• Recommendation letters are required to be professional, typed on letterhead, and signed by the evaluator. 
• Recommendation letters should speak to relevant academic achievements, work, research experience, and applicable leadership, communication, teamwork, and analytical competencies.
• SOPHAS requires that applicants enter three evaluators names, but will consider the application complete once two recommendation letters are received.

When submitting your Statement of Purpose it should be unique to the concentration in which you are applying to. Your statement is intended to give you the opportunity to submit a tailored narrative which will describe your education, experience and professional career objectives. Statements must be original and 1-page minimum.

Your personal statement should describe your:

• Interest in public health
• Reasons for choosing your program of study and/or concentration
• Reasons for interest in the University of Cincinnati
• Previous accomplishments and future career goals

• All non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluation by World Education Services (WES). Applications that have a pending Foreign Evaluation will be considered incomplete, and will not be sent for review.
• Applicants completing their final semester of their undergraduate degree will be required to re-send their final official transcript showing that their degree has been completed directly to SOPHAS if admitted into the program.

English proficiency is required of all applications whose native language is not English. Applicants can demonstrate proficiency in one of the following ways:

I. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

• Minimum TOEFL Internet-Based score: 80
• Official TOEFL scores must be submitted directly to SOPHAS. (SOPHAS Code: 5688)

II. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

• Minimum IELTS Overall Band score: 6.5
• Official IELTS scores must be submitted directly to the University of Cincinnati Graduate School e-download account. Please contact your test center and request that your scores be sent to the following IELTS e-download account:

University of Cincinnati - Graduate School

110 Van Wormer Hall

PO BOX 210627

Cincinnati, OH 45221-0621

United States

III. Duolingo English Test

• Minimum Duolingo English score: 105
• This test is available online, and you do not have to make an appointment or travel to a test center. You can take the test from your home via a computer and webcam.
• Please refer to the Duolingo English Help Center for answers to questions regarding the rules and requirements of the test. Duolingo offers customer support through e-mail and chat available on their website.
• To submit your score, log in to your Duolingo account:
  • Scroll down to the results that you would like to share, and click “Send Results”
  • Select “University”
  • Type in “University of Cincinnati Graduate Programs” and click the checkbox; press “Next”
  • Confirm that your information is correct and submit

English Proficiency Requirement Waivers
1. Automatic Waiver of English Language Testing
International applicants will automatically be exempted from the English proficiency testing requirements if they have received a baccalaureate or higher degree from one of the following countries on the approved UC Graduate School Automatic Waiver of English Language Testing list. To learn more about enrolling as an international student at the University of Cincinnati, please contact UC International Services.

2. United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)
International applicants who have successfully passed both USMLE Steps 1 and 2 [CK and CS] exams can scan their scores via e-mail to ehgrad@ucmail.uc.edu.

SOPHAS charges $140 for the first program you apply to and $50 for each additional program. 

Once a SOPHAS application has reached “Verified” status the applicant’s information is automatically transferred to the UC Graduate School. The applicant then receives an e-mail link from the UC Graduate School to pay their supplemental application fee. 

• $65 U.S. applicant fee
• $70 International applicant fee

Applications are not considered complete until official transcripts and/or a WES evaluation have been received, official English proficiency scores have been received (if applicable), and the applicant has paid their UC Graduate School application fee. Completed applications that are sent for review are notified via e-mail through the UC Graduate School application portal within 2-3 weeks.