Admissions FAQs

Each academic department at the Bloomberg School administers and awards scholarship assistance. Typically, all admitted students receive consideration for any available funding by their academic department.  No application is required, and award notifications are sent directly by the departments.  Excluding the Bloomberg Fellowship Program, all students admitted to the MPH program are also automatically considered for scholarship assistance by the MPH Program Office.

All completed aid applications received by our March 15 priority deadline will receive a financial aid notice in sufficient time to make your enrollment decision before the April 15 admission decision deadline.  The office processes applications on a rolling basis as your file complete.

Students applying to the following programs should apply via the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS):

• Doctoral Programs
• Masters’ Programs
• Residency Programs

Students applying to the following programs should apply via SOPHAS Express:

• Certificate Programs
• Bachelor's/Master's Programs (JHU Undergraduates Only)

Students applying to a Postdoctoral Fellowship should use the Bloomberg School Application. However, applicants should first review the Postdoctoral Training Website.

The following programs require work experience:

• Master of Applied Learning degrees (2 years)
• Master of Public Health (MPH) (2 years)
• MHS in Population, Family and Reproductive Health (2 years)
• MHS in Population, Family and Reproductive Health Online (2 years)
• ScM in Epidemiology (1 year)
• ScM in Genetic Counseling (from the Department of Health, Behavior and Society) (1 year)
• Doctor of Public Health (3 years)
• PhD in Epidemiology (1 year)

While public health work experience enhances any application, all other degree options do not require full-time public health work experience. Also available are combined degree options, certificates, and other non-degree opportunities.

Each academic program at the Bloomberg School determines standardized test score requirements. Scores are either required, optional, or not required/not reviewed. The GRE is the most universally accepted. Some programs within the Bloomberg School will accept alternate scores (MCAT, LSAT or GMAT). Once you decide on a degree program, review the standardized test score drop down lists to determine the appropriate test.

Keep in mind, test results can take up to five weeks to reach SOPHAS. So please plan to take the appropriate test well in advance of any application deadlines.

International students from countries where English is not the official language must submit the scores of an English language proficiency test. The Bloomberg School will accept either TOEFL, IELTS Academic, Duolingo English Test, or Pearson Test for English (PTE) Academic scores to fulfill this requirement. Details regarding this requirement and possible exemptions may be found on the international applicant page.

The SOPHAS application fee is $150 USD for the first designated school and $60 USD for each additional school.

Yes, the Bloomberg School awards several competitive, merit-based scholarships to accepted students who are pursuing a full-time program. Be sure to review the scholarships page for more information.

The majority of fee waivers are processed through SOPHAS. Qualifications are listed on their website. Please note that there are a limited number of fee waivers available.

Additionally, some departments are able to provide fee waivers. Please contact the respective departments or program offices for their individual process.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - PhD only
Department of Biostatistics
Department of Environmental Health and Engineering
Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Master of Applied Sciences Office

The Bloomberg School recommends that you take your time researching our offerings and focus on the program that best suits your goals and interests. You may, however, apply to more than one program and/or concentration. If you apply to multiple programs, you may apply to a maximum of three programs per application cycle.

Please be aware you will be required to pay separate application fees for each program to which you apply. You will also want to submit separate personal statements explaining your interest in that specific program.

How transcripts are sent depends on the type of institution from which the applicant earned course credits and/or a degree. Please carefully review the different instances at the SOPHAS Help Center.

The Bloomberg School offers many programs that are eligible for STEM OPT extension. Review our STEM OPT Extension page for a list of programs.

Yes. You will need to use the SOPHAS Transcript request form to request a BSPH transcript be sent to SOPHAS.

Unfortunately the Bloomberg School does not accept transfer credit. You are welcome to apply to any of our programs, however, you will not be able to transfer any coursework or credits into that program.

SOPHAS has a “complete” status which means that your application may meet the SOPHAS requirements for admission – paid application fee, two letters of recommendation, and domestic transcripts. SOPHAS will then “verify” your application at which point they will check the information that you entered for your domestic transcripts.

Applications are considered complete for review once all of the materials for the program you are applying to have been received and the application is verified by SOPHAS. Your application can be verified by SOPHAS without all of the Bloomberg Schools requirements being met. In addition to the two Letters of Recommendation and transcripts (for domestic applicants) that SOPHAS requires for verification, the Bloomberg School will typically require test scores, an additional letter of recommendation, and (for international applicants) your credential evaluation.

After you submit your application and all the required materials are received and processed, your application will be marked complete and sent to the appropriate admissions review committee. The time it takes for the committee to make a decision varies depending on the department and program. You will be notified when a decision is reached.

The Bloomberg School allows individuals to take one or two classes as a non-degree seeking student. This is known as a "Special Student Limited." The Office of Continuing Education Student Services handles the application for non-degree seeking students.

Having right research adviser is an important part of the graduate experience, especially for a research based degree like the PhD. Applicants do not need to contact faculty prior to applying. It is important to share your research interests in the Statement of Purpose. For PhD applicants, if there are faculty you are particularly interested in working with, you may also include their names. 

Advisers are chosen for students based on the interests expressed in the application and on what faculty have the available workload. Many current students are mentored by multiple faculty in addition to their academic adviser.