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Policy on Public Health Sciences PhD program student funding model

Version January 7, 2026

Doctoral funding

WashU policy ensures funding for all full-time doctoral students. Funding includes full tuition, employee benefits, professional development funds, and a 12-month stipend for five years. The minimum stipend for the 2026-2027 academic year is $37,853. Program activities for full-time students include completing required coursework, practica, qualifying exams, dissertation research, and service to the School of Public Health (SPH). Service typically involves up to 20 hours per week on SPH faculty research. Students may seek up to 10 hours per week of additional part-time employment during the fall and spring semesters and up to 20 hours per week during the summer. Part-time employment is not guaranteed by the school, and students are responsible for complying with SPH, WashU, and federal policies, including visa allowances. 

Stipends are sourced from internal (e.g., SPH stipend support, universitywide fellowships) and external (e.g., research grants, training fellowships) resources. All students enter the program working on faculty-led projects, as part of their school service. 

Doctoral admissions

The doctoral program uses a direct admit approach. Students are matched with faculty upon admission. Matched faculty must commit to sourcing a minimum of 50% of the student stipend for the duration of stipend eligibility (see Doctoral student sourcing section below for additional details). Admission occurs in the following steps: 

  • Applications include the candidate’s research interests, potential faculty mentors, transcripts, a CV, a personal statement, writing samples, and letters of recommendation. 
  • The Doctoral Application Review Subcommittee, which includes primary and secondary SPH faculty with diverse research interests, screens all applications. Multiple faculty members assess each applicant’s academic preparation, research potential, communication and writing skills, and potential match with the school’s mission and faculty research interests. Ultimately, the committee determines whether an application meets the high bar for potential admission into the doctoral program. 
  • All eligible primary and secondary faculty interested in working with doctoral students are invited to review the applications screened in by the Doctoral Application Review Subcommittee. Interested faculty view applications on Slate, the university admissions portal, and provide an initial assessment. Then, the program facilitates virtual interviews with selected candidates, potential mentors, and members of the Review Subcommittee. 
  • The potential mentor provides a final assessment of the applicant based on materials and interviews, including their 1) willingness to serve as a primary mentor, and 2) ability to commit to sourcing for either 50% or 100% of the student stipend in the program. Specific funding sources are not necessary for the assessment and would be arranged after enrollment into the program. 
  • The Doctoral Education Subcommittee makes admission recommendations to the dean based on applicant evaluations and the availability of internal and external resources for stipends. In addition to tuition and benefits, the school provides full and partial scholarships to cover student stipends to enhance diversity among students and equity across faculty (e.g., junior faculty, faculty in difficult-to-fund areas). Candidates with faculty willing and able to fund students will be prioritized but not guaranteed for admission. 

Doctoral student sourcing

The direct admit approach connects incoming students with faculty-led projects that align with their interests. Students complete at least one research practica with their matched faculty in their first fall semester to help assure fit. In the event of a mismatch, the program helps negotiate alternative connections in Year 1. Students also may shift research interests while in the program; opportunities exist for identifying a different primary advisor while fulfilling service commitments to the sponsoring faculty.

Sourcing will be determined on an ongoing basis. Each summer, the program asks faculty members to indicate the projected source of student stipends for the upcoming academic year. The source could be the school for partially funded students or another source. The program tracks expected coverage. If faculty do not have the expected funds, the school will work with the faculty to identify other sources. Bridge funding will be provided by the school to ensure students receive the guaranteed stipend.