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Epidemiology and Applied Health Research

Why choose Epidemiology and Applied Health Research

Updated in 2025, the Epidemiology and Applied Health Research (EAHR) graduate program at the University of Ottawa is designed to meet the evolving demands of public health and health research. Offered through the School of Epidemiology and Public Health (SEPH), EAHR equips students with the advanced knowledge, practical skills, and hands-on experience needed to make a lasting impact in the field. We deliver high-quality, student-centred training in a supportive academic environment that fosters curiosity, diversity, and excellence. 

Distinguished faculty expertise

The School of Epidemiology and Public Health is home to a significant number of Canada Research Chairs, offering students access to internationally recognized scholars and cutting-edge research opportunities.

Strategic research partnerships

Located in Canada’s capital at the Alta Vista campus, the EAHR program benefits from strong affiliations with leading public health and health research institutions, including:

  • The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
  • Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute
  • Ottawa Public Health
  • Public Health Agency of Canada
  • Bruyère Health Research Institute
  • University of Ottawa Heart Institute
  • The Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research
  • Health Canada
  • Department of National Defence

These partnerships provide students with valuable experiential learning and collaborative research opportunities. 

Program highlights

EAHR offers flexible graduate study options tailored to your goals in epidemiology and applied health research. 

Career pathways

Graduates from the Epidemiology and Applied Health Research program are well prepared for a diverse range of rewarding career opportunities. As a graduate, you can pursue roles such as:

  • Epidemiologist
  • Research Coordinator or Associate
  • Scientist / Investigator / Professor (PhD)
  • Public Health Analyst
  • Health Policy Analyst
  • Clinical Trial Coordinator
  • Health Technology Assessment specialist 

Program options

Program options

Criteria

Master’s thesis 

Master’s research project

Doctorate

Program type

Research-intensive

Applied, non-thesis

Research-intensive

Duration

~2 years

16 months

~4 years

Thesis required

Yes

No

Yes

Research project

No

Yes

No

Concentrations available

Yes

  • epidemiology
  • clinical research
  • global health research  
  • health policy  
  • health technology assessment
  • implementation science 

Yes

  • epidemiology
  • clinical research
  • global health research  
  • health policy  
  • health technology assessment
  • implementation science (general program only)
No (general program only) 

Ideal for students who...

Want to pursue a PhD or a career in an academic or non-academic research setting 

Want to pursue a career that requires applied research skills  

 Want to lead research, create new knowledge, and influence policy and practice 

Language of study

English

English

English

Concentration options

A healthcare professional using a tablet with a digital DNA graphic overlay, representing genomics and precision medicine.

Clinical Research

Learn about clinical trials and observational studies for evaluating interventions to inform health care and health policy.

Scientific illustration of cells undergoing division, representing cellular biology and biomedical research.

Epidemiology

Learn about the distribution and determinants of health in populations and opportunities for prevention and treatment.

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Global Health Research

Learn about transnational health risks and public health programs and policies at a global level.

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Health Policy

Learn about the development, implementation, analysis and evaluation of health policies.

A healthcare professional using a digital interface displaying medical and health-related icons, representing technology-enabled patient care.

Health Technology Assessment

Learn about the evaluation of healthcare innovations to inform policy and resource distribution.

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Implementation Science

Learn about implementation, de-implementation, sustainability, scale, and spread of clinical, public health, and policy solutions in health care.

Areas of research

  • Epidemiology & Public Health
  • Genetic, Psychiatric, Ocular, Nutrition
  • Global Health
  • Clinical Epidemiology
  • Systematic Reviews
  • Health Technology Assessment
  • Chronic Diseases
  • Communicable Diseases
  • Methodologies
  • Knowledge Translation Research/Implementation Science
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Health Policy
  • Determinants of Health
  • Health Economics 

Research centers and institutes

Clinical epidemiology research programs and methods centres at hospital-based research institutes affiliated with the University:

Fast Track

Thinking about a PhD already? If your research is progressing exceptionally well, fast-tracking lets you move directly into the PhD and keep your momentum going, helping you focus on bigger research goals sooner.

Take the next step

Start your journey with the essential information and resources to help you plan your academic path and achieve your goals.