1) academic excellence as evidenced by grades on completed graduate courses, scholarships and academic awards received, or stipend support from funding agencies;
2) aptitude for health services research (letter of recommendation from a graduate faculty member, usually the thesis supervisor in a thesis-based graduate program, commenting on the student's academic abilities, oral and written communication skills, and potential for success as a health services researcher);
3) career plans (autobiographical letter describing why they want to become a health services researcher and their career plans); and
4) plan of study in the Diploma Program.