PhD Public Health Sciences

Creating a healthier future at the university of waterloo.

As part of the School of Public Health Sciences, you will be immersed in leading research, and gain the skills to tackle some of the biggest health concerns of today.

Besides our leading researchers, you will learn how to integrate perspectives from multiple disciplines as well as discover how to use research to design, implement, and evaluate health programs, policies and services.

Professor and student examine health informatics research on a computer monitor.

Program overview 

  • Transdisciplinary approach to addressing public and population health challenges in Canada and around the world
  • You'll learn how to use research to improve the management and accountability of health promotion programs, and health or healthcare systems.
  • PhD students in the School of Public Health Sciences can pursue a designated field to exemplify an area of expertise within their broader program. Fields include  epidemiology and biostatistics, health evaluation, health informatics, health and environment, global health, aging and health and work and health . 
  • The University of Waterloo's unique Intellectual Property (IP) Rights Policy #73 grants ownership to the inventor.
  • The Faculty of Health is committed to providing guaranteed funding over four years to support new domestic doctoral students as part of its PhD funding initiative. Students may also be eligible for additional scholarship and funding opportunities.
  • Our alumni lead careers in research (industry, government and academia), health promotion, health planning, policy and health information analysis, research management, healthcare coordination, epidemiology, program evaluation, and other professions.
  • Research-based, on campus
  • 12 terms | 4 years (Full-time from Master's level)
  • 24 terms | 8 years (Part-time from Master's level)
  • Doctoral thesis
  • Collaborative water specialization also available

Faculty research and expertise

Our research investigates and aims to solve significant local, provincial/state, national and international challenges in various areas of public health and health systems.

Learn more about our experts and their research areas →

Finding a supervisor

  • A supervisor must be secured before an applicant is eligible to receive an offer of admission. Students are strongly advised to secure a confirmed supervisor before applying. Please review the  profiles of faculty members  in your areas of interest.
  • Indicate your confirmed supervisor in the "requested supervisor" section of your application.
  • If you do not have a confirmed supervisor, then use the "requested supervisor" section to name a supervisor with whom you would like to work.
  • Before approaching a potential supervisor, check their profile and see if they are accepting new students to supervise.   Review other key topics for discussion with potential supervisors .
  • Please avoid sending generic inquiries to supervisors. Students are more likely to successfully match with supervisors who share similar research interests and experiences.

Water specialization

Full- or part-time | On campus | Thesis based

Global water issues are becoming increasingly complex and often require a collaborative approach across the breadth of disciplines. The MSc Public Health and Health Systems offers a water specialization.

Facilitated by the University of Waterloo's   Water Institute , this collaborative approach provides access to more than 140 faculty members involved in water research across Waterloo's campus. The program allows you to develop   specialist expertise in public health and health systems, while matching the knowledge and skills required to communicate across disciplines and within interdisciplinary teams in the water sector. 

Find out more about graduate studies in the Collaborative Water Program →

Degree requirements →

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Admission requirements

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How to apply

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Tuition costs

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Living costs

Application deadline: feb 1.

For admission in September 

Apply today.

Our research graduate programs are highly competitive and receive far more applicants than we can accommodate. As such, we are not able to consider late or incomplete applications. For an application to be considered complete, all required documents, including academic references, must be submitted on or before the date above. You must also indicate an interested supervisor in the "requested supervisor" section of your application. We strongly recommend submitting your application no later than January 1 to allow time for document uploads and for references to be submitted by the January 15 deadline.

Considerations for international students before submitting an application:

  • While the Faculty of Health at the University of Waterloo values international students in our graduate programs, we can only accept a small proportion of these students. 
  • Guaranteed funding packages may not be able to cover all tuition and living expenses incurred during a graduate program and students are encouraged to understand more about the cost of completing their graduate program before applying.
  • Your requested supervisor may also be required to fund your studies for your application to be successful.

Graduate student resources

  • Graduate Student Handbook
  • Policies and procedures
  • Funding and awards
  • Study and living costs
  • Centre for Teaching Excellence
  • Research Groups/Labs
  • Graduate Students' Association
  • Graduate student housing

Student stories

As part of her doctoral research,   Lesley Johnston  is investigating ways in which community well-being in Mongolia and Zambia are affected by Canadian-sponsored mining operations.

Learn more about Lesley and other students in the School of Public Health Sciences on our graduate student profile page . 

Lesley Johnson rides camel in the desert.

  • Graduate School
  • Prospective Students
  • Graduate Degree Programs

Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)

Canadian immigration updates.

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

Go to programs search

The School of Population and Public Health offers a research-oriented PhD program that enables students with a masters degree to advance their knowledge and skills in epidemiological and biostatistical methods. Students will further their research training by applying these methods to independent thesis research under the supervision of a faculty member. Students can pursue thesis research in a wide variety of topics related to the health of populations and the delivery of health services.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

I chose to study at UBC because of the School of Population and Public Health’s curriculum and the resources, expertise and leadership of the BCCDC. I am appreciative of the opportunities provided by my mentors, UBC and the PSI to further my education and practice public health research.

phd in public health salary in canada

Aidan Nikiforuk

Quick Facts

Program Enquiries

Admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

  • Canada or the United States
  • International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 100

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 7.0

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is required by some applicants. Please check the program website.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

From September 2024 all full-time students in UBC-Vancouver PhD programs will be provided with a funding package of at least $24,000 for each of the first four years of their PhD. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships. Please note that many graduate programs provide funding packages that are substantially greater than $24,000 per year. Please check with your prospective graduate program for specific details of the funding provided to its PhD students.

Average Funding

  • 24 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 24 students was $6,707.
  • 38 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 38 students was $18,770.
  • 17 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 17 students was $5,352.
  • 57 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 57 students was $10,782.
  • 22 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 22 students was $28,705.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

60 students graduated between 2005 and 2013: 1 is in a non-salaried situation; for 3 we have no data (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016). For the remaining 56 graduates:

phd in public health salary in canada

Sample Employers in Higher Education

Sample employers outside higher education, sample job titles outside higher education, phd career outcome survey, alumni on success.

phd in public health salary in canada

Lianping Ti

Job Title Research Scientist

Employer BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion rates & times.

  • Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

phd in public health salary in canada

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

  • Anis, Aslam (cost effectiveness of AIDS treatments; drug assessments – pharmacoeconomics; health care economics; health regulations, Health economics, rhematoid arthritis, biologic therapies)
  • Bansback, Nick (inform policies and practices in health through the application of)
  • Bhatti, Parveen
  • Black, Charlyn (Public and population health)
  • Brauer, Michael (Environmental and occupational health and safety; Health sciences; Public and population health; air pollution; built environment; Community Health / Public Health; environmental health; environmental epidemiology; healthy cities; remote sensing)
  • Brussoni, Mariana (Developmental psychology; Psychosocial, sociocultural and behavioral determinants of health; Population health interventions; injury prevention; Children's outdoor play; Risky play; Parenting; health behaviour change; Implementation Science)
  • Bryan, Stirling (Economics of health care, policy, from UK)
  • Cox, Susan (Other medical sciences; Sociology and related studies; Arts (arts, history of arts, performing arts, music), architecture and design)
  • Davies, Hugh William (Environmental and occupational health and safety; Health sciences; Public and population health; Antineoplastic drug hazards; Community Health / Public Health; environmental health; Exposure Assessment; Noise and Health; Occupational Health; Occupational Safety and Health)
  • Deering, Kathleen (Medical, health and life sciences)
  • Dummer, Trevor (health geography, cancer prevention, environmental exposures, health inequalities, geographic information science, obesity, risk factors, Environmental epidemiology and environment and health interactions, with specific emphasis on cancer etiology and cancer prevention)
  • Elango, Rajavel (Protein Nutrition, Maternal-Fetal Nutrition, Childhood Malnutrition, Amino Acid Metabolism, Human Nutrition )
  • Frank, Erica (Health sciences; Public and population health; Other education; Free accredited education; Preventive Medicine; Sustainable Architecture and Landscape Architecture; Holocaust studies; Exile Reintegration)
  • Gadermann, Anne (Social determinants of health; Housing and homelessness; Quality of)
  • Gilbert, Mark (Public and population health; Development, implementation, evaluation and scale-up of innovative sexual health programs; Gay men’s sexual health, including sexual health literacy; Synergistic and integrated dynamics of infectious diseases, mental illness and other conditions)
  • Greyson, Devon (Health-related information practices of youth, parents, and families; Intersection between information practices and health behavior,; Cannabis use decision making in pregnancy and lactation; Vaccine confidence and decision making about vaccination; Disinformation in social media support communities; Online communication among young parents)
  • Guhn, Martin (Developmental psychology; Psychosocial, sociocultural and behavioral determinants of health; social context and child development/well-being; Population health; social determinants of health)
  • Henderson, Sarah (Environmental and occupational health and safety; wildfire smoke; air pollution; Extreme weather events; environmental health; radon gas; Food safety; Water quality)
  • Janssen, Patricia (Health sciences; Public and population health; Gestation / Parturition; health of marginalized women; Lifestyle Determinants and Health; maternal child health; mobile health for pregnancy and parenting; Perinatal Period; social determinants of health)
  • Joseph, K.S. (Pregnancy complications, preterm birth, fetal growth, infant mortality, neonatal)
  • Kalua, Khumbo (Population health interventions; Infectious diseases; Global health; Epidemiology (except nutritional and veterinary epidemiology); Neglected Tropical Eye Diseases; Global Eye Health; Cluster Randomized Trials; Implementation Science; International Global Health; Community Based Research; Clinical trials)
  • Karim, Ehsan (Biostatistical methods; Survey methodology and analysis; Statistical learning; Epidemiology (except nutritional and veterinary epidemiology); Public and population health, n.e.c.; Causal inference; Biostatistics; Statistics; Machine Learning; data science; Survey data analysis; multiple sclerosis)
  • Kassam, Rosemin (Medical, health and life sciences; Child Health, Malnutrition, Adult Chronic Disease, Geriatrics)
  • Kazanjian, Arminee (Cancer Survivorship, Knowledge Exchange and, Translation, Psychosocial oncology, Palliative care in cross-cultural context, Vulnerable populations, including women)
  • Kershaw, Paul (child care, parental leave, work-life balance, social policy, social citizenship, responsibilities and rights, gender and politics, income assistance, child benefit package, social inclusion, neighbourhood effects on child development, Canadian federalism, Citizenship, detrimants of Health, social care)

Doctoral Citations

Sample thesis submissions.

  • Developmental profiles of children assessed for autism spectrum disorder at kindergarten and grade 4
  • Evaluating access to medicines interventions in public and private not for profit health facilities in Uganda
  • Investigating access to hepatitis C testing and treatment in Rwanda and beyond
  • The social and economic impacts of cervical cancer on women and children in Uganda
  • Exploring long-term patient satisfaction with total knee arthroplasty : a mixed methods study
  • The Cedar Project : an exploration of Indigenous survivance, connection, and vaccine uptake amid concurrent public health emergencies experienced by urban Indigenous People who use drugs in British Columbia
  • Examining childhood poverty and future developmental and academic outcomes of children in British Columbia : differences by poverty type and immigration background
  • Assessing access to medicines in Canada and beyond before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Air pollution, green space and dementia risk in Canada
  • Involvement of nasopharyngeal angiotensin converting enzyme 2 in severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 infection and transmission
  • Coronary revascularization and timing of treatment : comparative effectiveness of PCI and CABG in British Columbia
  • Muddy molecules for pandemic protection : investigating the use of wetland sediment as a tool for the surveillance of avian influenza virus in wild waterfowl birds
  • Methamphetamine use among people who use opioids : longitudinal patterns and the role of opioid agonist therapy
  • Incidence of non-affective psychotic disorders and access to psychiatric care among adolescents in South-Western British Columbia
  • Diabetes medication use and risk of breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer : a population-based cohort study

Related Programs

Same specialization.

