md phd program for international student

MSTP MD-PhD Program

Mstp admissions and eligibility.

The Medical Scientist Training Program MD-PhD Admissions process

Stanford's MSTP is interested in identifying students with significant undergraduate research experience that would predict successful completion of a PhD program. In addition, our successful candidates must meet the standards expected of the very best MD candidates. The Stanford Medical Scientist Training Program admissions process utilizes the same application, process and all policies as the MD-only application. For information regarding the Stanford School of Medicine’s MD Admissions process, policies and eligibility, please visit the How to Apply page. For specific questions regarding the application process, please contact Stanford's MD Admissions directly at [email protected].

Updates to an application   will be accepted only after an applicant has been invited to interview . Interview decisions are made based on information submitted in the AMCAS application, Stanford Supplemental Application, and letters of recommendation.

It is important that we maintain a consistent and equitable standard for all applications to be considered with the same basis of information. If applicable, additional information can be submitted after the day of your interview.

When submitting additional information, please indicate that you have been interviewed or we may not include updates with your file. Acceptable updates include any significant developments in scholarly endeavors or projects, or additional letters of recommendation. Please do not send additional coursework or transcripts unless we have specifically requested such information from you.The MSTP admissions process begins with submission of the AMCAS application. When an AMCAS application is received by the Office of MD Admissions, the information and instructions for completion of Stanford's supplementary application are made available. Once the application file is complete, it is first reviewed by members of the MSTP Admissions Committee. If an applicant is not chosen for an MSTP interview, his/her file is automatically routed to the MD Admissions Committee for consideration.

Eligibility

Academic recommendations for the MSTP follow the same criteria as admission to the MD Program.  Please see the  MD Admissions website  for information on Stanford University's Medical School Admissions academic recommendations . 

If you have matriculated in an MD or PhD program at another institution, you are not eligible to apply to the MSTP. The Stanford MD and MST Programs do not accept applications from students applying for transfer.  Stanford PhD students are eligible to apply through the AMCAS MD application process. 

Stanford’s MSTP  recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision.

Stanford’s MSTP welcomes applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars. The review process is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, prior research experience, and admissions essays to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field and how they might enrich the learning community at Stanford.

Students with disabilities are also encouraged to apply.  Students with disabilities actively participating in the various aspects of life at Stanford, are an essential part of our greater community. Stanford University has a strong commitment to maintaining a diverse and stimulating academic community, representing a broad spectrum of talents and experiences.  Stanford Medicine has a number of programs to support these goals. Both the Stanford School of Medicine and the Medical Scientist Training Program encourage those with diverse backgrounds and/or disabilites to apply. We do not discriminate and believe in the inclusion of all individuals. Our selection process is accessible for students with disabilities and reasonable and appropriate accommodations will be provided to ensure that people with disabilities have fair and equal opportunities to demonstrate their qualifications.

Admission to the Medical Scientist Training Program is contingent on acceptance to the Stanford University MD program, and the application process for both programs is collaborative.

Recommendation Letters

The MSTP Admissions Committee wants to see letters of recommendation from your research mentor, or mentors, addressing your experiences in the laboratory. A minimum of three and a maximum of six individual letters of recommendation is required. All letters must be written on official letterhead and signed by the recommender(s) or committee members. All letters of recommendation must be submitted through the AMCAS Letters Service. Please visit the AMCAS Letters Service site for instructions and more information.

International Students

The MSTP is not able to fund International Students . Stipend and tuition support from the MSTP can only be provided for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Our federal funding restrictions do not permit us to support International Students. Unfortunately, self-support for PhD study is not an option.

Only International Students applying to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program may also apply to the Stanford MSTP. If applying to Knight-Hennessy, International Students may apply to the MSTP MD-PhD track at Stanford.

An International Student can still pursue a dual degree MD-PhD program here at Stanford outside of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program. The applicant must apply and be admitted separately to both degree programs. It is possible to receive support for PhD study from the specific PhD department or program. Please contact the particular PhD Program directly for PhD application procedures. International Students may be eligible for Institutional Financial Aid. Information on applying for financial aid for the MD program is available here .

Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Join dozens of  Stanford MD and PhD students  who gain valuable leadership skills in a multidisciplinary, multicultural community as  Knight-Hennessy Scholars   (KHS). KHS admits up to 100 select applicants each year from across Stanford’s seven graduate schools, and delivers engaging experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders ready to address complex global challenges. As a scholar, you join a distinguished cohort, participate in up to three years of leadership programming, and receive full funding for up to three years of your graduate studies at Stanford. Candidates of any country may apply. KHS applicants must have earned their first undergraduate degree within the last seven years, and must apply to both a Stanford graduate program and to KHS. Stanford PhD students may also apply to KHS during their first year of PhD enrollment. If you aspire to be a leader in your field, we invite you to apply. The KHS application deadline is October 11, 2023. Learn more about  KHS admission .

DACA or Undocumented Applicants

Stanford has actively supported the DREAM Act legislation since its introduction in 2001, which would enable undocumented students to continue their education and apply for citizenship.  Stanford also supports Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an executive action signed by former President Barack Obama, which allowed some undocumented individuals who entered the United States as children to remain in the country.  We are among the more than 600 colleges and universities that have signed a letter in support of DACA.

Individuals who have been granted DACA at the time of application are eligible to apply and matriculate to Stanford Medicine.  Additionally, individuals who have met all other requirements and are otherwise undocumented are permitted to apply and matriculate to Stanford Medicine.  http://immigration.stanford.edu/

Equal Access to the School of Medicine’s Educational Program

Stanford Medicine intends for its students and graduates to become competent and compassionate physicians who are capable of entering residency training (graduate medical education) and meeting all requirements for medical licensure.

