Degrees & Programs

• Masters Degrees (M.H.S.A., M.P.H., M.S.)
• Executive Masters Program
• Ph.D. Program
• Post Doctoral Fellowship Programs
• Summer Enrichment Program

Admissions

Courses

Faculty

Research

News & Events

Alumni

Contact Information

Health Management & Policy

Admissions & Funding Information for M.H.S.A. and M.P.H. Degrees

• Curriculum
• Admissions / Funding
• Student Life
• Careers
• Internships

General Admissions Information

We will review all admission applications received through SOPHAS. Please note that review of your application cannot begin until all documentation has been received in SPH from SOPHAS. As transcripts and test scores may take several weeks to arrive, it is highly recommended that you apply early. As part of the admissions process, qualified applicants will be invited to come to the University for interviews with the faculty.

• Joint Degree Applicants
  Students seeking joint degrees must submit an application AND the application materials to both schools. Admission or rejection in one program does not affect your admission status in the other program - all applications are separate.
• M.S. Degree Applicants
  Students applying for the MS degree must apply using the Rackham Graduate School application form. Materials, deadlines, and all other admissions information pertaining to the residential master's program apply.

Deadlines and Timelines

The application priority deadline is January 15, 2010. The department will continue to take applications until the program is full. Within one to two weeks following the visitation, applicants are notified of their final admission status in writing. Because of the sequencing of courses, new students are admitted for the Fall term only. Applications are accepted beginning in September of the year preceding intended enrollment. Because class size is limited, and because early applicants are more likely to receive full consideration for financial aid, students are encouraged to apply as soon as they have arranged admission tests and have completed at least three-quarters of a bachelor's degree.

Application Information

Required Materials

To be considered for admission, you must submit:

• The completed application form.
• Official transcripts showing all previous undergraduate and graduate work, with grades and degrees.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Test scores less than five years old from either GRE or GMAT (we normally receive these 2-3 weeks after the test date). Applicants may call in their test results in order to expedite the application review process. Admission recommendations are contingent upon receipt of official scores.
• A non-refundable application fee made payable to the University of Michigan (joint degree students need only pay one application fee.)

Fees, Deposits, Estimated Tuition

• Domestic applications require a $60 non-refundable fee. International applications require a $75 non-refundable fee.
• A $200 deposit is required to hold your place if you accept an offer of admission.
• The current cost of attendance is determined by the University of Michigan Office of Financial Aid.

Apply Online

Applications and letters of recommendation may be submitted online.

• Apply to the Residential Master's or Executive Master's degree programs.
• Apply to the M.S. degree program.

Testing Information

GRE and GMAT

The General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) is required of all residential masters applications - the only exception being those applying for the joint M.D./M.P.H. degree.  

Accepted applicants generally exceed the 50th percentile in each category. Numerically, this percentile will translate in raw scores to approximately:

Our average admitted applicant will score: 77% verbal, 64% quantative.

Some students find study manuals or courses to prepare for the test helpful.  It is not uncommon for an applicant to take the test more than once (you may however only take the exam once per month). Students must register with the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey. The GRE offers computer-delivered versions of the test through the Computer-Based Testing (CBT) program, making it available at over 250 sites all year long.  Because of the delays involved in processing applications and scores for the manual GRE, the department urges students taking this test to use CBT. Information about the test content, test dates, and locations may be obtained directly from:

• Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

TOEFL Test

The TOEFL Test is required of all non-native English language speakers. The TOEFL will be waived for international students who received a previous degree from a US institution or from an institution where English was the primary language of instruction. The TOEFL exam results are valid for two years after the date of exam. Required TOEFL scores are as follows:

• Computer-based TOEFL score must be 250 or above
• Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) score must be 100 or above
• Paper-based TOEFL score must be 600 or above

Candidate Profile and Selection Material

Candidate Profile

We invite applications to the M.H.S.A., M.P.H. and MS programs from prospects who hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university. Since we are looking for students with varied backgrounds and interests, the Department welcomes applicants from all undergraduate majors, and therefore no specific undergraduate courses are required. Suggested preparation for interested students may include course work in basic statistics, microeconomics, the behavioral and social sciences, and American government. Students interested in management are also encouraged to complete at least one college level course in principles of accounting.

