Top 10 PhD scholarships in Public Health

Fully Funded Master’s in Public Health Scholarships 2027

1. Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme – Chinese University of Hong Kong

The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme is one of the major international doctoral funding opportunities available to students interested in public health research.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is currently accepting applications for its 2027/2028 PhD in Public Health programme.

What the scholarship covers:

• Annual stipend of HK$344,400.

• Annual conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,400.

• Tuition fee waiver of up to HK$198,000.

• Lodging award of up to HK$100,000.

• First-year accommodation fee waiver and guaranteed on-campus accommodation.

The fellowship can provide funding for up to four years.

Eligibility:

• International applicants from different countries can apply.

• Applicants should have strong academic qualifications.

• Candidates must satisfy the university’s PhD admission requirements.

• A relevant academic background and research interests in public health are important.

Application deadline: 1 December 2026

Official application links:

• 2027/2028 PhD Public Health announcement

• CUHK Hong Kong PhD Fellowship information

2. Oxford DPhil in Population Health – Clarendon Scholarship

The Clarendon Scholarship provides funding for outstanding postgraduate students pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Oxford.

One suitable research programme is the DPhil in Population Health.

The programme allows students to investigate important public health issues, including epidemiology, population health, disease prevention and health inequalities.

What the Clarendon Scholarship covers:

• Full tuition and college fees.

• Annual living expenses grant.

• Funding for the standard duration of the scholarship.

Eligibility:

• Applicants from all nationalities can apply.

• Candidates must demonstrate excellent academic performance.

• Applicants must meet the admission requirements of their chosen DPhil programme.

• Strong research potential is important.

Application deadline: 1 December 2026.

Applicants who submit their complete DPhil application by the December deadline will automatically be considered for most Oxford scholarships, including Clarendon, without a separate Clarendon application.

Official application links:

• DPhil in Population Health – Oxford

• Clarendon Scholarship official website

3. UCL Research Excellence Scholarship 2027/2028

The University College London Research Excellence Scholarship supports outstanding students undertaking doctoral research at UCL.

The scholarship is available to applicants from different countries and can support research in public health-related disciplines.

Students interested in epidemiology, health policy, global health, health inequalities and other related research areas can explore suitable PhD departments and supervisors.

What it covers:

• Full tuition fees, including overseas tuition fees.

• Maintenance stipend.

• Research costs.

• Funding for the standard research portion of the programme.

For 2027/2028, UCL expects to offer up to 40 Research Excellence Scholarships.

Eligibility:

• Applicants of any nationality.

• Prospective MPhil/PhD or eligible EngD students.

• At least an upper second-class undergraduate degree or equivalent.

• Applicants must submit a complete admission application by the scholarship deadline.

• Successful candidates must receive an admission offer.

Application deadline: 8 January 2027.

Official application link:

Apply for UCL Research Excellence Scholarship

4. University of British Columbia PhD in Population and Public Health

The University of British Columbia offers a PhD in Population and Public Health through its School of Population and Public Health.

This programme is particularly relevant to applicants interested in epidemiology, biostatistics, health services research and population health.

One important advantage is UBC’s updated doctoral funding policy.

What the funding covers:

• Minimum funding package of CAD $40,000 per year.

• Funding for the first four years of full-time doctoral studies.

• Support through a combination of scholarships, research assistantships, teaching-related work and other university funding.

The minimum funding policy applies to both domestic and international PhD students at UBC Vancouver.

Eligibility:

• International applicants can apply.

• Applicants normally need a relevant master’s degree.

• Candidates must satisfy the programme’s academic and research requirements.

• A suitable research supervisor and research interests are important.

Application dates for September 2027:

• Applications open: 15 November 2026.

• Application deadline: 7 January 2027.

• Referee deadline: 14 January 2027.

Official application links:

• PhD Population and Public Health – UBC

• UBC minimum PhD funding policy

5. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health PhD Funding

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is a leading institution for public health research and doctoral education.

Its PhD programmes cover several areas, including:

• Epidemiology.

• Health Policy and Management.

• Environmental Health.

• Social and Behavioural Sciences.

• International Health.

• Biostatistics.

The university provides financial support to admitted PhD students.

What the funding covers:

According to the university’s 2026–2027 funding information:

• Minimum annual stipend of $52,000.

• Tuition coverage.

• University fees.

• Medical benefits.

• Certain health insurance premiums for eligible dependants, subject to visa conditions.

The minimum stipend and tuition coverage are guaranteed for at least the first four years of a Bloomberg School PhD programme.

Eligibility:

• International applicants are eligible to apply.

• Applicants must meet the admission requirements of their selected department.

• Relevant academic qualifications and research experience are beneficial.

• A strong statement of purpose and academic references are important.

Application deadline: 1 December 2026 is the standard deadline for several Bloomberg PhD programmes. Confirm the deadline for your specific department.

Official application links:

• Johns Hopkins PhD programmes

• PhD funding and scholarships

6. Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/2028

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship supports outstanding international students pursuing postgraduate degrees at the University of Cambridge.

Students interested in public health research can apply for eligible PhD programmes, including Public Health and Primary Care.

What it covers:

• Full university tuition fees.

• Maintenance allowance.

• One economy airfare at the beginning and end of the programme.