Stanford Medicine has an institutional commitment to provide equal educational opportunities for qualified students with disabilities who apply for admission to the MD degree program or who are enrolled as medical students. Stanford Medicine is a leader in student diversity and individual rights, with a strong commitment to full compliance with state and federal laws and regulations (including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and California law (Civil code 51 and 54). A “qualified person with a disability” is an individual with a disability who meets the academic and technical standards requisite to admission or participation in Stanford Medicine’s educational programs, with or without accommodations. Admitted candidates with disabilities are reviewed individually, on a case-by-case basis, with a complete and careful consideration of all the skills, attitudes, and attributes of each candidate to determine whether there are any reasonable accommodations or available options that would permit the candidate to satisfy the standards.

Stanford’s Policy on Non-Discrimination

Stanford University admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or marital status to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the University. Consistent with its obligations under the law, Stanford prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in the administration of the University's programs and activities; Stanford also prohibits unlawful harassment including sexual harassment and sexual violence. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding this nondiscrimination policy: Director of the Diversity and Access Office, Mariposa House, 585 Capistrano Way, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-8230; (650) 723-0755 (voice), (650) 723-1791 (fax),  [email protected]  (email). Stanford’s Title IX Coordinator, Cathy Glaze, has been designated to handle inquiries regarding sexual harassment and sexual violence: Mariposa House (2nd floor), 585 Capistrano Way, Stanford, CA 94305, (650) 497-4955 (voice), (650) 497-9257 (fax),  [email protected] (email).

Stanford’s Institute of Equity and Access Office

The Office of Diversity and Access  within the Institute of Equity and Access is the campus office designated to work with Stanford students with disabilities, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels (including the professional schools). The Office provides a wide array of support services, accommodations, and programs to remove barriers to full participation in the life of the University. Institute of Equity and Access Office, Kingscote Gardens, 419 Lagunita Drive, 1st floor Suite 130, Stanford Univeristy, Stanford, CA 94305, Phone: 650-723-1066.

Diversity & Inclusion

Stanford’s MSTP recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision.

Click here for Student Support Resources

International Students

The MD-PhD program at the Geisel School welcomes applications from all individuals interested in physician-scientist training, regardless of citizenship status. We offer full funding to international students who hold appropriate visas, reflected in the high number of international students in our program. In addition to being outstanding scholars, international students greatly enrich the diversity of the training environment, and bring different perspectives to the MD-PhD community.

Admissions requirements for international students are identical to those of US citizens and permanent residents. As a reminder, applicants need to have had at least three years of full-time study at an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada.

International students receive the same financial package as US citizens and permanent residents.

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Medical Scientist Training Program

• International Students

Washington University’s MSTP welcomes applications from all individuals interested in physician-scientist training, regardless of their citizenship status. While we have the largest NIH training grant in the country, we also have access to non-government resources that can be used to fund international students. Washington University is able to offer full funding to an unlimited number of international students who hold F-1 visas. Currently, 17% of students within the program are neither US citizens nor permanent residents. In addition to being outstanding scholars, international students greatly enrich the diversity of the training environment and bring different perspectives to the MSTP community.

Admissions requirements for international students are identical to those of US citizens and permanent residents:

• Superior academic preparation, including at least two years of full-time study at a college or university in the United States or Canada
• A minimum of two semesters of research experience (most competitive applicants have two or more years of lab work)
• Completion of AMCAS, Criminal Background Check, and WUSOM Secondary Application
• MSTP and Medical School interview in St. Louis

International students receive the same financial package as US citizens and permanent residents: full tuition remission for MD and PhD phases, free health coverage, and a stipend of $37,000 per year. This support is guaranteed for the duration of the student’s training program.

The MSTP application deadline is October 31, though early application is encouraged.

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M.D. Program

International applicants.

As a global health leader, Johns Hopkins benefits from the talents of a diverse community. In that spirit, the School of Medicine encourages qualified international students to apply.

International Student Requirements

In addition to standard prerequisites for all applicants , the following apply to aspiring students who are non-U.S. residents:

• Preparation in foreign universities, in most cases, must be supplemented by a year or more of work at an accredited university in the United States. Please note that this is not a requirement for applicants whose bachelors degree was received in Canada.
• Successful passage of the TOEFL examination is required for all students whose undergraduate instruction was conducted primarily in a language other than English.

Please note that completion of an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution is required for all prospective medical students.

What Is Life Like for Medical Students at Johns Hopkins?

Why do students choose to study at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine? What curriculum and tests do they take? How do they learn to communicate with patients? Hear Chinese medical students discuss what life is like at Johns Hopkins University.

Financial Considerations

Financial aid funding in the form of institutional loan and/or scholarship is now available to all current and newly admitted non-U.S. resident medical students who qualify. Applicants who do not hold a permanent visa or an immigrant visa are encouraged to review the financial aid website .

Students who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents and students not in possession of immigrant visas will be obligated to satisfy the School of Medicine’s international medical student financial requirement. For the upcoming academic year, the financial requirement is $76,397 (USD) for the first year of your medical studies. This amount is non-negotiable and can be satisfied with:

• A non-negotiable irrevocable Letter of Credit (LOC) in the name of The Johns Hopkins University
• A combination of cash and LOC
• A Letter of Guarantee (LOG) issued in the name of The Johns Hopkins University and authorized by an appropriate embassy or government official from your home country

This amount can also be reduced with any accepted offers of financial aid.

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MD-PhD Dual Degree Program

Students take the MCAT and request scores be sent to Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S). The MCAT must have been taken within the prior three years.

International students are welcome to apply.

