M.D./Ph.D. Program: Frequently Asked Questions
Get the answers you need about M.D./Ph.D. admission, interviews, financial support and training at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
Your Application and Eligibility
You must be independently accepted into the M.D. program to be eligible for M.D./Ph.D. program training and funding.
To apply, follow the same steps as a SLU M.D. applicant. Make sure to indicate your interest in the M.D./Ph.D. program when you submit your AMCAS primary application.
Each year, the School of Medicine offers full funding to two domestic M.D./Ph.D. students pursuing basic science degrees. If selected, you’ll receive full tuition coverage and a stipend throughout your training, provided you meet academic and research requirements.
Should you join the program on the standard M.D./Ph.D. tuition track (rather than the fully funded track), your total tuition is capped and will not exceed the cost of an M.D. degree.
Funded positions are reserved for domestic students. However, qualifying international students may be considered for admission on the standard tuition track.
The admission committee places a strong emphasis on research experience and commitment, alongside qualities essential to becoming a caring physician. Letters of recommendation — particularly from research mentors — play a crucial role in the decision process.
Your Interview and Acceptance Process
Your interview process is in two parts:
- December: A 30-minute virtual interview featuring a short introduction and standardized committee questions
- January: An in-person interview where you’ll give a 20- to 25-minute presentation on your research, answer questions, meet current trainees and interview with at least three potential Ph.D mentors
Yes. If the M.D./Ph.D. committee declines your application, you will still be separately considered for admission to the medical school’s M.D. Program.
SLU SOM adheres to AAMC Traffic Rules. You will have at least two weeks or until May 1 of the application year to make a final decision.
Your training begins in mid-June without exception. Your first summer is critical because it allows you to complete a rotation in the lab of your choice to ensure it is a good fit. You will also participate in social activities with other program trainees before medical school classes start.
Your Training and Timeline
You will typically follow a 1.5 - 4 - 2.5 track:
- 1.5 years: Your preclinical medical education
- 4 years: Your graduate school studies and Ph.D. dissertation
- 2.5 years: Your medical school clinical training
You will typically complete two laboratory rotations: one the summer before your first year of medical school, and a second during the summer between your first and second years.
You will complete an ungraded transitional clerkship that eases your transition back to clinical training. The course teaches history-taking and physical exam skills, placing you in inpatient and outpatient settings where you can confidently use your skills.
Your Career Outcomes and Campus Culture
SLU SOM has a 98.3% match rate, and historically, more than 90% of students matched into their top three choices. You can expect to match into the country’s most competitive training programs.
SLU SOM’s Catholic, Jesuit tradition encourages you to see your patient as a complete human being rather than a disease process, shaping your role as an altruistic healer who considers your patient’s work, family and spirituality.