AHI FAQs

A complete breakdown of the cost and estimated indirect expenses can be found on the School of Professional and Continuing Studies website.

Prospective students who have completed their applications by May 1 will be considered for a Dean’s Award.  The Dean’s Award is a one time, merit-based scholarship for up to $6K towards tuition. Funding for these awards varies from year to year. There is no separate application to receive an award.  The decision will be based on the merits of the student’s program application, and everyone is automatically considered for an award.  

Other sources of funding for graduate education range from government agencies, employers and foundations to academic departments and schools. Please visit the Tuition & Financial Aid page to learn more about financial options that are offered at Fordham. 

AHI is open to individuals from a variety of technical backgrounds. We aim to have a student body that brings a diverse set of perspectives and experiences to the cohort. 

To be eligible to apply for AHI, applicants must meet one of the following conditions:

• Applicants must hold, or expect to hold before enrollment at Fordham, a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association.

Applicants from institutions outside the U.S. must hold the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing. Fordham uses World Education Services (WES) to verify the credentials of international students.

Fordham University also requires a minimum proficiency in English. Evidence of adequate English proficiency must be submitted before enrollment is approved by Graduate Admissions. If English is not the applicant's first language, we require a score of 100 or above on  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) given by the Education Testing Service. We also accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in lieu of a TOEFL. Competitive applicants must score a minimum of a 7.0 on the IELTS to be considered for admissions.

Yes, applicants must hold, or expect to hold before enrollment at Fordham, a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association. Applicants from institutions outside the U.S. must hold the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing. 

Please see the Graduate Admissions website for more information about the minimum level of study required of International applicants.

Yes, undocumented students may apply. Fordham is committed to a welcoming and supportive environment for all students, faculty, staff and scholars, and it provides services and support to them without regard to their immigration status, religion, nationality, ethnicity or other characteristics. That commitment includes support for undocumented students. Please see the Resources for Undocumented Students (DACA) website for additional information.

According to the Graduate Admissions website, there are exemptions for submitting a TOEFL score if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You (will) have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States (excluding territories and possessions).
• You (will) have an equivalent degree from an English-language university in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, or the United Kingdom.

Students interested in receiving a waiver will need to request the waiver by emailing [email protected]. 

Applicants who live in the New York City area can alternatively take Fordham’s 2.5 hour ESL placement evaluation (FELT) at the Institute of American Language and Culture. Email [email protected] or call +1 212-636-6353 to verify hours of operation and make an appointment.

Our students are from all over the world at different phases of their careers, from right out of undergraduate school to senior-level careers.  The program thrives from this diversity of perspective, and students are encouraged to learn from one another.  For examples of student backgrounds, please visit our student profile page. 

AHI nominally has a minimum GPA of 3.0 or equivalent. That being said, Fordham takes a wholistic approach in making application decisions.  If you would like to be considered, but have a lower GPA, please discuss in your application why you believe you are prepared to take on the academic rigor of this program. 

Yes, applicants need two recommendations from faculty or others qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study. At least one evaluation and letter should be from a faculty member at the last school you attended as a full-time student (unless you have been out of school for more than five years). Substitutions for faculty recommendations may include work associates or others who can comment on your academic potential for graduate work.

Email [email protected] if you have a question about the appropriateness of a recommender. 

A non-refundable fee of $70 is required for the application.  To request an application fee waiver, email [email protected]. 

Should an applicant need to update other materials after submission, they may email our admissions team directly with the updated materials at [email protected]. 

No. AHI has rolling admissions until the Fall cohort is filled. Because there are a limited number of seats, earlier applicants are at an advantage.  Further, if you are an international student and intend to come to the US for your studies, please allow enough time to apply for the visa.  Applications must be complete by May 1st to guarantee being considered for a Dean’s Award. 

To promote fairness in the admissions process we are not able to provide feedback or answer questions regarding the strength of an application.

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of the many AHI informational sessions available during the admissions season to gain further insight into the program and the competencies we look for in applicants. See our News and Events page for details. 

Absolutely.  Our current cohort is 85% international students. 

Yes.  Visit Fordham’s STEM Extension page for more information.

Full-time Fordham master degree programs—like AHI—are eligible for student visas. This typically is a F-1 visa but, in some cases when eligibility is met, students are able to come to the US on a J-1 visa.  All University sponsored visas are processed and administered by the Office of International Students, this center is the best resource regarding visa questions.

Unlike the United States, the United Kingdom allows for students to attend credit-bearing academic programs on tourist visas.  Our Office of International Students can assist you with the I-20 application. 

International students should note that while AHI is aimed at working professionals, a Fordham student visa only supports the ability to come to the US to engage with Fordham for academic purposes. This means students should not expect to complete wage/salary earning work in the US and Fordham under the student visa type.

Yes. All credentials in languages other than English must be accompanied by certified English translations. Transcripts from institutions not accredited in the United States or Canada must be evaluated course-by-course by World Education Services.

No, if international students would like to attend Commencement in person, they are able to do so on a tourist visa. 

Yes. More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the Veterans Affairs website.

We are a proud participant of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program supplements veterans who are eligible for 100% of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

AHI can be completed in 12 months.  All courses are taught once a year. See the academics page for more information on the coursework and course schedule. 

Yes and no. The first three courses, the core courses, are designed to be taken together so we require students to take all three during their  first semester.  After that, students can take electives at their own pace as long as they fulfill the requirements for matriculation (enrolled in at least one course, complete the program within four years). 

The program uses a cohort model for its classes.  It is highly recommended that students complete their coursework within the year in order to enjoy the benefits of learning alongside their other cohort members. 

No. While asynchronous courses are popular, they do not lead to the best learning outcomes.  While we do offer our courses online, we require our students to be present at the computer during the time in which the class is being offered in order to participate in the discussion and group projects.  

Not at this time. We currently have only a fall entry for the program, as the requisite core courses are only taught in the fall. Electives cannot be taken until these courses are completed. 

All determinations on course equivalence are at the discretion of the program director. To inquire if a course you took can be transferred, email Dr. John Chelsom ([email protected]) directly.  

MBA programs are fantastic educational experiences that can be applied to a multitude of business sectors. Healthcare Management programs will speak two a multitude of management roles within a healthcare system, but do not provide a technological background in any given area. AHI is unique in its focus on healthcare, information science, and computer science. Our aim is to develop leaders who will be able to harness digital technologies to deliver high-quality, cost-effective health care. AHI graduates will become change agents in existing health organizations or start-up environments. 

Yes. We cater the program to working professionals. It is very doable to work and complete the coursework. However, student visas typically do not allow international students to earn wages or a salary in the United States during their studies. 

There are limited university-operated housing options for graduate students at Fordham, but each campus does have one graduate student residence hall.  Details including the latest rent can be found on the Graduate Student Housing website. 

3rd party websites like StreetEasy are good resources for finding apartments in New York City.  

For International students, the International House is a 3rd-party, affordable option for housing.  

Finally, our program has relationships with brokers to assist in finding off campus apartments.  For a referral, contact AHI’s Associate Dean at [email protected].   

Students may maintain their matriculation status by filling out the appropriate leave of absence request forms. 

For non-medical reasons, the form is here. 

Medical/Mental Health leave of absences require a different process. Please note: in the case of a medical leave of absence, students must be cleared by a healthcare professional to return to school. 

If the student does not return to the program within one year, their student account will be deactivated. If the student does not return to the program within two years, Fordham requires them to reapply to the program.

We offer Oxford Residencies twice a year, in September and in March.  Dates vary from year to year.  See the Academic Calendar for the most up to date information.  

No.  Attending the Oxford residencies costs the same as any other course, and includes lodging and meals at St. Edmund’s Hall.  Students are responsible for their travel costs (airfare, train, bus, etc.).   

Yes.  The fall residency courses do not require the completion of the three core courses to complete.

Yes, however, we charge all students outside the AHI program an international fee of $600 to attend the residencies, to offset our cost for meals, lodging, and evening activities.

Yes, we help students find internships. Our industry partners are often a good place to start when trying to land an internship or your first job in health informatics. Additionally, our program has a relationship with the NYC Economic Development Council’s LifeSciNYC, which matches graduates with a variety of life science opportunities in NYC, including health informatics.

Healthcare Informaticians work in a variety of settings, including large hospitals and healthcare systems, clinics, healthcare payers and insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, clinical research organizations (CROs), EHR management companies, public health agencies (government), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs, non-profits). Entry level positions with a masters degree are at the Analyst/Specialist/Consultant level. A terminal career position could be a Director or Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO).  Here are some examples of positions that require credentials in Health Informatics: 

• Chief Medical Information Officer;
• Director of Medical Informatics/Records;
• Health Information Management (HIM) Director/Supervisor;
• Director of Clinical Information Services;
• Nursing Informatics Director/Specialist;
• Health Informatics Director/Consultant/Analyst/Specialist/Technician;
• Clinical Data Manager/Analyst/Specialist;
• Clinical Informatics Manager/Analyst/Specialist;
• Pharmaceutical Informatics Manager/Analyst/Specialist;
• Information Technology (IT) Manager;
• Healthcare IT Project Manager;
• Applications System Analyst;
• Clinical Research Data Analyst;
• Performance Improvement Analyst;
• Health/Medical Data Analyst;
• Senior Applications Specialist;
• Choose your own Adventure…

Salaries vary on the seniority of the position and where the position is geographically located.  In New York, the average HI entry-level salary is around $109K.  At the upper end, directors and executive directors can see compensation exceed $200K.