Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) is a doctoral degree awarded to advanced professionals in public health-related policy development and implementation. It has been designed for those seeking careers as leaders in public health related organisations. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a doctoral degree awarded to people with advanced expertise in a specific research topic. It is designed primarily for those seeking careers as researchers and scholars. It could be said that DrPH places more emphasis on practice than on specific research, and on leadership in practice.

DrPH targets those who want to advance their careers as public health professionals. The Interfaculty Initiative in Planetary Health DrPH Program (Nagasaki DrPH Program) is based on the belief that bridging the gap between science, policy, and practice is critical for improving public health. We are looking for individuals who recognise these gaps and wish to refine their ability to translate scientific findings into strategic actions to effect change.

The Nagasaki DrPH Program welcomes individuals with a strong desire and clear vision for advancing health policy formation and practice, as well as those from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds. You do not need to have a degree in public health or a medical field

If you have the following thoughts, you should apply.

• I realise that solving real public health problems is difficult
• People’s health can be improved by enhancing their ability to formulate and implement health policies, strategies, and programs
• A career as a practicing professional rather than as a researcher or scholar is interesting
• I want to practice high-level leadership and be an agent of change in public health

In the overview, “For example, do you have the following thoughts?” for more information.

In the Overview,  “Why choose the Nagasaki DrPH Program?” for more information.

Graduates of the Nagasaki DrPH program are expected to become leaders of change in the field of public health. Using the knowledge and skills acquired in the Nagasaki DrPH educational program, students can be employed in central ministries, local governments, health service organisations, hospitals, international organisations, aid agencies, NGOs, foundations, universities, research institutes, think tanks, corporations, and so on. Wherever they work, the role of DrPH graduates will be to implement public health research into effective policies, programs, and projects that can improve public health.

In the Overview, “Career paths on completion of the Nagasaki DrPH Program” for more information.

The Nagasaki DrPH program accepts five students each year.
Numbers are limited in order to provide an educational and research environment of the highest standard.

See the number of applicants in the admission information.

See  the application guidance.

Holders of degree degrees equivalent to or higher than a master’s degree (public health) are eligible to take the examination.

See the application guidance.

In addition to public health, “related fields” include a wide range of fields such as healthcare, health sciences, environmental studies, social development, peacebuilding, international cooperation, public policy, and organizational management. Applicants from both government and private sectors are welcome. Work experience in both domestic and overseas settings are acceptable, but experience in low- and middle-income countries is desirable. In principle, internships and volunteer experience are not considered as work experience, but will be considered separately.

See the admission information.

In principle, internships and volunteer experience are not considered as work experience, but will be considered separately.

See the admission information.

・For candidates whose first language is not English, the standard requirement is CEFR B2 level (IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, Duolingo English Test 100).
・Applicants who do not meet the standard requirements may still qualify.

See the admission information.

Duration: 3 years.
Enrolment period: beginning of October

See the admission information.

The Nagasaki DrPH program starts at the beginning of October each year.
Students in the Nagasaki DrPH program are required to complete specialised courses before proceeding to the DrPH project.The dates of specialisations are fixed and students should start their studies at the beginning of October, when the DrPH program starts.

See the admission information.

Selection for admission is determined after a comprehensive evaluation of the applicant’s performance in the interview, foreign language examinations, and document review.

1. During the interview, candidates will be asked about their interest and motivation for academic work and their specific future career plans, based on the submitted documents, with special focus on the Personal Statement.
2. Students will be evaluated on their English proficiency, which is necessary for course enrolment and research guidance. Those with additional language skills will be evaluated separately.

For more information, see the application guidance.

See the admission information.

Not required.

It is possible to contact teachers before applying.

It is not necessary.

For more information on the research, see DrPH project description.The host organization for the DrPH Project does not have to be decided before the application is submitted.

<2022>
There were seven examinees and five successful applicants.
The successful candidates included three international students (African and Asian) and two Japanese.
The occupations of the successful candidates varied.

<2023>
There were ten examinees and five successful applicants.
The successful candidates included three international students (African and Asian) and two Japanese.
The occupations of the successful candidates varied.

It is not necessary.After enrolment, students plan independently and teachers provide advice and support.

Curriculum courses: see DrPH Project.

The application deadline is in April and the admissions examination is scheduled for May.

For more information, see the application guidance.

The Nagasaki DrPH program is a three-year doctoral program, and students are required to study in Nagasaki as full-time students during their first one and a half years.

During the DrPH Project period, which begins in the second half of the second year, students can work part-time at the host institution or work and study flexibly according to their personal circumstances.

For more information, see the curriculum.

[ Degrees to be awarded ] Doctor of Public Health

For more information, see the curriculum.

Curriculum courses: see DrPH Project.

The relationship between the host organization and the student is assumed to take various forms, such as the case where the student becomes an employee of the host organization or the case where the host organization entrusts the work to the student as an external consultant. Please note that the university does not pay salaries or allowances to students.

Curriculum courses: see DrPH Project.

It is acceptable to work with the organization with which the student was affiliated prior to enrolment, but it is not acceptable for the student to simply extend the work that the student was engaged in prior to enrolment.

Curriculum courses: see DrPH Project.

長崎DrPHプログラムの博士学位論文は、原著論文（Original Research Article）としての性格を有する必要はありません。既存の科学的知見を活用、統合し、保健政策課題の特定や分析を通して解決策を提案し、解決策を実施する場合はそこから得られた教訓をまとめる文書となります。

Curriculum courses: see DrPH Project.

Please see the complementary subjects in the curriculum.

Because we actively accept students from fields other than public health, there may be a bias in the basic knowledge needed to understand specialised courses at the time of admission. Therefore, if necessary, students can take courses such as epidemiology, statistics, health systems and policies, quantitative and qualitative research methods, health economics, and other subjects offered in the Master’s Program in Tropical Medicine and Global Health as complementary courses. Please note that complementary courses will not be granted credits.

The following is the positioning of our Interfaculty Initiative.

• Planetary Health: A concept that encompasses human health and a new academic field that promotes healthy and sustainable coexistence between humans and the Earth.
• Public health (public health): A field of study that aims to improve the health of society as a whole by identifying human health problems as a group, clarifying their causes, and proposing appropriate countermeasures.
• Global Health: A discipline that focuses on public health issues that need to be understood and addressed at the global level.

This is an organisation that is positioned the same as a Graduate School. To contribute to planetary health, which is the goal of Nagasaki University, we envision a ‘circle of learning’ and ‘circle of university and society’—that is, we aim to connect various fields to global issues and develop education and research. This ‘Interfaculty Initiative’ is also used at other universities by organisations that provide interdisciplinary education.

To supplement the basic knowledge of students who are advancing from fields other than public health, we offer courses in the master’s program of the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health (‘Epidemiology/Statistics’, ‘Health Systems and Policies’, ‘Quantitative Research Methods’, ‘Qualitative Research Methods’, and ‘Health Economics’). Credits for supplementary courses are not recognised．

See Tuition, and Financial Aid.

See Tuition, and Financial Aid.

According to the results of the JASSO’s survey on student life in 2018, the average expenditure on tuition fees and living expenses for a postgraduate doctoral course (boarding house, flat, other) is approximately 2.37 million yen.

There are no dormitories for Japanese, but international students have their own dormitories.

For more information, see the website of the Nagasaki University Center for Japanese Language and Student Exchange.

Possible. Please contact us using the contact form.

Possible. Please contact us using the contact form.