  • Master of Public Health (MPH)
  • Master of Public Health and Master of Science in Nursing (MPH/MSN)
  • Master of Science in Population and Public Health (MSc)

Same Academic Unit

  • Master of Health Administration (MHA)
  • Master of Health Science (MHSc)
  • Master of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (MSc)

Further Information

Specialization.

The School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) offers both research-oriented and professional/course-based graduate programs.

Professional programs

  • The Master of Public Health focuses on illness prevention and health promotion and integrates learning in epidemiology; biostatistics; the social, biological and environmental determinants of health; population health; global health; disease prevention and health systems management with skill-based learning in a practicum setting.
  • The Master of Health Administration is a professional program for clinicians, administrators, researchers and managers who are seeking solutions to today’s complex health delivery issues. Take courses with a multi-disciplinary perspective in health systems, policies and management along with foundational business skills
  • The Master of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (MSc OEH) program provides the skills and knowledge to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and control chemical, physical and biological hazards in workplace and community environments.

Research-based Programs

  • Master of Health Science (MHSc) applicants must have an MD or equivalent, including dentistry or veterinary medicine, and will learn skills that can be applied to their academic and clinical interests, bolstering their research abilities and opportunities.
  • The Master of Science in Population and Public Health program teaches core knowledge and skills in epidemiological and biostatistical methods and allows students to gain research experience by applying methods to a thesis under the supervision of a faculty member. Students can pursue thesis research in a wide variety of topics related to the health of populations and the delivery of health services.
  • The PhD program at SPPH is intended for students who wish to obtain advanced research training that will enable them to conduct independent investigative research.

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

phd in public health salary in canada

Zeina Waheed

UBC’s School of Population and Public Health provides excellent training in health economics, healthcare systems analysis, data analysis, statistics, epidemiology, and qualitative methods. Studying at UBC also provides me with the opportunity to work with my supervisor, Dr. Stirling Bryan, who is...

phd in public health salary in canada

Katherine Hastings

Vancouver is home to one of the leading IYS networks internationally. When I sought out to learn more about IYS and their potential (something that did not exist in the States at the time), it felt like a perfect fit for my interests in youth mental health and health services research. The more...

phd in public health salary in canada

Heather (Hezy) Anholt

I came to UBC specifically to work with Dr. Chelsea Himsworth. Dr. Himsworth is known for her work with the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative and leads several impactful research projects on the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases, including the Vancouver Rat Project and research on high path...

phd in public health salary in canada

I moved to Vancouver in 2018 and was fortunate enough to obtain an employment position at UBC. As a newcomer to Canada, I was immediately embraced by the people and culture of the University. Moreover, not only is UBC a leading research university in Canada, but it is also globally recognized....

phd in public health salary in canada

Curious about life in Vancouver?

Find out how Vancouver enhances your graduate student experience—from the beautiful mountains and city landscapes, to the arts and culture scene, we have it all. Study-life balance at its best!

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Initiatives

  • Public Scholars Initiative
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  • PhD Career Outcomes

PhD Public Health Sciences

phd in public health salary in canada

 OUR PhD PROGRAM 2023

The Department of Public Health Sciences has broadened its PhD program to include all areas of research expertise represented in our faculty including, but not limited to, epidemiology, biostatistics, qualitative, mixed- and community-based methods, the use of health and public-health services, program evaluation, clinical epidemiology, health equity, global health, indigenous health, and health economics.

Our programs place an emphasis on close faculty-student relations and a philosophy that puts the student first. Through coursework, thesis opportunities, and involvement in the academic life of our department, our students graduate with an in-depth understanding of public health research. Our graduates are able to function as independent investigators in academic, health-research institutes and health-research government agencies, or as emerging public-health leaders in government or the private sector.

In the coming year, our PhD program in the Department of Public Health Sciences at Queen’s University has a number of exciting opportunities for qualified applicants. The following members of our department have each expressed an interest in supervising a new PhD student:  

Dr. Susan Bartels is a Clinician-Scientist in the Department of Emergency Medicine with a cross appointment to Public Health Sciences. Her research focuses on the health and well-being of women and children affected by humanitarian crises around the globe. Dr. Bartels is interested in the social determinants of health and uses innovative research methods to provide evidence intended to inform policy and programming that will improve health outcomes and mitigate the risks of natural disasters, armed conflict and forced displacement.  

Dr. Susan Brogly is an epidemiologist with research interests in the area of perinatal epidemiology, surgical outcomes, and advanced epidemiologic methods. Dr. Brogly used both population-based administrative health care data (ICES, Medicaid) and primary data collection in her studies.  

Dr. Steven Brooks is a Clinician-Scientist and Emergency Physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine who conducts research in the areas of cardiac arrest and resuscitation. Dr. Brooks may have availability for a PhD student willing to work with the Canadian COVID-19 Emergency Department Rapid Response Network. This is a developing registry funded by CIHR and the Ontario government, tracking patients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 who attend one of 50 EDs in the country.

Dr. Bingshu Chen is a biostatistician with an interest in survival analysis and generalized linear models. He has developed biomarker threshold models to predict treatment benefit in cancer clinical trials. His other research interests include analysis of health economic data, statistics computing and missing data problems.  

Dr. Anne Duffy is a Clinician-Scientist. She has longitudinal data spanning two decades in high-risk offspring of bipolar parents and has up to two years of psychosocial, clinical and familial data from a representative cohort of undergraduate university students to understand mental health and academic outcomes. These databases provide several opportunities that would make for an interesting thesis including using joint modelling, multi-state and survival analysis. Further information on Dr. Duffy’s research can be found at: https://www.mdco.ca/research/ .

Dr. Jennifer Flemming is a Clinician-Scientist who studies the link between cirrhosis and biliary tract cancer and the burden of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis in Ontario. She uses large population-based databases housed at ICES. Her goal is to improve management strategies for Canadians with liver disease.

Dr. Ana Johnson is a health economist who conducts economic evaluations of health care programs, cost-effectiveness analyses, assessments of resource allocations and use of health technologies.

Dr. Will King is a molecular epidemiologist whose research program seeks to identify modifiable risk factors for cancer. Dr. King studies intermediate markers of cancer risk and genetic susceptibility to better understand environment-cancer relationships.

Dr. Diane Lougheed is a Clinician-Scientist with a research interest in asthma and the development of better information technologies to improve the care of patients with asthma. Dr. Lougheed conducts health services and outcomes research and guideline implementation research in asthma and often uses the ICES data holdings to conduct her work.

Dr. Zihang Lu is a Biostatistician. His research focuses on developing and applying statistical and machine learning methods to answer clinical and epidemiological research questions. His current research interests are in longitudinal data, survival data and high-dimensional data modeling. He is also interested in Bayesian statistics, causal inference and data fusion.

Dr. Maria Ospina is an associate professor with the Department of Public Health Sciences at Queen’s University, and a clinical epidemiologist, and population-health researcher in the areas of perinatal and early childhood health. Her research program (DMETRE) uses a life-course approach and a variety of epidemiological methods (observational studies, systematic reviews, GIS analysis, mixed-methods designs), to assess the developmental origins of health inequalities, and how critical periods of human development such as pregnancy and the first 1,000 days of life influence future health.

Dr. Paul Peng is a is a biostatistician with research interests in survival analysis with a focus on cure models, longitudinal and panel data modeling, statistical computation methods for big data, biostatistical methods for epidemiological and clinical trial research.

Dr. William Pickett is in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Brock University and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at Queen’s University, and an Adjunct Professor in the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. He is a trained epidemiologist whose research interests include: injury and violence prevention; injury and illness in rural and farm populations; and health and its social determinants in adolescent populations, with a primary focus on pediatric violence and injury. Using public health surveillance, analytical and experimental epidemiology, and mixed methods approaches, this work has provided critical insight for policy/health promotion initiatives in Canada, the US and Europe.

Dr. Amrita Roy is a family physician and MD-PhD clinician-scientist in the Departments of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences at Queen’s. A settler ally with a research focus in Indigenous health, Dr. Roy works in close collaboration with Indigenous peoples in community-engaged research centred on the principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP). Apart from Indigenous health, Dr. Roy’s other areas of research interest include immigrant and refugee health, women’s health, youth health, and global health. Methodologically, Dr. Roy has expertise in quantitative, qualitative, mixed- and multiple-methods approaches to health research, in addition to community-based and participatory research approaches.  Fall 2023 PhD opportunity with Dr. Roy:  Opportunity for a PhD student starting fall 2023 in a CIHR-funded Indigenous health research project on sleep and mental health, in partnership with Akwesasne Mohawk Nation .

Dr. Sahar Saeed is an epidemiologist and health-services researcher. Dr. Saeed primarily investigates retention and access to health care among populations including persons living with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and chronic liver disease. She uses primary data collection, population-based administrative health-care data and novel surveillance tools (GPS) to answer her research questions. For more information on her research interest, visit her website at Epidemiologist | Sahar Saeed .   Fall 2023 PhD opportunity with Dr. Saeed and Dr. Stoner

Dr. Bradley Stoner is Professor and Head, Department of Public Health Sciences and Professor of Medicine at Queen’s University. An infectious disease physician and medical anthropologist, Dr. Stoner’s research focuses on the epidemiology, clinical care, control and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV. Fall 2023 PhD opportunity with Dr. Saeed and Dr. Stoner

Dr. Wei Tu  is a biostatistician with research interests in data science and its application in health care. His research focuses on translating different sources of high-dimensional data into informed clinical decision-making. The topics he is working on include personalized medicine, data privacy and causal inference.  

Dr. Maria Velez is a Clinician-Scientist with research interests in reproductive and perinatal epidemiology. Her current research program focuses on infertility and pregnancy outcomes, and the reproductive health of young women with cancer. She uses population-based cohort studies including databases housed at ICES.  

Dr. Paul Villeneuve is an environmental and occupational epidemiologist. His research program is focused on quantifying the health effects from exposure to outdoor air pollution, noise, low levels of radiation, as well as the benefits of urban greenness and walkability.  In addition to carrying out spatiotemporal exposure studies in Canada and Grenada (West Indies), he also uses large population-based databases housed in Statistics Canada’s Research Data Centers, and ICES.

If you have a demonstrable interest in the work of one or more of these professors we encourage you to reach out to them to discuss the possibility of supervision.

Our PhD students are guaranteed minimum funding of $21K per year for four years with further income possibilities coming from Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, or Research Fellowships. Many of our students receive national or provincial scholarships.

For further information about our PhD Program, you can contact the Program Director, Dr. Ian Janssen at [email protected]    or the Program Assistant, Ms. Sue Preston at [email protected] .  Note that all applicants must meet the entry requirements to the program:  https://phs.queensu.ca/programs-courses/degree-programs/phd-public-health-sciences/how-apply  

Student Stories

Paul Boonmak's Story

Program Contacts

Affiliated Research Groups

  • Canadian Cancer Trials Group
  • Centre for Health Services and Policy Research 
  • Emergency Medicine & Injury Research Group
  • Cancer Care & Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute
  • Queen's - ICES Health Services Research 
  • Centre for Studies in Primary Care
  • Centre for Obesity and Research Education 
  • Practice and Research on Nursing (PRN) Group
  • KFL &A Public Health

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The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anisininew, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. More

University of Manitoba

University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, R3T 2N2

Community Health Sciences (PhD)

The Community Health Sciences (PhD) program prepares you for a career teaching community health sciences, training other researchers, designing and executing major research projects and serving as a senior advisor or consultant in health care policy and planning. Gain broad multidisciplinary training in the concepts and methods of population-based health sciences and their application in the practice of population and public health and preventative medicine.

Program details

Admission requirements.

Indigenous group seated in a field.

• Rady Faculty of Health Sciences • Faculty of Graduate Studies

• Doctor of Philosophy

Expected duration

Program options.

• Full-time and part-time

Study with us

In 1987, the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (SPM) and the Division of Community and Northern Medicine (CNM) merged to form the Department of Community Health Sciences. Merging these two units and combining their interests and activities, created a well-rounded, innovative department with a national reputation for excellence in teaching, research and service.

