Prospective Students

The M.D./Ph.D. Program seeks applicants who have demonstrated excellent academic performance and research experience.

For general information about M.D./Ph.D. programs, we recommend the following site: M.D./Ph.D. Dual Degree Training Overview (AAMC Guide)

Step 1: AMCAS Application

M.D./Ph.D. applicants must complete the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application. This includes completing the AMCAS application and specifying interest in the UC Davis M.D./Ph.D. program. Applicants will need to complete the M.D./Ph.D specific essays as part of their AMCAS application. The deadline to submit the AMCAS application to the UC Davis M.D./Ph.D. program is October 1st. Applicants must be eligible for admission to the M.D. program at the UC Davis School of Medicine and proceed through the regular admissions process. Materials do not need to be sent separately to the M.D./Ph.D. program.  Note: for the 2024/2025 admissions cycle, the AAMC PREview® Exam will not be required for M.D./Ph.D. applicants. 

Step 2: Secondary Application

After applying, your application will be screened and qualified applicants will be invited to complete a secondary application. M.D./Ph.D. program applicants may submit 3-6 letters of recommendation, and are required to have at least one letter written by a mentor of their research experience. Full applications will be reviewed by the M.D./Ph.D. leadership and steering committee in the order the secondary applications are received. Applications will be reviewed holistically based upon the admissions criteria of the UC Davis School of Medicine with additional consideration given to the applicant's motivation for career as a physician-scientist, letters of recommendation from research mentors, the quality and depth of research experiences, and other unique attributes related to the mission of the program and the UC Davis School of Medicine. 

Step 3: Interviews

Top applicants will be invited for M.D./Ph.D. program pre-interviews as part of the holistic review with the program leadership, current students, and faculty members of interest. All interviews will be conducted virtually and are non-confrontational. A subset of these interviewees will then be invited at a later date to participate in the UC Davis School of Medicine M.D. program interviews which follows the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format.

Step 4: Admissions Decisions

Admissions decisions for the M.D./Ph.D. program will generally not be made prior to January. However, we retain the right to admit a limited number of candidates prior to the end of our interview process. Applicants to the UC Davis M.D./Ph.D. program will not be considered separately for admissions in the M.D.-only program.  

FAQs

1. How many positions are available each year? We are in the process of expanding the size of our program and are currently approved to matriculate 5 students per year.
2. Are international students eligible for admission? Due to funding restrictions, applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. We will consider DACA applicants on a case-by-case basis. 
3. If an M.D./Ph.D. applicant does not receive an offer of admission, will they be considered for admission to the UC Davis School of Medicine? No, we do not provide an option for concurrent consideration for the M.D. and M.D./Ph.D. programs.
4. If I am a current Ph.D. student, can I apply to the M.D./Ph.D. program? Not usually, but please email us to discuss your situation.
5. Do I have to apply separately to a graduate program? Students are admitted first to the M.D./Ph.D. program then apply to graduate programs during their first two years of medical school. 
6. How important are GPA and MCAT scores? While evidence of aptitude to complete a rigorous program of study is required, we take a holistic approach to reviewing applications. For reference, over the past 5 years, our students have a mean GPA of 3.76 and a mean MCAT score of 516.  
7. Are GRE scores required? GRE scores are neither required nor accepted for consideration.