What is the PhD in Public Health at Texila American University Zambia?
The PhD in Public Health at Texila American University Zambia is an intensive, 3-year doctoral research degree designed for advanced healthcare professionals. It provides specialized training in epidemiology, biostatistics, and health policy, preparing graduates for senior leadership roles across the SADC region.
PhD in Public Health in Zambia
The PhD in Public Health at Texila American University (TAU) Zambia is an intensive, 3-year doctoral research degree designed for advanced healthcare professionals. It is designed for professionals who want to generate new evidence and lead public health at the highest level.
Public health is concerned with protecting, preserving and promoting the health of communities and populations. A doctorate equips you to identify complex population-health problems, design and conduct original research, and translate findings into policy and practice.
The degree sits within TAU’s HEA-accredited and HPCZ-approved School of Public Health. It can be pursued on campus in Lusaka or online, so working professionals across the SADC region can undertake advanced research without geographical constraints.
What Is a PhD in Public Health?
A PhD in Public Health is the highest academic qualification achievable in the healthcare sector. Unlike professional doctorates focused on clinical execution, a PhD centres strictly on original academic research that introduces new scientific data to the field.
At TAU Zambia, the program bridges critical taught modules including epidemiology, applied biostatistics, environmental health, and advanced research methodologies with a rigorous, supervised dissertation. Graduates develop the intellectual discipline required to translate complex population-health data into scalable public health laws and community programs.
How Long is a Public Health PhD in Zambia?
The PhD in Public Health at TAU Zambia spans 3 academic years, requiring a total of 360 credits distributed evenly across coursework, research seminars, and the final thesis presentation.
Duration
3 Years
Eligibility:
- Master’s Degree in Public Health (MPH) or an equivalent health-related postgraduate qualification from a recognized university.
- Any standard Master’s degree coupled with verifiable professional experience in the healthcare sector and foundational research knowledge.
Non- English-Speaking Countries:
Applicants completing their prior degrees in non-English speaking nations must supply valid testing scores:
- TOEFL (Minimum score of 4.0 or higher)
- IELTS (Valid internet-based or paper-based test certificates)
- Alternative Verification: Valid diplomas from Cambridge Assessments or the International Baccalaureate (IB).
Structure of the Programme
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Course Title | Credit Points | |
| Year 1 | PPH1101 | Introduction to Public Health Practice | 20 |
| PPH1102 | Applied Epidemiology | 20 | |
| PPH1103 | Social and Behavioral Health | 10 | |
| PPH1104 | Applied Biostatistics | 20 | |
| PPH1201 | Environmental Health | 10 | |
| PPH1201 | Principles of Applied Epidemiology | 20 | |
| PPH1201 | Research Methodology | 20 | |
| Total credits | 120 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Course Title | Credit Points | |
| Year 2 | PPH2101 | Population and Family Health | 20 |
| PPH2102 | Health Economics and Health Financing | 20 | |
| PPH2103 | PhD Seminar I | 30 | |
| Elective in Area of Concentration | 20 | ||
| PPH2201 | PhD Seminar II | 30 | |
| Total credits | 120 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Course Title | Credit Points | |
| Year 3 | PPH3101 | Public Health Management | 10 |
| PPH3102 | PhD Seminar III | 30 | |
| PPH3103 | PhD Seminar IV | 30 | |
| PPH3104 | PhD Thesis Submission and Défense (Viva Voce) | 50 | |
| Total credits | 120 | ||
| Total Programme Credits | 360 | ||
Electives choices
| S.NO | Course Code | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PPH4101 | Advanced Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases | 20 |
| 2 | PPH4102 | Community Health Education and Health Promotion | 20 |
| 3 | PPH4103 | Maternal, Child, Adolescent and Reproductive Health | 20 |
Research Specializations
Doctoral candidates tailor their coursework and target their dissertation by selecting one of six core research concentrations:
- Epidemiology
- Health Policy and Management
- Population, Family and Reproductive Health
- Disaster Management & Emergency Preparedness
- Health Economics and Financing
- Social and Behavioral Health
How Does the Online & Distance Learning Track Work?
For working medical officers, NGO coordinators, and researchers across Africa, TAU provides a flexible blended online model. Powered by our comprehensive Learning Management System (LMS), online students have access to the same resources, faculty advisors, and thesis panels as on-campus scholars.
- Live Transmission: Lectures are streamed live via the LMS and can be accessed at designated partner facility centres.
- Hybrid Classrooms: Distance learners are welcome to attend physical classroom sessions at our Lusaka campus whenever their schedule allows.
- Professional Continuity: The program structure allows you to complete your scientific research without putting your full-time public health career on hold.
Careers After a PhD in Public Health
A doctorate in public health opens the most senior roles in the field, in Zambia and internationally. Career progression includes:
- Senior Lecturer / Associate Professor / Professor
- Epidemiologist / Biostatistician
- Behavioural Scientist & Policy Developer
- Senior Public Health Administrator / Researcher
- Environmental Health Researcher
Graduates are well prepared for leadership in academia, government health departments, research institutions, the private sector and international agencies such as the WHO and UNICEF.
Why Choose TAU for Your Public Health Doctorate?
Texila American University stands out as a top choice for public health education in Africa due to our established academic infrastructure:
- Official Compliance: Registered directly with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Zambia to ensure your doctoral degree is fully accredited.
- Institutional Support: Dedicated university research grants, digital journal archives, and regular international e-conferences back our scholars.
- Global Peer Network: Collaborate alongside a diverse body of healthcare professionals representing multiple nations.