Once applications are complete, highly qualified applicants are invited to Columbia for a series of medical school and MD-PhD program interviews. For dates, please check our How to Apply page.

The interview day begins at 8:45am with a light breakfast, and an introduction to the program by the directors and administrative staff. Applicants then meet individually with MD-PhD Advisory Committee members, a medical school interviewer, faculty members, and student interviewers. All interviews will take place in one day, unless otherwise arranged.

Students in the program host a campus tour and an informal lunch the day of the interviews. Optional informal dinners, one the evening before the interview, and one the evening following the interviews, are also offered. This gives our applicants the opportunity to meet with current medical and MD-PhD students over lunch and a campus tour.

Entrance Criteria

The Columbia University MD-PhD program is seeking students with strong academic and research backgrounds in basic science. The successful applicant will have substantial undergraduate hypothesis driven research in biology, chemistry, physics, computational biology, mathematics, epidemiology, or engineering. Students seeking an MD-PhD will be interested in combining a career in medicine with an interest in the investigation of questions in research in the biomedical sciences.

How to Apply

Important dates for the year, admissions cycle, frequently asked questions.

MD-PhD, Combined Degree

School of medicine, md - phd, combined degree program.

From its inception, the physician-scientist has been a hallmark of Johns Hopkins medicine and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Indeed, the Hopkins tri-emblem represents the three core values of the institution: teaching, patient care, and research.

The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine offers a variety of opportunities for the training of medical scientists. A combined curriculum leading to both MD and PhD degrees enables students who aspire to careers in academic medicine to obtain intensive training in specialized areas of the biomedical sciences in addition to top-flight medical training. The traditional diversity and flexibility of the educational opportunities at Johns Hopkins permit the design of individualized programs to meet the needs of students with a variety of interests, educational backgrounds, and career goals.

To accomplish our training goals, we expect students to fully commit to medical training while in medical school and research training while in graduate school.  However, we also take important steps to ensure that students are exposed to the intersection of both worlds early in their training, as well as given the professional and career development advice they need to succeed.

In a word, the MD-PhD curriculum at Johns Hopkins is flexible. Most students decide to complete the first two years of medical school before they begin graduate school and finish the last two years of their medical training after completing their thesis work (see the Timeline below). However, students who want more first-hand experience in clinical medicine before beginning graduate work can elect to complete three years of medical school, followed by their graduate training, and then the last year of medical school. This can give them a better appreciation of the potential clinical relevance of their research. In making a choice, trainees consult extensively with the Program Director, the Dean of Students, members of the MD-PhD Committee, prospective research mentors, and their faculty advisors. Students in the MD-PhD Program are automatically accepted to all graduate programs, so decisions regarding graduate training programs can be made with a strong understanding of each program.  The MD-PhD Committee is responsible for program oversight, admissions, and  student mentorship .  Students complete MD-PhD training on average in eight years.

Johns Hopkins interdisciplinary organizational structure means each faculty member may be affiliated with several clinical departments, research sections, and graduate programs. 

Formal graduate programs in the School of Medicine encompass the following areas: Biochemistry; Cellular, and Molecular Biology; Biological Chemistry; Biomedical Engineering; Molecular Biophysics; Functional Anatomy and Human Evolutionary Studies; Cell Biology; Cellular and Molecular Medicine; History of Medicine; Human Genetics; Immunology; Neuroscience; Pathobiology; Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, and Cellular and Molecular Physiology. Students are also eligible to obtain their PhD in one of the 11 graduate programs at the Bloomberg School of Public Health or the School of Arts and Sciences on the Homewood Campus.  Students may select a thesis mentor from faculty in the Schools of Medicine and Public Health.

The MD-PhD Program also sponsors special seminars and lectures, It also maintains a dedicated library, the Paul Talalay MD-PhD Library, to enrich the educational opportunities of all MD-PhD students. Efforts are made to acquaint MD-PhD candidates with the major advances, concepts, and cutting-edge techniques in contemporary medicine and biomedical sciences.  We also create an environment that promotes a more intimate personal contact with successful medical scientists in this institution.

Admission Procedures.  Individuals who wish to apply for admission to the combined MD-PhD Program of the School of Medicine must submit an application through AMCAS  in which they will indicate the MD-PhD Program.  Once the AMCAS application has been verified and submitted to Hopkins, the applicant will receive an invitation to complete the Hopkins Secondary Application.  Here the applicant will submit the additional materials required for the combined degree.  Johns Hopkins does not allow applicants to apply to both the traditional MD program and the combined program during the same cycle.   

All combined-degree applications are reviewed by a separate  MD-PhD Review Committee  which is comprised of faculty from the basic sciences and clinical arena, as well as faculty from the Bloomberg School of Public Health.  A separate Graduate School application is  not necessary . The MD-PhD Committee determines whether or not an interview is indicated.  In general, the committee is looking for students with a passion for research and a commitment to medicine.  This assessment is based on the applicant’s research experience, letters of recommendation, academic performance and extracurricular activities. The Committee considers standardized test scores only in the context of the applicant’s other credentials. If an interview is granted, the applicant is notified by the MD-PhD Office and after the applicant accepts, the process for scheduling an interview begins.  Interview visits generally occur over two days. Applicants are interviewed by members of the MD-PhD Committee and other faculty members who share their research interests. Applicants have many opportunities to meet with current students and tour the campus during their visit. 

All eligible applicants who are admitted to the MD-PhD Program are funded by the NIH Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) Award.  This program, supported by the National Institutes of Health, provides full tuition, stipend, and medical and dental insurance for students. Due to federal restrictions, only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for MSTP funding.  Approximately 10-12 MD-PhD students matriculate each year.

