PhD Medical Scientist Training at Duke University

Programme overview

The Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) is an NIH-funded dual-degree programme for students pursuing careers in medical science or academic medicine, leading to both MD and PhD degrees. The third year of Duke's medical school serves as the first year of graduate school, shortening total time to the dual degree by one year.

What you will study

PhD completion generally takes four to five years, after which students return for the fourth year of medical school; dissertation research is usually in a School of Medicine basic science programme, a College of Arts and Sciences department or the School of Engineering, though any Graduate School doctoral programme is allowed.

Career pathways

Graduates pursue clinical medicine, academic medicine, biological sciences and other biomedical research settings.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants submit applications simultaneously to both the School of Medicine MD programme and the MSTP; those not admitted to MSTP remain eligible for the MD-only programme. A few students are admitted from the second- and third-year medical classes through the MSTP office. Financial support comes from the School of Medicine, the Graduate School, PhD mentors, endowed fellowships and an NIH MSTP training grant.

Graduate School Ph.D. programmes list application deadlines for students beginning graduate study in fall 2027.

The Occupational Therapy Doctorate starts in August for applicants admitted in both the fall and spring rounds.

Fall 2027 Ph.D. deadlines (11:59 p.m. Eastern): most programmes 12/01/2026 including Biochemistry, Biology, Biostatistics, Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Classical Studies, Immunology and Physics; Computer Science, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Policy, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Religion and Statistical Science 12/15/2026; English 12/08/2026; Economics 01/06/2027; Earth and Climate Sciences and Music 01/07/2027; Nursing 11/19/2026; Business Administration 12/14/2026; Political Science and Sociology 12/17/2026; Romance Studies 12/30/2026. Computational Media, Arts and Cultures and Public Policy Studies are not accepting applications for 2027 enrollment.

Occupational Therapy Doctorate 2026-27 application deadlines: Fall round Thursday, October 8, 2026; Spring round Tuesday, January 12, 2027 (applications through OTCAS). Fall applicants are notified the first week of December 2026 and spring applicants the first week of March 2027.

Apply through the official page: https://gradschool.duke.edu/admissions/

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