Doctorate in Philosophy Population Health at University of Ottawa - Program overview

Program overview

Admission Requirements

Intakes

Last updated on 2026-10-05

Program overview

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Program overview

The Doctorate in Philosophy Population Health program at the University of Ottawa offers a unique interdisciplinary approach to understanding health issues. This program is designed for individuals interested in exploring the determinants of health, health inequities, and effective population health interventions. It is offered through a collaboration of five faculties, including Health Sciences, Medicine, Social Sciences, Management, and Law. Students will engage in a comprehensive study of population health, applying their individual backgrounds to address complex health challenges. The program is available in a bilingual format, allowing students to express themselves in either English or French.

Program structure

The Doctorate in Philosophy Population Health program is structured to provide a comprehensive education over a duration of 48 consecutive months. The program includes:

Full-time registration status option
Core courses offered in a bilingual format
Thesis-based research component
Comprehensive examination
Elective courses tailored to students' research interests

Students are encouraged to engage in research across various settings, from local to global contexts. The program also offers opportunities for students to apply their knowledge through practical experiences, such as internships or co-op placements, enhancing their learning and professional development.

Featured Experiences

Interdisciplinary collaboration across five faculties, providing a broad perspective on population health.
Research opportunities in diverse settings, allowing students to explore local and global health issues.
Access to various research centres and institutes affiliated with the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Practicum experiences that involve direct interaction with policy makers in national health policy settings.
Engagement in both quantitative and qualitative research methods to address complex health problems.

Career Options

Health Policy Analyst: Evaluates and develops policies to improve public health outcomes, working with government agencies and organizations.
Epidemiologist: Studies the distribution and determinants of health-related states in populations, contributing to disease prevention and control strategies.
Public Health Researcher: Conducts research to identify health trends and inform public health initiatives, often collaborating with academic and governmental institutions.
Health Program Manager: Oversees the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health programs, ensuring they meet community needs and regulatory standards.
Biostatistician: Applies statistical methods to analyze health data, supporting research studies and public health decision-making.

DISCLAIMER: The information above is subject to change. For the latest updates, please contact LOA Portal's advisors.

Visit University of Ottawa official website

Last updated on 2026-10-05

Program overview

Admission Requirements

Population Health, PhD

Degree Offered: PhD

Available Options for Program

Student status

Full-Time:	Yes
Part-Time:	No

Language

English:	Yes
French:	Yes

Minimum Requirements

Master's degree (B+ average according to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies calculation). This program is bilingual in French and English: students may be required to attend courses in both languages. Therefore, applicants must have an excellent command of the first language (usually demonstrated by at least two years of post-secondary education in French or English) and, at a minimum, a passive comprehension of the second language (potentially demonstrated by a language proficiency test).

The program reserves the right to further assess one or both languages. For applicants who have not studied in either English or French, proof of proficiency must be provided for both languages.

Average time to completion

12 terms

Your complete admission package must include

Application Fee:	CA$125.00 (non-refundable)
Recommendation letter(s):	2 It is highly recommended that you contact your referee prior to submitting your application to confirm their email address and their availability to complete your letter of recommendation.
Transcript(s):	1 You must upload copies of all transcripts from universities you have attended by using the uoDoc application. Transcripts must cover all courses and programs at any university you have attended, including regular programs (whether completed or not), exchanges, letters of permission, online or correspondence courses, courses taken as a non-degree student or visiting students, etc. If your transcript and degree certificate are not in English or French, you must submit a copy of a certified translation. Once you've received your offer of admission, if the offer contains any conditions for submitting official documents, you will need to upload them to uoDoc. Some exceptions apply. Previous or current Ottawa students do not need to submit a transcript of their studies at the University of Ottawa. Professional programs in rehabilitation require all transcripts, including those from uOttawa.
Language requirements (if applicable) Language proficiency test scores equivalencies:	French Program: DALF C1, C2/ TCF B2 (note globale)/TEF B2 (Note globale) (Internet-based) English Program: TOEFL 84/New TOEFL 4, 24 (Writing); 20 (Individual)/IELTS 6.5, 6.5 (Writing); 6 (Individual) (Internet-based)
Required document(s):	Resumé Letter of intent Statement of language proficiency Proof of language proficiency Additional information form: (Knowledge Assessment) Approval of supervisor: We strongly recommend that you contact potential supervisors early. To be admitted, you must be accepted by a thesis supervisor. Please note that non required admission documents will not be consulted, conserved or returned to the student. These documents will be destroyed according to our administrative procedures.

Language Requirements

Program-Specific English Requirements

Language Requirements

Applicants must have an active knowledge of either English or French, and a passive knowledge of the other language. Passive knowledge is defined as both oral and reading comprehension ability. As part of the application process, students may be required to complete a second language test.

Applicants whose first language is neither French nor English must provide proof of proficiency in the language of instruction.

Note: Candidates are responsible for any fees associated with the language tests.

General Graduate English Requirements

English proficiency test chart

Test	Minimum Required Score
TOEFL iBT Internet-based/Home Edition/Paper (for tests taken before January 21, 2026)*	84 (overall); 24 (writing); no partial score below 20
TOEFL iBT Internet-based / Home Edition/ Paper (for tests taken after January 21, 2026)*	4.5 or 86 (overall); 4.5 or 21 (writing); 4.5 or 22 (reading); 4.5 or 20 (listening); 4 or 20 (speaking)
IELTS Academic/ IELTS Academic One Skill Retake	6.5 (overall); 6.5 (writing); no partial score below 6
Cambridge English Proficiency Tests (B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency)	170 (overall); no partial score below 160
PTE (Pearson Test of English)	60 (overall); no partial score below 59
CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Test)	70 (overall); no partial score below 60

* Effective January 21, 2026, TOEFL is changing its grading system to a 1-6 band scale instead of a 1-120 band scale. Score reports will include results on both scales for the next two years.

The University of Ottawa accepts TOEFL MyBest^®scores for the TOEFL iBT test.

French proficiency test chart

Test	Minimum Required Score
DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française)	C1/C2
TCF (Test de connaissance du français)	B2 (overall); no partial score below B2
TEF Canada (Test d’évaluation de français)	B2 (overall); no partial score below B2

Where the program-specific and general graduate requirements above differ, whichever score is higher (stricter) applies.

DISCLAIMER: The information above is subject to change. For the latest updates, please contact LOA Portal's advisors. The listed minimum requirements are a guideline and do not guarantee admission. Do not worry, we will notify you of any changes during the application process.

Not meeting the minimum language requirements?

You may still be able to apply!