Students who matriculate to the traditional MD Program but have a clearly demonstrated interest and experience in scientific research, are eligible to apply to the combined MD-PhD Program.  These students may apply for admission during the fall of their first or second year of medical school.  These qualified applicants are evaluated and placed in the pool for the current application cycle and will be considered for MSTP funding.  

Financial Support.  The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) is supported by a training grant from the National Institutes of Health. A number of exceptional students with unusual accomplishments and commitment to a career in the medical sciences will be selected for traineeships under this program. Such fellowships provide stipend and tuition support for combined medical and graduate study. All students who are admitted to the MD-PhD Program will be considered for these awards. 

Graduates of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine MD-PhD Program have gone on to become leaders in many areas of academic medicine.

Advice on the scope and opportunities offered by these programs may be obtained from the Director or Administrative Director of the MD-PhD Program.

• Frequently Asked Questions

Sidebar Application

MSPP funding applications will open July 8, 2024. GPP applications for fall 2025 admission will open August 2024

Are you starting medical or clinical school this year?

If yes , you are a Track 2 applicant

If no , please answer the next question.

Are you planning to attend medical school BEFORE you begin PhD research?

If yes , you are a Track 1 applicant

• Basic Eligibility Requirements
• Application Components
• Letters of Recommendation

What does it mean to have an MD/PhD? MD/PhD programs provide training in both medicine and research for students who want to become a physician-scientist. MD/PhD graduates often go on to become faculty members at medical schools, universities and research institutes such as the NIH. MD/PhD trainees are prepared for careers in which they will spend most of their time doing research, not just taking care of patients. It is a challenging career that offers opportunities to benefit many people by advancing knowledge or health and illness, developing new diagnostics and treatments for diseases, and inventing new technologies for clinical application.  What is the difference between MD/PhD and MSTP? Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) indicates that an MD/PhD program has been awarded a training grant (T32) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences that financially supports trainees in the program. There are currently about 46 MSTPs.  Non-MSTP MD/PhD programs also provide environments where students receive outstanding dual-degree training.       What is MSTP funding? MSTP funding comes from the National Institute of General Medical Science T32 training grant.  This grant is used to financially support trainees in MSTPs. How do I know if my school accepts MSTP funding? A list of schools that have MSTPs can be found  here . How do I know if I qualify for MSTP funding? The only requirement to qualify for MSTP funding is that trainees must be citizens or noncitizen nationals of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., possess an alien registration receipt card I-151 or I-551).  Your individual medical school’s MSTP determines any other requirements.  Are there opportunities for international students? There are MD/PhD opportunities available around the country for international students, but at this time, the NIH MD/PhD Partnership Training Program funding is only available if you are a US citizen or permanent resident and admitted to a U.S. medical school or MSTP.

What’s the benefit of getting my PhD with the NIH? The National Institutes of Health is the largest biomedical research facility in the world. Scholars who are accepted to one of the graduate programs at the NIH are able to take advantage of its amazing facilities and technologies. The NIH is comprised of 27 different Institutes and Centers, each with its own specific research agenda; this promotes an engaging and diverse research environment with lots of room for interdisciplinary collaboration. To learn about the NIH and its many resources, please visit  www.nih.gov/about/  or contact the administration with any specific questions. Do I select which track I am on? No. Your track is based on your current educational status. Please visit the “How to Apply” page to determine your track. Do I have to do my PhD with the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program? It is not a requirement of the NIH MD/PhD Partnership Training that you participate in the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program; however, Track 1 candidates are automatically granted a place in the OxCam Program when they are awarded a slot in the MD/PhD Partnership Training Program. The OxCam Program is also the only program within the NIH GPP that has a deferral process in place to enable students to complete the first years of medical school. Visit our page on the  GPP  to learn more about other Institutional or Individual Partnerships. What’s an Individual Partnership? An Individual Partnership is a partnership with a program or university that does not already have an existing agreement with the NIH through the GPP. These partnerships are arranged through the GPP and are based on the specific needs of an individual student. For more information, contact the GPP. Will I be getting clinical experience during my PhD? There is no formal requirement that you get clinical experience during the PhD phase of your training. However, you may get involved with Clinical Grand Rounds and other didactic sessions, bedside teaching rounds and other clinical training opportunities, and clinical research protocol activities at the NIH and partnering institutions. How much time will I spend away from medical school? The time it takes to complete the PhD portion of your training depends on the graduate program in which you participate. NIH OxCam Scholars are expected to complete their PhD in about four years. How much time will I spend at the NIH? Approximately half of your PhD thesis research must be completed at the NIH. NIH OxCam Scholars will spend approximately two years at the NIH and two years at either the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge. When do I select my PhD mentor? You select you mentor after you are officially admitted to the program. If you are a Track 1 student, you will select a mentor at the NIH before beginning medical school; Track 2 students select their mentors during the time frame determined by their graduate program.

Are there GPA/MCAT cut-offs? The NIH MD/PhD Partnership Training Program is highly competitive, but there are no hard and fast cut-offs for grades or test scores; however, acceptance into the NIH MD/PhD Partnership Training Program and receipt of extramural MSTP funding is pending acceptance to a qualifying MSTP program at a participating medical school.  This means that applicants to the NIH MD/PhD Partnership Training Program must meet the minimum acceptance requirements of the programs to which they are applying.

• Weill Cornell Medicine
• Rockefeller
• Sloan Kettering

The Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program is committed to reviewing applications holistically, with an emphasis on the applicants' commitment to physician-scientist training as evidenced by letters of recommendation, research experiences, GPA, and other academic and community accomplishments.

In past years, the AMCAS verification process has taken up to eight weeks. Access to the secondary application will not be sent to the applicant until the AMCAS is verified. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible. Please make sure all other parts of the application (letters of recommendation) are submitted so that the admissions committee can review the application as soon as it is verified and the secondary is submitted.

