Steps to Apply for an Undergraduate Degree

Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts applications open on October 1, 2025 for Fall 2026 admission. We look forward to getting to know you and learning more about your passion for public health through your application! 

Applications are completed online and must include your unofficial transcripts, Statement of Interest and Qualifications essay, and Reflective essay. Michigan Public Health also considers the following academic factors in determining admission:

  • Number of credit hours completed by proposed term of entry
  • Level of achievement in college coursework
  • Successful completion of prerequisite courses
  • Engagement with community and/or campus partners
  • Demonstrated interest in public health.

Application Checklist for Undergraduate Applicants

The deadline for both cross-campus and external transfer applicants applying for Fall 2026 admission is January 15, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET. Please plan ahead so that you can fill out your application, gather your transcript(s), prepare your essays, and double check your materials before the deadline.

If you’ve attended a college or university other than the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, after graduating from high school, you’re considered an external transfer student. The University of Michigan School of Public Health welcomes BA and BS applications from students who have attended or are currently attending a post-secondary institution within the United States.

International applicants must have completed two consecutive academic years at a U.S. institution before matriculating to the program.

A cross-campus transfer student has completed college coursework on the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor campus but is not currently enrolled at the School of Public Health. Students are eligible to apply to cross-campus transfer in their sophomore year.

Before beginning a bachelor’s degree at Michigan Public Health, you must complete several prerequisite courses and have a minimum of 54 transferable credits. Applicants who complete all required coursework before application review begins (February of each year) will be most competitive for admission. Visit this webpage for a complete list of required prerequisite courses.

Please note that if you are passionate about applying to major in public health but are missing some prerequisite coursework, it is still possible to be admitted. We encourage you to email sph-inquiries@umich.edu and request an appointment. We would be happy to help discuss your unique situation and assist you on your path to public health.

External transfer students should use the Transfer Credit Equivalency Database to find out how your coursework completed at a U.S. college or university applies to the University of Michigan School of Public Health prerequisite courses. Find more information on the Transfer Credit webpage.

Both external transfer and cross-campus transfer applicants are strongly encouraged to set up an advising appointment with an undergraduate admissions team member to discuss transferable credits (if applicable), progress toward the prerequisite courses, and the application process before applying. You may contact sph-inquiries@umich.edu to set up an appointment.

In the application, you must upload an unofficial transcript from the high school where you earned your diploma and any post-secondary institution you have attended (including any dual enrollment courses). If admitted, you will be required to submit official transcripts.

If you receive an error message asking you to remove the password protection from the document this may be due to a digital signature in the document. To resolve this issue, we suggest you choose one of the following options and then re-upload the transcript to your application:

  • Open the PDF, go to print and choose Adobe APF as the printer. This will create a copy of the PDF without the digital signature.
  • Take a photo of the printed document, convert the .png or .jpg file to a PDF.

The bachelor’s degree application includes two essays: a Statement of Interest Essay and a Reflective Essay.

Statement of Interest

In this essay, explain what you hope to gain from majoring in public health. Limit to 250 words.

Reflective Essay

In the reflective essay, explain your personal motivators and how your personal background will bring a unique perspective to the program. This essay gives you the opportunity to share non-academic components about yourself as an applicant, as well as how you would contribute to a diverse and inclusive community at Michigan Public Health. Consider the following:

  • Are there any social identities that have impacted your decision to pursue public health?
  • Have certain relationships in your life contributed to your interest in the field?
  • How do your personal values and beliefs connect to the field of public health?

The limit for this essay is 250 words.

Before submitting, please double check each part of your application. It’s important that your application is accurate and complete before pressing submit. 

We look forward to reviewing your application and understanding your unique interests and goals in public health!