FAQs – PhD in Environmental Health Sciences – UC Irvine Wen Public Health

FAQs for the Environmental Health Sciences Graduate Programs

What is the application deadline?

The SOPHAS and UCI application will open on October 1^st. The application deadline is December 10^th. We strongly encourage students to apply early to give the Admission Committee enough time to review their applications.

Please review our general graduate admissions guidelines for further information and instruction on how to submit both applications by the deadline.
Should I secure and identify a prospective supervisor in my application?

Yes. We strongly encourage students to identify and communicate with prospective faculty whose research they are most interested in. For our PhD program, students need to work closely with their thesis mentor, so it is important to find a good match between the student and the faculty. Please find our Environmental Health faculty profiles.
Do you consider a candidate for admission who has no active lab research background or publication but only some professional experience on the clinical side?

The Environmental Toxicology track requires lab work, but the Exposure, Risk, and Environmental Epi track does not.
What is the total tuition cost and current stipend level?

The ’24-’25 UCI graduate tuition and fees can be found through the Registrar’s website. Please note that the ’25-’26 fees will be updated over the summer by the Registrar’s office. International and non-residents of California are assessed a supplemental tuition.

Any fellowship or scholarship offers from the Wen Public Health, UCI, or external funding may reduce the out-of-pocket costs for students and will vary.
Do you offer any graduate teaching or research assistantships?

Yes, we do. A combination of fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships can support a PhD student. Students that are employed as a Teaching Assistant (TA) or Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) are entitled to a salary rate.
Do you offer any scholarships for international students?

For well-qualified international students admitted to the doctoral program, we may offer Teaching Assistant (TA) or Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) positions. Students can also apply for fellowships and scholarships after arriving, but most previous calls for such opportunities are mainly for US citizens or permanent residents.

For international students, UCI requires a minimum score of 26 on the speaking section of the TOEFL to be eligible as Teaching Assistants, which is higher than the general graduate admissions requirement. This is one of the many factors that the Admission Committee takes into consideration when evaluating applicants.
Do you offer any assistance with job placement after completion of the degree?

No, there is no direct placement. However, UCI and Wen Public Health provide various resources to help students be successful job applicants to academic, industry, and government positions. This includes the Division of Career Pathway, the Graduate & Postdoctoral Resource Center, GPS-STEM, and more. We provide various opportunities to help students find their dream jobs, such as workshops and professional training.
What minimum score do you require in the GRE?

We do not have a standard for the minimum GRE as it is only one of the many factors we consider. For the 2024-2025 admission cycle, the GRE requirement is waived for all applicants.
Does my writing sample for admission purpose need to be a published one? Would an informal observational report suffice?

It does not need to be a published one; however, any publications will boost your application as we will know that you have prior research experience.
Do I need to submit my application to both the UCI Graduate Division and the SOPAHS system?

You do need to submit two applications, one for the UCI graduate school and the other for the SOPHAS, a centralized application system for public health-related majors. Please review our general graduate admissions guidelines for further instructions to help you submit your applications. We permit certain areas of the application to be the same content.
How would you evaluate applicants?

The decisions on student admission are collectively made by the Admission Committee, where multiple faculty members participate. We use a holistic approach in evaluating students. We will consider GPA, academic training, research experience, publications, personal statement, recommendation letters, fit to the program/faculty, and potential of success in the PhD program. The admission decision also depends on the pool of applicants we receive, which differs each year.
How long does it take to get notified about admission acceptance and I-20 issuance after application submission?

For admission notice, we will start sending out admission letters in mid-March and, at the latest, by April 15^th. Your admission letter will provide specific instructions on how to request an I-20 after you have submitted your Statement of Intent to Register at UCI. Please check with the UCI International Center regarding US visas and I-20 questions.
What is the normative time to degree?

The normative time to degree is 2 years for MS and 5 years for PhD.
I have an overall IELTS score of 6.5, which is lower than the TA requirement of a minimum score of 7. Will my application be reviewed with my current score?

The IELTS score of 7 is the requirement for a TA but not the minimum requirement for entering the program. However, we strongly encourage students to pass the TA requirement before they register or after they come to UCI so that they are eligible for TAship, which can be an essential source of financial support for students.
What are the course and program requirements for graduation?
Students can find the course and degree requirements for both PhD and MS students from the Student Handbook.
Do I need to get the approval of a faculty member before applying?

You are not required to get faculty approval before applying. However, you are strongly encouraged to contact faculty who you are interested in working with for your graduate study. You can find their contact information and areas of expertise on our department page.