Important Dates (2023-2024)

*All interviews for this application cycle will be held remotely.

MD-PhD Applications

Please note that the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program follows the  Application and Acceptance Protocols  established by the AAMC. 

The Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program Interview Days are listed above. If you are applying to the program, you are strongly encouraged to keep these dates open on your calendar until you hear from us regarding a final decision. As we only have three interview days, rescheduling is discouraged.

MD-PhD applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their applications as early as possible .  Items that typically hold an application from achieving a complete status include letters of recommendation and the medical college's secondary form. Access to the medical college's secondary form is only emailed to applicants whose applications are verified by AMCAS. It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure their file is complete.

Successful applicants will have excellent undergraduate science preparation, substantial undergraduate research experience, and a strong commitment to combining an investigative career in the biomedical sciences with clinical medicine.

There is a national need for physician-scientists who come from diverse backgrounds. Cornell was founded in 1865 as a university where “any person can find instruction in any study.” Cornell and Tri-I have been, and remain, committed to enrolling students who bring different perspectives and backgrounds to their education, both inside and outside of the classroom.

International Students

Applications from US citizens, permanent residents, and DACA recipients are welcome for the 2025 application cycle. Unfortunately, we are not accepting applications from international students for this cycle.

All admitted students receive the same full funding, regardless of citizenship or residency status.

Technical Standards

Successful applicants must satisfy the requirements of both the medical and the graduate components of the Program, and all matriculants must satisfy the requirements in the Medical College's Technical Standards policy. Read more about the WCM Technical Standards  here . 

MD-PhD Admissions and Gap Years

While a meaningful research experience is a requirement for admission, taking a gap year(s) is not required. We do not value research done after earning a baccalaureate any more than that done while an undergraduate. National surveys (and our own experience) have demonstrated that doing post-bacc research does not reduce the time taken to earn a PhD. Further, applicants who have taken a gap year(s) have fared no better than their peers at being offered an interview or being accepted into our program (at least since 2016).

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Applications, GPAs, and MCAT Scores

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MD-PhD Degree Programs by State

New section.

Combined MD-PhD degree programs provide students the opportunity to earn both the MD and the PhD in areas pertinent to medicine.

Combined MD-PhD degree programs provide students the opportunity to earn both the MD and the PhD in areas pertinent to medicine. Below is a list of schools offering a combined MD-PhD degree, with links to their web sites. Please contact the institutions directly for curriculum information and admission requirements. School administrators may contact [email protected]  with any omissions or corrections to this listing.

University of Alabama School of Medicine Birmingham, Ala.

University of South Alabama College of Medicine   Mobile, Ala.

University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson, Ariz.

University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix Phoenix, Ariz.

University of Arkansas College of Medicine Little Rock, Ark.

Loma Linda University School of Medicine   Loma Linda, Calif.

Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, Calif.

University of California, Davis School of Medicine   Davis, Calif.

University of California, Irvine School of Medicine   Irvine, Calif.

University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine   Los Angeles, Calif.

University of California, San Diego School of Medicine   La Jolla, Calif.

University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine   San Francisco, Calif.

Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California   Los Angeles, Calif.

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center   Denver, Colo.

Connecticut

University of Connecticut School of Medicine   Farmington, Conn.

Yale University School of Medicine   New Haven, Conn.

District of Columbia

Georgetown University School of Medicine   Washington, D.C.

Howard University College of Medicine   Washington, D.C.

University of Florida College of Medicine   Gainesville, Fla.

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine   Miami, Fla.

University of South Florida College of Medicine   Tampa, Fla.

Emory University School of Medicine   Atlanta, Ga.

Medical College of Georgia   Augusta, Ga.

Morehouse School of Medicine   Atlanta, Ga.

Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Augusta, Ga.

Loyola University of Chicago - Stritch School of Medicine   Maywood, Ill.

Northwestern University Medical School   Chicago, Ill.

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science - Chicago Medical School   North Chicago, Ill.

University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (MTSP)  Chicago, Ill.

University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (MD/PhD) Chicago, Ill.

University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine   Chicago, Ill.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Medicine   Urbana, Ill.

Indiana University School of Medicine   Indianapolis, Ind.

University of Iowa College of Medicine   Iowa City, Iowa

University of Kansas School of Medicine   Kansas City, Kan.

University of Kentucky College of Medicine   Lexington, Ky.

University of Louisville School of Medicine   Louisville, Ky.

Louisiana State University, New Orleans School of Medicine   New Orleans, La.

Louisiana State University, Shreveport School of Medicine   Shreveport, La.

Tulane University School of Medicine   New Orleans, La.

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine   Baltimore, Md.

National Institutes of Health Intramural MD-PhD Partnership   Bethesda, Md.

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences   Bethesda, Md.

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Graduate programs, phd in politics and international affairs.

The doctoral degree in politics and international affairs is an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students to teach at the university and college levels and to conduct high-level research in the academic and nonacademic sectors. It combines a broad focus on international relations, comparative politics, American politics, and political theory with a critical understanding of institutions, rights, citizenship/identity, governance, global policy, and justice. Students work closely with faculty to frame their dissertation research and to advance their knowledge of their chosen fields of specialization. The program’s interdisciplinary approach to a variety of global issues provides a rich and open-ended opportunity to research current and past problems, movements, and transformations in politics.

We welcome your interest in our doctoral program. The department's deadline for fall admission is January 5. The School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies only admits for the fall semester. Students must apply online through the Office of Graduate Admissions. For a listing of the admission requirements, students should consult the Graduate Catalog . 

