How to Apply to Brown University for Public Health: A School of Public Health A.B. Concentration, No Admission by Concentration, Declaration by the End of the Fourth Semester, a Five-Year UG/MPH Option, and the Path for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Brown University is in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown has no core curriculum and calls majors concentrations. The undergraduate public health program is the Public Health concentration, offered by the School of Public Health. Below are Brown’s published details for fall 2027 entry for U.S. applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Note that Brown lists the degree as an A.B., not an Sc.B.; the School’s other undergraduate concentration, Statistics (Sc.B.), is outside this guide.

1. Degree and program

• Degree: the program page lists degree type A.B. and the School of Public Health as the school, with its four departments: Behavioral and Social Sciences, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Health Services, Policy and Practice.
• STEM: the page prints the CIP code 45.0102 and links the Department of Homeland Security list of STEM-eligible CIP codes, but does not say whether the program is STEM; check that list or ask the international office.
• Size: 12 courses (the Bulletin shows total credits of 12).
• Honors: an Honors track exists. The Bulletin says eligibility is decided at the end of the sixth semester: good academic standing, at least eight concentration courses (including all five core courses) with an A in four or more; honors students take PHP 1915 and write a thesis over two semesters of independent study (PHP 1980). The School’s curriculum page describes it differently: two semesters of PHP 1980 plus 11 concentration courses with more A’s than B’s, a prospectus, a thesis and an oral presentation. The two descriptions are not identical; confirm with the honors adviser.
• Practice requirement: for the Class of 2029 and beyond the Bulletin requires experiential learning, one of: a community-based learning and research (CBLR) course, an independent study, or an academic internship; equivalent non-credit activities such as UTRAs may be approved case by case by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. The number of hours is not published on the pages we read.
• Five-year UG/MPH: the School says it is open to Brown undergraduates in any concentration. The MPH takes 12 course credits with at least seven in the fifth year; no more than two courses can count for both the concentration and the MPH; five MPH courses are taken as an undergraduate; PHP 2000, CITI training, a practicum and a thesis or capstone are also required. Students apply in the sixth semester through SOPHAS Express, having taken HSP 0310 and PHP 0320 and at least one 1000-level PHP course that counts toward the MPH, with a course plan and no plan to be abroad in the senior year. The page does not say whether international students are eligible; its FAQ page was not read.
• Pre-health: the School’s advising page says almost all graduates eventually pursue an advanced degree and medical school is a common next step (PLME and non-PLME), though not for a majority; others go to schools of public health, social work, midwifery or healthcare consulting. More pre-health content is outside this guide.

2. How you get into the concentration, and the bar

• Not admitted by concentration: the Common App’s Brown Questions ask for your top concentration choices, but Brown states there are no quotas among concentrations and it does not admit students by academic interest; the information only shows current preferences.
• Declare after you arrive: the School says all students must formally request admission to a concentration in writing. Steps: read the requirements, fill in the Public Health concentrator’s worksheet, meet the program director or coordinator, then declare in ASK (Advising Sidekick). Fourth-semester students should book the meeting by the first week of March; 1 April is the University deadline for fourth-semester students, and students without an approved concentration are blocked from pre-registering for fall.
• Minimum GPA, quotas: neither the Bulletin nor the School’s pages we read state a GPA threshold or cap for entering Public Health; ask the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
• Separate application: none; you declare after enrolling. Internal transfer follows the same declaration process.