The Department of Community Health Sciences aims to create, preserve and communicate knowledge with respect to the health of populations and thereby contribute to the physical, psychological, cultural, social and economic well-being of the people of Manitoba, Canada and the world.

Internationally recognized research programs

Units, programs and Centres within the department focus on particular areas of research and service, including the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and the Centre for Global Public Health.

Ongomiizwin – the Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing

The Department of Community Health Sciences maintains a close relationship with Ongomiizwin – the Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing. Ongomiizwin supports the department in the development of its undergraduate and graduate teaching programs to enhance the incorporation of Indigenous health.

Access both internationally regarded researchers and award winning teachers.

Dr. Brian Postl with a family.

The Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences offer a four-year program of study leading to a Doctor of Philosophy in Community Health Sciences.

Expected duration: 4 years

Tuition and fees:  Tuition fees are charged for terms one and two and terms four and five. A continuing fee is paid for term three, term six and each subsequent term. (Refer to Graduate tuition and fees .)

In addition to the minimum course requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section , students must complete:

  • A minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework at the 7000-level

Sample course offerings

  • CHSC 7200: Current Concepts in Global Health: Populations, Policies and Programs
  • CHSC 7212: Critical Perspectives on Gender and Health
  • CHSC 7270: Epidemiology of Chronic (Non-Cancer) Diseases
  • CHSC 7320: Organization and Financing of the Canadian Health Care System
  • CHSC 7510: Problem Solving in Public Health
  • CHSC 7520: Principles of Epidemiology
  • CHSC 7710: Social Aspects of Aging
  • CHSC 7860: Methods and Concepts for Community Health Sciences

For full course descriptions, please visit the Academic Calendar .

The following are minimum requirements to be considered for entry into the Community Health Sciences (PhD) program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

To be considered for admission to the Community Health Sciences (PhD) program, you must have:

One of the following degrees:

  • A thesis-based master's degree in community health sciences or public health with content equivalent to that offered by the department, or
  • A thesis-based master's degree in basic medical sciences, biological or social sciences, or
  • A thesis-based professional master's degree such a nursing, education or social work

A satisfactory English language proficiency test score, if applicable. Higher English language test scores are normally required to be competitive in the admissions review process, particularly for the writing band of these specific English language tests:

  • IELTS:  An overall score of at least 7, must include all components of the test (i.e., listening, reading, writing and speaking), where the writing band is not lower than a score of 7.
  • TOEFL (iBT):  a minimum total score of 92 is required, with a writing score no lower than 21
  • If an applicant does not meet these writing score requirements, the Intensive Academic English Program (IAEP) is accepted if completed prior to starting the program.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

In addition to the admission requirements described here, all applicants must meet the minimum admission and English language proficiency requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies .

How to apply

The Community Health Sciences (PhD) program accepts applications for Fall entry only. Applications must be completed online and include several parts:

  • $100 application fee (non-refundable)
  • Unofficial copies of transcripts and degree certificates
  • Three* letters of recommendation (must be requested from within the application). *If your CHS MSc Supervisor has agreed to supervise your PhD program, only two letters of recommendation are required.
  • Supervisor support letter
  • Publication or writing sample
  • Proof of English language proficiency , if required

For the most up-to-date information on your chosen program, please consult the Academic Calendar .

Please read the Faculty of Graduate Studies online application instructions before beginning your application.

Application deadline

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Architecture reviews applications in March.

Applications open up to 18 months prior to start term.

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated.

Start or continue your application

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for City Planning reviews applications in March.

Winter applications are accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Design and Planning reviews applications in March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Interior Design reviews applications in March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Landscape Architecture reviews applications in March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Anthropology reviews applications in March/April.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . Please contact the department for admission committee review timelines.

Applications open September 1 of year prior to start term.

Application deadlines

Applications open   up to 18 months prior  to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for History reviews applications in February.

Applications are reviewed on a  rolling basis .

Applications open July 1 of year prior to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a  Committee basis . The Committee for German and Slavic Studies reviews applications in February/March.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis .

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Management reviews applications in February / March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Physical Therapy reviews applications in April / May.

Applications open  August 1 of the year prior to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . Please contact the department for admission committee review timelines.

Program currently undergoing review, applications will not be opening at this time.

Select Preventive Dental Science in the Program drop-down on the application form.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Educational Administration, Foundations and Psychology reviews applications in March / April.

Applications to Educational Administration, Foundations and Psychology are currently closed.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Education reviews applications in February / March.

Applications to Education PhD are currently closed.

Applications are reviewed after the deadline, with decisions issued in March - April.

Currently not accepting applications to this program.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . Please contact the department for admission committee review timelines.

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated. Applications received by the March 1 deadline for a September start-date will receive first consideration for any available funding. Late applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis for any available funding, please contact the department for further information.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Human Rights reviews applications in January - March.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Law reviews applications in January - March.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Nursing (MN) reviews applications in April / May.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Nursing PhD reviews applications in February / March.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee reviews applications as per the timelines noted below each table.

Winter applications reviewed in October Summer applications reviewed in February Fall applications reviewed in June

Winter applications reviewed in June Summer applications reviewed in October Fall applications reviewed in February

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated. This includes having the support of a faculty supervisor before you apply.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Natural Resources Management reviews applications in March - June.

After the annual application deadline (see below), applications are reviewed on a committee basis by the Faculty of Social Work internal admissions committee. Once this process is complete, decisions are sent to all applicants in March / April. 

Applications open  July 1 of year prior to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Social Work reviews applications in March / April.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Music reviews Fall term applications in December / January, and Winter term applications in July.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Occupational Therapy reviews applications in May / June.

Master of Occupational Therapy regular program  applications open September 15 of the year prior to deadline .

Master of Occupational Therapy accelerated program  applications open October 1  of the year prior to deadline .

The name of your confirmed supervisor is required at the time of application. To identify a prospective thesis research supervisor on your application, please  contact Immunology Faculty members .

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Community Health Sciences reviews applications in March / April.

Fall 2025 applications are currently closed.

The name of your preferred supervisor is required at time of application.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . Students selected for in-person interview will be notified in February.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Physician Assistant Studies reviews applications in April.

Offers of admission will be released to successful applicants on May 17, 2024 from the University of Manitoba Master of Physician Assistant Studies, the same day as the University of Toronto BScPA Program and McMaster University Physician Assistant Education Program. The three institutions are pleased to provide applicants their offers on the same day to help with the decision-making process.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Pharmacology and Therapeutics reviews applications one month after the application deadline.

Applications for Pathology MSc are reviewed on a  rolling basis .

Applications for Pathologist Assistant are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Pathologist Assistant reviews applications in April / May. 

The Pathologist Assistant program only admits Canadian and US students every two years. The Fall 2023 intake has been suspended. The next intake is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2025.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Statistics reviews applications in March / April.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Biological Sciences reviews applications one month after deadline.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Indigenous Studies reviews applications in February and June.

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated. For those who wish to be considered for scholarships, applications must be received by January 15 of the year in which you're seeking admission.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions Committee for Applied Human Nutrition reviews applications in February.

Les demandes d’admission sont évaluées par un comité . Le comité d’admission évalu les demandes durant les mois de Mars et Avril.  

Les demandes peut être surmise jusqu’à concurrence de 18 mois avant le début de premier trimestre.

Toute demande d’admission en ligne doit être déposée, avec documents à l’appui, au plus tard aux dates indiquées.

Soumettre ou continuer votre application

Department of Community Health Sciences

Community Health Sciences is an interdisciplinary department focusing on the creation, preservation and communication of knowledge with respect to the health of populations.

Tuition and fees

Learn about the tuition and fee requirements associated with graduate studies at UM.

Financial aid and awards

There are a variety of awards and funding options to help you pay for school as a student in the Max Rady College of Medicine.

Academic Calendar

Explore program requirements and detailed descriptions of required and elective courses offered in Community Health Sciences (PhD) program.

A wideshot of the Bannatyne campus in the fall. The sky is blue and the trees are mostly green, but they've shed a few leaves. A flowerbed with red flowers decorates the entrance to the building.

Explore the Max Rady College of Medicine

For over 125 years, the Max Rady College of Medicine has contributed to education, research and clinical service. Western Canada’s first medical school, the College develops qualified medical graduates who distinguish themselves through excellence in clinical care, health system innovation and leadership, and internationally recognized research.

  • Programs of study
  • Student experience
  • Community and partners

Two students stand together talking outside of the Tier building at the University of Manitoba Fort Garry campus.

Explore the Faculty of Graduate Studies

Discovery happens here. Join the graduate students and researchers who come here from every corner of the world. They are drawn to the University of Manitoba because it offers the opportunity to do transformational research.

  • Funding, awards and financial aid
  • Graduate student experience

Keep exploring

A graduate student wears a white lab coat and sits at a table working in a lab.

Discover more programs

With over 140 graduate programs across multiple faculties, schools and colleges, the University of Manitoba offers more learning, teaching and research opportunities than any other post-secondary institution in the province.

  • Master of Science in Community Health Sciences (MSc)
  • Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences (MPH)

Two students sitting together in the University of Manitoba Bannatyne campus Buhler atrium.

Join students from around the world in a diverse and supportive community.

What it's like to be a UM undergraduate

Two indigenous students sit together at a round table studying at Migizii Agamik-Bald Eagle Lodge.

Be adventurous, challenge yourself and make a difference.

Opportunities for Indigenous students

Two students stand together talking inside the Active Living Centre.

Experience a world-class education in the heart of Canada

Why international students study with us

The University Of Manitoba Fort Garry campus.

We offer state-of-the-art facilities with 140 years of history.

Our campuses

Admission and application inquiries.

Faculty of Graduate Studies Room 500 UMSU University Centre 65 Chancellors Circle University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus) Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

[email protected] Phone: 204-474-9377

Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Program inquiries

Department of Community Health Sciences Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences S111, Medical Services Building, 750 Bannatyne Avenue University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3 Canada

[email protected] Phone: 204-789-3655

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

  • PhD: Epidemiology
  • Our Programs
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Overview

This program aims to develop excellent epidemiologists, able to work, teach and conduct research on contributors to health; disease, disability and death; and effective measures of prevention.

The overall goal of the program is to enable graduates to acquire the necessary scientific knowledge and methodological skills to become independent researchers in epidemiology.  Graduates with a PhD in epidemiology are expected to have developed the skills which enable them to:

  • evaluate the scientific literature with respect to epidemiologic concepts, theoretical hypotheses, designs, methods, analyses and interpretation;
  • develop theoretical formulations and testable hypotheses from concepts in the literature or epidemiological observations, and propose research questions and design and write research proposals;
  • understand the practical and scientific implications of epidemiological research designs and the associated methodological and analytical techniques;
  • identify and evaluate available data for addressing specific research questions;
  • evaluate strengths and weaknesses of data collection methods, develop methods appropriate for answering specific research questions, and assess the measurement properties of data collection tools;
  • address ethical issues related to epidemiologic studies;
  • appreciate the policy implications of epidemiologic research; and,
  • write and defend a doctoral dissertation which makes a contribution to the scientific literature.

Click here to view PhD Competencies

Admission Requirements

  • Applicants generally are expected to hold a master’s degree in epidemiology or a master’s degree in a related field with strong course work in epidemiology and biostatistics.
  • Applicants are expected to have prior research experience which may be demonstrated through the completion of a master’s thesis, supervised research practicum, or other research experience, and which includes independent contributions to scientific publications.
  • Applicants should have practical experience and reasonable expertise using standard statistical software packages.
  • Click here for information regarding the application process.

Successful applicants will have research interests congruent with those of one or more members of faculty, and may have identified a possible primary or co-supervisor, prior to admission.  Admission may otherwise be conditional upon identifying a supervisor.  Thus, applicants are strongly encouraged to seek out potential supervisors, and discuss with them the possibilities, prior to applying to the degree program.  Applicants should note that identifying a potential supervisor does not guarantee admission.