*Effective starting with the 2023-2024 admissions cycle, GRE test scores are no longer required for applications to our doctoral program in Politics and International Affairs*

*International students should review the Office of Admissions International Students website for additional information and requirements.

*International students are also encouraged to contact the Office of International Services for information on visas, international travel, etc. 

PLEASE NOTE: International students whose native language is not English and who want to be considered for a teaching assistantship must show proficiency in spoken English even if their TOEFL has been waived for admission to a graduate program. More information on the TOEFL requirement can be found under Admission Requirements in the graduate catalog.

Program Requirements

For the Doctoral Degree in Politics and International Affairs degree requirements, students should consult the Graduate Catalog. Students should adhere to the requirements within the Graduate Catalog under which they were admitted.

• Degree Requirements Beginning 2023-2024 Catalog

*Students can elect another catalog following the one they were admitted under. More information on this policy, and other policies, can be found in the Graduate Catalog.

*Students must request approval from the graduate director for any course not pre-approved and listed under the degree in the Graduate Catalog.

Additional information on program requirements:

Student can also select POS 6933/6747 Advanced Topics in Quantitative Political Analysis or another graduate course approved by the graduate director for the methods requirement. The Capstone Seminar will be conducted with doctorial students in Sociology and History and focus on dissertation proposal. 

Research Fields

The Doctorate in Politics and International Affairs specializes in the following four fields of research:

International Relations In the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies, the International Relations (IR) faculty focuses on four areas of study: international relations theory, global political economy, international security, and human rights. We stress the importance of cutting-edge scholarship in our teaching of the graduate seminars as well as bridging the many emergent gaps in theory and practice in the various subfields that comprise International Relations, including American foreign policy, international ethics, global governance, and international law and organizations. One of our central aims is to advance innovative applications of the central theoretical perspectives (and their variant strands) in International Relations, namely, realism, liberalism, critical theory, constructivism, Marxism, international political theory, and gender. These applications involve in-depth theoretical and empirical analysis of key global issues, such as Asian security, moral accountability, the enforcement of human rights, immigration, and political and economic inequality. The International Relations faculty have published numerous books and peer-reviewed articles on these issue areas. These include monographs on the political tensions on the Korean Peninsula or North Korea’s nuclear arms buildup, the political cosmopolitan character and shifting dynamics of the International Criminal Court (ICC), hegemony and inequality in the global political economy, and China’s rapidly increasing support of intervention in African states. Together our published research emphasizes the production of critical theoretic knowledge, or the advanced methodological analysis of the contradictions and tensions informing the substantive debates in International Relations. This not only requires the particular mastery of concepts, methods, and claims but also an open-ended and historical understanding of the changing social forces shaping the behavior of states and the relations among global and local actors. It is this scholarly approach that we adopt to train our graduate students specializing in international relations, particularly as they advance their dissertation research and empirical knowledge of the global and regional contexts of problems and issues. One of the outcomes we strive for, then, is to encourage our doctoral students to develop rigorous theoretical and contextual analysis from which they can devise solutions and prescriptions to global issues.

Comparative Politics Comparative Politics in the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies is committed to theory-driven, empirical research from an interdisciplinary perspective that is situated in a political, historical, cultural, and economic context.  The Comparative Politics faculty employ a variety of methodological approaches from both the social sciences and humanities, which utilize qualitative and quantitative research methods to study the patterns of similarities and differences. In particular, we conduct comparative and case study research to inquire into these patterns and to develop our theoretical propositions. One of our aims is to produce knowledge about the changing social, political, and legal conditions affecting the lives, development, cultural practices, and customs of underrepresented peoples. In meeting this aim, our research focuses on several themes of comparative politics, including social movements, democracy/democratization, citizenship, decolonization, genocide, hegemony, race and identity, development, legal systems and customary law, social justice, and indigenismo or the political ideology focusing on the changing relations of state and local peoples. Much of our published research draws creatively on social, critical, and political theory to advance knowledge of the laws, changing social relations, and attitudes in several countries, which includes Brazil, Ecuador, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Iran. Our research strengths lie in the areas of race and citizenship, social movements theory, human security and law (or legal custom) in Eastern Africa, indigenous rights in various Latin American countries, and security relations in the Middle East. With these thematic foci, we encourage graduate students to create and develop their own research by selecting a region of the world as their emphasis and adopting theoretically informed research and comparative methods that allow them to analyze the changing social and political conditions in the countries of this region.

American Politics The study of American Politics in the doctorate program in politics and international affairs provides a comprehensive overview as well as an in-depth analysis of American politics. Our faculty focus on various aspects of American politics, including theoretical foundations, federalism, institutions (Congress, the executive branch, the bureaucracy, the judiciary), political behavior (political parties, the media, interest groups, social movements, and elections), and public policy (foreign and domestic), and employ a range of methodological approaches such as historical development, legal doctrine, institutional rules, and quantitative analyses of the behavior of political actors and the mass public, to advance the student's research skills.  Our core class, Seminar in American Politics, for instance, surveys the key foundations, institutions, and behavior in American politics, introducing students to both qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches for analyzing and testing the changing trends and outcomes in American politics. Special topics courses provide opportunities to gain in-depth knowledge on new research on a range of themes, including political development, the social bases of politics, and the global impact of American politics. The faculty in American politics have made important contributions in the areas of race and ethnicity, the judiciary, the presidency, Florida government, civil liberties, health care, environmental justice, economic inequality, and animal rights. Our strengths lie in economic inequality, animal rights, the Presidency, Judicial Behavior, Race and Ethnicity, and State and Local Government. In these specific areas, we have published several cutting-edge books and articles in leading peer-reviewed journals, which examine the emergence and implementation of nonhuman animals' regime of rights, the changing directions of the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank and its impact on world politics, and alternative strategies for natural disasters in the United States. Our scholarship is thus distinctive for the ways in which it addresses American government and politics in a global context. This is how we seek to train our doctoral students on the rapidly changing, nuanced linkages between local, state, federal and global institutional politics.  

