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Master of Public Health

Funding Your Practicum

The Vanderbilt MPH Program is committed to providing training opportunities and support for students to gain practical experience applying the knowledge learned in the classroom to a public health setting. For the practicum, students may be compensated (i.e., paid internship), and they may apply for funding to support practicum-related expenses.

Information about funding from the Vanderbilt MPH Program and other Vanderbilt resources can be found below, along with examples of external sources. Students are encouraged to research additional funding opportunities relevant to their specific interests and needs.

Internal Funding Opportunities

  • Vanderbilt MPH Program Practicum Funding – current students in the Vanderbilt MPH Program (all tracks) are eligible to apply for funding to help support allowable expenses associated with the Public Health Practicum including transportation, lodging, vaccinations, visas, insurance, etc. Award amounts vary based on availability and need. Note: A signed practicum agreement form must be approved by the practicum director prior to submitting an application.
  • VUSM Overall Fellowship – sponsored by Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and the Department of Pediatrics, this funding supports Vanderbilt University School of Medicine students who wish to gain experience and training in a global health setting. The application is posted each fall with a February 1 priority deadline.
  • Frist Global Health Leaders Program – administered by the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health (VIGH) and funded by Hope Through Healing Hands, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, this program supports students, residents, and fellows in the health professions who wish to serve and train in underserved communities around the world. The application is posted each fall with a February 1 priority deadline.
  • LeRoy F. Heimburger Fund – this fund was created in partnership between Vanderbilt University and Shandong University in Jinan, China, where Dr. LeRoy F. Heimburger was a medical missionary and hospital director in the early 20th century. The scholarship is available on a competitive basis to all eligible students, however, preference goes to students who wish to complete a practicum, research project, or clinical rotation at Shandong University. The application is posted each fall with a February 1 priority deadline.
  • Nichols Humanitarian Fund – established in 2006 by the E.C. and Lucile Hamby Nichols Trust and it enables Vanderbilt students to volunteer for local, domestic, or international humanitarian service opportunities. Support is primarily focused on summer projects, or projects that take place during defined academic breaks. Funds are available for educational and other expenses. All currently enrolled Vanderbilt students are eligible to receive assistance from the Fund, provided that they are citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.
  • Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) Summer Awards Programs – available to students pursuing research projects in Latin America. The call for applications is posted on the CLAS website each December and applications are due in early February.
  • Turner Family Center (TFC) Summer Fellowships – funding for Vanderbilt graduate students to connect with a partner organization in the space of social enterprise, connecting business with social impact and poverty alleviation.

External Funding Opportunities