencers. The programme is designed to produce internationally recognised, well-rounded researchers who contribute significantly to population health and health systems through rigorous, policy-relevant research. By the end of their PhD, students are expected to produce a thesis that contributes substantially to their field and will also have built a broad professional skillset suited to academic, research, and policy environments.

Faculty: Health Sciences | Department: Public Health | Duration: 3-5 years | Study mode: full-time | Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

What you will study

The PhD is a research degree structured around three core components: 1. Enhanced Research Process and Thesis Writing The degree culminates in a thesis, typically structured with a series of peer-reviewed publications. Students may also choose the traditional monograph format.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

A Master’s degree with a strong research component in any field (e.g. MPH, MSc). Demonstrated alignment of research interests with available supervisors. Strong academic references and a well-developed research concept note. Applicants must submit: Online application Full CV Certified academic transcripts Letter confirming willingness to supervise from Wits-based supervisor Concept note describing proposed research (5 pages maximum) Completed PhD questionnaire (downloadable here)

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

Research and PhD applicants must approach the relevant school or department to discuss the research topic and availability of a supervisor before applying.

Postgraduate applications are made online at www.wits.ac.za/applications; the closing date for each programme is listed in its course finder entry. The application fee is R200 (not payable by current Wits students applying online), paid via the Self-Service Portal or by EFT to the Wits University Application Fees account at FNB.

Apply through the official page: https://www.wits.ac.za/applications

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