• Visa costs and Immigration Health Surcharge.

• Additional discretionary funding for eligible academic and family-related activities.

Eligibility:

• Applicants from countries outside the United Kingdom.

• Excellent academic performance.

• Strong reasons for choosing the proposed course.

• Demonstrated leadership potential.

• Commitment to improving the lives of others.

Funding deadline: 8 December 2026 for the relevant international funding round. The course application deadline depends on the selected intake.

For Cambridge’s PhD in Public Health and Primary Care, the 2027 Michaelmas intake has a course application deadline of 13 May 2027. However, applicants seeking Gates or other early funding must apply by the earlier funding deadline.

Official application links:

• Gates Cambridge official website

• Cambridge PhD in Public Health and Primary Care

7. University of Manchester President’s Doctoral Scholar Award

The President’s Doctoral Scholar Award is a competitive doctoral funding programme designed to support outstanding PhD researchers.

The Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health has announced five fully funded scholarships for 2027/2028 under its Sensing the World research theme.

Applicants should examine the advertised projects to identify those relevant to public health, health sciences or related research.

What it covers:

• Full PhD funding.

• Tuition fees.

• Living stipend, according to the relevant studentship arrangements.

• Research training and development opportunities.

Eligibility:

• Outstanding prospective PhD candidates.

• Applicants must meet the academic requirements of the advertised research project.

• International eligibility should be confirmed for the individual studentship.

Application dates:

• Applications opened: Week commencing 2 November 2026.

• Application deadline: 18 December 2026.

• Expected PhD commencement: October 2027.

Official application link:

Manchester President’s Doctoral Scholar Award

8. University of Manchester International Partnership PhD Studentships

The University of Manchester offers International Partnership PhD Studentships for researchers undertaking doctoral studies in collaboration with international partner institutions.

The programme is available through the university’s Biology, Medicine and Health research areas.

Applicants interested in global health, biomedical research and related public health disciplines should check the available projects.

What it covers:

• Full tuition fees.

• Annual living stipend at the UKRI rate.

• £5,000 per year Research Training Support Grant.

• £1,000 contribution towards postgraduate research travel.

The studentships last four years.

Eligibility:

• Home and overseas applicants.

• Applicants must meet the academic requirements.

• Candidates must apply to an eligible research project.

• Research interests must match the available project and supervisors.

Application opening date: 9 November 2026.

The closing date depends on the advertised opportunity.

Official application link:

Manchester International Partnership PhD Studentships

9. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Research Degree Scholarships

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is an excellent institution to consider if you want to specialise in public health, tropical medicine, epidemiology or global health.

LSHTM provides different funding opportunities for students pursuing research degrees.

Its funding opportunities include:

• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships.

• ESRC UBEL Doctoral Training Partnership studentships.

• Other research-specific doctoral funding.

What funding may cover:

Depending on the award:

• Tuition fees.

• Living expenses.

• Research costs.

• Training and development support.

Eligibility:

Eligibility depends on the particular scholarship. Some awards accept international students, while others have restrictions based on nationality or fee status.

Important deadline information:

For the 2027/2028 funding round, LSHTM listed:

• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships: 20 October 2026.

• ESRC UBEL DTP Studentships: 30 October 2026.

These dates have passed as of 9 November 2026. Applicants should monitor the official funding page for the next available opportunities.

Official application link:

LSHTM Research Degree Funding and Scholarships

10. Dahdaleh Global Health Graduate Scholarship – York University

The Dahdaleh Global Health Graduate Scholarship supports outstanding graduate researchers working on important global health issues.

It is available to domestic and international graduate research students at York University.

The scholarship is particularly relevant to applicants interested in:

• Global health and humanitarianism.

• Planetary health.

• Global health foresighting.

• Health equity and international health research.

What it covers:

• Scholarships ranging from CAD $5,000 to CAD $30,000.

• Opportunities to participate in global health research seminars.

• Research collaboration and professional development opportunities.

Eligibility:

• Domestic and international graduate research students.

• Applicants must demonstrate outstanding academic achievement.

• Research must align with the institute’s global health themes.

Application deadline: 8 January 2027, at noon Eastern Time.

Official application links:

• 2027 Dahdaleh Scholarship announcement

• Dahdaleh Scholarship programme details

Important application information for international students

Before applying for any of these PhD scholarships, prepare the following documents:

1. Bachelor’s degree certificate.

2. Master’s degree certificate and academic transcripts, where required.

3. Updated academic CV.

4. Research proposal.

5. Statement of purpose or personal statement.

6. Two or three academic recommendation letters.

7. English language proficiency evidence, where required.

8. Valid international passport.

9. Published research papers, where available.

Some universities require applicants to identify a supervisor before submitting their applications. Others allow applicants to apply directly to advertised doctoral projects.

Which scholarships should African and Nigerian applicants prioritise?

Based on international eligibility and the funding information published by the institutions, these are particularly worth investigating:

My recommendation: Start with CUHK, UCL, Oxford and UBC because they have clearly identified public health or population health research pathways and published 2027 application information.

One important distinction: not every opportunity above is a standalone scholarship. Some are guaranteed university PhD funding packages or competitive research studentships. The Dahdaleh award is partial funding, while the LSHTM funding deadlines listed above have already passed.

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