COVID-19 reshaped public health worldwide and made epidemiology more visible than ever. Social distancing, masks, vaccine documentation, and other health measures showed how closely infectious diseases are tied to everyday life.
As an epidemiologist, you will study the relationship between diseases and human populations. You will help inform public health policy on how to deal with existing crises and avoid future ones. If this sounds like your thing, studying public health or epidemiology at one of these seven universities certainly won’t hurt.
Because epidemiology is a specialized field, many epidemiology-specific degrees are offered at the graduate and doctoral levels, although some universities also offer undergraduate programs in population health. In this article, we will be looking at the best epidemiology schools around the world!
Top Epidemiology Schools in the World
1. Harvard University
Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health is widely recognized for training and research in epidemiology and public health. Faculty and students conduct research on topics ranging from the relationship between the Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis to broader questions in health, exercise, and well-being. Experts in various fields of epidemiology are also regularly invited to talk at Harvard University.
One of Harvard’s main strengths is the number of options available. Students interested in epidemiology can consider the hybrid Master of Public Health in Epidemiology, Master of Science programs in Epidemiology, and doctoral routes such as the Doctor of Public Health and Ph.D. study through Population Health Sciences.
If the research side of epidemiology interests you more, Harvard also offers research-focused master’s and doctoral study in population health and related fields.
2. Stanford University
Stanford University‘s Department of Epidemiology & Population Health is a strong option for students who want interdisciplinary training in epidemiology and population health. Its research and training draw on areas such as statistics, computer science, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, environmental factors, social factors, and behavioral health.
Stanford offers several programs that may suit students with different interests. Students can pursue a Master of Science or Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Clinical Research. If your interests lie more in prevention or policy, Stanford also offers related graduate options such as the Master of Science in Community Health and Prevention Research and graduate programs in Health Policy.
At Stanford, you will have access to a wealth of knowledge, not just from the School of Medicine, but from the wider university community.
3. University of Oxford
It’s fitting that the university that helped develop the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is a global leader in population health research. Oxford University’s Nuffield Department of Population Health offers master’s and doctorate-level study at the intersection of medicine, epidemiology, clinical trials, and public health.
One of Oxford’s more unique degrees is its Master of Science in Clinical Trials. This program is for those who want to be at the forefront of developing and testing new treatment methods. It is a two-year, part-time distance-learning course, which can be useful if you already have a healthcare career and live somewhere other than Oxford.
4. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health is one of the strongest schools for epidemiology in the world. Its Department of Epidemiology reports that it was ranked #1 in Epidemiology by peers in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Johns Hopkins recognizes that epidemiology is a complex field that integrates many areas of knowledge. For this reason, the university offers several combined and dual degree options, allowing students to pair public health study with fields such as medicine, law, business, international relations, or public administration.
Johns Hopkins undergraduate students majoring in Public Health Studies may also seek early admission to the Master of Health Science degree in the Department of Epidemiology.
5. University College London
University College London’s Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care is a strong school for epidemiology and population health. It combines undergraduate and postgraduate study options with a research environment focused on public health, epidemiology, primary care, health psychology, and population health.
What sets UCL apart is that it offers undergraduate study in this area. While epidemiology and public health are often studied at the graduate level, UCL’s Bachelor of Science in Population Health Sciences gives you a foundation in the field and helps you decide whether it’s right for you in the first place. Graduates often go on to pursue further studies at UCL or elsewhere.
At the graduate level, UCL offers several options, including on-campus MSc courses and a fully online Master of Public Health. Its Population Health MSc is one of the postgraduate routes available through the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care.
6. University of Michigan
The University of Michigan’s Epidemiology Department falls under its School of Public Health. Students here can study at the master’s and Ph.D. levels. Its Master of Public Health program is versatile: you can choose from four epidemiology tracks, namely General Epidemiology, Hospital and Molecular Epidemiology, Global Health Epidemiology, and Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology.
If you like crunching numbers, you may want to consider the university’s Master of Science in Computational Epidemiology and Systems Modeling. Here, you’ll learn how mathematical models, statistical tools, and simulations can be used to understand real-world public health problems and inform public health policy and practice.
7. University of Washington
The University of Washington Department of Epidemiology offers MPH, MS, and Ph.D. programs in epidemiology, as well as concurrent degree options. For example, students can combine epidemiology study with a Doctor of Medicine, or pursue MS/MPH study together with a Master of Public Administration if they are interested in public policy and administration.
As a student at the University of Washington, you can gain hands-on experience through opportunities such as the Student Epidemic Action Leaders (SEAL) Team. The SEAL Team provides applied epidemiology training and field assignments with state and local health departments. Past assignments have included outbreak-related work, surveillance support, questionnaire development, and public health data projects.
The University of Washington is one of the best epidemiology schools in the world, especially if you’re looking for a practical and immersive experience.
In conclusion, these are some of the strongest universities in the world to study epidemiology. This is by no means a comprehensive list, as there are many great universities worldwide. Choosing one over another depends on your budget, your ideal location, and the program offered at your institution of choice. To narrow down your choices, check out our list of the Best Countries to Study Epidemiology.
We hope that this article on the best epidemiology schools in the world was helpful. If you are interested in learning more, check out the Available Programs for International Students!
