Interdisciplinary PhD Programme in Public and Population Health

Thank you for your interest in the Wits School of Public Health Interdisciplinary PhD programme. The programme, established 4 years ago, built on existing PhD training to ensure that doctoral candidates within the School and related departments gained broad exposure to critical areas in public and population health as well as to their particular field of study.  We aim to produce well-rounded graduates who can make a substantial contribution to improving public health, whether through academia or policy making.

Doctoral students in our programme are supervised by world-class faculty with a wide-range of research interests which address health care challenges on the African continent.  The relationship is by no means a remote one however - we emphasise supportive supervision with mentorship.  Another key feature of the doctoral training we offer is a structured programme which emphasises not only the PhD research and thesis, but also continued intellectual engagement through a regular seminar series during which students interact with outstanding faculty within the School, University and African public health sphere. We have also established professional development milestones which ensure our graduates  can satisfy the most rigorous of employment environments.

We have a vibrant programme with over 50 doctoral students and boast over fifteen graduates since the inception of the programme in 2009. Our recent graduates are employed in varied positions, including academia, government and non-governmental organisations.

Please enjoy our website and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. For further information, contact Mrs. Busi Ngoyi at phd.publichealth@wits.ac.za

Kathleen Kahn                                                                                                                  Alisha Wade