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Public Health Education PH
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Prospective Students

Applying for Admission

The MPH's fall 2026 application cycle will open on September 3, 2025. Once it is open, please visit the UC San Diego Graduate Application Management website to start your application. NOTE: We are not using SOPHAS at this time, so you will only need to submit our application.

  • Priority Deadline - Wednesday, December 3, 2025
  • Standard Deadline - Wednesday, February 4, 2026
  • Must apply by the priority deadline to be eligible for Program Fellowships. Instructions are in the application.
Admissions Requirements

Eligible Bachelor’s degree students will have a GPA of at least 3.3 in their last two years of coursework and a 3.0 overall GPA. Students must have adequate preparation in a field related to public health, and show potential to undertake advanced study, research, and practical training as evidenced by previous experience, and past academic performance.

Exam requirements

Other application requirements include:

  • A statement of purpose (approximately 1500 words) that addresses all of the following:
    • Describe those experiences that have shaped your interest in public health.
    • Discuss why you are interested in the Master of Public Health program at UC San Diego.
    • Discuss the strengths you bring with you and areas in which you would like to increase your expertise.
    • Describe any prior experience you’ve had engaging in public health research.
    • Discuss your preference for which concentration (Epidemiology, Health Behavior, Public Mental Health, Health Policy, Technolgy & Precision Health, or General Public Health*) you would like to pursue. Your preference will not affect your chances of admission. *Please note: The General Public Health concentration option is open to only qualified students or professionals in health-related disciplines. Please see the curriculum page for additional information on concentrations. 

  • Transcripts. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted with the application, however, official transcripts will be required if applicant is admitted into the program. Transcripts not in English will require certified translation at the applicant’s expense.

  • Three letters of recommendation. At least two of these letters should be from academic sources, i.e. faculty or PIs who can speak to your academic capabilities. Letters from faculty members who you’ve interacted with substantially outside of the classroom and speak to your strengths/weaknesses, career objectives, and character will be regarded highest in the review process. Additional resources about letters of recommendation is available online. 

Strong preference will be given to students with at least one year of practical experience in the field, including field experience within an academic program.

Accreditation

UC San Diego is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), the regional accrediting agency serving higher education institutions in California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Region. The MPH program will be applying for CEPH (Council on Education for Public Health) accreditation as part of the School of Public Health. The curriculum for the MPH program is designed to be fully compliant with CEPH guidelines. The timeline for the accreditation process is dependent on many factors outside of our control. The HWSPH is currently preparing to submit our Initial Application Submission (IAS). Once the IAS is accepted by CEPH, all students who graduate after that point will have their degrees retroactively from a CEPH accredited institution.

There are some jobs and fellowships that may require graduation from a CEPH accredited program but we have not seen this impact students finding jobs or other opportunities (research, internships, fellowships, etc.). We encourage you to also do your own research regarding the requirements for the government jobs or other opportunities you are interested in applying to.