Admissions FAQs

* The combined MD/MPH, MD/MBA, and DVM/MPH programs are applied to through the medical and veterinary schools. Students are reviewed by the MPH or MBA committee after they are offered admission to the medical or veterinary school. MD applicants may apply via the online TUSM secondary application at any time during the application cycle. Space is limited in the programs so applying early is recommended.

For more detailed information about the admissions process, please visit the PHPD admissions section.

The MPH, MS/HCOM, & MS/PREP programs have the following fall and spring priority admissions deadlines:

• January 15th, with some flexibility, for applicants who wish to enroll in the fall
• October 25th, with some flexibility, for applicants who wish to enroll in the spring

Applicants may submit after the priority deadlines, but will be considered on a space available basis. The application goes offline and is unavailable from July 15 to September 15.

BA/MPH Applicants must apply by July 15th before their senior year.

The MBS program application deadline is July 1st.  All application materials must be received by this date.  Materials received after July 1st will be considered on a space available basis.

Please note that these are the deadlines for the Public Health & Professional Degree Programs. Dual-degree seeking students must adhere to the deadlines of either the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy (if pursuing the MS-Nutrition/MPH) or Northeastern University (if pursuing a JD/MPH) for the separate application that is required by those schools.

Please visit the Contact Us web page to find contact information.  To learn more about your visiting options, please see our Visiting Campus & Events page.

On average, applicants can expect a decision in 4 to 6 weeks for the MPH program and 6 to 8 weeks for the MBS program. This can vary depending upon the volume of applications we receive, the Admissions Committee schedule, and so on.

After you have submitted your application and we have received all required additional materials, you will be sent an email to indicate that your application has been marked as complete. Within that email, we include a general timeframe of when you can expect an admissions decision.

Applications are reviewed in the order that they are completed. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to submit all required materials as early as possible.

Applicants applying to a PHPD Program who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled in a U.S. college or university and demonstrate a financial need may be eligible for an application fee waiver.  Permanent residents must provide proof of this status (e.g. a copy of their green card).

Waiver requests only apply to applicants who apply through Tufts and not via the SOPHAS or CASPA application systems.  SOPHAS and CASPA have their own process for applying for an application fee waiver.

To apply for an Application Fee Waiver, you will need to complete our Fee Waiver Request Form. Once it has been submitted, our Admissions Staff will let you know if the waiver has been granted.

No PHPD programs are offered fully online.  Some individual courses are offered online.

Please see our Academic Calendars for program start dates.

• MPH, Doctor of Public Health, MS/HCOM, and MS/PREP programs: The Fall semester usually begins the week of Labor Day.  The Spring semester begins the week of Martin Luther King Day.
• MBS program: Mid/late August.  The MBS program starts in the Fall.  There is no Spring start date.
• Physician Assistant program: Mid-January.

• MPH, MS/HCOM, & MS/PREP programs:  Most classes are offered in the late afternoon and at night, allowing students flexibility to work during the day. There are some courses offered during the day as well.
• MBS program: Essentially, students will be in class all day throughout the week.

No. Many of our students come to us directly from their undergraduate program, and from a variety of academic majors. Some students are preparing for blended careers in law or medicine. In addition, many of our students are public health professionals who have been in the field for several years. We welcome all types of students.

There is no GRE score minimum. The Admissions Committee takes an applicant’s entire file into consideration when making an admissions decision.

Both MCAT and GMAT scores are accepted in lieu of the GRE. The LSAT may not be substituted for the GRE, unless the student is applying for the joint JD/MPH program. 

Applicants may request a waiver of the GRE requirement. Typically, waivers are only granted if candidates have a doctorate or professional degree and/or have several years of professional experience. Students who are interested, will need to complete the Official Test Score Waiver Request. 

MPH & MS/HCOM: An Applied Learning Experience (ALE) is required.

Physician Assistant (PA): A thesis component is not required.

MS/Biomedical Sciences: Students must complete either a literature or laboratory based thesis.

MS/PREP: A capstone project is required.

There is no interview required or available for MBS, MPH, MS/HCOM, or MS/PREP applicants.

There is an interview component for Physician Assistant applicants.

• Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee an interview to the program.
• Selected candidates who have complete and competitive applications will be invited to attend one of several interview sessions held throughout the summer and fall.
• If invited for an interview, applicants will receive an email.

For the MPH, MS/HCOM, & MS/PREP programs:  Yes. We offer two summer sessions, and core courses are available. If you have been accepted for admission for the Fall semester, but you wish to matriculate and start taking courses in the summer, you may arrange to do so by calling or emailing the PHPD Admissions Office. 

Students who matriculate in the summer may be eligible for financial aid and are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible to discuss the summer application process.

The main campus of Tufts University is located in Medford, which is about 9 miles north of Boston. However, the PHPD programs are on the Tufts Health Sciences Campus in downtown Boston.  This campus includes the Medical School, Dental School, Friedman School of Nutrition, and Sackler School.

Yes, there are Teaching Assistantship and Research Assistantship opportunities available.  Teaching Assistantships are generally available for the MPH and MS Health Communication Programs for students who have taken the relevant course(s) or have significant experience in the subject area.  RAs are generally available via faculty in the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, as well as throughout the other schools housed on the Boston Health Sciences campus of Tufts University.  Please visit the following website for more detailed information.