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Faculty and support
TAU has excellent facilities for the program delivery designed keeping in mind the needs of the student in all means.
E-Conference is an innovative platform which provides an excellent international forum for sharing knowledge and results. The E-Conference was conducted on the OPEN FORUM, the first of its kind. It includes Open forum, all accepted articles will be placed for discussion. Every article to be reviewed by other Authors or Reviewers. The Reviewers or Authors can place in their comments and views on the article as part of the discussion forum. The highlight of the Open forum discussion is that there is no time or place constraint.
E-INTERNATIONAL JOURNALS OF ACADEMIC & SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: EIJASR is an endeavor by the organization to overcome the barriers in the easy and fast access of research data. Our goal has been to go beyond borders in the field of academic research. There is an interactive platform where individuals can gain access to educational and scientific journals. Besides publishing journals related to various field of study, the EIJASR helps in indexing and calculation of impact factor of journals. There is a great shortage of platforms where one can publish his thesis or findings and it has led to various discoveries and cures being shelved up.
Degree Regulations
The student will be eligible for the award of the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health degree, on successful completion of all the academic requirements and as per their academic standing grades.
| Grade | % Mark | Descriptor |
|---|---|---|
| H | 91-100 | Honors. Exceptional performance demonstrating broad understanding of the subject area and excellent knowledge of the relevant literature. Exemplary discussion and analysis of results, logical organisation and ability to critically analyse and evaluate discuss concepts coupled with insight and originality. |
| A | 81-90 | Outstanding. Very good performance demonstrating evidence of wide reading, with clear presentation and thorough analysis & evaluation and an ability to critically evaluate and discuss the subject. Clear indication of some insight and originality. A very competent and well-presented work overall but failing short of excellence in some aspects. |
| B | 71-80 | Excellent. Good performance which shows good understanding of the subject and knowledge of the relevant literature. Efficient derivation of information with only minor slips. Demonstrates some relevant interpretation and critical evaluation of the subject. Good general standard of analysis, synthesis & interpretation of data. |
| C | 61-70 | Good. Satisfactory performance with clear presentation of subject and simple analysis but less effective evaluation of literature or synthesis of information. Requires some level of supervision but shows little ability to try and solve some problems unaided. |
| D | 50-60 | Fair. An average performance which shows some understanding of the subject but limited knowledge and appreciation of the relevant literature. Presentation of, analysis and presentation of results at basic level and showing little or no originality or critical evaluation. Insufficient attention to organisation and presentation of work. |
| F | 0-49 | Fail. A bad performance containing many errors and faults. Virtually no real understanding or appreciation of the subject and relevant literature pertaining to it. Chaotic presentation of information and in some cases incompletely presented and virtually non-existent or inappropriate or plainly wrong analysis. Discussion and interpretation seriously confused or wholly erroneous revealing basic misapprehensions. |
March 2027 Intake – Apply for the PhD
Applications for the March 2027 intake into TAU’s PhD in Public Health are open. Submit the online form and one of our admissions officers will guide you on eligibility, research supervision, tuition and scholarships.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A PhD in Public Health is the highest academic qualification in the healthcare field. It is a research-driven doctorate focused on contributing original scientific findings to global health literature. The curriculum combines advanced training in epidemiology, biostatistics, and research methodologies with a terminal supervised dissertation to solve systemic health issues.
The PhD in Public Health at Texila American University (TAU) Zambia takes exactly 3 years to complete. The curriculum requires 360 total academic credits structured across advanced coursework, mandatory peer-reviewed PhD seminars, and a final independent research thesis defines (viva voce).
A Master’s degree in Public Health or another health-related discipline, or any Master’s degree with relevant health-professional experience and research knowledge.
Yes. The programme blends online and on-campus learning through the LMS, so working professionals can manage doctoral study alongside their jobs.
Candidates choose one area of concentration: Epidemiology; Health Policy and Management; Population, Family and Reproductive Health; Disaster Management & Emergency Preparedness; Health Economics and Financing; or Social and Behavioural Health.
Senior roles in academia (Lecturer to Professor), epidemiology and biostatistics, policy development, senior public health administration and research, in government, universities, the private sector and international agencies.
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Glossary
Higher Education Authority (HEA) Zambia
The official statutory regulatory body established under the Higher Education Act to register, accredit, and monitor higher education institutions in Zambia to guarantee standard institutional quality.
Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ)
The statutory regulatory agency mandated to license health facilities, approve medical training curricula, and regulate the professional conduct of healthcare practitioners across Zambia.
Southern African Development Community (SADC)
A regional intergovernmental organization comprising 16 Southern African member states, serving as a primary target footprint for regional healthcare interventions and cross-border health policies.
Applied Epidemiology
The practical application of public health research methods—such as study design, population surveillance, and field investigations—to track, manage, and prevent disease outbreaks within specific communities.
Applied Biostatistics
The strategic application of statistical models and mathematical techniques to medical, biological, and public health data to identify health risk patterns and evaluate clinical outcomes.
Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)
The non-medical, environmental conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that significantly shape overall health outcomes, structural equity, and systemic vulnerability.
Health Economics
A specialized branch of economic science focused on efficiency, value, systemic resource allocation, and consumer behaviour regarding health services and medical care delivery.
Health Financing
The structural mechanisms used to mobilize, pool, and allocate financial resources to sustainably fund a nation’s healthcare system and achieve universal health coverage.
Viva Voce
A formal, oral defines of a doctoral thesis where a PhD candidate presents and justifies their original research methodology, findings, and contributions before an academic examination panel.