About PhD Program,
Our goal is to do much more than provide students with an opportunity to earn an MD and a PhD. We want to give students all the tools and experiences they will need to be successful physician-investigators. Integration of medical and graduate education is something we emphasize from the beginning of the program. At any given time a student will spend most of his or her time in medical school or graduate school, but at all times there are courses or other experiences organized by the program that emphasize the integration of the two parts of the training. We provide extensive mentorship and enrichment activities to support students in preparing for their careers. Our mascot is Cosmo the Chimera, emphasizing the integrated and multi-faceted essence of being a physician-scientist trainee.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Most applicants apply for the MD-PhD program when initially applying for Medical School via AMCAS. However, some decide to apply to join the MD-PhD program after matriculating as an MD or PhD student. We strongly advise any candidate who is uncertain of his or her career goals to delay applying to the MD-PhD program. We recommend that these individuals spend additional time exploring their career goals before applying, or apply to the appropriate single degree program first.
PhD Funding Coverage,
Offers of admission come with full funding which consists of tuition, health insurance, most fees, a $2,000 relocation cost and a stipend ($40,000 for 2023-2024). In addition, the program provides reimbursement for dental and vision coverage through the University. This funding support remains in effect for the entire duration of the program, as long as the student remains in good standing. Financial support for these funding packages is derived from the Medical Scientist Training Program grant funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the NIH, the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, private foundation funds, faculty research grants and other sources.
In some cases, candidates for graduate programs outside of Biomedical Graduate Studies and Bioengineering may receive an offer of admission with a less comprehensive funding package. In extremely rare situations, it is also possible that a candidate to one of the programs above would receive an alternative funding offer.
Application Requirement,
Graduate Group Information
Intended Area of Specialization
Research Summary
Letters of Recommendation
Recent and current year activities
Additional Required Essay for Applicants to these Graduate Groups ONLY
Application Deadline,
Oct 15, 2025
Application Fee,
The fee for that application is $100,
