MD-PhD-Programm

Guide for applicants

Interfaculty MD-PhD Committee IMPK

Jacqueline Wiedler, Institute of Neuropathology
Schmelzbergstrasse 12, 8091 Zürich

Version: 09.07.2019
1 Requirements 4
1.1 Track I 4
1.2 Track II 4
1.3 Nationality 4

2 Deadlines 5
2.1 Track I 5
2.2 Track II 5
2.3 Track II for applicants from non-EU/EFTA countries 5

3 Application 5
3.1 Track I 5
3.2 Track II 5
3.3 Repetition 6
3.4 Life Science Graduate School 6

4 Funding 7
4.1 General remarks 7
4.2 Scholarships 7
4.3 Other funding opportunities 7

5 Organization 8
5.1 Propaedeutic studies 8
5.2 Dissertation 8
5.3 Clinical work 8

6 Host laboratory 9
6.1 Basics 9
6.2 Time frame 9

7 Matriculation and module booking 9

7.1 Matriculation 9
7.2 Module booking 9
7.3 Courses at ETH 10
7.4 Credit points gained outside UZH 10
7.5 Soft skills courses 10

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8 Life Science Graduate School 10

9 Lab rotations 10

10 Retreat 10

11 Transition into MSc Medical Biology program 11

12 Contacts and web links 11

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1 Requirements
The MD-PhD program enables medical students and graduates (in addition to their regular
degree in medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine) to gain a basic natural science ed-
ucation that allows them to conduct regular doctoral studies at the Faculty of Science at
UZH, without previously attaining an MSc degree in natural science. The program serves
as an entry point for medical students and graduates into the Life Science Zurich Graduate
School.
The MD-PhD program is oriented exclusively toward Master students and graduates of
degree courses in human medicine, veterinary medicine, or dentistry.

1.1 Track I
The Track I MD-PhD program is restricted to students who have earned at least a Bache-
lor’s degree in human medicine, veterinary medicine or dentistry at any Swiss university.
The propaedeutic studies are entered in parallel to the medical Master studies at UZH.
The PhD dissertation is conducted after earning the medical Master degree.
Track I applicants must have attained at least a 5.0 average during their Bachelor studies.

1.2 Track II
The Track II MD-PhD program is open to students who have earned at least a Master’s
degree or an equivalent degree in human medicine, veterinary medicine or dentistry. Both
propaedeutic studies and doctoral dissertation are conducted after attaining a medical
Master or an equivalent degree.
In general, we only accept candidates up to three years after completing their medical
degree.

1.3 Nationality
The MD-PhD program is open to students of all nationalities. Admission of applicants from
outside Europe is subject to the recognition of their degree by the Admission Office of
UZH. Residence and work permits are granted by the local authorities.
Students wishing to do clinical work during their MD-PhD studies are subject to the regu-
lations on medical professions. For more information, please contact the Federal Offices
of Public Health.

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2 Deadlines
2.1 Track I
For Track I students, there are no deadlines for acceptance into the propaedeutic studies.
For admission to the PhD, the Track II deadlines apply.

2.2 Track II
Start in the spring semester: 15 December
Start in the fall semester: 15 June
The interviews usually take place about one month after the deadline. The exact date will
be communicated upon submission of the application documents.

2.3 Track II for applicants from non-EU/EFTA countries

Students resident in non-EU/EFTA countries at the time of application need to organize
their entry into Switzerland (visa application). This process usually takes up to 3 months.
Therefore, these applicants are subject to the following deadlines:
Start in the spring semester: 15 June
Start in the fall semester: 15 December
The interviews usually take place about one month after the deadline. They can be con-
ducted via Skype.
The entry formalities can be initiated in collaboration with the host institute as soon as
the confirmation of acceptance has been issued.

3 Application
3.1 Track I
Track I students are accepted to the propaedeutic studies after an advisory discussion with
Prof. Adriano Aguzzi. Project presentation/full acceptance (see below) usually takes place
during their last year of medical school.
For detailed information, please refer to the German version of the guidelines.