3. Prerequisites and courses

• High-school prerequisites: the admission pages we read give no high-school math or biology requirement for public health.
• Class of 2029 and beyond (Bulletin, 12 courses): five foundational courses: PHP 0320 Introduction to Public Health, HSP 0310 Health Care in the United States, EPI 0850 Fundamentals of Epidemiology, STAT 1501 Essentials of Data Analysis (or STAT 1510 Principles of Biostatistics and Data Analysis) and BIOL 0200 The Foundation of Living Systems (which placement notation can satisfy); one course in each of four crosscutting areas: biological mechanisms of health and disease, structural determinants and health equity, global health systems and solutions, and from insight to action; two electives at the 1000 level or higher; a capstone PHP 1910 (PHP 1915 for honors); plus the experiential learning above.
• Class of 2028 and earlier: the Bulletin points to the 2025–26 Bulletin. The School’s curriculum page lists a different structure: five core courses (HSP 0310, PHP 0320, EPI 0850, STAT 1501 or 1510, PHP 1910) plus seven elective areas (biology/physiology, environmental health and policy, global health, health disparities, health care systems and policy, social and behavioral science for prevention, and a public health elective), and does not say which cohorts it covers. The Bulletin divides cohorts by “Class of 2029 and beyond”; which class and which set of requirements apply to a fall 2027 entrant is not stated, so ask the School of Public Health.
• Sequencing: the School advises taking HSP 0310 and PHP 0320 as early as possible, preferably by the end of sophomore year, since they are prerequisites for other courses; STAT 1501 in sophomore or junior year with no prerequisites; EPI 0850 typically in sophomore or junior year with PHP 0320 as a prerequisite; PHP 1910 in the fall of senior year.
• Double concentration and study abroad: up to two courses may count in both concentrations. The Bulletin says up to three requirements outside the five foundational courses may be met with approved study-abroad courses.
• AP/IB credit: the School’s page says only that AP/IB credit for BIOL 0200 does not satisfy the biology elective; Brown’s first-year AP credit policy was not on the pages we read. For advanced standing for international students, see section 5.

4. Rounds and materials (fall 2027 entry)

• Deadlines: Brown lists Early Decision on 1 November (11:59 p.m. local time) with decisions in mid-December, and Regular Decision on 5 January with decisions “late March” on the checklist page but “by early April” on the Regular Decision page (a small discrepancy); the reply date for Regular Decision is 1 May. The pages print no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry. Early Decision is binding and you must withdraw other applications if admitted.
• Platform and fee: the Common Application; the fee is $80, non-refundable, with waivers available.
• Essays: Brown’s supplemental essays are submitted through the Common App.
• Recommendations: two teacher recommendations from major academic subjects, the counselor recommendation and School Report, and transcripts; the midyear report is due 27 February or as soon as possible after first-semester grades, and the final report and transcript by 30 June. Brown also says applicants considering a Bachelor of Science degree or the PLME should have at least one recommendation from a math or science teacher; since public health is an A.B., whether this applies to you is your call.
• Testing: Brown states it returned to requiring the SAT or ACT beginning with the 2024–25 cycle and superscores either test; there is no minimum score and scores are read in context. The SAT Essay and ACT Writing remain optional, and the ACT Science section became optional from spring 2025. If you self-report, official scores are required before enrolling.

5. Three types of applicant

U.S. applicants

• Brown is private. The cost page we read shows one set of figures with no in-state/out-of-state split, and we found no in-state preference.
• Brown says it offers no merit awards; aid is need-based (see section 6).

International applicants

• How to apply: the Common Application like everyone else; documents not in English need official translations. Brown does not endorse or work with agents or third parties, except governments, EducationUSA and community-based organizations.
• Examinations: applicants should sit national and international examinations such as A-levels, the Abitur, the French Baccalauréat or the IB, submit predicted or actual scores, and send actual scores before matriculation; if you are in a national curriculum but will not take the external exams, you and your school should explain this in writing at application.
• English: English proficiency must be achieved before admission; Brown has no ESL courses for undergraduates and does not admit provisionally. For applicants whose first, home or school language is not English, Brown “highly recommends” a test, with these minimums expected in most cases: TOEFL iBT 105 before January 2026 and 5.5 from January 2026; IELTS 8.0; Duolingo 130; Pearson Test of English 75; Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 191. MyBest scores are not accepted. For fall 2027 entrants, official score reports are required in May 2027, and a test that expires before then must be sent early.
• Funds and aid: Brown says international students may apply for University aid and Brown meets the full demonstrated need of admitted students who apply for aid at the time they apply for admission; aid is need-based and there are no merit awards. On need-blind status the two pages differ: the international aid page says Brown is need-blind for international students “beginning with the Class of 2029”, while the first-year international aid page says need-blind applies to those entering in fall 2025. Check the latest. The CSS Profile (code 3189; Brown gives no CSS Profile fee waivers) is due 2 November 2026 for Early Decision and 1 February 2027 for Regular Decision. Note that this Early Decision aid date (2 November) differs from the admissions page’s ED application deadline (1 November). Brown also warns that U.S. immigration rules restrict off-campus summer work, so overseas applicants must know where their funds will come from.
• Internship or work limits: not on the public health pages we read.
• Advanced standing: international students who completed 13 years of schooling with exceptional external national examination results may be eligible for one semester of advanced standing (four enrollment units) after they become sophomores; no course or enrollment credit is given for AS or O-level exams; academic deans review credentials only after admission and matriculation.

Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the admission pages we read do not mention the gaokao or China-specific requirements; not published there. Brown says it gives no preference to any system or country and expects 12 to 13 years of primary and secondary schooling.
• Transcripts and school-exit exams (huikao): not specified on the pages we read; ask Brown’s Office of College Admission.
• English and testing: as in the international section; the SAT or ACT is required for all first-year applicants.

6. Costs and scholarships

• Brown’s cost page (it does not print an academic year, so check): tuition $74,568; fees $3,084 (including a $100 academic record fee for first-time students); housing $10,710; food $8,754; direct charges subtotal $97,116; miscellaneous personal expenses $2,878; total $99,994. Health insurance and individual expenses are not included.
• No surcharge specific to the Public Health concentration appears on the pages we read.
• Brown has no merit awards; need-based aid is described above. For scholarship-eligible students the University covers books and course materials (the BCMS program).

7. Transfer students

• Eligibility: for fall 2027 entry, applicants must complete two or four semesters (or three, four or six quarters) of full-time college study before September 2027; those with three semesters or five quarters are only eligible for spring entry. Transfers must then spend at least four semesters full-time at Brown, so applicants with more than four semesters of college work are not considered. Students who took college courses while in high school or dual-degree programs cannot apply as transfers, and those who already hold a bachelor’s degree cannot transfer.
• Deadlines: fall transfer applications are due 1 March 2027; the mid-term report is due 1 April; decisions come by mid-May; the reply deadline is late May and the final transcript is due 15 June. Aid applicants submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile by 1 March. Spring entry is open only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, while fall entry is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents and international students.
• Testing: test-optional for transfers; the English proficiency requirement is the same as for first-years.
• Credit and concentration: Brown generally transfers liberal arts courses similar to its own; it does not award credit for AP scores or internships or for courses taken in high school; credit is finalized after enrollment, with only a preliminary estimate in the offer. Concentration credit is decided by the department after arrival, and Brown advises not to assume a course will count. We found no public health–specific transfer prerequisites on the pages we read.
• International transfers: fall entry is open (above); aid policy for international transfers is not stated on the transfer pages we read.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Common App: ED 1 November, RD 5 January, $80 fee; the SAT or ACT is required
• You are not admitted by concentration; take PHP 0320 and HSP 0310 early and declare by 1 April of the fourth semester

International applicants (including China):

• English: TOEFL iBT 105 (5.5 from January 2026), IELTS 8.0, Duolingo 130 and so on, “expected in most cases”; official scores in May 2027
• Submit predicted or actual national exam results; how the gaokao is used is not published
• Aid: CSS Profile, ED 2 November 2026 and RD 1 February 2027; no merit scholarships

Transfer students:

• Fall entry due 1 March 2027 and open to international students; test-optional; no AP credit; concentration credit is decided after arrival

Sources: Brown University, Bulletin: Public Health; Undergraduate programs: Public Health (A.B.); School of Public Health: Undergraduate Concentrations; School of Public Health: undergraduate program; Undergraduate Curriculum; Declaring and Advising; Five-Year UG/MPH; Selecting Academic Interests; Early Decision; Regular Decision; Application Checklist; Standardized Tests; International: Admission Criteria; International: Application Process; English Proficiency; International financial aid; Advanced Standing; Transfer eligibility; Transfer credit; Transfer calendar; Transfer testing; Cost of Attendance; First-year international aid. Information is for fall 2027 entry. Many dates on Brown’s pages carry no year and the cost page does not print an academic year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry.