Pharm.D./Ph.D. Pathway

The Pharm.D./Ph.D. program is designed for highly motivated and qualified individuals who are seeking a combination program in the clinical and basic sciences. Enrollment into the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program at the Medical University of South Carolina is restricted to accepted and currently enrolled Pharm.D. students. Upon seeking admission to the College of Pharmacy, the student may request entry into the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program. Secondly, the student may also apply during the first or second year of the Pharm.D. program.

All students in the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program will receive a stipend while completing the Ph.D. requirements. Students will receive a stipend for research conducted in the summers. The full-time stipend will begin when the students become full-time graduate students, approximately the spring semester of the fourth year. The stipend will be consistent with the College of Graduate Studies policy. 

Accelerated Pathway after Pharm.D.

The Pharm.D. program provides a strong foundation that enables graduates to pursue a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences with an area of focus in Drug Discovery at an accelerated pace. Unlike the fixed curriculum of the Pharm.D., the Ph.D. is a research-focused degree, and the time required to complete it varies by student. On average, Ph.D. studies take five years; however, students entering the Ph.D. program after the Pharm.D. can typically finish both degrees in about seven years total, compared to the nine years usually needed when pursued separately. 

To learn more about the Ph.D. program, visit Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences - Drug Discovery