Course Requirements

Course Requirements (4.0 FCE)

Required Courses (3.5)

Elective Courses (0.5)

Students are best served if their elective courses form part of a coherent package of experience. In this light, students are encouraged to choose elective courses that relate to the theme of their dissertation. For example, advanced methodological courses might be appropriate for a dissertation which involves highly complex statistical analysis; pathology courses for a dissertation which focuses more on disease process; bioethics courses for a dissertation on genetic epidemiology. Electives also may fill gaps in overall training and experience: A student with a largely social sciences background might benefit from health professional level pathology courses; a student with substantial bench-sciences training, who is interested in disease screening, might consider courses in behavioural sciences, health economics, or health policy. Students are encouraged to discuss the selection of appropriate electives with their Supervisory Committees.

Emphasis in Artificial intelligence and Data Science

Students in the PhD program in the Epidemiology field of study have the option to complete an emphasis by completing appropriate coursework in a given area. The emphasis requirements will also count toward, but may exceed, the 4.0 full-course equivalent (FCE) field requirement.

Course Requirements: Emphasis in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (1.5 FCE)

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination is made up of 2 components. Both of the components of the qualifying examination should be completed by the end of the first year.

Details of each component are below:

  • Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2) online tutorial: CORE (Course on Research Ethics) is an introduction to the 2nd edition of the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2). It consists of eight modules focusing on the guidance in TCPS 2 that is applicable to all research regardless of discipline or methodology. The completion of this module is usually done within the Introduction to Public Health Research (CHL5005H) course. A certificate of completion must be emailed to Matilda Kong at kong@utoronto.ca ( http://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/eng/education/tutorial-didacticiel/ )
  • Doctoral Qualifying Examination: Written doctoral qualifying examination*, which includes an in-class written exam and a take-home question. This exam is held June of the first academic year. This part of the examination is designed to test competence in the concepts, principles, data sources, and content of epidemiology, and the ability to apply these concepts and principles critically. The examination may include multiple choice, fill-in-the blanks, calculations, and short answer questions. The take-home question will be an essay-style. An Examination Committee will mark the examination, blind to the identity of the student. A passing grade is 70%. Students who achieve higher percentages will be informed that they have received grades of Honours (90%+) or High Pass (80-89%).

*The written qualifying can be fulfilled after the indicated required courses are complete:

CHL5005H: Professional Skills for Doctoral Students in Public Health (0.5) CHL5404H: Research Methods I (0.5) CHL5406H: Quantitative Methods for Biomedical Research (0.5) CHL5408H: Research Methods II (0.5) CHL5424H: Advanced Quantitative Methods in Epidemiology (0.5)

PhD Proposal Defense

The PhD proposal defense is a requirement for candidacy and should be completed by December of the second year.  The proposal defense can be done during the first year of study  with the approval of the Program Director. The purpose of the proposal defense is to:

  • Ensure that proposed research will result in a successful PhD dissertation.
  • Strengthen the thesis question, design, and methods through critical feedback.
  • Assess the students’ ability to conduct independent and original research.
  • Assess sufficient content/substantive knowledge base relevant to their thesis topic.
  • Provide a formal approval to proceed with the dissertation research.

Format: The proposal will include a brief and cogent review of the literature, justification of the research question, the objectives and hypotheses, design, data collection or data sources, proposed analysis strategies, timetable, ethics, and potential problems or issues. The proposal will conclude with references in proper bibliographic format. The proposal also will include a concise statement of the student’s role in the development and conduct of the research. A title page, with word count, will include the names of the Supervisor and other Supervisory Committee members. The proposal will be printed using a 12-point font, and limited to 10 single-spaced pages. The bibliography and title page are not included in the page or word counts. Appendices should be kept to a minimum.

Defense for approval of PhD proposal:

The proposal defense consists of a written outline of the dissertation proposal and an oral presentation. The completion of this process also counts as the protocol approval, which is required for candidacy. The following elements will be assessed:

  • The literature review is comprehensive and specific to the content area;
  • The proposed work demonstrates scholarly impact and innovation with respect to methods and/or substantive contribution;
  • Clarity of research question/objectives
  • Completeness and relevance to study design/research plan
  • Rationale for approach and methodology
  • Appropriateness of research design
  • Appropriateness of research methods and statistical analyses
  • Feasibility of research approach including power calculation as appropriate
  • Requirement, timeline, preliminary data etc.
  • Anticipation of difficulties/limitations and plans for management
  • Ethical considerations
  • The project is adequate and appropriate for a PhD dissertation and manageable within the time-frame and expectations of the PhD program.

The proposal presentation must be attended by the student, the Supervisory Committee and one external reviewer approved by the Program Director. The presentation will be advertised within the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences, and students and faculty are encouraged to attend.  The external reviewer must be a Full or Associate member of SGS, ideally has research supervisory experience at the doctoral level, and must have specific research expertise in the dissertation topic or methods. The reviewer should have had no previous involvement with the development of the proposal under review.

Process for evaluation:

  • The student’s Supervisory Committee approves the written proposal at least three weeks before the anticipated date of proposal defense.
  • The student contacts the Program Director, with a copy to the Administrative Assistant, to give notice that the proposal is ready for defense, together with the name, email and brief rationale for the external reviewer. As a reminder, the reviewer must have an SGS appointment at the University of Toronto. The Program Director will approve the external reviewer via email.
  • The Supervisor contacts reviewer and committee to arrange the date/time of the presentation, and informs the program Administrative Assistant of the arrangements.
  • The Administrative Assistant reserves a room and any required audiovisual equipment specified by the student, and posts notices on bulletin boards and e-mail, including a confirmatory e-mail to the reviewers and Supervisory Committee.
  • The student distributes the proposal to the external reviewer, Supervisory Committee members, and Administrative Assistant, three weeks before the date of the proposal defense.
  • The proposal defense will begin with a 20-minute presentation of the research proposal by the student, followed by a period of questions and discussion. Presentation questions are posed to the student in two rounds, with approximately 10 minutes allotted to each reviewer per round, with the reviewer taking the lead in the questions. The Supervisor will chair the proceedings and act as timekeeper. The question period will typically be expected to last 60 to 80 minutes. The Supervisor will take notes of all issues raised.
  • At the end of formal questioning, the student and other attendees not part of the review panel will leave the room, and the reviewer and Supervisory Committee will have a general discussion of four elements (I – IV) outlined above. The reviewers will rate the performance of the student using a standardized form and an Accept/Provisional Acceptance/Not Accepted decision will be reached. The Supervisor and external reviewer will take note of the feedback and prepare a summary of the recommendations to share with the student.  Typically, the Supervisor will take notes, on the form during the defense, and email to the external reviewer for final review before sending to the student.

The following outline the implications for the evaluation:

Approval: The student may proceed with dissertation work and remaining program progression, taking note of all feedback received during the protocol defense and in consultation with the Supervisor considering minor amendments to their doctoral research accordingly. This candidacy requirement has been met.

Provisional Approval: The student must create a point-by-point response to the concerns/issues raised and make changes to the proposal within 60 days of the proposal defense. Once the Supervisory committee has approved the revisions, the proposal must be submitted to the Program Director and Administrative Assistant as a final record. An approval will then be recorded for candidacy.

Not approved: Non-approval indicates that the performance was inadequate and/or the protocol has major deficiencies according to the IV domains. In the event that the student is not approved on the first attempt, the student will be permitted one more attempt. Failure of the second attempt will result in a recommendation for program termination.

  • At the conclusion of the discussion, the student will be invited into the room to learn the general outline of the committee’s decision. The decision and the completed form must be conveyed to the Program Director and Administrative Assistant within 1 week of the defense.

Supervision

Click here to view the SGS Supervision Guidelines for Students.

Beginning prior to admission, and with the assistance of the Program Director, the applicant will explore supervisory possibilities: a faculty member with an appointment in the Division of Epidemiology who has a Full appointment in the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), and who conducts epidemiological research. In some instances, the student and the Program Director will identify both a primary and a co-supervisor. The co-supervisor generally will be a faculty member with an Associate appointment in the SGS. The faculty supervisor may be confirmed prior to beginning the program, and generally will be in place by the end of the first year.  students are encouraged to explore broadly and have wide-ranging discussions with potential supervisors.  The Program Director must approve the selection of the primary supervisor and the co-supervisor.

Role and Responsibilities

The Supervisor is responsible for providing mentorship to the student through all phases of the PhD program. Thus; to the extent possible, the Supervisor will guide the selection of courses, dissertation topic, supervisory committee membership, and supervisory committee meetings; will assist with applications for funding; will make every effort to provide funding to the student directly; and will provide references for the student on a timely basis. The Supervisor also will comment on the student’s plan for preparation for the comprehensive examination. The Supervisor will guide the development of the student’s research proposal, and the implementation and conduct of all aspects of the research; advise on writing the dissertation; correct drafts and approve the final dissertation; and attend the defense.

Supervisory Committee

With the assistance of the Supervisor, and with the approval of the Program Director, the student will assemble a Supervisory Committee within the first year of study.

The Supervisory Committee, chaired by the Supervisor, will contribute advice regarding course selection; preparation for the comprehensive examination; selection of the dissertation topic; preparation and defense of the proposal; and implementation of the research plan. The Supervisory Committee also will provide timely and constructive criticism and guidance regarding data analysis, writing the dissertation, and preparing for its defense.

Composition

The Supervisory Committee generally will comprise the Supervisor and at least two members who hold either Full or Associate appointments in the SGS and may or may not hold a primary appointment in Epidemiology. Between these individuals and the Supervisor, there should be expertise in all content and methodological areas relevant to the student’s research focus and dissertation proposal. At times, when the student’s Supervisory Committee extends beyond the requisite Supervisor plus two SGS-qualified members, additional members may not necessarily hold SGS appointments (e.g., community members).  Non-SGS members, however, may participate only as non-voting qualified observers at the SGS Final Oral Examination (i.e., observer who has been approved by the student, the Supervisor, and the SGS Vice-Dean, Programs).

Supervisory Committee meetings will be held at least every six (6) months throughout the student’s PhD program. Under certain circumstances (e.g., during times of very rapid progress), the student and the Supervisory Committee may decide there is a need for more frequent meetings.

At the end of every meeting of the Supervisory Committee, the student and the Committee will complete the Supervisory Committee Meeting Report . All present must sign the report, which will be delivered to the Program Director and filed in the student’s progress file in the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences.

The Report of the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences Oral Defense Committee Meeting will be completed at the end of the Departmental Defense during which the Oral Defense Committee makes the recommendation for the student to proceed to the SGS Final Oral Examination (FOE).  The Report will also be signed and delivered to the Program Director and filed in the student’s progress file in the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences.

Progress Through the PhD

The phases of the PhD program are identified by a set of accomplishments which the student generally will attain in order, and within a satisfactory time. These phases, which will be monitored by the Program Director of the PhD program, are the identification of the Supervisor and the Supervisory Committee, completion of required and elective course work, completion of the comprehensive examination, defense of the research proposal, and defense of the dissertation (both Departmental and SGS ). Full-time students are expected to complete the PhD within four (4) years. Flex-time students may take longer, but not more than eight (8) years; they must submit a revised list of milestones, for approval by the Supervisor and the Program Director.  Click here to view the PhD Epidemiology Timeline .

Research Ethics Board Approval

All research projects in which University of Toronto students are involved at any stage must have approval from the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board (REB). This includes ongoing research projects of the Supervisor which has previously received REB approval and where REB approval is already held from a University affiliated hospital or research institute. Preliminary work necessary to prepare the proposal may also require an original REB application or amendment to the original study. 
See details of the REB application and review process at Office of Research Ethics ( www.research.utoronto.ca/for-researchers-administrators/ethics/ ).

The dissertation proposal, as approved by the Program Director, must have University of Toronto Research Ethics Board approval as a supervised research study. An application for initial REB approval (or amendment to approval for an ongoing study), will therefore follow the approval of the dissertation proposal.

