8 Public Health Scholarships For International Students

Are you aspiring to study public health, at any level, overseas but cannot afford it? Then gather here as I present to you the list of public health scholarships for international students that you can apply for and get free funding to support your dream.

Public health is one of those disciplines that never goes wrong. It is a lucrative profession, it isn’t hard to find a school offering the program, and there are lots of international grants in the field. If you are passionate about public health and wish to study it either at the undergraduate or graduate level then you have indeed made a good decision.

Rather than saying it is an expensive course to study I’d say it is a good investment as it will bring back a huge return for you when you graduate. There are many options to explore as a graduate of public health which I’ll list out later.

Financial constraint still happens to be among the top reasons why many people are unable to study their dream course or study at their dream universities. And it is even more difficult for students who want to study abroad because as an international student, the cost of your tuition is usually about two or three times higher than that of a domestic student.

Hold on, don’t let what I said above discourage you, relax and continue reading. Good news is on the way.

Now, do you know that as a prospective international student, there are tons of scholarships available to sponsor your education? Irrespective of the field you wish to pursue, these international scholarships, as they are commonly referred to, will help cover the entire cost or part of your tuition depending on whether you get a fully-funded or partially-funded scholarship.

Scholarships for international students are offered by colleges and universities of various countries, Governments of different countries, and organizations and charity foundations like Microsoft and UNICEF. But then, looking for these scholarships is like looking for a needle in a haystack which is something you really do not have to go through. We at Scholarships to Study Abroad update our platform daily with helpful scholarship resources and guides to help every student get free funding for their education.

Scholarships are awarded based on merit and financial need. There are scholarships that are just general, that is, you can apply for them irrespective of the course you wish to study or the university or country where you want to learn. And then there are some that are specific like scholarships for international students over 40 and others like environmental science scholarships for international students.

Public health scholarships for international students are also a specific scholarship and just the title you already know whom it is meant for and if you fit the criteria, you can go ahead and apply. For clarity, if you wish to study public health or its related courses abroad whether in an undergraduate or graduate level degree, you are welcome to apply for the public health scholarships for international students.

You can apply for the scholarship whether you are a prospective public health student or already a public health student overseas. Just like every other scholarship for international students, public health scholarships for international students have their requirements, let’s take a look at them below.

Requirements for Public Health Scholarships for International Students

If you wish to apply for public health scholarships as an international student, ensure that you meet the following requirements:

1.     Excellent Academic Record

Scholarship providers take applicants’ academic excellence very seriously and if you are in good academic standing, you have successfully passed the first criteria for a scholarship. So, if you wish to apply for a public health scholarship as an international student, ensure you have a high GPA of at least 3.0 but it can vary depending on the scholarship body.

2.     Language Proficiency

If you are applying for a public health scholarship as an international student, you must have proficiency in the language the course will be taught. If it is English then you have to take an English language proficiency exam like TOEFL or IELTS to assess to English language abilities and submit the scores as part of the application.

The test evaluates your reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills in that language. There is usually a set requirement for standardized language proficiency tests.

3.     Statement of Purpose

The scholarship application for public health studies requires a statement of purpose. In this statement, you will express your passion for the discipline you are about to study, and express your aspirations and motivations. A well-written account of purpose can secure a scholarship for you.

4.     Letters of Recommendation

You will be required to submit two or more letters of recommendation when applying for a public health scholarship. You can obtain letters of recommendation from your previous employer, teachers, or professors. The purpose of the recommendation is to highlight your skills, achievements, and personal qualities which can contribute significantly to winning the scholarship.

5.     Transcripts

You will be required to provide transcripts from institutions you have attended in the past. This will be used by the scholarship body to see your past academic records and achievement as well as your contributions to various areas.

6.     Relevant Experience

If you have relevant work experience in public health and you are applying for a scholarship, you have a higher chance of getting that scholarship. It gives you an edge over other applicants.

7.     Participation in Extracurricular Activities

Participation in extracurricular activities and demonstrating leadership skills are common scholarship requirements and if you possess them along with the others on this list, it will make your application stand out and bring you closer to winning the scholarship.

8.     Research Proposal

You are about to apply for a scholarship in public health, there is every possibility that that scholarship program will be research-oriented and if it you will be required to provide a research proposal. Ensure that your research proposal aligns with the research goals and focus areas of the program, this is one of the tips to win any scholarship award.

Note that scholarship requirements for public health vary from program to program and some of the things listed here may or may not be found in the scholarship you may be applying for. You must review the eligibility criteria of the scholarship program and ensure to meet all the requirements.

