MPH to PhD: What You Need to Know

Many students attend multiple universities as they advance their education. It’s not unusual to earn a bachelor’s degree at one college, complete a master’s degree at another university, and pursue a doctoral degree at a third institution.

What if you have a bachelor’s degree and you’re strongly considering earning a PhD in the public health field? Do you really need to split up graduate school by attending two different colleges?

There is a simpler path: You can enroll in a dual-degree program. In the public health field, you may complete a dual-degree that allows you to earn both your Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees at a single institution, which is called an MPH to PhD. If you’re considering a long-term career in public health research, teaching, or policy, an MPH to PhD program offers a clear academic path forward.

An MPH to PhD program is a structured academic track that allows students to earn both a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree and a Doctor of Public Health. These programs are typically open to bachelor’s degree holders. Academically, they guide students through applied training in public health, and then into advanced research.

This dual degree program is different from the traditional route, where a student completes an MPH and then applies separately to a PhD program, often at another institution. It also differs from PhD programs that allow students to earn a master’s degree at the completion of their doctoral work.

Instead, most MPH to PhD programs are designed as a stepwise academic pathway, meaning that students move through two distinct but connected phases of training. The first phase focuses on applied public health practice, culminating in a Master of Public Health degree or an MS in Public Health (MSPH). In this stage, the curriculum generally includes courses in areas like epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, and program implementation.

After completing the MPH graduation requirements, students advance to the doctoral phase, where the focus shifts to research design, data analysis, and theoretical frameworks. This step typically includes dissertation research and advanced coursework in public health sciences, such as advanced biostatistics and advanced epidemiology.

For many public health professionals, earning a PhD is about taking the next step. With an MPH and a PhD, you’re equipped to lead change at the intersection of practice and research. An MPH provides hands-on public health skills, while a PhD provides advanced research training to design studies and publish findings. Professionals with both degrees are adept at translating research into policy and practice and are uniquely positioned to design interventions and shape evidence-based programs that improve population health.

If you're interested in creating policy, becoming a leader in public health administration, teaching at the university level, or studying the root causes of health challenges, earning an MPH and a PhD can prepare you to do those things. Those dual degrees can open doors to roles like professor, global health director, or principal investigator. Your education can also open leadership paths in NGOs, government agencies, and global health organizations, empowering you to create meaningful, large-scale impacts in public health.

MPH to PhD programs typically take five to seven years to complete. While some programs integrate MPH and PhD coursework concurrently, most dual degree programs begin with master’s in public health coursework during the first one to two years. This phase focuses on applied public health skills. After completing the MPH courses and taking qualifying exams, students are eligible to advance into the doctoral program phase.

The PhD portion includes two or three more years of advanced work in research methods, theory, and the student’s chosen area of specialization. Strong relationships with faculty advisors are key at every stage. Advisors guide students as they develop their research ideas and work on their dissertations. This mentorship helps students grow into confident public health researchers.

Admission to MPH to PhD programs is competitive, and requirements vary by university. Applicants typically need a strong academic background and a bachelor’s degree, often in public health, a health science field, or biology. Common application materials include official transcripts, a curriculum vitae or résumé, and three letters of recommendation.

Dual degree programs often also request a statement of purpose or a personal statement, which is a written document that describes the student’s research interests, career goals, and alignment with the degree program’s focus. Some programs require the GRE, while others make it optional or waive it for qualified applicants. Prospective students should carefully review each program’s MPH and PhD requirements; admissions criteria can differ significantly.

Graduate admissions teams look for applicants who understand how their interests connect with existing faculty research, so a strong application often begins with reaching out to potential faculty advisors. Many schools are moving toward holistic review, which means that they place greater emphasis on how well a student is likely to mesh with the program and the university’s research areas than on standardized test scores.