What is the average time it takes to complete an M.D. / Ph. D. degree?
I plan on majoring in molecular biology in college on a pre-med track with hopes to go to medical school to get my M.D./Ph. D. I was wondering how long it would take to pursue this degree? #college #medicine #graduate-school #research #medical-education #molecular-biology #clinical-research
3 answers
Mohan’s Answer
Most M.D.-Ph.D. students complete the requirements for the dual degrees within 7 or 8 years. Some students complete the program in 6 years, while others may take longer than 8 years. The variation is due to the amount of time required to complete Ph.D. requirements, because one cannot predict the progress of research or the amount of time needed to develop into an independent investigator, the primary goal of Ph.D. training.
Note that the average time to complete a biomedical Ph.D. in the United States is about 6 years. Thus, if pursued independently, obtaining a dual degree would take about 10 years. By integrating the didactic components of training, dual-degree students complete the program in 7 or 8 years on average.
Richard’s Answer
Julie’s Answer
This can vary based on the type of physician you want to be. The MD/PhD is a very popular choice currently. Most academic (university) programs offer it as an adjunct when physians enter their fellowship. It usually only takes 2 semesters to complete and the research courses are incorporated into their clinical rotations.