Political Theory Political Theory introduces students to the core normative issues in the study of political science. These normative issues provide the bedrock assumptions on which much of the study of political science depends. For example, while nearly everyone agrees that democracy is the best form of government, why do we place such faith in it? In addition, the long tradition of political thought offers multiple versions of democracy, each with its own strengths and limitations. How are we to identify the best version for our needs? Similarly, while we might extol non-violence in politics, is it always the best path for political movements? How are we to justify its alternatives? Clarifying our moral commitments, sharpening our conceptual tools, and outlining pathways for transforming theoretical knowledge into action requires philosophical, historical, and conceptual capabilities. The political theory faculty at the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies trains students to develop these capabilities. To that end, political theory classes not only familiarize students with many of the canonical texts that were read by generations of prominent political thinkers (from Aristotle to Martin Luther King Jr), they also teach students to read these texts critically and with an eye towards contemporary political developments. As such, training in political theory is a critical supplement to graduate work at School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies. The faculty’s expertise in feminist theory, postcolonial theory, the role of emotions in politics, environmental political thought, and Indian political thought complements the terminal degrees offered in American Politics, Comparative Politics, and International Relations.

Financial Assistance 

Most of our successful applicants qualify for funding offered by the department or the Office of Graduate Studies. Funded doctoral students will receive a graduate assistantship that includes:

• a stipend for the academic year (9 months)
• a tuition waiver (not including school fees)
• the option of health insurance mostly paid by the department (the student only pays a small amount towards insurance).

All applicants for the doctoral degree are considered for a graduate assistantship - they do not need to complete a separate form.

The graduate assistantship is guaranteed for four years but is based on maintaining satisfactory annual academic progress. It requires each student to work 20 hours per week, in which case the student would be first assisting professors of the department with their teaching and class preparations and later, after having passed the doctoral comprehensive exams and completed teacher training seminars, teach a class at the University of South Florida. 

Please visit the graduate assistantships page for further information. The department also provides funding for conference travel or the presentation of research at conferences upon approval.

Information on eligibility for graduate assistantships can be found on the Graduate Assistantships Resource Center website. 

We also strive to fund our students in the fifth year, though this funding is not guaranteed. Depending on additional funds that become available, students may have the opportunity to extend their graduate assistantship to one, possibly two academic semesters. Students in the fifth year are also encouraged to seek external funding. For more information on this, please consult our Graduate Resources Page .

Outstanding candidates may also be nominated by the school’s director and/or graduate committee for prestigious and highly competitive university fellowships, including the Presidential Doctoral Fellowship , the Dorothy Auzenne Fellowship , and the University Graduate Fellowship. There is also the opportunity for minority students to be awarded a McKnight Fellowship, which provides annual tuition up to $5,000 for each of three academic years, plus an annual stipend of $12,000. The program also offers travel grants and other forms of financial support. For additional information on this fellowship opportunity, please visit the McKnight Fellowship's informational page.

• Politics and International Affairs Doctoral Handbook 2022 - 2023
• School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies Graduate Resources
• Independent Study / Directed Research Contract
• Office of Graduate Studies Forms
• Dissertation Proposal Approval Form
• Admission to Doctoral Candidacy Form
• Graduate Student Supervisory Committee Appointment Form
• Dissertation Checklist
• Electronic Thesis & Dissertation Certificate of Approval Form
• Comprehensive Exam Reading Lists
• Research Conference Travel Award Request
• Dissertation Defense Announcment

Spring 2024 Course Offerings

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For further information or questions about the PhD in Politics and International Affairs, please fill out this form . 

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Canada to introduce new rules around off-campus work hours for international students

From: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

News release

International students enrich Canada’s social, cultural and economic fabric. That is why, in recent months, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has introduced reforms to the International Students Program, to ensure system integrity while protecting students from fraud and financial vulnerability.

April 29, 2024—Ottawa— International students enrich Canada’s social, cultural and economic fabric. That is why, in recent months, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has introduced reforms to the International Student Program, to ensure system integrity while protecting students from fraud and financial vulnerability.

The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced today that the temporary policy allowing students to work more than 20 hours per week off campus will come to an end on April 30, 2024, and it will not be extended. This fall, we intend to change the number of hours students may work off campus per week to 24 hours.

Students who come to Canada must be here to study. As such, allowing students to work up to 24 hours per week will ensure they focus primarily on their studies, while having the option to work, if necessary.

As we head into the summer session, students who have a scheduled academic break can continue working unlimited hours.

In developing this change, we looked at the needs of students, policies in other countries, as well as research that has shown that academic outcomes suffer the more a student works while studying. It also strikes the appropriate balance so students have the option to work without compromising academic outcomes. More details will be shared in due course.

We also continue to develop the new Recognized Institutions Framework to reward post­secondary institutions that set high standards for selecting, supporting and retaining international students. We will continue to support and protect international students from financial vulnerability and keep protecting the integrity of the International Student Program.

“Working off campus helps international students gain work experience and offset some of their expenses. As international students arrive in Canada, we want them to be prepared for life here and have the support they need to succeed. However, first and foremost, people coming to Canada as students must be here to study, not work. We will continue working to protect the integrity of our student program.” – The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Quick facts

Recent studies conducted in the US and Canada have shown that there is a considerable decline in academic performance for students working more than 28 hours per week, and that working more than 24 hours per week increases the chances that a student will drop out of their program.

