Overview

Its mission is to provide students with the breadth and depth of training necessary to excel as academic physicians. The curriculum combines classroom and clinical training in the UCSD School of Medicine with research in a Graduate Department.

Flexibility is a hallmark of the UCSD MSTP, and each student's program is individualized. By its nature, medical school education is quite broad, encompassing subjects from biochemistry to cultural anthropology. In contrast, graduate education provides a narrower focus and greater depth, both in terms of exposure to current thinking in a specific discipline and in the development and execution of a doctoral thesis problem.

The Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) culminates with the award of both medical (MD) and graduate (PhD) degrees, signifying skills in each of the three domains of an academic physician: research, teaching, and clinical care.

Diverse Training for a Diverse Student Population

Trainees enter the UCSD MSTP with a diverse range of academic backgrounds and life experiences. Currently there are 75 students. The Program is committed to recruiting a diverse student body. Out-of-state applicants are considered on an equal basis as in-state residents.

Approximately 8-10 entering students join the Program each year, including underrepresented minorities, disabled, and economically disadvantaged trainees. All trainees receive full support for stipend, tuition, and health insurance during all years of the Program.

Our graduates uniformly achieve their first or second choice residency. Over the last 12 years, approximately 90 percent of graduates have subsequently accepted positions in academic health centers.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Human Biology

Cardiovascular

Pulmonary

Gastrointestinal

Endocrinology, Reproduction & Metabolism

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-23 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-01 00:00:00

More details

Official Graduate Application Deadline - late November or early December 2026.

Language

English

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Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

San Diego, United States

Disciplines

Biomedical Science Medicine Health Sciences View 187 other PhDs in Health Sciences in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

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Other requirements

General requirements

Each applicant must complete the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application.

Please note that MSTP applicants are required to provide additional information regarding their research experience and motivation to pursue a physician-scientist career in the AMCAS application.

Please note that the number of applicants far exceeds the number of interview positions available.

Applicants are thus encouraged to submit their AMCAS application as soon as possible.

Applicants should be aware that we receive their application only after transcripts have been fully verified through AMCAS, a process that can take four weeks or longer.

The process for the submission of all materials, including letters of recommendation, is the same for MSTP and MD applicants.

Materials do not need to be sent separately to the MSTP Office.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

36477 USD / year

≈ 36477 USD / year
Out-of-State

36477 USD / year

≈ 36477 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

21375 USD / year

≈ 21375 USD / year

Living costs

San Diego

United States

1400 - 2455 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Medical Scientist Training Program.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Diverse Training for a Diverse Student Population

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

San Diego

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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