Fully Funded PhD in Public Health in Canada

Canada’s healthcare system prioritizes issues such as population health, disease prevention, and public health policies which makes it an ideal destination for impactful research in public health. Fully funded PhD in public health in Canada attracts talented researchers from around the world. By providing financial support, these programs provide equal access to academic opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds. Lesser financial burden ultimately leads to more impactful and innovative contributions from researchers. In this blog, we explore the programs that are fully funded PhD in public health in Canada, shedding light on the application process, requirements, and the renowned universities offering these invaluable opportunities.

What are Fully Funded PhD Programs?

Fully funded PhD programs in Canada offer doctoral students financial support to cover tuition, fees, cost of living in Canada, and research expenses for the course duration. PhD students are also entitled to a stipend in exchange for teaching or research assistance. To pursue PhD in Canada, you can count on various sources of funding that include:

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  University scholarships: Canadian universities offer scholarships for PhD students based on merit, need, or research potential.

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  External grants: Doctoral students can obtain additional funding from government, private, or non-profit organizations to support their research.

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  Assistantships: PhD students may work as teaching or research assistants, providing professional experience and a stipend.

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Fully Funded PhD in Public Health in Canada

Canadian universities are home to world-renowned public health programs and research institutes with access to top-notch faculty, resources, and facilities. The details and prerequisites for admission to prestigious universities offering fully funded PhD in public health in Canada are discussed below:

University of Toronto:

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  The Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto offers a Doctor of Public Health program suitable for working professionals with integrated online learning components.
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  The duration of the program is 4 years full-time or up to 6 years part-time.
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  The requirements for admission to the program include:

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    Master's degree in public health sciences, or health services-related discipline with an average grade equivalent to a B+ or above.
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    A TOEFL-PBT score of 580, TOEFL-iBT score of 93, or IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component is required as proof of English language proficiency.
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    At least 5 years of mid-level management experience in an organization.
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    Students with less than 5 years of work experience can also apply.
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  Applications for programs in Public Health Sciences and Community Health are accepted from mid-October.
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  The university accepts limited international applicants so you are encouraged to apply early.

University of British Columbia:

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  The School of Population and Public Health under the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia offers a fully funded PhD in public health in Canada specializing in population and public health.
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  Enrolled students at UBC are eligible to receive a minimum funding of 24,000 CAD each.
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  For admission to the program, students must fulfill the following requirements:

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    Minimum average in the range of B+ in the master’s degree.
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    A TOEFL-iBT score of 100 or an IELTS score of 7.0 must be submitted as proof of English language proficiency.
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    GRE scores may be required.
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  Academic transcripts, Letters of Recommendation, a statement of interest, and a commitment from a supervisor are required to support your application.
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  Applications are accepted once a year starting from November and the program commences in September every year.

University of Alberta:

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  University of Alberta’s School of Public Health is the first accredited public health school in Canada.
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  The University of Alberta offers PhD in the field of public health with 4 specialization options including epidemiology, health promotion and socio-behavioral sciences, health services and policy research, and public health.
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  Doctoral students are required to complete the program within 6 years of enrollment.
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  The requirements for enrollment to the PhD program are:

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    A completed master’s degree in a relevant field from a recognized institution.
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    A GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale is required.
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    Applicants with research aptitude in their discipline, a record of previous scholarships or fellowships, or a publication record will be preferred.
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    The minimum required score on the English language proficiency exam is an overall 7.0 band score on IELTS or its equivalent on TOEFL/ PTE.
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  The University of Alberta awards the Public Health Doctoral Scholarship worth 20,000 CAD to 2 exceptional candidates.
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  To be eligible for this award, the candidate must be admitted to the School of Public Health in the Fall semester.
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  PhD applications are accepted from October 1 and close on February 1.

University of Waterloo:

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  The PhD with water specialization at the University of Waterloo offered in collaboration with the Water Institute is well-known for developing specialists.
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  The program offers a research-based curriculum, with options for both full-time and part-time enrollment. For full-time students starting at the master's level, the program spans 12 terms over 4 years, while part-time students can expect 24 terms over 8 years from the Master's level onwards.
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  A wide range of specializations are available for students ranging from epidemiology, biostatistics, health evaluation, global health, and health informatics, to aging and health.
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  The requirements for admission to the program include:

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    A completed master’s degree in a relevant field of study with a minimum of 75%.
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    Evidence of prior research achievements.
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    Students must contact their potential supervisors before applying for the PhD program.
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    International students are expected to demonstrate English language proficiency with a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 or a TOEFL-iBT score of 90.
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  The application deadline for the PhD in public health sciences is February 1. Given that the university has a restricted intake of international students, it's advisable to submit your application early, preferably by January 1.

Queen’s University:

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  The Department of Public Health at Queen’s University offers PhD with multiple specialization options including epidemiology, biostatistics, public health services, global health, health economics, indigenous health, etc.
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  The eligibility criteria for admission to the PhD program are listed below:

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    A completed master’s degree in a related discipline with a minimum of 80% overall as well as in the last 20 post-secondary courses.
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    A GRE score of 149 or above is mandatory for applicants from non-Canadian universities.
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    Proof of English language proficiency can be demonstrated with an overall minimum TOEFL score of 88.
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  Interested candidates must submit an online application along with supporting documents that include academic transcripts, scorecards, two academic LORs, a CV, and a one-page plan for doctoral research.
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  The applicant is responsible for finding a faculty member who agrees to supervise their research work before the admission offer is made.
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  The supervisor will be responsible for underwriting a minimum of 15,000 CAD to the student funding package through internal and external funding sources.

Careers After Fully Funded PhD in Public Health in Canada

After completing a PhD in Public Health in Canada, graduates have a wide range of career opportunities across various sectors. Graduates also get opportunities to work with international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF on global health projects and initiatives. Some popular job titles include:

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  Assistant Professor
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  Biostatistician
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  Epidemiologist
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  Environmental Scientist
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  Health Economist
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  Research Coordinator
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  Postdoctoral Fellow
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  Policy Analyst
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  Program Director
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  Public Health Planner

The need for skilled professionals to address complex health issues is constantly on the rise. There is a growing demand for healthcare specialists in areas such as epidemiology, health policy, infectious diseases, and environmental health. With a fully funded PhD in public health in Canada, you can explore diverse career options in academia, government agencies, private sectors, non-profit organizations, research institutes, health ministries, etc. Individuals can contribute to addressing pressing public health challenges and improving the health and well-being of the population not only in Canada but globally.

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