Most countries that welcome international students set limits on the number of hours they may work while they study. Australia recently changed its policy to allow a student to work 48 hours every 2 weeks. In the US, students must meet additional criteria before being permitted to work off campus at all.

In December 2023, the Government of Canada raised the cost-of-living threshold that students must meet to be approved for a study permit so they are financially prepared for life in Canada and are not as dependent on working.

International students who begin a college program delivered through a public-private curriculum licensing arrangement on or after May 15, 2024, will not be eligible for a post-graduation work permit when they graduate. Those who already started this type of program prior to May 15, 2024, will still be able to access a post-graduation work permit, provided they meet all other criteria .

The new letter of acceptance (LOA) verification process has been a success. Since its launch on December 1, 2023, through April 1, 2024, IRCC has

•  received almost 162,000 LOAs for verification
• confirmed nearly 142,000 LOAs as valid directly with designated learning institutions (DLIs)
• identified almost 9,000 LOAs that didn’t match any LOA issued by a DLI or that the DLI had already cancelled before the foreign national applied for a study permit

Associated links

• Statement: Minister Miller issues statement on international student allocations for provinces and territories
• Notice: Update on public-private college partnership programs for international students
• Notice: Additional information about International Student Program reforms
• News release: Canada to stabilize growth and decrease number of new study permits issued
• News release: Revised requirements to better protect international students
• News release: Changes to International Student Program aim to protect students
• Website: Work off campus as an international student

Aissa Diop Director of Communications Minister’s Office Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [email protected]

Media Relations Communications Sector Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada 613-952-1650 [email protected]

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All international students must demonstrate English proficiency for admission into Indiana University Indianapolis (IUI) graduate and professional programs.  Non-native English speaking domestic applicants may also be required to complete standardized testing dependent on their English proficiency.

There are many different ways to demonstrate your English proficiency to meet our graduate or professional admission requirements. Please make careful note of the minimum requirements for IU graduate programs shown below. Additionally, some graduate programs only accept the TOEFL, and some may require a score higher than the minimum campus standard. Verify this information with your program before selecting an alternative to the TOEFL. 

Minimum Requirements for Admission for IU Programs

*All English proficiency exams must be submitted before admissions. Once a student is admitted, English proficiency exams or updated scores will not be accepted.

English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

Students who are admitted with TOEFL iBT of 79-99 or IELTS of 6.5-7.0 will be required to take the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) placement test.

*Please note, students admitted with an online English Proficiency exam, Duolingo (DET) , IELTS Indicator ,  TOEFL iBT Home Edition , or  TOEFL Essentials will also be required to take the EAP placement test in all cases. Depending on your EAP test results, you may need to take EAP courses at the same time as your academic major courses for one or two semesters. Your letter of admission will indicate if you are required to take this test.

Study English at IUPUI

The Program for Intensive English, located in the heart of campus, at IUPUI offers academic English instruction to international students seeking to enroll in U.S. colleges & universities.

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Accomplished Student Earns Dual J.D., M.D. Degrees

By Catharine Skipp [email protected] 05-07-2024

Growing up, Jordan Adonis Brooks, a 32-year-old from rural Mount Vernon, Ohio, witnessed firsthand the adverse impact the lack of health care access can cause and vowed to join the fight to fix.

This week, Brooks will graduate with a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law and an M.D. from the Miller School of Medicine , the first Black student to achieve this milestone.

“Rural towns have a lot of health disparities compared to cities,” he said. “And being Black can worsen those disparities. Watching my parents, who had chronic diseases, struggle to get the appropriate specialist care they needed for their conditions was very difficult. 

“They had to drive an hour-and-a-half for care and many times to visit medical specialists who often did not have the means of curing their health issues. Watching their struggles and the struggles of many families, while working at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, definitely made me want to really understand how to improve the health care system for families like our own.”

Even in high school, Brooks thought a lot about positively influencing the world. He went to nearby Kenyon College to be close to home and his family after his mother passed and to prepare himself for law school. He earned a degree in neuroscience, an interest that, in part, grew from her multiple sclerosis diagnosis. 

“I had never really understood what the nervous system was,” he said, “and I was blown away when I learned of the incredible things that it does. That's what made me want to go to med school. Then I did a Master of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh, and then I wanted to do both.” 

Brooks said that learning about all the social determinants of health outcomes and how businesses significantly influence how health care is delivered has steered his educational path.

“Ultimately, health care delivery is largely dictated by laws that regulate health care entities and public health by policies that aren’t traditionally associated with health care, like access to food, housing, and transportation,” Brooks said. “So, understanding public health and health law has revolutionized my understanding of medicine and paved the way for me to serve as a bridge between health care providers, attorneys, and administration in the health management and policy space.”

Brooks hopes to use this understanding to help the most marginalized populations attain health equity at the national and international level. Upon graduating, Brooks will start his career working at Boston Consulting Group, where he will focus on health care and life science and social impact management consulting.

At the School of Law, Brooks wrote a paper on the harmonization of regulation of and integration of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine with associate professor Gabriel Scheffler , previously a staff economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers working on health care and labor market policy.

Brooks was a Steven Chaykin Fellow for the Health Equity Project at the Center for Ethics and Public Service , where he helped to embed health equity into their affordable housing initiatives. He was also a fellow at the Human Rights Clinic , where he played a leading role in the clinic's work on maternal and infant health, developing an in-depth report with the Florida Health Justice Project, engaging in U.N. advocacy, and facilitating a film screening and multidisciplinary panel discussion on movements in Black midwifery.

This spring, Brooks also worked with his Human Rights Clinic colleagues planning a town hall for Miami-Dade County for the U.N. Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.

Read more about Miami Law's joint degree programs.

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