Master of Public Health Admissions

As a leader in public health education, the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai offers comprehensive training in both research and practice, all within the vibrant backdrop of the largest health care system in New York City. We take pride in our diverse community of students, who come from various ethnic, economic, and educational backgrounds. Whether you're a recent graduate eager to delve into the field, a professional looking to advance your career, or a medical student or resident seeking a broader perspective, our program welcomes you. We have participants from a range of disciplines, including law, medicine, nursing, social work, and business.

How to Apply

Applicants to the MPH program must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. To apply to the MPH program, please submit the following:

Completed SOPHAS application, including fee
Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Two letters of recommendation (on official letterhead or signed by your recommender)
Personal statement (no more than two pages single or double spaced). This statement should be a concise, well-written essay about your educational background and reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in public health, specifically the area of study you wish to follow. You should give information about:

Your background as it pertains to your academic and professional goals
The motivating influences that stimulated interest in your specific discipline
Your future career goals and objectives
How an advanced degree from our institution would help you achieve your educational and career objectives

Resume or CV
Official GRE or MCAT scores (optional)

We review official transcripts for demonstration of satisfactory performance in quantitative and qualitative methods and in social and biological sciences. We select students based on demonstrated past academic achievement, among other qualifications.

The SOPHAS application prompts you to select which specialty track you are interested in. We use this information only to gauge student interest; it is not final. You can elect to switch tracks or finalize your track once you are admitted to the program. If you are unsure of your specialty track interest, please select “General Public Health.”

Application Deadlines and Decisions

The admissions committee reviews applications on a rolling basis and considers students for matriculation for three academic terms: fall, spring 1, and spring 2. You must submit your completed application by the deadline to be eligible for review. Application deadlines by academic term are:

Fall (September start): June 1
Spring 1 (January start): November 1
Spring 2 (April start): February 1

International Students

Admissions requirements for international applicants include both government- and school-regulated processes. While the MPH program is offered on a full-time and part-time basis, international students requiring an F-1 visa are eligible to enroll only on a full-time basis. If you hold an F1 visa, we expect you to register for a full-time course of study of nine credits per term, until the term you expect to graduate. During this last term, you may take fewer than nine credits. F1 visa-holders are expected to meet the 45 credits required for the MPH degree.

SOPHAS requires that transcripts from colleges and universities outside the United States and Canada be evaluated by World Education Services.

Applicants who wish to have their credentials evaluated by another, NACES member, may submit a copy of their course-by-course evaluation via email: publichealth@mssm.edu which will be appended to the SOPHAS application by an admissions representative.

Transcripts from institutions outside the United States should be translated into English and accompanied by a course-by-course evaluation from a certified credential translation service. A course-by-course evaluation will provide your grade for each course translated into the U.S. grading system equivalent. You may submit a course-by-course evaluation from any NACES-member organization. We cannot evaluate transcripts from other institutions outside the United States without a course-by-course evaluation.

SpanTran is our recommended international transcript evaluation service. They have created a custom application for the Icahn School of Medicine that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their application here: SpanTran Application - Icahn School of Medicine

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required for international applicants for whom English is a second language or those who have not received a university degree at an English-speaking institution. Successful applicants typically have TOEFL scores of 100 or above and IELTS band scores of 7.5 or above. You can submit your TOEFL score directly to SOPHAS using code #5688. If you are submitting an IELTS score, you must send them directly to our admissions office at the following address:

Graduate Program in Public Health
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1403
New York, New York 10029

Non-Matriculation

Non-matriculation is an option for students who wish to take individual courses in public health without working toward a degree. To apply, students must submit the following a completed Non-Matriculate Application.

Create an account by clicking “New Applicant”
Select the option “Non-Matriculate Application” for the term you are interested in
Fill out all the information requested on the application page
When asked “Please indicate in which program/discipline you are interested in registering for courses,” select Public Health

Tuition and Financial Aid

Please visit the Office of Student Financial Services web page for current tuition and fees. Contact the Office of Student Financial Services to find out if you qualify for financial aid. We also offer many scholarship options, including:

Outside Funding

The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health’s scholarship search has a comprehensive database of additional funding resources along with curated scholarships that can help minimize the cost of your degree. We recommend seeking out scholarships from various sources early in your admissions process. The Association’s website offers helpful scholarship and financial aid tips and resources.

International Students

Many independent organizations compile scholarship opportunities for students, including:

Loans and Student Employment Opportunities

Federal financial aid typically comes in the form of student loans and work study. If you haven’t already, be sure to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for federal financial aid. If you intend to enroll at our institution, you will also need to submit the Financial Aid Application for Loans. Submitting these documents will allow you to view your financial aid package for your graduate education at the Icahn School.

If you are interested in exploring loan options, you may want to look into Mpower financing, a private lender that allows an international borrower to borrow without a U.S. co-signer.

Students with demonstrated financial need may be eligible for Federal Work-Study, including Research Assistantships. Students typically hear about open positions in the fall term. The MPH program also offers Teaching Assistant positions for students. Students who work as Teaching Assistants provide part-time instructional assistance to faculty members and receive a stipend.