MBPhD Programmes

MBPhD programmes are integrated pathways that allow undergraduate or postgraduate medical students to complete both a medical degree and a PhD during university. These programmes were modelled on training pathways in the United States, aiming to dual-train clinicians early in their training in scientific research.

Students usually begin on a standard primary (MBBS/MBChB) medical degree before applying internally to their university’s MBPhD programme during medical school. Most programmes involve undertaking a research project for a period of 3-4 years focusing towards completion of a PhD, typically after the intercalated year. There are opportunities for integrated clinical training during this period, before returning to medical school to finish clinical training.

MBPhD programmes include students from a variety of backgrounds or research interests, ranging from discovery science to translational clinical studies. They tend to be very competitive but can provide bespoke training to develop the transferrable skills required for and opportunities within academic medicine early in a student’s career. Many graduates go on to develop careers as senior clinician-scientists and research group leaders based all over the world, working in academia, clinical medicine, the pharmaceutical industry, public health planning, or even in financial services.

MBPhD programmes are tailored to students who enjoy the science underpinning medicine and enable these individuals to both ask and figure out how to answer research questions alongside clinical practice. It is certainly not necessary to have a firm idea of your ultimate clinical specialty at the time of undertaking a MBPhD.

However, an MBPhD is one of many routes into academic medicine. Academic careers are flexible, and people enter research at many different stages, either before or after graduating medical school, depending on their interests, opportunities, career goals and personal preferences.

What does an MBPhD involve?

Most MB/PhD programmes in the UK follow a similar structure:

Why consider an MBPhD?

There are pros and cons to doing an MB/PhD, and several common misconceptions. An MBPhD can be an exciting opportunity to explore research in depth and gain experience that may shape your future career. Typically, graduates will go on to have clinical-academic careers, but many go on to full time clinical work, full time research, careers in the pharmaceutical industry, education or other roles. Some specific advantages include:

• Gaining early exposure to research alongside medical training, developing skills in study design, data analysis, scientific writing and presenting findings.
• Building a stronger academic CV on graduation often including publications, conference presentations, and research experience, which may help with future applications to clinical or clinical-academic training posts.
• Increasing competitiveness for academic foundation programmes, specialty training and clinician–scientist career pathways.
• Accessing leading research institutions, supervisors and collaborative networks.
• Obtaining opportunities to work on high-impact projects such as translational medicine, clinical trials, and biomedical innovation. The potential impact of these to patients can range from short-term to long-term.

Funding and practical considerations

Funding arrangements vary between universities, so it is important to explore the details of each programme carefully prior to applying.

MBPhD programmes usually offer:

• PhD tuition fees
• stipend funding during the PhD years
• additional funding for research consumables or conferences
• access to funded studentship schemes, including bespoke training opportunities

Other programmes may support applying separately for research funding through charities, research councils or university departments.

Things worth considering include:

• how tuition fees are managed during the PhD years
• accommodation and living costs during research training
• the overall length of training
• how time out of clinical medicine may affect personal plans or finances

Academic supervisors and programme leads are usually happy to discuss funding structures and available support before a student commits to an application.

How do you apply?

In the UK, students usually apply to an MBPhD programme after they have already started medical school. Applications are often competitive and involve:

Many universities only allow applications from students already studying medicine at that institution, so if you are interested in this route, it can be useful to explore which medical schools offer MBPhD opportunities before applying through UCAS. Some MBPhD programmes enable transfer between medical schools with specific approvals and where the two medical courses closely align.

Building experience before applying

You do not need extensive research experience before applying, but early exposure to academic medicine can help you decide whether the pathway is right for you.

Helpful experiences might include:

• summer studentships or vacation research projects
• intercalated degrees, including BSc or MSc degrees
• audits or quality improvement projects
• presenting posters or talks, or co-authoring publications
• joining and taking part in academic medicine societies
• teaching or peer-learning activities

These experiences can help you build confidence, develop skills and better understand what research careers involve day-to-day. They are also helping you in deciding whether an academic research career is something you would like to pursue.

Available UK MBPhD programmes

Several UK medical schools offer integrated MBPhD pathways or equivalent clinician-scientist programmes, and this list is expanding year upon year. Structures and eligibility criteria vary between institutions.

• University of Cambridge
• University College London (UCL)
• Imperial College London
• University of Manchester
• King’s College London
• Queen Mary University of London
• University of Birmingham (decidated programmes for cancer research and musculoskeletal and inflammatory diseases)
• Oxford University
• University of Edinburgh & University of Glasgow (dedicated programmes for cancer research and musculoskeletal disease)

This list of programmes is non-exhaustive and is likely to change, as other medical schools begin to launch their own MBPhD programmes. Please check individual university websites for the most up-to-date information.

Further information

If you are interested in an MBPhD, it can be helpful to:

• speak to academic tutors or supervisors
• attend university research events or careers talks and MBPhD open days
• contact current MBPhD students and/or recent graduates and programme leads
• explore academic medicine societies

Taking part in smaller research opportunities first can help you decide whether a longer research degree is something you would enjoy.

This information has been produced with support from Dr Daniyal Jafree, Professor Reza Motallebzadeh (MBPhD programme director at UCL) and Professor Stefan Marciniak (MBPhD programme director at the University of Cambridge).