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Doctoral Program in Epidemiology

school Degree

Doctor in Epidemiology

schedule Duration

8 semesters

edit Application dates

05/08/2024 - 30/10/2024

date_range Classes start

March 2025

account_circle Modality

On-Campus

attach_money Tuition

$4.844.000 (annually)

Program Description

The Doctoral Program in Epidemiology is an interdisciplinary, full-time, scientific-academic program with a theoretical duration of four years. Its purpose is to contribute to the training of excellent researchers for Chile and Latin America in the various areas of epidemiological research, strengthening the development of this discipline, which is the basis for analysis and decision making in Public Health in our country and the generation of research networks in the area, inside and outside Chile.

Years of Accreditation

  • Three years, up to December 2024.

Program Objectives

Graduates of the Program will be able to work as teachers in advanced epidemiology in higher education institutions, as researchers in public or private health research centers or institutes, or public policies; or lead study units in public or private agencies related to health (health insurance companies, pharmaceutical or health goods industry).

To train Doctor of Philosophy of excellence in the academic and interdisciplinary scientific field from diverse courses related to Epidemiology. In addition, the Program considers as part of its mission to generate a solid national and international leadership in this discipline through scientific production, integrative and quality research, and communication and intellectual development in various areas of Epidemiology with a particular focus on Spanish-speaking countries in South America.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Doctoral Program in Epidemiology will be able to conduct original, autonomous, ethical, and methodologically rigorous research relevant to Public Health and with project management skills specifically in the field of Epidemiology and Public Health in general. They will join and effectively lead research teams, translate and communicate findings into public policies. Graduates will understand the central concepts of the different areas of Epidemiology and Public Health, specializing in a specific area linked to the research areas offered by the Program. In addition, they are expected to have transversal skills such as teaching skills, critical and analytical capacity, and the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams. 

Research Areas

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Advanced methods for health research:

In this research area, different alternatives for the design of epidemiological studies in complex situations are explored. In addition, various strategies for summarizing and analyzing data from classic designs or more innovative designs are analyzed. Finally, systems for linkage and analysis of large health databases (big data) are also designed, and the limitations and risks associated with these analyses are discussed.

Population, clinical and genetic epidemiology:

In this research area, the object of study is health and disease in the population, individual or patient. It involves designing research strategies to prevent, treat, and control conditions, including screening studies, clinical trials, and molecular studies. The latter, belonging to the sub-area of Molecular Epidemiology, explores genetic susceptibility, markers of exposure, early features of functional alterations or disease.

Social and life-cycle epidemiology:

This research area involves the design of epidemiological studies to evaluate the social determinants of health and disease in the population and the development of strategies to link and analyze different sources of data. In addition, this area explores economic, cultural, and technological changes, migration processes, employment conditions, minorities, their effect on health, and social inequalities in health.

Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology:

In this area, the object of study is population exposures resulting from individuals’ contact with physical, chemical, or biological agents present in the air, water, soil, food, both in the general environment and in the workplace. This environmental area includes exposures of human origin (such as air pollution from industry or transportation) or natural sources (such as volcanic eruptions, red tide). In the occupational area, we are interested in identifying workplace exposures that are a direct product of the economic activity, such as exposure to arsenic, benzenes, asbestos, occupational stress, and occupational diseases (occupational neurosis hyperacusis, tendinitis, mesothelioma).

Application Requirements

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To be admitted as students of the Program, applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

  1. Submit to the Faculty’s Office an application for admission on the Doctoral program in Epidemiology Application Form.
  2. Submit a statement of purpose, including a pre-thesis project with the support of a faculty member. The pre-thesis project must contain the research topic, its relevance, objectives, and resources available for its execution. This pre-thesis project is not binding and may be modified during the first semester.
  3. Certify the academic background that qualifies them to pursue doctoral studies, master’s degree, or medical specialty, including titles and degrees obtained with the respective grade transcripts. Academic degrees of foreign origin must be equivalent to those described according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED-UNESCO) in force at the date of application; the certificates must be legalized by the Chilean Consulate in the country of origin.
  4. Certify the accomplishment of research through publications, presentations in congresses, and participation in research projects related to the health of the population.
  5. Submit a brief curriculum vitae (personal data, teaching, and research activity) that demonstrates their research capacity.
  6. Submit two letters of recommendation from professors, ideally with a doctoral degree and not belonging to the faculty, which give an account of the applicants’ capabilities and limitations.
  7. Demonstrate a B2 level of English to understand scientific literature written in English; this can be accredited by the TOEFL certification or equivalent (IELTS, CAMBRIDGE).

The Doctoral Committee has the power to accept, exceptionally and provisionally, candidates who do not meet all of these requirements, provided that they overcome the deficiencies in accordance with the recommendations established by this Committee within a period of no more than one year. Likewise, the Committee has the power to decide which applicants are required to take specific entrance knowledge tests.

Graduation Requirements

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To graduate:

  • Certify advanced command of a second language.
  • Carry out the Ethics and Integrity in Research workshop (CPD 0002).
  • Carry out two transversal skills workshops (CPD acronym).
  • Take a research internship abroad *.
  • Have a scientific article submitted, accepted, or published *.
  • Have carried out two annual monitoring activities *.

(*) The conditions and characteristics of these activities may vary according to the study plan of each doctorate. For more information, we recommend that you consult with your program manager.

Unidades académicas

For further information, please visit the website for this Doctoral Program

For further information, please visit the website for this Doctoral Program

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