Dissertation

A dissertation in epidemiology must have relevance to the health of human populations. Within that broad framework, the dissertation may deal with any topic in the areas of medicine, public health and, health care services; and the research designs and statistical methods used in these fields. A doctoral dissertation in epidemiology may involve new data, collected for the purpose of the study, or the use of data previously collected. In the latter case, the analysis must be suitably complex, and must be driven by theoretical considerations and a specific research or methodological question. The dissertation result should be new knowledge and should include findings suitable for publication in peer-reviewed epidemiology journals. It may include both methodological and substantive advances in knowledge.

The dissertation topic must include clearly posed research questions amenable to study by appropriate epidemiologic methods. The student must have contributed substantially to the identification of the research question and must have played an integral part in the planning of the investigation. Wherever appropriate, the student will also be expected to participate directly in the collection of the data. Students will be expected to analyze their own data using appropriate analytic approaches.

Format Options for Dissertation

Students may choose one of two options for preparation of the dissertation: a monograph or a series of journal articles. The monograph is the default option. It is a single report, divided into chapters: introduction, literature review, methods, results, and discussion. A reference list would be followed by various appended material, which might include data collection instruments, additional related findings, and the like.

The journal article option varies from the monograph in that the main body of the dissertation comprises approximately three (3) complete, stand-alone manuscripts; these may already have been published, or may be ready to submit for peer-review. The manuscripts should be preceded and followed by material that unites them. So, for instance, an introduction and literature review, and possibly methods, more global in scope than those included in the manuscripts themselves, would precede the manuscripts; likewise, a discussion would follow, and would tie the manuscripts together, describing how they – as a group – make a contribution to the literature. Appended material might include the methodological details that would not be present in the methods sections of the manuscripts.

Regardless of format, the student should identify and follow appropriate style guides for the preparation of the dissertation.

Dissertation Defense

The student should aim to defend the dissertation within four years of entry into the PhD program. The defense of the dissertation will take place in two stages: first, a Departmental defense, second, a formal defense (the Final Oral Examination) before a University committee according to procedures established by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). The two defenses generally are separated by about eight weeks.

Departmental Defense

The Departmental defense will be held after the completed dissertation has been approved by all members of the student’s Supervisory Committee, and the completion of the final Supervisory Committee meeting report. The purpose of this defense is to rehearse the oral presentation for the SGS defense and to determine whether the student is ready for the SGS defense.

The student should expect constructive criticism about the clarity and length of the presentation and the quality of visual materials, as well as about the dissertation itself. In particular, the Departmental defense will confirm that:

  • The student has adequately met the requirements for a dissertation; and,
  • The student has the required level of understanding of the scientific issues involved in the dissertation work.

The Departmental defense is attended by the student, the Supervisor and other members of the Supervisory Committee, and two reviewers with full SGS appointments. At least one reviewer should have supervisory experience in epidemiology at the doctoral level. The second reviewer may be a substantive expert from another discipline. Eligible reviewers will have had no prior involvement with the design or conduct of the research, with the exception of providing references or other background material, and generally will not be the faculty who served as reviewers at the proposal defense. The presentation will be advertised within the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences, and other students and faculty are encouraged to attend.

  • The Supervisory Committee approves the dissertation, at least four (4) weeks before the anticipated date of the defense.
  • The Supervisory Committee identifies at least two potential reviewers.
  • The student contacts the Program Director (copy to the Administrative Assistant) to give notice that the dissertation is ready for defense, together with the names and email addresses of potential reviewers. If necessary, the Program Director suggests alternative reviewers. The Program Director approves the reviewers, and will nominate one of them to be the Program Director’s representative.
  • The Supervisor contacts reviewers and arranges the date/time of the defense, and informs the Administrative Assistant of the arrangements.
  • The Administrative Assistant reserves a room and any required audiovisual equipment, as specified by the student, and posts notices on bulletin boards and e-mail, including a confirmatory e-mail to the Supervisory Committee and reviewers.
  • The student distributes a copy of the dissertation to reviewers and to Supervisory Committee members four (4) weeks before the date of the defense, with an extra copy to the Supervisor (or designate) which may be made available to other faculty or students who may wish to read it.
  • The Oral Defense Committee comprises the external reviewers, the Supervisor and the other Supervisory Committee members.
  • Before the Oral Defense Committee convenes, the student and non-committee attendees may be asked to leave the room to permit discussion of the defense process among the Oral Defense Committee members.
  • The defense will begin with a 20-minute presentation by the student of the research findings, followed by a period of questions and discussion among those present, with the two reviewers taking the lead in the questions. The Supervisor will chair the proceedings and act as timekeeper. The question period will typically be expected to last 60 to 80 minutes. The Supervisor will take notes of all issues raised.
  • At the end of formal questioning, the student and other attendees will generally be asked to leave the room, and the Oral Defense Committee will discuss any issues of concern, to provide focused, constructive, and detailed feedback to the student, Supervisor, and other members of the Supervisory Committee on the dissertation and its oral defense. The Program Director’s Representative will take note of the feedback with respect to whether the dissertation work is generally adequate for the Final Oral Examination (FOE); changes that should be made to the dissertation prior to arranging for the FOE, and improvements that could be made to the oral presentation and defense; and will prepare a summary of the recommendations. If revisions to the text of the dissertation are recommended, there will also be discussion of the timing of the FOE. The student may be invited to be present at these discussions at the discretion of the Oral Defense Committee.
  • At the end of the Departmental Defense, the Oral Defense Committee  will complete the Report of the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences Oral Defense Committee Meeting. The options for proceedings are:

a) Dissertation is acceptable: ____    as is ____    with corrections/modifications as described in report to be prepared by the Program Director’s Representative

b) Another Supervisory Committee meeting required to see final dissertation: ____ Yes ____ No

c) If no, Committee member to see that changes are made: __________________________

d) Dissertation recommended for examination in: ______ months.

The Report will be delivered to the Program Director and filed in the student’s file in the Graduate office of Public Health Sciences.

School of Graduate Studies Final Oral Examination (FOE)

  • Click here to view Policies & Procedures, PhD
  • Click here to view the Procedures for Arranging PhD Defences

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Job Opportunity - Epidemiologists, Public Health Agency of Canada

Epidemiologists - join the public health agency of canada.

Reference number: AHS20J-022589-000002 Selection process number: 20-AHS-IDPC-EA-NCR-301186

Public Health Agency of Canada Calgary (Alberta), Edmonton (Alberta), Vancouver (British Columbia), Winnipeg (Manitoba), Moncton (New Brunswick), St. John's (Newfoundland and Labrador), Halifax (Nova Scotia), Iqaluit (Nunavut), Guelph (Ontario), Ottawa (Ontario), Toronto (Ontario), Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island), Montréal Island (Québec), Saint-Hyacinthe (Québec), Regina (Saskatchewan), Whitehorse (Yukon) EC-04, EC-05 Indeterminate, Term, Casual, Deployment, Assignment, Secondment, Acting, Interchange Canada $73,027 to $100,492 (EC-04: $73,027 to $84,510 | EC-05: $87,308 to $100,492)

For further information on the organization, please visit Public Health Agency of Canada

Closing date: 31 March 2021 - 23:59, Pacific Time

Who can apply: Persons residing in Canada and Canadian citizens residing abroad.

Apply online

Important messages

Are you looking for a meaningful career as an Epidemiologist? Join the Public Health Agency of Canada! We have immediate and future needs to recruit a significant number of Epidemiologist. Do you have: • Epidemiology or Public Health education and experience • A passion for working with health data • An ability to analyse, interpret, synthesize and provide recommendations and • Want to be part of a team that achieves results?

Then keep reading to find out more about this exciting opportunity!

Some of the duties include, but are not limited to: •Conducts, plans, designs epidemiological research, studies, surveillance through data collection, validation, analysis, monitoring and interpretation. •Critically evaluates and assesses epidemiological/statistical and other scientific evidence, studies, targeted surveillance and research activities and methodologies to identify and evaluate risk factors to public health as well as to validate the integrity of the data and scientific methodology. •Prepares and disseminates reports for use by stakeholders and prepares data/statistics and information for briefings, presentations, responses to ministerial enquiries, the media and the public. •As a subject-matter expert, develops recommendations for consideration by PHAC senior management in making evidenced-based decisions on strategic planning and required areas of research. •Participates in multi-disciplinary project teams to conduct epidemiological studies and analyses. •May manage project teams or a Unit conducting epidemiological and/or bio-statistical research, surveillance, risk assessment and investigations.

Work environment

Who are we? The Public Health Agency of Canada has been created to deliver on the Government of Canada's commitment to help protect the health and safety of all Canadians. Its activities focus on preventing chronic diseases, like cancer and heart disease, preventing injuries and responding to public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks. Why should you consider the Public Health Agency of Canada as your next career stepping-stone? The Public Health Agency of Canada provides its employees with an exceptional workplace, opportunities for professional development, access to continued learning throughout their careers and flexible work schedules. You will have the opportunity to work in a fast-paced organization with engaged individuals. You will also enjoy your salary, as well as, benefits (dental and health care) for you and your family, an appealing pension plan and access to our Family and Employee Assistance Program.

Intent of the process

The intent of this inventory is to have a pool of interested and/or qualified candidates to draw from for current and future needs within the Public Health Agency of Canada. Online applications will be accepted as long as the poster is active. The Public Health Agency of Canada will periodically pull and review the applications received and contact applicants selected for further assessment based on the needs. It is therefore important for candidates to apply online as soon as possible. As this process is for EC-04 to EC-05 positions, depth and breadth of experience/response may be used during screening, assessment and/or selection of candidate.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A response to a text question addressing the following:

  • Tell us where you saw or heard about this job advertisement: LinkedIn, Indeed, Twitter, Post-Secondary Institution communication, Association website/communication, Word of Mouth, Other? Please note that your response is not linked to this staffing process but will be used to inform future government recruitment campaigns.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

If this sounds like an exciting opportunity to you, please confirm that you meet the criteria for the positions and apply now! The application process is simple. You only need to confirm your profile within your account on GC jobs which includes your education level, select the level of the level(s) you are interested in, respond to the screening questions (make sure you provide details), answer the yes/no questions for the additional experience criteria, and upload your resume. Come join this important team! EDUCATION • Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in Economics, Sociology or Statistics* and epidemiology**. *Candidates must always have a degree. The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and may have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization. The specialization may also be obtained through an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience. **Epidemiology education must include at a minimum one course in Bio-statistics and two courses in Epidemiology. If you have an epidemiology background (experience, training and/or education) and a degree in nursing, veterinary, biology or medical doctorate, we still encourage you to apply.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE • Significant* experience in Public Health or Epidemiology** *Significant years of experience refers to the depth, breadth and complexity of experience NORMALLY acquired from performing the duties for the number of years below. However, meeting this minimum requirements of years does not necessarily mean that you will meet the requirement as required experiences may vary by positions. • 0 - 2 years of public health or epidemiology experience (EC-04) • 2 - 4 years of public health or epidemiology experience (EC-05) **Public health or epidemiology experience is defined as experience gained in the analysis and interpretation of health data in the context of public health practice, which may include: surveillance related activities, investigation of public health issues, program development, implementation, evaluation, or health promotion. The experience can be obtained through employment in an academic program, a clinical setting or a public health organization or government department/agency. Experience gained through a graduate degree program/research or volunteer work is not acceptable).

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Various language requirements English Essential; French Essential or Bilingual Imperative (Various Bilingual Profiles – BBB/BBB, CBC/CBC)

Information on language requirements

COMPETENCIES • Working effectively with others • Thinking Things Through • Shows initiative and is action-orientated • Judgement • Attention to detail • Reliability

ABILITIES • Ability to communicate effectively verbally. • Ability to communicate effectively in writing. • Ability to analyse, interpret and synthesize data and provide recommendations. NOTE: ▪ Based on the hiring division’s needs, additional essential qualifications, asset qualifications, organizational needs,operational requirements and/or conditions of employment maybe identified and applied during the assessment and/or selection of candidates.

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Candidates MAY be required to meet the following education qualification, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed as they may be deemed as either an Essential or Asset qualification. • Graduation with a Master's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in epidemiology, public health, behavioural sciences or another specialty related to the position being staffed. • Graduation with a PHD from a recognized post-secondary institution with an acceptable specialization in epidemiology, public health, behavioural sciences or specialization relevant to the position being staffed. • Graduation with a Doctoral or Clinical degree (PhD, MD, DVM, RN) from a recognized post-secondary institution.

Candidates MAY be required to meet ONE OR MORE of the following qualifications, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed as they may be deemed as either an Essential or Asset qualification. EC-04 • Experience in analysing survey data • Experience in working with large data sets and performing data analysis • Experience in using statistical software to manipulate datasets. EC-05 • Experience in the design, development, evaluation or management of public health surveillance activities or system(s). • Experience compiling, analyzing and interpreting epidemiological or surveillance information for technical reports or briefing materials • Experience in designing or evaluating epidemiological studies. • Experience planning, developing or delivering content used in public health training such as a workshop, in-person or online training course. • Experience providing recommendations to senior management • Experience in the development and management of chronic, noncommunicable or infectious/communicable disease surveillance systems. • Experience working with external or internal stakeholders • Experience conducting complex statistical analysis (e.g., statistical modelling, factor analyses, geospatial analyses, regression analyses, etc.). Both (EC-04 & EC-05) • Experience in applied epidemiology (e.g., conducting or coordinating outbreak investigations, chronic or infectious/communicable disease surveillance or other applied epidemiological studies). • Experience in epidemiological or statistical modeling. • Experience in conducting risk assessments or risk analysis. • Experience in responding to infectious disease outbreaks. • Experience in chronic disease epidemiology or research • Experience in mental health /mental illness epidemiology or research • Experience in social and/or behavioural sciences • Experience working in a public health or health sciences environment • Experience in analysing large health datasets, including population based surveys or health administrative data. • Experience in analysis related to vulnerable populations and or determinants of health • Experience conducting literature reviews of published articles

•Knowledge of using statistical software to manipulate datasets and perform data analysis. •Knowledge of methodological approaches to clinical practice or public health guideline development, and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) •Knowledge of evidence synthesis methods (i.e. overview of reviews, systematic reviews, rapid reviews) with quantitative or qualitative evidence

• Ability to work under pressure NOTE: Based on the hiring needs, additional essential qualifications, asset qualifications, organizational needs,operational requirements and/or conditions of employment may be identified and applied during the assessmentand/or selection of candidates.

Operational Requirements: Candidates MAY be required to meet ONE OR MORE of the following operational requirements depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed. • Willingness and availability to travel domestically and/or internationally. • Available to work overtime, often on short notice based on operational requirements.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Secret security clearance

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request special accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential. Information on accommodation for persons with disabilities: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/assessment-accommodation-page.html You are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of your choice (English or French). You are asked to indicate your preferred official language in your application.

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Contact information

People standing in line outside

Doctorate in Population Health (PhD)

Program overview.

" Population health refers to the health of a population as measured by health status indicators and as influenced by social, economic and physical environments, personal health practices, individual capacity and coping skills, human biology, early childhood development, and health services. As an approach, population health focuses on the interrelated conditions and factors that influence the health of populations over the life course, identifies systematic variations in their patterns of occurrence, and applies the resulting knowledge to develop and implement policies and actions to improve the health and well-being of those populations. ” - Federal, Provincial and Territorial Advisory Committee on Population Health (ACPH), 1997.

The bilingual PhD in Population Health challenges students to address population health issues, determinants and causes of health, design of multi-level interventions, health systems, and health policy, grounded within interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks. Students integrate and apply knowledge from social, biological, clinical, organizational, and political sciences to generate new knowledge and advance the science of population health. Graduates will develop analytic and research skills to apply rigorous scientific methods to studies of population health, and develop knowledge, skills and experience to function as effective interdisciplinary researchers, health policy makers, health-care providers, legislators, and managers in the health sector.

Course sequence

List of approved courses and their areas of knowledge

Research areas

  • Indigenous health
  • Population health intervention
  • Environmental, developmental and social factors of youth health
  • Prevention, treatment and support of youth health
  • Psychosocial, sociocultural and behavioral determinants of health
  • Environmental determinants of health (including environment-gene interactions)
  • Ethical, legal, and social issues in health, health systems and health research
  • Aging process and social and biological determinants of aging
  • Environmental and occupational health and safety
  • Epidemiology
  • Health promotion and disease prevention
  • Health equity
  • Sex and gender-based analysis
  • Gender and health relationship
  • Global health
  • Health and gender based violence
  • Military and veterans' health
  • Etiology of disease and conditions
  • Nutritional epidemiology
  • One Health approach
  • Other population health intervention, n.e.c.

Post-graduation opportunities

The Ph.D. in Population Health prepares students for teaching, administration and research in academic settings and careers in health in the public or private sector.

Required documents:

  • Letter of intent  (2 pages)
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts : You must submit official transcripts from every university you attended. This mandatory requirement applies to all courses and programs at any university you have ever attended, including regular programs (completed or not), exchanges, letters of permission, online or correspondence courses, courses taken as a special student or visiting student, etc. If the transcript and degree certificate are not in English or French, you must submit a translation of the transcript that is signed and sealed by a certified translator.
  • Resume (CV)
  • Evidence of language proficiency : TOEFL 550 / IELTS Overall 6.5 - Individual 5.0 (Paper-based) OR TOEFL 79-80 / IELTS Overall 6.5 - Individual 5.0 (Internet-based)
  • Additional information form : Declaration of Language Competency, Letter of support from the proposed supervisor, knowledge assessment

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Ph.D.: Program Requirements

Ph.d. epidemiology.

  • Global Health Option
  • Pharmacoepidemiology Option
  • Population Dynamics Option

Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the patterns and causes of disease in human populations. It forms the core discipline of public health by identifying excess illness and by gaining the etiologic understanding to intervene toward the improvement of population health. The PhD program in epidemiology at McGill trains scientists and health professionals to design and conduct studies, analyze health data and effectively communicate scientific results, and to gain novel insights into the causes and prevention of diseases at the population level. Epidemiologic work at the doctoral level involves a thorough integration of biological knowledge of pathogenesis, statistical knowledge of quantitative analysis and causal inference, and sociological knowledge to place these insights in the context of dynamic and interconnected human populations. Major areas of strength at McGill include epidemiologic methods, clinical epidemiology, infectious diseases, social epidemiology, pharmacoepidemiology, public and population health, global health, environmental epidemiology, chronic diseases and aging, and perinatal epidemiology.

Program Requirements

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.

Required Courses (16 credits)

Epidemiology & Biostatistics: The comprehensive examination is a written examination. The objective is to assess the degree to which students have been able to assimilate and apply the principles of epidemiologic research. Examinations held twice yearly.

Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics

  • This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
  • There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year

Epidemiology & Biostatistics: Essential skills for thesis writing and defence, including essential elements of research protocols, formulation of research objectives, the design, and strategies.

  • Note: Required for Ph.D. students.

Epidemiology & Biostatistics: This course will provide an overview of the concepts and principles underlying epidemiologic study design. Focus will be on the importance of appropriately formulating the research question, identifying the target population, defining the relevant entities, and on how these factors affect the validity of study findings. Examples from the published literature will be extensively used to illustrate the crucial points and will be discussed in class.

  • Restriction(s): Registration in the Ph.D. Epidemiology program, or permission of the instructor.
  • Jay S Kaufman

Epidemiology & Biostatistics: Estimation of epidemiologic effect measures and their confidence intervals in a variety of different study designs. Emphasis on analysis of sample data sets using regression models, graphical and tabular presentation of results, causal interpretation of effect estimates, writing reports for scientific publications, and sensitivity analyses for violated assumptions.

  • Prerequisite(s): EPIB 603 and EPIB 621 or equivalent
  • Restriction(s): Open to Ph.D students in Epidemiology or Biostatistics programs only.
  • Not open to students who have taken EPIB 604 .
  • Mabel Carabali

Epidemiology & Biostatistics: The course has a conceptual and analytical causal inference perspective. The nature of specific study biases resulting in non-causal components in the observed association between exposure and outcome are discussed, including endogenous selection bias, measured and unmeasured confounding, and measurement error. Methods to recover the causal effect with such biases are presented. Causal mediation analysis is discussed. Models for survival analysis are discussed as well as the problem of- and some solutions to missing data. A brief overview of genetic epidemiology principles is covered.

  • Prerequisite(s): EPIB 704
  • Restriction(s): Open to Ph.D. students in Epidemiology or Biostatistics programs only.
  • Not open to students who have taken EPIB 608 .
  • Winter 2025
  • Jonathan Chevrier

Epidemiology & Biostatistics: This course aims to provide an opportunity to students who have completed the Epidemiology course series in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, to optimize their training in ways that will be helpful to their thesis research and to the development of their career as epidemiologists. The content of this interactive course and the delivery of the material is primarily determined by students based on the knowledge gaps that they identify. The course will allow students to expand their methodological tool box, explore controversies in epidemiology, and gain experience synthesizing and communicating complex concepts to an informed audience.

  • Prerequisite(s): EPIB 701
  • Restriction(s): Enrolment in PhD Epidemiology or permission of instructor
  • Not open to students who have taken EPIB 609 .
  • James Brophy

Epidemiology & Biostatistics: Lectures and discussions and student oral and written presentations with the aim of providing guidance and experience in the development of objectives, background and methods for both the formulation of, and the constructive peer criticism of, research protocols in the health sciences.

  • Restriction(s): Registration in the PhD program in Epidemiology.
  • Not open to students who have taken EPIB 623 .
  • Seungmi Yang

Complementary Courses (9 credits)

9 credits of coursework, at the 500 level or higher, with a minimum of 3 credits in biostatistics and 6 credits in epidemiology and/or substantive topic (normally related to the thesis topic). Courses must be chosen in consultation with the student’s supervisor and/or the degree program’s director or adviser.

These courses can be chosen from the Department’s current offer of more than 40 courses in epidemiology, biostatistics and occupational health as well as from other McGill Departments. To assist you in your course selections see the Ph.D. Epidemiology Electives Guidelines page .

Comprehensive Exam (EPIB 701)

Students will normally take the Comprehensive Exam (EPIB 701) within 12 to 24 months of entry into the Ph.D. degree program. The Comprehensive Exam is held once a year in June. The exam is intended to test students’ ability to synthesize and integrate epidemiological knowledge. For details on the Comprehensive Exam, see the course outline for EPIB 701. The exam is graded “Pass” or “Fail”.  Students with a “Fail” must repeat the exam the following year.

Protocol Defense (EPIB 702)

The comprehensive exam and the above required courses are usually completed before submitting and defending the thesis research protocol in EPIB 702. For details on the Protocol Defense, see the course outline for EPIB 702. The exam is graded “Pass” or “Provisional Pass” or “Fail”.

Students with a “Provisional Pass” (some deficiencies noted but not enough to stop progress on the thesis) are recommended to undertake (in consultation with their supervisor), specific remedial steps to address the areas of weakness identified in the exam. These could include additional courses, essays, assignments, and short courses. After satisfactory completion of these remedial steps the student will be considered to have a “Pass” on the Comprehensive Exam/Protocol Defense. Students are permitted to continue with their normal progression through the program.

Students with a “Fail” must repeat the exam the following year.

Thesis Research

Thesis research is normally actively undertaken following the comprehensive Exam. It is expected that students will complete their degree within 48 to 60 months of entry into the Ph.D. degree program.

