Applicant profile
The PhD program is aimed at working professionals residing in Switzerland or abroad with the potential of becoming global health leaders, academics and researchers. Applicants come from a range of health professional levels such as directors, mid-career managers and leaders in governmental or non-governmental health agencies, program officers, and other mid-level or senior managers working for foundations. The program also aims to include other public health professionals such as entrepreneurs and individuals working in non-traditional settings.
Since its inception in the Spring Semester of 2015, the program has enrolled thirteen cohorts of students. More than 60 students have already defended their theses on a wide range of topics such as mental health, digital health, medical humanitarian action, international health regulation, one health, health geography, epidemiology, and healthcare-associated infections. The program currently has more than 60 students who are actively engaged in their PhD training. Many of them are professionals working in international health organizations and non-governmental organizations, including WHO, UNAIDS, USAID, UNOPS, Global Fund, GAVI, ICRC, UNICEF, and MSF. Nearly half of the students are based outside of Europe.
Types of PhD applicants
UNIGE/HUG PhD applicants with employee status
If you are employed by the University of Geneva (UNIGE) or the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), you are referred to as PhD applicants with employee status. Employment terms and conditions, professional development opportunities and human resources contacts are set out on the UNIGE intranet, which is available once you are employed by the University.
UNIGE/HUG employee pursuing a doctorate
If you are working at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) or the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) in a role other than that of a PhD candidate, and have made arrangements to pursue a doctorate while employed, you are considered an employee pursuing a doctorate. In such cases, agree with your manager on how your working hours are allocated to doctoral research, so that you can plan the balance between your job and your doctoral studies.
PhD applicants with a paid position at an external organization or entity
Externally funded applicants can dedicate part of their employer’s time, which could be a government, a company, or a research institute, to their doctoral research. In many cases they are granted a partial exemption from their regular work duties. Their salaries are paid by their employers, and they conduct their research under the supervision of a designated supervisor from the University of Geneva. They are fully enrolled at the University of Geneva as doctoral students.
PhD applicants with a scholarship
A PhD funded by an external scholarship rather than by a salaried position is possible . Most candidates who take this route come through the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, which are highly selective. Successful applicants have usually collaborated with a professor in the program for some time and prepare the scholarship application together with that professor. The program itself awards no scholarships or stipends, and external providers normally ask for written confirmation of acceptance into a PhD program before they approve funding.