3.2 Track II
Step 1: Finding a host laboratory
Candidates must find a suitable thesis project, host laboratory and a supervisor who
agrees to supervise their PhD thesis and provide funding. The host laboratory must be
affiliated to Life Science Zurich. (see section 6)

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 Step 2: Advisory discussion with Prof. Aguzzi (chairman of the MD-PhD steering commit-
tee)
Contact: MD-PhD Coordinator - Jacqueline Wiedler, email: [email protected]
Step 3: Application
The following documents must be submitted to the MD-PhD committee (web upload):
• CV
• Copies of diplomas and grades
• Motivation letter/career plan (1 page)
• Brief outline of PhD project (ca. 5 pages)
• Confirmation of supervisor
Deadlines: See 2.2
Step 4: Project presentation
Presentation of the proposed MD-PhD project and interview by the MD-PhD steering com-
mittee.
If passed: Acceptance into the program.
The MD-PhD program requires a confirmation of the host lab that the salary for the stu-
dents is secured for a minimum duration of the thesis of 3 years.

3.3 Repetition
Rejected candidates will not be permitted to apply again.

3.4 Life Science Graduate School

Upon acceptance into the MD-PhD program, candidates are fully recognized PhD students
of the Life Science Zurich Graduate School. They join one of the existing schools for their
PhD without any further interviews or exams and conduct their continuing education dur-
ing their thesis according to the requirements of the respective schools (see section 9).

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4 Funding
4.1 General remarks

4.1.1 Track 1
There are no possibilities to apply for financial support during the propaedeutic studies in
the framework of Track 1.

4.1.2 Track II
For the duration of the PhD dissertation (3 years minimum), the host lab must provide a
salary which must correspond to the SNSF rates for doctoral students. In addition, stu-
dents may engage in clinical work up to an employment level of 20% (see 5.3; salary to be
negotiated according to rules for clinical work).

4.2 Scholarships
Candidates who wish to apply for a national MD-PhD scholarship need to be resident in
Switzerland for a minimum of 2 years before being eligible to apply. UZH candidates are
selected by the Interfaculty MD-PhD Committee (IMPK). The awarding procedure is coor-
dinated by the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences SAMW.
Application deadline: 15 December
Candidates who wish to apply for a national scholarship must do so at the beginning of
their MD-PhD studies. It is not possible to apply for a scholarship 1-2 years into the pro-
gram.
Furthermore, it is not possible to apply more than once. Students who are accepted into
the MD-PhD program, but not recommended for a scholarship, may not apply for a schol-
arship again in the following year.
Further information: https://www.samw.ch/en/Funding/MD-PhD-Program.html

4.3 Other funding opportunities

The website of the Medical Faculty lists a number of organizations offering funding op-
portunities in the medical and life sciences.
https://www.med.uzh.ch/de/StiftungenundPreise.html

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5 Organization
5.1 Propaedeutic studies
In the framework of the propaedeutic studies, students must gain a minimum of 35 ECTS
credit points. This is equivalent to 6 months (fulltime). Further information as well as a
selection of mandatory and recommended courses and lectures can be obtained from the
program website (pdf document “propaedeutic studies“).
Students who wish to attend courses or lectures that are not included in the above men-
tioned selection must notify the program coordinator beforehand.
A list of the credit points gained in the framework of the propaedeutic studies must be
handed in with the application for the thesis defense. The form can be downloaded from
the MD-PhD website (“List of credit points”) and must be sent to the MD-PhD coordinator
for approval.

5.1.1 Track I
Please refer to the German version of the guidelines.

5.1.2 Track II
It is advisable to attend the courses and lectures of the propaedeutic studies during the
first year of the MD-PhD program.
It is possible to have previously gained credit points recognized towards the propaedeutic
studies. Please contact the program coordinator.

5.2 Dissertation
Regarding the completion of the PhD dissertation and graduation, MD-PhD students are
subject to the regulations applying to all PhD students of the Faculty of Science (and the
respective PhD program/graduate school).
Regulations, forms and further information can be obtained from the website of the Fac-
ulty of Science.
https://www.mnf.uzh.ch/en/studium/phd/programme.html

5.3 Clinical work

MD-PhD students may engage in clinical work (up to an employment level of 20%) along-
side their PhD dissertation.

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6 Host laboratory
6.1 Basics
Candidates must find a host laboratory/supervisor on their own initiative; the MD-PhD
committee does not give any assistance. The host laboratory must be affiliated to the Life
Science Graduate School.
Research groups can be found by way of the Life Science Graduate School website (PhD
programs -> select the individual programs -> Research Groups).
https://www.lifescience-graduateschool.uzh.ch/en/about-LSZGS/phd-programs.html
Please note that the MD-PhD program is not a self-contained PhD program; you must find
your supervisor in one of the regular PhD programs (Cancer Biology, MLS, ...).

