Medicine (MD/MSc)

Expected duration: 2+ years (in addition to MD requirements)

There are two pathways to enter the MD/MSc program. The traditional pathway is where medical students pursue a MSc in a health-related field during a sabbatical from the MD program after year 2 of medicine and before year 3 of medicine (i.e., clerkship). The second pathway to enter the MD/MSc program is where current graduate students in a health-related field get accepted into the MD program during their graduate program. 

Traditionally, the MD/MSc program attracts undergraduate medical students who have completed the second year of medicine and undertake a pause in their MD training for two years (or more) to allow them to complete a health-related MSc. Research can be conducted in any department at UM that offers a MSc program, as long as the project is health-related. Project eligibility will be decided by the Advanced degrees in Medicine Program Admissions and Advisory Committee (PAAC). During the sabbatical from the MD program students will pay continuing MD fees while they are pursuing their graduate degree full time. When all experimental work has been completed and a completed Masters thesis has been submitted, trainees resume medical studies at third year MD training. Students must provide ample notice to the associate dean of UGME and the clerkship administrators about their intent to reenter clerkship. It is strongly encouraged that students fully complete their graduate degree (i.e., submission of thesis and completed defense) prior to reentering medicine.

Students pursuing a graduate degree within the health sciences field who then get accepted into Medical School in the Max Rady College of Medicine are encouraged to meet with the program director to determine if they are eligible to apply for the Advanced Degrees in Medicine program. 

We provide a guaranteed MSc student stipend of $21,000 upon admission to the program, conditional upon maintenance of good academic standing. Trainees are also eligible to obtain up to $1,000 research allowance during their time in the MD/MSc program. The expenses covered to support the research allowance must be pre-approved by the Program Director prior to purchase.

Students enrolled in the MD/MSc program are bound by the supplemental regulations of the host department where they are pursuing their graduate degree from and the Max Rady College of Medicine.
 

For general program inquiries and admission questions please contact the general program email.

You can apply to the MD/MSc program through one of two avenues:

• As an admitted medical student who wishes to pursue graduate studies before your third year of medicine
• As a current graduate student who has been accepted into medical school.

Students wishing to apply should contact the Advanced Degrees in Medicine Program Director early in the process to clarify any questions and establish a timeline for the application.

Acceptance will minimally require:

• Identification of a supervisor 
• Review by the Program Admissions and Advisory Committee (PAAC) and their recommendation for acceptance, and 
• Acceptance by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
• Concurrent curriculum acceptance by both the associate dean of UGME and the department head within respective graduate department.

The follow documents are required to apply to the program:

1. Two letters of reference (one from the supervisor). The letters of reference should outline the suitability of the candidate to manage both graduate studies and medical school commitments and responsibilities.
2. A description of the coursework timeline if coursework has not been completed (i.e. an outline of when required courses will be completed). If all coursework is completed, please indicate this in the application.
3. Please indicate a research timeline for completion of the project that will encompass a completed full thesis draft ready for examination prior to the student starting clerkship in year three of Medicine.
4. Web transcript (saved and sent as PDF) to indicate coursework completed, etc.
5. A CV (Common CV in CIHR Format is fine, but free form is acceptable) of both trainee and primary supervisor.
6. A research summary (up to two pages). This summary should clearly identify to the committee the scope of the research, how it is related to health-research, the objectives and purpose of the research, and outline a basic methodology.
7. Personal statement indicating why the trainee wants to pursue an Advanced Degree in Medicine and become a clinician scientist.

All application documents need to be emailed in PDF form and the letters of reference need to be sent from the referees directly.

Program inquiries

Please contact the individuals below if you are interested in the MD/MSc program. Information and program contacts for our MD program can be found on this page.

Dr. Mark Nachtigal
Director, Advanced Degrees in Education in Medicine
Max Rady College of Medicine
mark.nachtigal@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-789-3708

Lamiya Salim
Programs Coordinator 
Office of Graduate and Advanced Degrees Education in Medicine
advanceddegreesmedicine@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-789-3558