No, applicants are not required to take the GRE exam. Reporting test scores is optional. If test scores are reported, they will be considered in the application review process. The University’s code is 1832.

Interviews are generally not conducted as part of the application process. However, in special circumstances the application review team may request an interview to learn more about an applicant.

Contact information for recommenders will be entered into the online program application. The application system will automatically email instructions to recommenders. We suggest that applicants let recommenders know in advance to expect the email.

Multiple application deadlines are recognized. For the 2025-2026 application cycle, the deadlines are:

• Early Action: November 1, 2025
• Round 1: February 2, 2026
• Round 2: April 1, 2026
• Final Deadline: June 1, 2026

Applicants and required to apply early for priority decision and scholarship consideration. Students who will require a F1 or J1 visa are strongly encouraged to apply by Round 1. 

Application fees are charged by SOPHAS. The University of Chicago does not require a supplemental application fee. Please visit the SOPHAS page to learn more about application fees and fee waivers. 

Applicants to the graduate schools and divisions of the University of Chicago who do not meet the criteria below must submit proof of English language proficiency. This policy applies to all* graduate programs; the score level required for admission varies by program. Only the TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic tests are accepted as proof of proficiency.

Waiver Criteria

English has been a primary language of communication and schooling for you since childhood; or you were enrolled for at least one academic year in full-time status in a course of study at an accredited English-medium post-secondary institution in one of the following countries or territories within the past ten years: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, the United States.

Education in English-medium institutions in other countries or territories does not qualify for the exemption.

Please Note

High school or secondary school does not qualify an applicant for exemption; nor do part-time or research-based programs that did not involve full time coursework in English.

The minimum TOEFL score required for admission is no less than 100 total, with no less than 26 each in Reading, Writing, and Listening, and 22 in Speaking. The minimum IELTS score is no less than 7.0 overall, and no less than 7.0 on each section. 

The program can be completed in as few as 15 months: 4 full-time quarters (3 classes/quarter) and one summer practicum experience (less than half-time enrollment). A typical part-time schedule is 2 classes/quarter in autumn, winter, and spring, and one summer practicum class. Part-time students can take up to 5 years to finish their degree.

We do not accept transfer credits from other universities. However, at the discretion of the Program Director, students who have taken similar courses elsewhere may be able to waive a required course and identify an elective to take instead. Students who complete courses in the MPH curriculum in the University of Chicago’s Graduate-Student-At-Large program prior to matriculating into the MPH may transfer up to two credits, with the approval of the Program Director, provided the courses did not count toward the completion of another degree. 

Students may switch between full-time and part-time status throughout the program. Students with F1 and J1 visas are required to maintain full-time status. Note that to be eligible for federal loans, students must enroll in a minimum of 2 classes/quarter.

Prospective students will be asked to select a tentative concentration at the time of application. Once admitted, students will work with their academic advisor to select a concentration that best aligns with their career interests and goals. The concentration can be changed during the program with approval of the academic advisor.

The required practicum experience provides students the opportunity to gain applied practical experience in a public health field of their choosing. Students primarily work with external partners in a variety of public health settings to gain experience through work that is mutually beneficial to both the student and the host site. Program faculty and staff will work with students to help identify a suitable practicum site. It is expected that students will complete approximately 80-100 hours of hands-on public health or research experience during their practicum.

The capstone serves as a culminating project in which students put into practice the knowledge and skills they developed in their coursework and practicum experience. Program staff will assist students in identifying an appropriate capstone mentor, drawn from the program’s faculty and lecturers. Students with a research focus will complete a research project as their capstone, while those students with an applied public health focus will complete an applied project that aligns with their field of interest. The required capstone class will provide instruction on project design and management, literature reviews, research and referencing, and writing and presentation. A final capstone paper and presentation will be required of all students. 

Yes, the University of Chicago MPH program is accredited by the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH).

The Master of Public Health program is a professional program designed for students interested in careers as public health researchers or professionals, and is open to all students who have completed a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree. The curriculum leads to the degree of Master of Public Health (MPH). The Master of Science in Public Health for Clinical Professionals is designed for the professional enhancement of individuals who already have doctoral-level expertise in Medicine and related clinical disciplines. The curriculum leads to the degree of Master of Science (MS). Please see the MSCP page for additional information.