6.2 Time frame

6.2.1 Track I
Please refer to the German version of the guidelines.

6.2.2 Track II
Track II candidates need to select a host lab prior to their advisory discussion with Prof.
Adriano Aguzzi.

7 Matriculation and module booking

7.1 Matriculation

7.1.1 Track I
Please refer to the German version of the guidelines.

7.1.2 Track II
Track II students must be matriculated as PhD students at the Faculty of Science at UZH.
Further information: https://www.uzh.ch/en/studies/application/doctoralstudies.html
(see 1b „PhD programs/graduate schools“)

7.2 Module booking

Information about module booking can be obtained from the UZH website:
https://www.students.uzh.ch/en/booking.html
Further information and deadlines for biology block courses:
https://www.uzh.ch/zoolmed/ssl-dir/Blockkurse_UNIETH.php

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7.3 Courses at ETH
In order to attend modules at ETHZ, students need to register as a “special student”:
https://www.ethz.ch/en/studies/non-degree-courses/special-students.html

7.4 Credit points gained outside UZH

Credit points that do not automatically appear in the Summary of Credits (ETH modules,
LTK1, etc.) can be added manually. Please send a copy of the course certificate to the MD-
PhD coordinator (Jacqueline Wiedler).

7.5 Soft skills courses

Students may account up to a maximum of 4 ECTS credit points gained with soft skill
courses towards the 35 points. Please note that soft skill courses are also offered in the
framework of the PhD programs/graduate school and accountable towards the 12 ECTS
that have to be acquired there (see sections 5.2 and 8).

8 Life Science Graduate School

All students accepted to the MD-PhD program must join one of the PhD programs/gradu-
ate schools of the Life Science Graduate School. In order to join the program of their
choice (to be discussed with supervisor), they do not need to go through any additional
application processes or interviews. They need, however, to fulfill all the requirements of
their chosen program (retreats, courses).

9 Lab rotations
Candidates who do not have any wet lab experience are strongly advised to engage in at
least one lab rotation prior to joining the MD-PhD program. This mainly applies to Track I
candidates. For more detailed information, please refer to the German version of the
guidelines.

10 Retreat
The annual MD-PhD retreat is sponsored by the program and organized by the students.
MD-PhD students are required to attend the retreat twice during their studies. Participa-
tion in the organizing activities is awarded with 1 ECTS credit point, which is counted to-
wards the soft skills points.

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11 Transition into MSc Medical Biology program
The propaedeutic studies of the MD-PhD and the MSc Medical Biology programs are iden-
tical. This allows students to transfer from one program into the other.
Students wishing to transfer from the MD-PhD to the MSc Medical Biology program must
notify the MD-PhD coordinator no later than 12 months after entering the MD-PhD pro-
gram by submitting a written request.

12 Contacts and web links

MD-PhD program coordination
Interfaculty MD-PhD committee (IMPK)
Prof. Dr. Adriano Aguzzi, chairman
Jacqueline Wiedler, coordinator
Institute of Neuropathology
Schmelzbergstrasse 12, 8091 Zürich
Phone +41 44 255 85 38
[email protected]
https://www.med.uzh.ch/en/doctoralprograms/MDPhD.html

Admission (international students)

University of Zurich
Admissions Office
Rämistrasse 71
8006 Zürich
Phone +41 44 634 22 36

https://www.students.uzh.ch/de/administration/email.html

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Life Science Graduate School
Life Science Zurich Graduate School
Dr. Susanna Bachmann
Institute of Molecular Life Sciences
University of Zurich
Winterthurerstr. 190
8057 Zürich
[email protected]
https://www.lifescience-graduateschool.uzh.ch/en/about-LSZGS/phd-programs.html

Faculty of Science: Office of Student Affairs

Cornelia Schmid
Doctoral Studies
phone +41 44 635 40 08
Fax +41 44 635 54 95
[email protected]

MD-PhD Students Association

http://www.swiss-mdphd.ch/

Course catalogues
UZH:
https://studentservices.uzh.ch/uzh/anonym/vvz/index.html?sap-language=EN&sap-ui-
language=EN
ETHZ:
http://www.vvz.ethz.ch/Vorlesungsverzeichnis/sucheLehrangebotPre.do?lang=en

Scholarship SAMW/SNF
https://www.samw.ch/de/Foerderung/MD-PhD-Programm.html

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