The UCF College of Medicine offers a combined MD/PhD degree as a track within the Interdisciplinary PhD program in Biomedical Sciences. Students in this program get a head-start on research during dedicated time in the first two years of the MD curriculum. Students find a research mentor, develop a dissertation project, and complete basic research training. Upon completion of the first two medical years and passing the USMLE Step 1 exam, students will enter the graduate program as full time graduate students, equivalent to a second-year PhD student. During the first full-time year in the graduate program, students will complete additional required graduate coursework, and must successfully complete qualifying exams and a candidacy exam. Upon completion of the graduate requirements, students re-enter the medical program for clinical rotations to complete the final two years of the MD program. Once all degree requirements have been met, the student will graduate with a combined MD/PhD degree.
Program Overview
Year 1 (Medical School)
Standard M1 curriculum
(*Laboratory rotations to select a dissertation mentor and the graduate seminar course are in place of the Focused Inquiry & Research Module requirements.)
Year 2 (Medical School)
Standard M2 curriculum
(*Doctoral research and the graduate seminar course are in place of the Focused Inquiry & Research Module requirements.)
USMLE STEP 1 EXAM
Year 3 (Graduate School)
Summer
Doctoral Research
Fall
Required and elective graduate courses for the Ph.D. program
Doctoral Research
GTA Assignment
Program of study plan, dissertation committee assembly and first dissertation committee meeting
Spring
Required and elective graduate courses for the Ph.D. program
Doctoral Research
GTA Assignment
Qualifying Exams
Year 4 (Graduate School)
Summer
Doctoral Research
Candidacy Exam
Fall
Dissertation Research
Spring
Dissertation Research
Graduate Seminar Presentation
Year 5 (Graduate School **Note: This could be extended into year 6 or 7 if needed)
Summer
Dissertation Research
Fall
Dissertation Research
Spring
Dissertation Research
Dissertation Defense = Completion of PhD study
Year 6 (Medical School)
Standard M3 curriculum
USMLE STEP 2 EXAM
Year 7 (Medical School)
Standard M4 curriculum
Graduation
Tuition
Students will be responsible for the full tuition for the MD portion of the program. Some funds may be available to off-set tuition costs during the years the student is in the MD program. For the graduate segment of their studies, students will receive tuition support, health insurance, and a stipend of $30,000-$35,000 per year in the form of either Graduate Teaching Assistantship or Graduate Research Assistantship.
Program Details
For detailed information about the program, including the program handbook, visit https://med.ucf.edu/biomed/graduate-programs/md-phd-biomedical-sciences/.
Contact Us
MD-PhD Training Programs
University of Central Florida
College of Medicine
MD Program Questions
Ms. Laurel Poole
College of Medicine
6850 Lake Nona Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32827-7408
Email: laurel.poole@ucf.edu
PhD Program Questions
Dr. Jihe Zhao
Biomedical Sciences
6900 Lake Nona Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32827-7408
Email: Jihe.Zhao@ucf.edu