Program Advisor: kristian.filion [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. K. Filion)

Program Director: sam.harper [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Ph.D.%20Epidemiology%20inquiry) (Prof. S. Harper)

Ph.D. Global Health Option

This option will provide enhanced training in global health to graduate students registered in the Ph.D. in Epidemiology; Global Health degree program at McGill. Students will become familiar with topics of global health relevance and incorporate this into their core coursework and thesis research. The thesis must be relevant to global health and approved by the Global Health Coordinating Committee. Contextualizing the core training students receive in epidemiology and in their respective substantive discipline within the global health research domain will enhance their academic experience. Graduates of this option will be prepared to pursue further training in global health or to undertake a variety of career opportunities in global health in Canada or internationally.

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain. The thesis must be relevant to global health and approved by the Global Health Coordinating Committee.

Required Courses (22 credits)

Epidemiology & Biostatistics: A review of selected epidemiological research focussing on global health and disease topics. Research will be mostly from developing countries and research methods will be highlighted. Case studies will be used to illustrate specific applications and challenges.

  • Prerequisite: With permission of instructor.

Population&Pub Health Sciences: This exciting and interactive course aims to give students the opportunity to broaden their understanding and knowledge of global health issues, including global burden of diseases, determinants of health, transition in health and drivers of such transition, challenges in healthcare delivery in resource-limited settings, and the variety of agencies and actors engaged in addressing global health challenges. The course consists of lectures, case studies, debates, discussions and small group work.

  • Madhukar Pai

Complementary Courses (9 credits)

6 credits of coursework at the 500 level or higher, with a minimum of 3 credits in biostatistics, and 3 credits in epidemiology. Courses must be chosen in consultation with the student's supervisor and/or the degree program's director or adviser.

3 credits of coursework at the 500 level or higher from this list, or any other course approved by the Global Health Option Committee that have not been taken to satisfy other program requirements.

Geography: A critical review of current themes and trends in health geography, with emphasis on geographical perspectives in public health research. Topics include the social and environmental determinants of chronic and infectious disease, health and health-related behaviours. Seminars focus on critical appraisal of conceptual and methodological approaches in health geography research.

Offered by: Geography

  • Prerequisite: GEOG 303 or GEOG 403 or permission of instructor
  • Restrictions: Course open to U3 undergraduate students and graduate students in the Department of Geography OR others with permission of instructor. Not open to students who took GEOG 503 in Winter 2009.
  • Mylene Riva

Nutrition and Dietetics: This course will cover the major nutritional problems in developing countries. The focus will be on nutrition and health and emphasize young children and other vulnerable groups. The role of diet and disease for each major nutritional problem will be discussed.

Offered by: Human Nutrition

  • 2 lectures and one seminar
  • Prerequisite: For undergraduate students, consent of instructor required
  • Grace S Marquis

Population&Pub Health Sciences: Comparative perspective to illustrate processes involved in the development and evolution of health care systems around the world. Countries examined will represent different welfare state regimes, health care system typologies, levels of development and wealth.

  • Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
  • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 525 . Not open to students who are taking or have taken SOCI 525 .
  • Note: This course is cross-listed in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health and in Sociology
  • Amélie Quesnel Vallée

Population&Pub Health Sciences: Key health policy topics in developed economies using analytic frameworks and tools from economics. Major topics include health insurance, health care financing, and the roles of individuals and public and private institutions in the health care system.

  • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 527 .
  • NOTE: This course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments, with the permission of the instructor. A background in introductory economics is useful, though not required.

Population&Pub Health Sciences: This course presents the grand challenges in global health from environmental and occupational risks along with the multi-disciplinary methods used to identify, control, and prevent them. It will introduce students to knowledge and skills in core disciplines of environmental health and approaches to environmental risk recognition, control and prevention in a global context.

  • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 529 .
  • 1. Permission of instructor required for undergraduate students.
  • 2.This course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments.
  • 3. Previous coursework in statistics and environmental science is useful, though not required.
  • Scott Andrew Weichenthal

Sociology (Arts): Examination of the social causes and consequences of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Gender inequality, sexual behaviours, marriage systems, migration, and poverty are shaping the pandemic as well as how the pandemic is altering social, demographic and economic conditions across Africa.

Offered by: Sociology

  • Prerequisites: SOCI 225 or SOCI 309 or Permission of Instructor.

Sociology (Arts): Focus on the diverse forces of globalization that impact the lives of men and women. Critical analysis of key theories and concepts implicated in the intersection of globalization processes with gender dynamisms.

  • Prerequisite: SOCI 270 or permission of instructor.
  • Elaine S Weiner

Sociology (Arts): The classic literature of sociology of population. Drawing reciprocal linkages between social and population processes: Historical, family and labour force demography, demographic and fertility transitions, mortality, ethnic and race relations, gender, macro-structural interaction theory, and the relation of population and the environment.

  • Prerequisite: SOCI 234 or equivalent

GH Advisor: madhukar.pai [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Ph.D.%20Epidemiology%20Global%20Health%20Option%20inquiry) (Prof. M. Pai)

Ph.D. Pharmacoepidemiology Option

This program provides in-depth training for graduate students on pharmacoepidemiologic methods and the application of these methods to study the population effects (benefits and harm) of pharmaceutical products. Students will acquire the skills to become independent investigators and conduct original research in pharmacoepidemiology. Career opportunities for graduates are multiple and include work in industry, government, or academia. Students will be required to participate in the Pharmacoepidemiology Journal Club. Research topics must be related to pharmacoepidemiology and approved by the program coordinating committee.

Required Courses (25 credits)

Epidemiology & Biostatistics: The objective of this course is to provide students with an in-depth review of the methods and principles of pharmacoepidemiology. Topics covered include themes related to the potential data sources, appropriate exposure definitions, the use of active drug comparators, latency and the application of lag periods, reverse causality, detection bias, methodological considerations in the assessment of acute versus chronic outcomes, new-user designs, healthy-user effects, and non-traditional study designs (e.g., within-user designs). In addition, the role of confounding and methods used to minimize its effects, such as the use of propensity scores, instrumental variables, and marginal structural models will be discussed.

  • Prerequisite(s): EPIB-603, EPIB-621, or equivalent, or permission of instructor.
  • Laurent Azoulay

Epidemiology & Biostatistics: The utility of epidemiological techniques for the assessment of drug benefits after their marketing is presented. The course is composed of four parts: (i) methodology of Phase IV studies (efficacy and effectiveness studies); (ii) measurement of quality of life; (iii) evaluation of the economic impact of drugs; (iv) assessment of the effects of drugs and vaccines on the public health system.

  • Offered only in Summer term.
  • Prerequisite(s): EPIB 601 and EPIB 607 or permission of instructor.
  • Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the first lecture day and withdrawal is the second lecture day.

Epidemiology & Biostatistics: In this course, students are confronted with real examples of pharmaco-epidemiologic problems. Flagship studies in pharmaco-epidemiology are reviewed in terms of protocol, design issues, data collection, statistical analysis and interpretation of results.

  • Prerequisites: EPIB 631 , EPIB 633 or permission of instructor

Epidemiology & Biostatistics: The objective of this course is to provide students with an indepth review of the principles of pharmacology which are essential for the design, analysis and critical appraisal of studies in pharmacoepidemiology.

  • Prerequisite(s): EPIB 633 , or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
  • Christel Renoux

Complementary Courses (3 credits)

3 credits of coursework in biostatistics at the 500 level or higher. Courses must be chosen in consultation with the student’s supervisor and/or the degree program’s director or adviser.

PE Advisor: robert.platt [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Ph.D.%20Epi.%20Pharmacoepidemiology%20Option%20inquiry) (Prof. R. Platt)

Ph.D. Population Dynamics Option

The Population Dynamics Option (PDO) is a cross-disciplinary, cross-faculty graduate program offered by the  Centre on Population Dynamics  (CPD) as an option within existing master’s and doctoral programs in the Departments of Sociology, Economics, and Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (EBOH) at McGill University. Students who have been admitted through their home department or faculty may apply for admission to the option. The option is coordinated by the CPD, in partnership with participating academic units.

Thus, in addition to the rigorous training provided in the Department of EBOH, graduate students who choose this option become  Centre on Population Dynamics  (CPD) student trainees. This affiliation notably offers opportunities for interdisciplinary research and supervision. The option also provides a forum whereby graduate students bring their disciplinary perspectives together and enrich each other's learning through structured courses, a weekly seminar series, and informal discussions and networking.

With interdisciplinary research being increasingly important to understanding complex social and biological processes, CPD student trainees benefit from both a strong disciplinary foundation from their departmental affiliations, as well as from the sharing of knowledge across disciplinary boundaries through CPD activities.

Sociology (Arts): Introduction to demographic measurement and modeling. Course covers direct and indirect estimation, standardization, life table construction, and population projections.

  • Specific topics may vary from semester to semester.

9 credits of coursework, at the 500 level or higher, with a minimum of 3 credits in biostatistics, 3 credits in epidemiology, and 3 credits from courses approved for the Population Dynamics Option from the list below:

ECON 622 Course not available

Economics (Arts): A systematic treatment of the characteristics and problems of economic development in underdeveloped countries.

Offered by: Economics

  • Franque Grimard

Economics (Arts): A synthesis of theoretical developments in the area of labour economics with stress upon problems of empirical testing.

Economics (Arts): Problems of economic growth and planning in selected underdeveloped countries. Topics covered vary from year to year in response to student interests; growth, poverty and income distribution, LDC labour markets and institutions, trade and development, international debt problems, issues in trade policy.

  • Franque Grimard, Francesco Amodio

Economics (Arts): Selected theoretical and policy issues in labour economics.

  • Fernando Saltiel

Economics (Arts): Surveys the empirical techniques used in applied microeconomic fields, particularly development and labour economics. Focus is on the formulation of empirical models derived from economic theory, and on various estimation methodologies, including panel data econometrics, limited dependent variable models, and duration analysis. A "hands on" approach is emphasized.

  • Prerequisite: First term of ECON 662 and either ECON 634 or ECON 641 , or consent of the instructor
  • Saraswata Chaudhuri

Economics (Arts): The emphasis will be on describing and analyzing the structure and performance of the Canadian health system, though some attention will be given to recent attempts by the federal and provincial governments to deal with current problems in this field. Readings will be selected from the economics and health literature.

Epidemiology & Biostatistics: Methods for conducting studies in social epidemiology and population health will be covered. Topics will include causal inference; measurement and concepts of social exposures; methods for study design and analysis. Techniques for descriptive and etiologic investigations of socioeconomic position, gender, race and ethnicity, geography, and social policies will be discussed.

  • Prerequisites: EPIB 603 and EPIB 621 , or permission of the instructors

Population&Pub Health Sciences: Concepts and methods used to carry out economic evaluations of health programs and interventions, including public health interventions, pharmaceuticals, and other health care interventions. Includes topics such as calculation of unit costs, measurement of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and assessment of uncertainty in cost-effectiveness analysis.

  • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 528 .
  • No prior background in economics is required.
  • Open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments.
  • Alton Russell

Population&Pub Health Sciences: Introduction to the field of infectious disease epidemiology taught from a public health perspective. Topics include analytic methods, study design, outbreak investigations, surveillance, vaccine development and evaluations, screening, modelling, and infectious causes of cancer or chronic diseases.

  • Prerequisite: EPIB 601 or Permission of Instructor.
  • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 615 .
  • Note: An undergraduate level biology course is highly recommended.
  • Joanna-Trees M Merckx

Sociology (Arts): An upper-level course that will cover the major theories and findings from the social scientific study of fertility behavior. Readings and discussion will focus on the causal linkages between social change and transitions in fertility behavior. We will examine contemporary and historical fertility behavior and transitions across the globe.

  • Restriction(s): Open to graduate students and final year undergraduates

Sociology (Arts): Major themes in the theoretical literature on ethnicity. Public policies with direct and indirect implications for inter-ethnic relations will be studied. Policies affecting areas such as language, education, immigration, employment and promotion, multiculturalism and welfare. Examples drawn from several multi-ethnic societies. Political, constitutional, and economic problems associated with these policy initiatives.

