Application Process

Basic information about the applicant (e.g., address, prior schools, etc.) is collected in an online form on the application website (opens August 1, 2023).  You can start or access your application from here: MHCDS application portal

All applicants must submit official transcripts for all programs, both undergraduate and graduate, for which you were awarded a degree (e.g., BA, BS, MD, DO, MS, MBA, etc.). Note: Official transcripts are provided and sent directly from the registrar's office at the degree granting institution to Dartmouth (in hard copy or electronically) or are sent in a sealed tamper-proof envelope.  Unofficial transcripts can be scanned and uploaded into the online application.  Unofficial transcripts will be used for evaluative purposes by the admissions committee, however, official copies must be submitted before admitted students begin the program.  If you are currently enrolled in a degree program, you are required to submit a current official transcript of courses completed and work in progress. Please submit or direct the registrar at your prior institutions to forward copies of your (paper) transcripts to:

Master of Health Care Delivery Science Program
Attn: Lillian Emerson
100 Tuck Hall
Hanover, NH 03755

If the transcript is an electronic version, please have it sent to this email address: health.care.delivery.science@dartmouth.edu

Recommendation forms should be given to three people who are able to speak with certainty about your leadership, team orientation, communication skills, intellectual ability, and interpersonal skills. If you are currently employed, we prefer that you submit recommendations from people who know you well and are in a position to judge your professional performance and leadership, such as your direct supervisor. If you are unable to provide a recommendation from a direct supervisor, please briefly explain why in the optional essay section. Please contact your recommenders well in advance to give them sufficient time to write and return their evaluations by the deadline. Given the importance we place on recommendations, we will not review any applications until we receive recommendations from at least three (3) of the evaluators listed in your application. It is your responsibility to make sure your evaluators are aware of the deadlines and to ensure that all three recommendations have been submitted. Recommendation letters submitted to us directly through the online application portal reach us more quickly than paper letters, so we strongly encourage you to ask your recommenders to submit their letters online. If this is not possible, please reach out to the admissions office for guidance:

Master of Health Care Delivery Science Program
Attn: Admissions Director
64 College Street, HB 7253
Hanover, NH 03755-7253

Please include a two-page, 500-word statement that explains the significant personal, professional, or social experiences that have contributed to your decision to study in the MHCDS program. Please also address how the MHCDS degree will help you achieve your personal and professional goals. This personal statement provides you with an opportunity to help the admissions committee gain greater insight about you as a potential member of the MHCDS community. Please be clear, succinct, forthright, and thoughtful in your response.

Please upload a current version of your CV or resume into the application portal in the documents section.

Because the MHCDS program is designed for working professionals, applicants must confirm that their employer understands and supports their participation in the program. Language we ask for in this written statement, signed by a direct supervisor or appropriate organizational leader, should include reference to the requirement of attending three brief residential periods (a total of 25 nights on campus) and participating for an average of 15 hours per week during non-residential periods. NOTE: This statement of support will be uploaded by you, the applicant. It is not confidential.

All nonnative English speakers must be able to  demonstrate proficiency in spoken and written English and a formal evaluation may be required prior to acceptance into the program. Please contact the admissions director to discuss our requirements and your individual situation. 

There is a $100 application fee, which can be paid by credit card when you submit your application or by check made payable to The Trustees of Dartmouth College (please send checks to the address listed under "Official Transcripts"). The application fee is non-refundable and is not credited toward any charges when an accepted applicant registers as a student.

Strong interpersonal skills are essential for success as a leader and team member in the MHCDS program and beyond. Interviews will take place by invitation only. If we would like you to interview we will contact you to schedule an interview after your application is complete. At this time, due to the COVID-19 crisis, we can only offer remote interviews.  Once we have clearance from public health experts, we will be delighted to once again offer in-person interviews on the Dartmouth campus. 

We strongly encourage organizations to send teams of two to five participants as a means of investing in the organization's leadership resources and to build the momentum that will advance the organizational mission through value-based improvement. If you are applying as a member of a team, please submit one Statement of Institutional Support for the entire team. This statement should include a brief explanation of the value to your organization of your team's participation in this program. Please also describe in a sentence or two how the skills and experience of each individual team member contribute to the strength of the group as a whole.

Please contact the admissions office if you have any questions or concerns about applying as either an individual or an organizational team.