Doctor of Medicine & Master of Surgery with Ph.D.

Students interested in a research career in academic medicine may wish to apply for admission to the joint M.D.,C.M. & Ph.D. program. This is a seven-year program in which the basic and clinical sciences portion of the medical curriculum are completed from September of Year One to December 31 of Year Two, prior to the beginning of full-time graduate studies. The latter are expected to last three, but no more than four, years by which time all course work and the research requirements for the Ph.D. degree must have been completed and a thesis submitted. The defence of the thesis will ordinarily take place at a later date. From January of Year Five to May of Year Seven, students will complete the requirements for the M.D.,C.M. degree. Throughout the seven years, students in the M.D.,C.M. & Ph.D. program meet each Thursday evening during the academic year to discuss their research, hear research seminars from clinician-scientists, and network with other students in the program.

Once accepted to the M.D.,C.M. & Ph.D. program and during the first year of the combined program, students begin the process of choosing a supervisor and research laboratory for their Ph.D. studies. The McGill Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Winter and Summer Research Bursary provide excellent opportunities for exploring potential laboratories. Research is usually carried out on a topic in the biomedical sciences within one of the Basic Science or Clinical Science Departments within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. With the help of the M.D.,C.M. & Ph.D. Program Advisory Committee, students must choose a supervisor and department for their Ph.D. studies by September of Year Two and be accepted for admission to graduate studies by McGill Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

The language of instruction is English.

For the full M.D.,C.M. curriculum, please refer to the Medicine section at www.mcgill.ca/study/faculties/medicine/undergraduate/programs/mdcm-–-doctor-medicine-and-master-surgery.

• Canadian citizenship or Canadian permanent residency
• 23 years of age or older by the start of classes (21 years of age for the Faculties of Management and Music)
• No high school, college or university level studies within the last five years that would constitute a basis for admission
• Two letters of reference
• Mature Student Statements:
  • Letter of Intent, including description of all educational experiences
  • Complete resume of employment and other activities, highlighting points relevant to the application
• In some cases, an interview may be required
• Demonstrate academic potential by successfully completing a minimum number of specific courses (see 'Minimum grades & prerequisites' below) within the three-year period prior to admission and no later than May 15th of the year of application for the intended program (May 1 for some programs). These courses, which may be completed at CEGEP or university, will also fulfill prerequisites for the intended program. 

1. Know your deadlines.

   Mark your calendar with these important dates regarding your application. 

2. Decide what to study.

   Use the program finder tool to explore over 300 undergraduate programs and find your best match. 

3. Make sure you're eligible.

   Admission to most programs is based on grades only. In this step, you'll find:
   • How your academic record is reviewed
   • The grades that gained entrance to your program in previous years
   • The prerequisites for your program

4. Get ready to apply.

   As of October 1, you can apply. Complete each step of the pre-application to-do list, including:

   • Understand the deadlines that apply to you
   • Prepare your academic documents
   • Identify supporting documents you'll need to provide

5. Submit your application.

   Review our tips on how to apply and see what the application fees will be. Remember that you can apply to two programs.

6. Apply for an entrance scholarship.

   Look into entrance scholarships early! The deadline is usually a week after your application deadline. This page provides information about entrance scholarships, bursaries, and other funding opportunities.

7. Submit documents and keep in touch.

   We'll connect with you by email to let you know when to upload supporting documents, if required. In this step, you'll see:
   • How to follow your applications status
   • Supporting documents you may need to prepare
   • How to submit supporting documents, including self-reporting your grades