  • Prerequisite: SOCI 230 or permission from the instructor.
  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken SOCI 629 .

Sociology (Arts): Review of the major demographic, economic and sociological theories of internal and international migration. The main emphasis will be on empirical research on migration and immigrant groups.

  • Prerequisite: 15 credits in the Social Sciences
  • Thomas G Soehl

Sociology (Arts): Comparative perspective to illustrate processes involved in the development and evolution of health care systems around the world. Countries examined will represent different welfare state regimes, health care system typologies, levels of development and wealth.

  • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 525 . Not open to students who are taking or have taken PPHS 525 .
  • Note: This course is cross-listed in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health and in Sociology.

Sociology (Arts): This seminar reviews literature on major research areas in family. The course examines families in the past, the study of family using a life course approach, and considers selective areas which may have had significant influences on contemporary family such as work and family, family violence, and cultural variation in families.

  • Undergraduate students require permission of instructor

Sociology (Arts): This course will explore linkages between social and biological systems, their influence on health and well-being over the life course, and on health disparities. Topics include classical sociological approaches to biosocial processes, sociobiology (reductionist, but population-based), and newer demographic studies on gen-environment, epigenetic, and stress-metabolic/allostatic processes.

Courses must be chosen in consultation with the student's supervisor and/or the degree program's director or adviser.

PDO Advisor: amelie.quesnelvallee [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Ph.D.%20Epi.%20Population%20Dynamics%20Option%20inquiry) (Prof. A. Quesnel-Vallée)

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Health Services and Policy Research Doctoral Training Programs in Canada

Table 1 is an inventory of university-based health services and policy research (and related) doctoral training programs in Canada. A HSPR doctoral training program is defined as a program that is authorized to award a degree, concentration or specialization in HSPR or a related field, such as health economics, health technology assessment, health services organization and management, health services outcomes and evaluation, etc.). *Related assets are doctoral training programs in related fields, like public policy, epidemiology, and biostatistics that do not indicate a specialization or concentration in HSPR. Table 1 was compiled based on a 2014 analysis of Canada’s assets and resources in HSPR (full report is available upon request), a 2016 search of university websites in all provinces and territories across the country, and validation with key informant experts. It is possible that some programs were missed and that the list is comprehensive but not exhaustive.

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Employment opportunities at Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada

Find out what types of positions are available at Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

On this page

What types of jobs are available at health canada, what types of jobs are available at the public health agency of canada, what are the responsibilities of some of the positions, for more information.

With more than 10,000 employees across Canada, Health Canada has job opportunities for:

  • researchers
  • policy analysts
  • information technology
  • administration
  • communications
  • human resources

With approximately 2300 employees across Canada, the Public Health Agency has job opportunities for:

  • technicians
  • veterinarians
  • epidemiologists
  • medical specialists
  • public health nurses

Browse some of the career overviews to see where your interests and talents might fit into our diverse team:

Administrative or Executive Assistant

Communications officer, community health nurse, epidemiologist or biostatistician, information and records management specialist, laboratory biologist, laboratory chemist, laboratory technician, policy analyst, program officer, quarantine officer, regional regulatory compliance and enforcement officer, regulatory affairs officer, security analyst, it security.

Administrative and Executive Assistants provide administrative/executive support services to managers and staff.

  • arrange travel and hospitality
  • research and prepare materials for meetings
  • prepare a variety of materials, correspondence and information
  • distribute information to staff, external clients and stakeholders
  • compile data and information for tracking and reporting purposes
  • input data in a variety of administrative, financial and program databases, records and systems
  • coordinate and arrange meetings, teleconferences and conferences for colleagues and your manager

Communications Officers enable effective communications, outreach and engagement with Canadians

  • assist in preparing communications products
  • provide research, writing, editing and scheduling support
  • media relations
  • creative services
  • web and e-communications
  • internal, ministerial and corporate services

Community Health Nurses provide a comprehensive range of core nursing functions and services in First Nations and Inuit communities.

  • rehabilitative
  • individuals
  • communities
  • family groups
  • larger populations
  • promote disease and injury prevention and population health protection
  • deliver services in program areas of community and public health as well as primary and home care

Epidemiologists and Biostatisticians conduct epidemiological and biostatistical:

  • contribute to the development of discussion, position and policy papers
  • be involved with project teams that recommend analytical methods, research and study approaches
  • information and standards requirements

Information and Records Management Specialists work in the development of information and records management classification structures and guidelines.

  • ensuring their implementation and application in managing information
  • monitoring and reporting on their application

Laboratory Biologists conduct:

  • methodical analyses
  • research projects
  • methodologies
  • new laboratory approaches
  • review scientific literature
  • collect, analyze and interpret data and research to present to colleagues, management and stakeholders
  • prioritize research and projects
  • select techniques and methodologies

Laboratory Chemists conduct:

  • methods developments and validations
  • data interpretations for studies of chemicals and other materials for stakeholders
  • operate and maintain computerized scientific instruments
  • participate in the development of quality control procedures
  • standards setting
  • product evaluation
  • research and risk assessment

Laboratory Technicians:

  • organize, maintain or assist in experiments
  • provide technical support in a laboratory or field setting
  • collect and compile test results and identify anomalies and their potential causes
  • help with the technical and logistical planning and design of experiments and projects

Policy Analysts are responsible for:

  • analyzing the results of economic, socio-economic, statistical and policy research
  • tracking and monitoring issues related to a portfolio of specific health-related policy issues
  • issues involve domestic and international trends and developments in support of the policy development function
  • providing suggestions concerning policy implications to more senior policy analysts
  • fact sheets
  • narrative reports
  • data collection methods and manipulation techniques

Program Officers contribute to the delivery and administration of public-directed programs and services.

  • respond to requests for information
  • find solutions to operational problems
  • promote and ensure compliance with legislation
  • review applications and submissions from external clients and private organizations

Quarantine Officers identify biosecurity risks at points of entry to Canada. You will assess ill travellers at land, sea and air borders.

As a medical professional, you will:

  • report on medical findings
  • liaise with local officials to minimize the risk of infectious diseases
  • conduct health assessments to determine if travellers need additional health measures

Regional Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement Officers conduct inspections and compliance verifications of regulated products and industries. This is in order to assess compliance and enforce applicable legislation.

You will also:

  • regulated parties

Regulatory Affairs Officers screen, review and analyze health product submission documents to determine their compliance with:

  • screening criteria
  • acts and regulations
  • provide scientific and regulatory advice regarding product guidelines, policies, processes and procedures
  • review scientific labelling developed by manufacturers for compliance with Health Canada labelling standards
  • contribute to the development, revision or implementation of standards, policies, guidelines, processes or systems related to regulatory activities

Security Analysts provide technical support to internal and external clients and stakeholders in the development, implementation, integration and maintenance of components of IT infrastructure and operations.

  • update and maintain hardware and software inventory
  • support backup and recovery processes and procedures
  • assess impact of hardware and software changes on the IT environment in the office
  • Apply for a job at Health Canada or the Public Health Agency of Canada
  • Email the Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada's Student Office at [email protected]
  • Federal public service jobs

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  1. PhD Public Health Sciences

    PhD students in the School of Public Health Sciences can pursue a designated field to exemplify an area of expertise within their broader program. Fields include epidemiology and biostatistics, health evaluation, health informatics, health and environment, global health, aging and health and work and health . The University of Waterloo's unique ...

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    The School of Population and Public Health offers a research-oriented PhD program that enables students with a masters degree to advance their knowledge and skills in epidemiological and biostatistical methods. Students will further their research training by applying these methods to independent thesis research under the supervision of a faculty member. Students can pursue thesis research in ...

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    Fall 2023 PhD opportunity with Dr. Saeed and Dr. Stoner. Dr. Bradley Stoner is Professor and Head, Department of Public Health Sciences and Professor of Medicine at Queen's University. An infectious disease physician and medical anthropologist, Dr. Stoner's research focuses on the epidemiology, clinical care, control and prevention of ...

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  5. PhD Programs

    PhD Specializations. Choose from four specializations to increase your ability to generate new knowledge in the field of public health: PhD in Epidemiology. PhD in Health Promotion and Socio-behavioural Sciences. PhD in Health Services and Policy Research. PhD in Public Health.

  6. Doctor of Public Health

    The Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH) at the University of Toronto is pleased to announce the implementation of a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program - the first ever offered by a Canadian university. The program is aligned with the School's Academic Plan 2019-2024 and will serve to bolster and strengthen public health and ...

  7. PhD Position in Public Health Jobs (with Salaries)

    Public Health Ontario. Hybrid work in Toronto, ON. $95,734-$134,018 a year. Full-time + 2. Monday to Friday. A PhD in an applied science area of child health and development (e.g., early child development, family health, reproductive health) combined with at least a…. Posted 1 day ago ·.

  8. Community Health Sciences (PhD)

    The Community Health Sciences (PhD) program prepares you for a career teaching community health sciences, training other researchers, designing and executing major research projects and serving as a senior advisor or consultant in health care policy and planning. Gain broad multidisciplinary training in the concepts and methods of population-based health sciences and their application in the ...

  9. PhD: Epidemiology

    Degree Overview This program aims to develop excellent epidemiologists, able to work, teach and conduct research on contributors to health; disease, disability and death; and effective measures of prevention. Objective The overall goal of the program is to enable graduates to acquire the necessary scientific knowledge and methodological skills to become independent researchers in epidemiology

  10. Epidemiologists, Public Health Agency of Canada

    Epidemiologists - Join the Public Health Agency of Canada! Reference number: AHS20J-022589-000002 ... You will also enjoy your salary, as well as, benefits (dental and health care) for you and your family, an appealing pension plan and access to our Family and Employee Assistance Program. ... (PhD, MD, DVM, RN) from a recognized post-secondary ...

  11. Doctorate in Population Health (PhD)

    The bilingual PhD in Population Health challenges students to address population health issues, determinants and causes of health, design of multi-level interventions, health systems, and health policy, grounded within interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks. Students integrate and apply knowledge from social, biological, clinical ...

  12. List of PHD Programs in Public Health in Canada

    Alphabetical Order Z to A. Find the list of all PHD Programs in Public Health in Canada with our interactive Program search tool. Use the filters to list programs by subject, location, program type or study level.

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    The Department of Public Health Sciences at Queen's University has broadened its PhD program to include all areas of research expertise represented in our faculty including, but not limited to, epidemiology, biostatistics, qualitative, program evaluation, clinical epidemiology, health equity, global health, indigenous health, and health economics.

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    Ph.D. Epidemiology Global Health Option Pharmacoepidemiology Option Population Dynamics Option Ph.D. Epidemiology Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the patterns and causes of disease in human populations. It forms the core discipline of public health by identifying excess illness and by gaining the etiologic understanding to intervene toward the improvement of population health. The ...

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    Search 58 Public Health PhD jobs now available in Ontario on Indeed.com, the world's largest job site. ... are seeking a highly qualified individual to join our team in advancing an exciting program of research centred on the public health workforce in Canada. ... The salary is $50,000 CAD/year with benefits.

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  18. Health Services and Policy Research Doctoral Training Programs in Canada

    Overview. Table 1 is an inventory of university-based health services and policy research (and related) doctoral training programs in Canada. A HSPR doctoral training program is defined as a program that is authorized to award a degree, concentration or specialization in HSPR or a related field, such as health economics, health technology ...

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    Epidemiologists, on the other hand, earn a median annual age of $75,690. The top-paying PhD in public heath jobs for this particular position pay $112,600 per year or more. Career opportunities for a PhD in public health as a public health advisors can earn a person an average of $99,730 per year. However, if a person chooses PhD public health ...

  22. Employment opportunities at Health Canada and the Public Health Agency

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  23. Public Health Doctoral Scholarship

    All students who are eligible will be considered for this award. Office of Educational Programs. P: 780-492-8211. F: 780-492-0364. E: [email protected]. Documents. Public Health Doctoral Scholarship.