The University of the West Indies, Mona
DrPH Public Health
Kingston, Jamaica
PhD
DURATION
7 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 15,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
Blended
* for international students
Key Summary
About: The DrPH Public Health at The University of the West Indies Mona Campus trains public health leaders for the Caribbean. This advanced professional degree combines coursework, practical experience, and research so graduates develop analytic and communication skills. The flexible, part-time programme lets scholars stay in roles and build competencies to improve regional health. It covers epidemiology, health policy, health systems, leadership, and research.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can move into leadership, policy, research, management roles across ministries of health, agencies, hospitals, NGOs, academia. Typical paths include public health director, epidemiologist, health policy advisor, health systems manager, NGO leader, faculty, consultant.
The DrPH is an advanced professional degree with the aim of training Public Health specialists and leaders in keeping with the mission of the UWI to produce top-quality regional leaders. Scholars are exposed to a combination of public health courses, practical experience, and research, resulting in graduates who demonstrate good analytic, visionary, and communication skills.
The program is a flexible, part-time program that allows scholars to remain in their respective public health positions while pursuing their studies. The aim of the program is to provide specific Public Health training and facilitate the development of advanced competencies in current and future leaders in public health who will positively impact the health status of the Caribbean.
Upon completion of the course of study, the graduates should have developed competency in the following areas:
- Leadership
- Analytical Thinking
- Policy analysis and programme development
- Public Health practice
- Working in multidisciplinary teams
- Communication and advocacy for health
- Strategic planning and management
- Research
The DrPH is a structured, competency-based program done over 4 – 7 years on a part-time basis. The first two years are courses and assignments with an end-of-year 2 written and oral examination. This is followed by field placements and a research thesis. In summary, the DrPH is delivered by a combination of the following:
Face-to-Face and Distance Learning Modules
Students must complete 12 core modules (for 36 academic credits) and elective courses equivalent to 6 academic credits for a total of 42 academic credits.
In the first year, there will be one 3-week face-to-face block and two 2-3 week distance learning blocks. In the second year, there will be one 3-week face-to-face block and one distance learning block. Students are expected to be present at the Mona Campus during the face-to-face teaching blocks. Webinars will be scheduled between the face-to-face blocks using an appropriate distance learning platform. Applicants are encouraged to get approval from their employers and other relevant authorities. We also encourage applicants to utilize all available resources to ensure full engagement in the program; this includes, but is not limited to, financial resources offered by the UWI.
Supervised Field Placements
Students will be expected to undertake supervised field placements, which should assist in strengthening specific public health competencies. The field placements will normally extend over a 2-year period and may be done at different locations. A short learning contract indicating name(s) of supervisor(s), specific objectives and expected outputs must be prepared and approved by the faculty before the start of each placement (see Appendix VI). A field supervisor’s progress report must be completed at the end of each placement (see Appendix V).
Research Thesis
Students are expected to design and conduct research leading to a doctoral thesis on a topic of interest to them and of public health significance. The research must be conducted in keeping with the guidelines of the Ethical Review Board of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of the West Indies.