Applicants interested in earning a PhD during the course of their MD studies are invited to learn more about WMed’s MD-PhD dual degree options.
MD-PhD
WMed offers MD-PhD dual degree pathways through two institutions:
- WMed and the Van Andel Institute Graduate School in Grand Rapids, MI offer an eight-year program leading to both an MD degree and a PhD degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology.
- WMed and Western Michigan University offer a dual-degree program leading to both an MD degree from WMed and a PhD degree from WMU.
Prerequisite Requirements
Applicants for the MD-PhD dual degree program must meet all admission requirements and standards of both the medical school for the MD degree and the Van Andel Institute Graduate School or Western Michigan University for the PhD degree.
Application
Applicants for the MD-PhD dual degree program begin with the AMCAS application for medical school admission selecting the MD-PhD application type. Applicants should also contact the WMed Office of Admissions to discuss their interest and coordinate the additional application steps. Interviews and admission to each degree program are independent and at the sole discretion of each degree-granting institution.
Program and Courses
Dual degree students will complete the medical school preclinical curriculum, complete the PhD degree, which typically takes four years (depending on institution and successful completion of the doctoral dissertation), then return to WMed for the medical school clinical curriculum and remaining graduation requirements.
Cost
Students are responsible for tuition for the MD program and are eligible for scholarship assistance. Van Andel Institute Graduate School provides financial assistance through a graduate fellowship during the PhD degree education that includes a full waiver of tuition for the PhD degree, health and life insurance, and a stipend for living expenses. Western Michigan University offers research assistantships that may provide financial assistance such as PhD tuition remission, stipend, and health insurance. In the absence of institutional support or scholarships, students are responsible for the full tuition and fees for enrollment at each institution.
Graduation
Students who successfully complete all of the requirements for the MD and PhD degrees are welcome to participate in graduation ceremonies at the medical school for the MD degree and at Van Andel Institute Graduate School or Western Michigan University for the PhD degree.