The faculty selection committee places greater emphases on overall sound scholarship and promise of development than on the precise focus of the baccalaureate degree. We also encourage applications from individuals with work experience in the public health system or the health care industry though no experience is required.

Selection Criteria

Each year we receive several hundred applications for placement in the Residential Master's programs. Consequently, admission is competitive. Our Admission Committee selects those applicants who show the greatest potential for success in the program and in their future careers, based on:

• The academic record including particular areas of strength. We look for a GPA of 3.0 or better. Accepted students generally stand in the upper quartile of their undergraduate class, the average GPA is 3.44.
• Verbal and quantitative scores on the GRE or the GMAT. We look for scores in the 50th percentile or better. Accepted students generally have scores above the median in standardized national tests with an average verbal of 77% and an average quantitative score of 64%.
• Qualifying TOEFL Test score for international applicants - 250 on the computer based test, or 100 on the internet based test. The TOEFL exam results are only good for one year after the date of exam.
• Clear evidence of motivation, commitment, and a record of leadership among peers derived from the applicant's statement of goals and objectives, three letters of reference, employment or volunteer experience, and extracurricular and service activities.
• Experience, particularly in the student's field of interest, and leadership are evaluated in our application process. The program does accept students without prior full-time work experience, but they must possess superior credentials.

Visit Day

Qualified applicants will be invited to come, at their own expense, to the University for a visitation day. The Visit Day is not a campus tour (though one is included in the schedule), the visitation is an important step in our admissions process! The day includes a faculty interview, opportunities to speak with current students and alumni, lunch with our students, and observation of a class. This is much like interviewing for a job and applicants are evaluated as such. Being invited to the Visit Day does not guarantee admission. It is important for an applicant to find a program that fits their needs and expectations. And it is just as important for a department to select students that will both diversify and enhance the program and the University community of scholars. Therefore, the Visit Day serves a pivotal role in assisting both applicant and department in this crucial decision. Applicants who have attended the visit day were very enthusiastic about their experience here and said it was a deciding factor in choosing Michigan.

Attending the Visit Day is not mandatory, but highly encouraged. In cases where travel to Ann Arbor for a personal interview would involve hardship, a member of the student services staff may arrange for applicants to either be interviewed by telephone by a faculty member on the admissions committee or by an HMP alum in a convenient location for both individuals.

Financial Aid and Funding Information

We attempt to ensure that financial obstacles do not prevent qualified students from completing their studies. Financial aid is available to qualified students in a variety of forms from the University, the School of Public Health, and the Department of Health Management and Policy. About one-third of our residential students receive some scholarship assistance.

• Scholarships and Fellowships
  Full or partial tuition paid, granted without a work obligation. The availability of federal traineeships, scholarships and fellowships is dependent upon annual funding. These awards are generally made on the basis of academic merit, expected contribution to the field, and financial need.
• Loans
  Granted without a work obligation on the basis of financial need and negotiated with various repayment terms.
• Work Study
  Granted on the basis of financial need as determined by the University of Michigan's central Office of Financial Aid.
• Part-time Employment
  Available within the School, the University and the community.

The University of Michigan requires applicants for any and all types of financial aid to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) provided by the American College Testing Center (ACTC). A FAFSA will be sent to you directly if you indicate your interest in financial assistance on the admission application form. Students may also obtain the FAFSA from a college or high school near their home, or by writing to:

FAFSAs are available from most high school or college libraries and financial aid officers, as well as from the School of Public Health Office of Academic Affairs. FAFSA is also available on the web.

Departmental Awards

In addition to the financial aid administered through the University and the School of Public Health, the Department dispenses other modest financial awards. HMP scholarships are awarded on the basis of outstanding academic merit. HMP tries to provide as many students as possible with monetary aid, with over 40% of our admitted receiving a departmental scholarship. Most of these awards are only partial scholarships of 50% or less, with few awards of 75-100%.