Public Health Sciences - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at University of Waterloo

Programme overview

Become an expert and tackle some of the biggest health concerns of today’s world with the PhD in Public Health Sciences program. Work alongside leading researchers, integrating perspectives from multiple disciplines and using research as a tool to design, implement, and evaluate health programs, policies, and services. The trans-disciplinary nature of this program aims to address population and public health challenges on both a national and global scale with tangible, impactful solutions.

Faculty: Faculty of Health | Department: School of Public Health Sciences | Duration: 48 months (full-time) | Study mode: full-time | Intake: Fall (September - December); application deadlines: February 1 (for admission in September) | Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

What you will study

Research fields: Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Global Health, Health and Environment, Health Evaluation, Health Informatics, Work and Health, Research project opportunities for this program, Exploring the Impact of Finite Sample Size and Missing Data on Statistical Modeling Decisions, Statistical models play a critical role in data applications for explanatory and predictive purposes. The model-building process involves use of various statistical tools, some of which make certain assumptions to yield good statistical properties like consistency. Such properties enable researchers to make reliable statistical inferences. However, when samples are small to moderate in size, issues arise when applying common model-building tools due to deviations from underlying assumptions. Such deviations can lead to unreliable parameter estimates, reduced statistical power, thereby affecting data-driven decisions. The process of model-building and conducting statistical tests is further impeded when data are incomplete due to missing values.. Study option(s): Thesis.

Career pathways

The trans-disciplinary nature of this program aims to address population and public health challenges on both a national and global scale with tangible, impactful solutions. You’ll learn how to use research to improve the management and accountability of health promotion programs and health systems, preparing you for a career in research (industry, government and academia), health promotion, health planning, policy and health informatics and analytics, research management, healthcare coordination, epidemiology, program evaluation and many others.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Students applying to the program should have completed a master's degree (or its equivalent) with content related to ongoing faculty research in areas such as health, public health, health systems, gerontology, health informatics, global health, occupational health, and evaluation. A minimum 75% average in master's level coursework. Completion of a master's degree and evidence of prior research achievements (e.g., Master's thesis, first author peer-reviewed publication, adjudicated research report). Students may be allowed to transfer into the PhD program directly from the School of Public Health Sciences (SPHS) Master's programs. Such students must have completed all Master's coursework requirements, have demonstrated a superior academic record, and have evidence of prior research achievements (e.g., adjudicated research report, significant documented contribution as a co-author to a peer-reviewed publication, first author peer-reviewed publication). Students are sometimes accepted for direct admission to the PhD in the SPHS program if they have an Honours Bachelor of Science degree or the equivalent and have exceptional academic and research performance, including evidence of prior research achievements (e.g., adjudicated research report, significant documented contribution as a co-author to a peer-reviewed publication, first author peer-reviewed publication). Directly admitted students will be required to complete 9 (required and elective) graduate courses, graduate milestones and a doctoral thesis.

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

Graduate applications are made online through the Graduate Studies Application and the non-refundable application fee is $150 CAD per program. Deadlines are set by each programme.

Apply through the official page: https://grad.apply.uwaterloo.ca/apply/

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