How to Apply for Public Health Scholarships for International Students

The steps outlined below will guide you to apply for public health scholarships:

  1. Carefully research scholarship opportunities and review their eligibility criteria, required documents, etc.
  2. Gather all necessary documents and begin the application. It is typically online.
  3. Submit online applications
  4. Meet application deadlines
  5. Follow up on your application
public health scholarships for international students

Public Health Scholarships for International Students

The following are public health scholarships for students who wish to study abroad:

  • The University of Illinois Chicago Global Health Scholarships
  • Hunt Scholarship
  • Dornsife Public Health Scholarships and Fellowships
  • David A. Winston Health Policy Scholarship
  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Scholarships
  • Harvard Chan Grant/Scholarship
  • Rollins School of Public Health Institutional Scholarships
  • Vivian Drenckhahn Student Scholarship

1.     The University of Illinois Chicago Global Health Scholarships

The School of Public Health at the University of Illinois Chicago has a Global Health Program that offers annual scholarships to graduate students in the School of Public Health. The scholarship aims to support the research work of master’s students in MS thesis research and MPH applied practice experiences. The program consists of four different scholarships namely;

  • Donna Farley Global Health Scholarship – awards up to $1,000 to two students
  • Douglas Passaro Global Horizons Scholarship – four awards up to $3,000 per award given during the academic year
  • MPH/MS Global Health Scholarship – up to three awards of up to $1,500 per award
  • Paul Brandt-Rauf Scholarship in Global Health – $1,000 during the academic year, including the summer semester.

A student is only eligible to win one of the scholarships listed above and each of the scholarships have their different criteria. In addition to each of their standards, you must submit a personal statement, estimated total travel expenses, a letter from the host organization, a letter from your UIC supervisor, and an unofficial academic transcript. You must be in good financial standing to receive these scholarships.

Apply

2.     Hunt Scholarship

Hunt Scholarship was established in 1992 by the Massachusetts League of Community Health Center. It is a $2,000 award offered annually to an undergraduate who wishes to pursue a degree in public health. Application requirements include an essay, letters of support, and documentation demonstrating financial need. It is an annual scholarship and international students are eligible to apply.

Apply

3.     Dornsife Public Health Scholarships and Fellowships

This scholarship is offered by the Dornsife School of Public Health of Drexel University. There are scholarships for undergraduates, graduates, and doctoral students in public health programs at Drexel University. Aside from the scholarships, research fellowships and assistantships are also awarded to provide full tuition coverage and stipends for graduate students.

Dornsife School of Public Health awards varieties of scholarships and fellowships each with its own diverse requirement and eligibility criteria.

Apply

4.     David A. Winston Health Policy Scholarship

This is one of the public health scholarships for international students awarded to bachelor’s degree holders who want to pursue a master’s degree in a health policy-related discipline, field, or profession. The scholarship can be used at any accredited university or college. Applicants are selected based on excellent academic records and recommendations from faculty and colleagues.

The scholarship will award $10,000 each to twenty students.

Apply

5.     Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Scholarships

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation awards the largest dietetic scholarship to students at all study levels. The award amount ranges from $500 to $25,000 per student and it is awarded annually. You may apply for this scholarship if you are pursuing a degree or wish to pursue a degree in public or community health nutrition which is a discipline within public health.

Apply

6.     Harvard Chan Grant/Scholarship

Here is another annual scholarship for public health students who are international students. You must be applying for a public health program at T.H. Chan School of Public Health or already enrolled to be considered for the scholarship. The eligible programs are Master of Science, master of public health, doctor of public health, master of public health – generalist, and Master of public health in Epidemiology.

Apply

7.     Rollins School of Public Health Institutional Scholarships

Rollins School of Public Health is the public health division of Emory University and offers a couple of scholarships for international students who want to study public health at this institution. There are 6 different scholarships awarded by the faculty but only three are available for international students, they are; Rollins Pathway Award, Lupton Jones Scholarship, and Incentive Award.

An applicant can only qualify for one of the scholarships and receive between $4,000 to $3ac0,000 in grants to support their education. Academic achievement, service, and work experience are criteria for application.

Apply

8.     Vivian Drenckhahn Student Scholarship

The Vivian Drenckhahn Student Scholarship is provided by the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE). It is a $2,500 scholarship awarded annually to three undergraduate or graduate students who are national members of SOPHE, have good academic standing and have demonstrated a commitment to addressing the public’s health through health education, and have demonstrated financial need.

In addition to the requirements above, you must be pursuing a degree in public health education, health education, community health education, and school health education. All nationalities are welcome to apply.

Apply

There are 8 public health scholarships here for international students, you can apply for more than one of them as long as you meet the criteria. For the scholarships offered by universities, you must be applying for admission into that specific university to be eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Recommendations