FAQs

The MMSc-GHD program is designed for mid-career professionals who have experience in global health settings. Many applicants have a clinical degree (e.g., medicine, nursing) but a clinical degree is not required to enter the program. The prerequisites are an undergraduate degree and two or more years of health care delivery experience in a resource-limited setting. That experience can include patient care, or non-clinical experience such as program management.

Choosing to pursue a master's program is a very personal decision. We advise prospective students to consult with their current mentors and advisors for advice and feedback. You may also consider the following:

1. Your experience - do you have two or more years of experience in health care delivery in a resource-limited setting? The experience could include managing a health care delivery program or delivering social services in such a program. A resource-limited setting can be anywhere in the world.

2. Your research focus - what research project would you undertake within the MMSc-GHD? All MMSc-GHD students must complete a research project in health care delivery in a resource-limited setting. The resulting thesis is of publishing caliber.

3. Your future career - what are your career goals? The MMSc-GHD aims to assist those who seek leadership positions in global health delivery in resource-limited settings. These positions may have a research element to them, involve clinical, research, and/or management, or be purely leadership roles.

The admissions committee considers how well an applicant's experience, research interests and future plans match the purpose of the program.

The prerequisites for the MMSc-GHD program are an undergraduate degree and two years of experience in health care delivery in a resource-limited setting. While many applicants have attained a clinical degree, a clinical degree is not required to apply to the MMSc-GHD program.

The prerequisites for the MMSc-GHD program are an undergraduate degree and two years of experience in health care delivery in a resource-limited setting. While many applicants have attained a clinical degree, a clinical degree is not required to apply to the MMSc-GHD program.

The admissions committee considers how well an applicant's experience matches the purpose of the program.

The MMSc-GHD program will prepare people specifically for health care delivery in resource-limited settings. Applicants to the program often have experience working in resource-limited settings, as a clinician, administrator, community health worker, or policy maker. Past students have included lawyers, public health professionals, activists, PHD-trained scientists, NGO leaders, and people with significant experience working with marginalized populations.

If you already have an MPH, you are welcome to apply-we expect that the two degrees will complement each other. Several MMSc-GHD alumni entered the program with an MPH, and they found that the programs complimented each other. Some may find overlap in some of the courses. You should be certain that you are interested in health care delivery, as that is the focus of the program.

The MMSc-GHD focuses on health care delivery in resource-limited settings. The MMSc-GHD is based around a five-month mentored field project. The MMSc-GHD will offer courses on epidemiological methods, social medicine, and ethics, as an MPH might, but the focus for the MMSc-GHD will focus on how to deliver excellent care to populations in places such as Haiti, Liberia, Malawi, the Navajo Nation, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and others.

The MMSc-GHD differs from a MPH or MS in the following ways:

• The main difference is the focus. The MMSc-GHD focuses on health care delivery in resource-limited settings, whereas an MPH or MS might focus more broadly on other issues. The focus is important because it stems from Dr. Paul Farmer and Dr. Joia Mukherjee's work with Partners In Health on how to deliver excellent health care to populations in resource-limited settings such as Haiti, Liberia, Malawi, the Navajo Nation, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and others.
• The MMSc-GHD requires a mentored project with the result being a publishable paper or grant proposal. This involves intensive work on a five-month on-site project.
• The MMSc-GHD includes courses at Harvard Medical School as well as at other Harvard schools.

As of now, the MMSc-GHD program is a residential program, which means that students must complete courses in Boston, MA during year 1, conduct research at their sites, and then return to Boston to analyze their thesis date, write their thesis paper and present their thesis results.

A budget/Cost of Attendance for the program is available on the HMS Masters Cost of Attendance page.

There is very limited scholarship funding available directly through the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, and we cannot guarantee funding to any accepted student. We urge potential applicants to research other potential opportunities as well. Below are some ideas you may consider as you seek funding:

• The Fulbright Program offers funding for students from abroad seeking to pursue a master's degree in the U.S.
• The HMS Financial Aid office offers loan options for U.S. citizens and international students. 

Please find a program schedule at the end of the "apply to the MMSc-GHD" page. 

Yes, we do have a part-time option for the MMSc-GHD program. However, due to U.S. visa laws, the part-time option is only available to U.S. citizens. Please email mmscghd@hms.harvard.edu for details on this opportunity.

The MMSc-GHD is an intensive program requiring a significant time commitment. It is technically an "80% time" program, so students who are eligible to work in the US may choose to work during the program.

Students who do their on-site project at a place where they have been employed may be able to work part-time during the project, but those students must ensure that they continue to complete all requirements for the MMSc-GHD program in good time.

The MMSc-GHD program cannot assist students in finding employment, nor make any special allowances for students who choose to work while completing the program. 

Harvard schools do not allow credit used to complete one program to count toward credits required for another program. In addition, most Harvard schools (HMS, HSPH, etc.) do not allow students to transfer credits from programs at other schools, even those within Harvard. An exception is made for the GHDI program, from which students may transfer credits after completing the program. 

The MMSc-GHD program has CIP code of 26.0509 Infectious Disease and Global Health, and is therefore considered a program on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM). Eligible graduates who are not US citizens can apply for the STEM extension of 2 years of work eligibility in the US after post-completion OPT, which means a graduate may work up to 3 years in the US after graduation. Please review the Harvard International Office website for more information: HIO STEM-OPT.