Compact, professional preview you can use on a website, brochure, or funding proposal. I’ve included program overview, aims & outcomes, entry requirements, curriculum structure, supervision and assessment, funding options, career prospects, and suggested research themes.
Program overview
The PhD in Health Systems & Policy at NIRU is a research-intensive doctoral program designed to produce scholar-practitioners who lead evidence-informed transformation of health systems, shape policy, and design equitable, sustainable solutions for local, national, and global health challenges. The program blends rigorous methods training (qualitative, quantitative, implementation science, health economics) with applied policy research and leadership development.
Mode & length: Full-time (3–5 years) or Part-time (5–7 years) options.
Delivery: On-campus with blended/online modules and field placements.
Language: English.
Award: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Systems & Policy.
Program aims & learning outcomes
Graduates will be able to:
Design and conduct original, policy-relevant research that advances understanding of health systems performance, governance, financing, and equity.
Apply advanced quantitative and qualitative methods (including mixed methods, econometrics, cost-effectiveness, systems modelling) to evaluate interventions, policies, and programs.
Translate evidence into policy and practice—engage stakeholders, communicate findings, and support implementation.
Demonstrate leadership in health systems reform, program design, monitoring & evaluation, and global/public health policy.
Contribute to teaching, mentoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration in academic and applied settings.
Who should apply / target candidates
Mid-career practitioners (ministry of health, NGOs, multilateral agencies) seeking leadership roles or to build research capacity.
Early career researchers aiming for academic careers in health policy, global health, or health services research.
Candidates with strong quantitative or qualitative backgrounds seeking to plug into policy-relevant doctoral research.
Admission requirements (minimum)
A relevant Master’s degree (e.g., MPH, MPA, MSc Health Policy, MSc Public Health, MSc Health Economics) or exceptional candidates with a strong Bachelor’s and relevant work/research experience.
Minimum GPA (or equivalent) typically 3.0/4.0 or university equivalent. Exceptional lower-GPA applicants with strong research experience may be considered.
Evidence of research potential: thesis, publications, technical reports, or professional research output.
Professional experience is strongly recommended for applied policy work (2–5 years desirable for funded/professional track).
English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS) where applicable for international applicants.
Three letters of recommendation (at least two academic if possible).
A 1,000–1,500 word research statement/proposal outlining research questions, rationale, and potential methods.
CV and official transcripts.
Interview (virtual or in-person) with prospective supervisors/selection panel.
Application materials checklist
Online application form + application fee.
CV (academic and professional).
Official academic transcripts and degree certificates.
Research statement / preliminary proposal (1,000–1,500 words).
Writing sample (master’s thesis excerpt, peer-reviewed paper, or policy report).
3 letters of recommendation.
Proof of English proficiency (if required).
Copy of passport/ID for international students (for administrative purposes).
Curriculum & program structure (typical)
Year 1 — Foundations & methods
Core courses (taught):
Foundations of Health Systems & Policy
Research Design & Advanced Methods I (quantitative)
Advanced Qualitative Methods & Implementation Science
Health Economics & Financing for Policy
Seminars: Policy Translation, Ethics in Health Research
Research practicum / field placement (3–6 months)
Develop and defend a detailed PhD research proposal (end of Year 1 / start of Year 2)
Year 2 — Advanced training & data collection
Methods II (advanced econometrics, mixed methods, modelling)
Electives (examples): Digital Health & Informatics; Health Governance & Law; Global Health Diplomacy; Monitoring & Evaluation
Begin major data collection/analysis
Teaching requirement (optional/part-time GTA duties)
Years 3–4(+) — Thesis & dissemination
Data analysis, manuscript preparation, policy briefs.
Regular thesis seminars and progress reviews.
Defend completed thesis in viva voce / oral defense.
Expected outputs: 2–3 publishable manuscripts (or equivalent policy outputs), policy brief, and final dissertation.
Total credit / workload: Program designed around research credits with a minimum of coursework credits (varies by accreditation) and research/thesis credits.
Career pathways & prospects
PhD graduates from Health Systems & Policy commonly move into:
Academia: Assistant Professor, Lecturer, research leads.
Government & public sector: Policy director, health systems advisor, ministry technical lead.
International agencies & think tanks: WHO, World Bank, UNICEF, bilateral aid agencies, policy research institutes.
NGOs & implementation organizations: Monitoring & Evaluation Director, Programmatic Lead.
Private sector: Health policy consultancy, health economics & outcomes research (HEOR) roles, health technology assessment.
Entrepreneurship & social enterprise: leading evidence-based health ventures, startups in digital health.
Why employability is strong: demand for health systems strengthening, universal health coverage, pandemic preparedness, digital health scale-up, and health financing expertise remains high across governments, donors, and private sector.
Example research themes / topics
Health financing & universal health coverage (UHC) — financing mechanisms, equity, catastrophic expenditure.
Health system governance & accountability — decentralization, public-private partnerships.
Implementation science for scaling evidence-based interventions.
Health workforce policy — retention, task shifting, performance management.
Digital health & health information systems — interoperability, data governance, AI for decision support.
Health policy evaluation — costing, cost-effectiveness, impact evaluation.
Pandemic preparedness, resilience, and health security policy.
Equity, access, and social determinants of health in low-resource settings.
Typical candidate profile (sample cohort)
Average age: 28–40 (mix of early career researchers and mid-career professionals).
Backgrounds: MPH, MSc Health Policy, Medicine with MPH, MSc Epidemiology, Health Economics, Sociology, Public Administration.
Experience: 1–8 years in research, policy, clinical, or program management roles.
Facilities & partnerships (what to highlight)
Interdisciplinary research centres (health economics, implementation science, digital health).
Partnerships with ministries of health, WHO country offices, NGOs for field placements and applied research.
Access to statistical labs, secure data enclaves, qualitative research support, and grant writing clinics.
Active seminar series, visiting scholars, and opportunities for international placements.
Quality assurance & accreditation
Program adheres to U.S. higher-education standards and NIRU institutional quality frameworks.
Ethics review board required for human subjects research; training in research ethics mandatory.