USC PhD in Population, Health and Place 2027: Fully Funded Doctoral Program in Public Health, Demography and Spatial Sciences

Overview

The University of Southern California (USC) Dornsife Population, Health and Place PhD program offers an interdisciplinary doctoral training opportunity for students interested in public health, population studies, sociology, demography, epidemiology, environmental health, and spatial sciences. Designed for researchers investigating how population, place, environment, human behaviour, and health interact, the curriculum combines expertise across multiple academic fields to address major global health and demographic challenges.

Benefits

Accepted students receive a competitive five-year funding package that supports their graduate studies. The financial support structure includes:

• Tuition support
• A stipend
• Health insurance

The funding model consists of two years of fellowship support with no work requirements, followed by three years as a graduate teaching or research assistant. Students are also encouraged and supported in securing external fellowships.

Eligibility

The program is intended for prospective doctoral candidates with academic or professional interests in fields such as:

• Public health and global health
• Population health and social demography
• Epidemiology and preventive medicine
• Sociology and demography
• Geography, spatial sciences, and geographic information systems (GIS)
• Environmental health and spatial modeling

How to Apply

Applications for the Fall 2027 intake are scheduled to open in October 2026. Prospective applicants should prepare their academic curriculum vitae, research statements, and supporting credentials ahead of the application portal launch. To submit an application or learn more details, visit the official application portal.

Deadline

Applications for the Fall 2027 intake are expected in December 2026, with the application window opening in October 2026.