How to Apply

• A bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association; or an international degree that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a college or university recognized and approved by the Ministry of Education or Commission responsible for higher education in the country where the degree is earned. (See Required Academic Credentials from Non-U.S. Institutions)
• Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. Applicants are required to provide an official score report. Photocopies and/or faxes of English proficiency scores will not be accepted. For more details see Tests.
• Persons holding master’s or doctoral degrees are usually not eligible to apply for study in the field of specialization and level for which they already have a degree. Please see the Rackham Admission and Matriculation Policy for eligibility.
• At least one course in statistics, preferably at the graduate level for doctoral applicants.
• We anticipate that students may come from a variety of health care and professional experiences including but not limited to health sciences/health professions, information, computing, engineering, behavioral and social sciences and organizational and policy studies, and we will assess different forms of evidence of willingness to engage in the full spectrum of learning systems courses, from data and computationally intensive courses to social science courses.
• HILS Online is not currently available for international students.

The following materials should be submitted by the application deadline.

Application Fee (See Application Fee and Payment)

• Academic Statement of Purpose
• Personal Statement
• Resume/CV
• Quantitative Statement
• Scanned Copies of Official Transcripts
• Letters of Recommendation (3 letters are required)
• Evidence of English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS), required if one's native language is not English
• HILS does not require the GRE for admission

*Please note: the essay prompts for PhD and MS applicants are different.*

First, briefly list:

• Primary research area or questions. For example, “I am interested in understanding the role of data quality in driving learning health system success” or “I am interested in understanding the role of trust as it relates to data and the improvement of learning health systems.” (1-2 sentences)
• Potential advisors; you should contact these faculty to introduce yourself and discuss potential fit before completing your Academic Statement of Purpose. (2-3 Learning Health Sciences Primary Faculty)
• Explain why you identified the potential advisors you did. Please describe the interactions you have had with them.

Then address the following questions in 4-6 pages (double-spaced):

• Please describe your understanding of learning health systems, and why you are interested in studying the science underlying these;
• Describe prior research experiences, courses, or projects that have prepared you for doctoral study;
• Explain in some detail the research areas in which you hope to contribute:
  • Specify at least one area, discipline, or method that you would like to learn in depth;
  • Describe one other area, discipline, or method that would round out the breadth of your knowledge and why it would be a valuable part of your education.
• Explain why you identified the potential advisors you did. Have you contacted them?

To assist with your Statement of Purpose, we encourage you to check out the following resources: 

• Development of the learning health system research core competencies
• Weaving together a healthcare improvement tapestry. Learning health system brings together health data stakeholders to share knowledge and improve health. 
• Learning Health Systems Journal 
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

*Please note: the essay prompts for PhD and MS applicants are different.*

First, briefly list:

• Primary research area or questions (1-2 sentences)
• Potential advisors; you should contact 2-3 HILS faculty to introduce yourself and discuss potential fit before completing your Academic Statement of Purpose.
• Explain why you identified the potential advisors you did. Please describe the interactions you have had with them.

Then address the following questions in 3-4 pages (double-spaced):

• Please describe your understanding of learning health systems, and what interests you about them, noting particularly how you apply concepts from the learning health system to your current projects and/or work environment.
• Describe prior research experiences, courses, or projects that have prepared you for graduate study. Please comment on any experience you have with data analysis, implementing evidence-based programs, clinical practice improvement, informatics, and/or policy work.
• Specify at least one area of learning health systems that you would like to learn in depth in order to conduct research or practice in this domain.

The following information is required in the header of your Academic Statement of Purpose:

• Write "Academic Statement of Purpose" at the top of your document
• Your name
• The name of the graduate program
• Your 8 digit U-M ID (if known)

Set document margins to one-inch and verify that any tables fit within the margins. Recommendation: Convert documents to PDF format before uploading.

To assist with your Statement of Purpose, we encourage you to check out the following resources: 

• Development of the learning health system research core competencies
• Weaving together a healthcare improvement tapestry. Learning health system brings together health data stakeholders to share knowledge and improve health. 
• Learning Health Systems Journal 
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Please summarize the strength of your quantitative and analytical skills by (a) referencing your grades in key math and science-related coursework and (b) discussion specific details of any research or work experiences that involved quantitative and analytical tasks. The information provided will contribute to our holistic review process.

The following information is required on the header of your statement:

• Write "Quantitative Experiences Statement" at the top of your document
• Your name
• The name of the proposed graduate program
• Your 8-digit U-M ID

Make sure your margins are set up at one inch and that any inserted tables fit within those margins to avoid pages being added or removed in your original document(s). You can also convert your documents to PDF before uploading.

For each Bachelor’s, Master’s, Professional, or Doctoral degree earned or in progress, scan one copy, front and back, of official transcript and upload to application. If offered admission, you will be asked to submit a hard copy of each official transcript. Do not submit transcripts from a community or junior college, non-degree, or study abroad coursework. If you previously attended U-M Ann Arbor, Rackham will access that transcript internally.

Please see Transcripts for complete instructions including specific information for submitting non-U.S. institution records.

Three letters of recommendation are required and must be submitted electronically by your recommenders. As you are completing the online application, you will be given instructions for how to "Register Your Recommenders." Recommenders will then receive an email that will guide them in uploading their letters.

Requesting Letters of Recommendation

An effective recommendation letter should provide an assessment of your potential as a graduate student and/or researcher. It is important that a recommendation letter be written by someone who knows you well academically or is familiar with your professional work.  Recommendation letters provide the admissions committee with information that isn’t found elsewhere in your application.

Applicants (MS and PhD) whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency and are required to provide official score reports for one of the tests accepted by the Rackham Graduate School.

Please see the Rackham Graduate School’s information regarding Tests for information on accepted test scores, submission of test scores and exemptions.

Many of the courses in the HILS program are open to any enrolled U-M Ann Arbor student with graduate-level standing.  If you are not currently a U-M graduate student and would like to enroll in HILS courses, you may apply online to HILS as a Non-Candidate for Degree.

• Applications for domestic and permanent resident applicants are due
  • August 1 for fall term
  • November 1 for winter term
• International applicants: please contact us at [email protected]
• U-M Faculty and Postdoctoral Scholars: complete the Rackham Pre-Approval Form for Faculty & Postdoctoral Scholars Career Development form and upload it to your application. Contact Beth Hill at [email protected] for more information.

Are application fee waivers available?

The Rackham Graduate Schools administers application fee waivers.

Is the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) required?

Neither HILS nor the Rackham Graduate School requires GRE scores for admission.

Do you offer online courses?

Yes, HILS does offer a hybrid HILS Online MS program. 

When are applicants notified of acceptance/rejection?

We aim to notify all PhD applicants of admission decisions by March 1.  MS applicants can expect notification 6-8 weeks after the receipt of their application.

Can you verify if my transcripts, recommendations letters or test scores have been received?

Applicants are able to monitor their materials using a U-M Friend Account. Instructions for accessing your account may be found in the Rackham Application Checklist.

It’s the application deadline and not all of my recommenders have submitted their letters. Will this have a negative impact on my application?

The admissions committee will begin the review process in December for PhD applications and on a rolling basis for MS applications so you will want your application to be as complete as possible by the deadline.