Skip to main content

Candidate Eligibility

Ph.D. applicants should meet the following criteria:

  1. Zambian citizenship (case-by-case exceptions)
  2. Master’s degree in public health, medicine, or other relevant research discipline
  3. Demonstrated research interest in HIV and women’s reproductive health
  4. Willingness to live in Johannesburg, South Africa for 12-18 to complete Ph.D. coursework
  5. Willingness to complete dissertation research in Lusaka, Zambia, while attached to an ongoing women’s health research project

Application Requirements

  1. Curriculum Vitae
  2. Career statement, outlining academic background, interest in HIV and women’s reproductive health, prior research experience, and long-term career plans (one page)
  3. Writing sample (past thesis or published manuscript)
  4. Letters of recommendation from two prior or current supervisors/mentors
  5. Letter of institutional support – optional, but recommended for applicants seeking study leave for the duration of the program

Short-listed applicants will be invited to an interview. Selected candidates will work with program faculty to develop a full application to the Ph.D. program at the Wits School of Public Health. Full acceptance into the UNC-UNZA-Wits training program will be conditional on the candidate’s acceptance to the Wits School of Public Health.

The PhD training program is currently closed to applications. For questions about the application process, please email .