phd medical science toronto

School of Graduate Studies

Medical science, program overview.

The Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy programs in Medical Science are available in a wide range of basic sciences, clinical sciences, and population health research. Under the mentorship of a faculty member, a student receives specialized training and exposure to Toronto’s finest multidisciplinary research. Students conduct research in one of six fields:

• Biomedical Science
• Clinical Science
• Health Professions Education
• Population Health/Health Services
• Radiation Oncology

The full-time MSc and PhD programs emphasize hands-on research, rather than coursework. The Institute of Medical Science (IMS) is the graduate unit of choice for MDs seeking training as clinician investigators, and graduates may seek positions as academics and health-care professionals in universities, government, and industry. The IMS participates in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Clinical Investigator Program (CIP).

Students may also be interested in the combined degree program in  Medicine, Doctor of / Doctor of Philosophy (MD/PhD) .

See video: Explore Graduate Programs at the Faculty of Medicine

Quick Facts

“Creativity emerges from following your passions and daring to wonder how things might be connected.”

MD/PhD Program

Our MD/PhD Program, the largest national program of its kind, trains and mentors the next generation of clinician scientists.

Clinician scientists are trained as medical doctors and scientists. They are in the unique position of pursuing both scientific research and clinical practice, translating academic excellence into health care excellence for Canadians every day. Our program attracts the very best medical researchers to U of T PhD programs, and has produced successive generations of innovative health leaders. Through collaborative and interdisciplinary research, we are advancing medicine and improving health around the world.

Ask an MD/PhD student

The MD/PhD Program trains physician scientists who are well prepared for both research and clinical practice, highly competitive and productive. Learn More

You may apply for admission into the MD/PhD Program at the same time as your MD application, or during your first year of medical school at U of T. Learn More

Research Training Opportunities

We have a wide array of research training opportunities available.

The IMS has grown to become the largest graduate unit in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, with over 600 faculty and 500 graduate students, and more than 90 graduate courses.

The IMS has played a major role in the development of academic medicine at UofT. Many outstanding clinician scientists, clinician investigators and basic scientists have been trained through our doctoral stream programs.

The IMS aims to provide:

• An enriched graduate culture with emphasis on scholarship in translational medical research;
• Advanced research training for both physician and non-physician graduate trainees leading to MSc and PhD degrees;
• Advanced training in IMS graduate professional programs.

Why choose IMS?

Doctoral Program

Information on our doctoral programs, degree requirements, timelines and exams

Collaborative Specializations

Further specialize your degree with a CS

Summer Undergraduate Research Program

For undergraduate B.Sc. and medical students (without a graduate degree).

Biomedical Communications Program

Our two-year professional master's program

Graduate Diploma in Health Research

For University of Toronto medical students

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Medical Science

Msc & phd.

The Institute of Medical Science (IMS) offers stimulating, research-intensive MSc and PhD programs in one of four areas of research: basic sciences, clinical sciences, health systems and services, and population health research. Each stream offers a variety of multidisciplinary studies in fields such as cardiovascular sciences, neuroscience, bioethics, stem cell biology, respiratory medicine, transplantation, and psychiatric and brain health. This breadth is also reflected in our elective courses - from neuroanatomy to regenerative medicine and cardiovascular science.

Our programs are full-time and offer an immersive graduate training experience. We specialize in multidisciplinary translational research with bench-to-bedside clinical applications. Under the mentorship of one of our world-renowned faculty, IMS students receive specialized graduate training and exposure to Toronto’s finest cutting-edge biomedical research. Students can also participate in numerous Graduate Collaborative Specializations that provide more opportunities to develop multidisciplinary research skills and collaborations.

Our Programs

Master of Science (MSc)

In addition to completing a thesis, students take 2.0 FCE*:

• MSC 1010H (MSc Seminars in Translational Research, 1.0 FCE)
• modular courses (two courses at 0.25 FCE each)
• elective course (1.0 FCE)

Students successfully finish this program in 2 years.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

In addition to conducting independent and original research that will form their thesis, students complete 2.0 FCE:

• MSC 1011H (PhD Seminar Series in Translational Research, 0.5 FCE)
• modular courses (0.25 FCE each)**
• elective (1.0 FCE)

Typically, students successfully complete this program in 5 years.

Alumni Profile

Alaa Youssef, PhD

During my graduate training I developed many transferrable skills such as gathering evidence, problem-solving, team work and most importantly, communicating and learning from others.

In my work today, I apply these skills by studying organizational readiness to implement and use artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare to promote diagnostic excellence in patient care.

My advice to all prospective students is to enjoy your graduate training in all its highs and lows. Get to know your lab, mentors and research team very well. Most importantly, try to engage and meet other people, push yourself out of your comfort zone by building connections and seeking advice when needed; you will be surprised by how inspiring and illuminating people’s research and career journeys can be.

Potential Career Paths

In 2022, the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) tracked the career outcomes of  5,128 PhD students  who graduated from the University of Toronto between 2016 to 2021. The data below is from 259 medical science PhD graduates.

Some examples of the positions our medical science graduates held included:

• Postdoctoral fellowships
• Hospital-based jobs
• Tenure-stream faculty

Some examples of employers for whom our medical science graduates worked included:

• The University of Toronto
• University Health Network
• The Hospital for Sick Children
• St. Michael's Hospital

The chart below shows a percentage breakdown of the various sectors in which our medical science PhD graduates worked at the time the survey occurred.

Main Employment Sectors of Medical Science PhD Graduates

By the numbers, institute of medical science.

*Full course equivalent. A typical 0.5 FCE is over one term (13 weeks), meeting 1-2 times per week. A typical 1.0 FCE is over two terms (26 weeks), meeting 1-2 times per week.

** For full details, please refer to the Institute of Medical Sciences degree requirements webpage.

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Medical science: medical science phd.

The PhD program is available in a wide range of basic sciences, clinical sciences, and population health research. Under the mentorship of a faculty member, a student receives specialized training and exposure to Toronto's finest multidisciplinary research. Students conduct research in one of six fields: Bioethics; Biomedical Science; Clinical Science; Health Professions Education; Population Health/Health Services; and Radiation Oncology.

The program emphasizes hands-on research, rather than coursework. Faculty conduct research in the following areas: cardiovascular sciences, bioethics, neuroscience, membrane biology, respiratory medicine, and psychosomatic medicine. The Institute of Medical Science (IMS) is the graduate unit of choice for undergraduates and MDs seeking training as clinician investigators, and graduates may seek positions as academics and health-care professionals in universities, government, and industry. IMS participates in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Clinical Investigator Program (CIP).

Applicants may enter the PhD program via one of three routes: 1) following completion of a two-year, thesis-based MSc degree with a defended MSc thesis; 2) transfer from the IMS MSc program; or 3) direct entry following completion of an appropriate BSc or MD degree.

Completion of the PhD may take longer than the program length indicated below.

PhD Program

Minimum admission requirements.

Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Institute of Medical Science (IMS)'s additional admission requirements stated below.

Applicants whose primary language is not English, and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English, must demonstrate facility in the English language through the successful completion of one of the following English-language proficiency tests:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):

a minimum score of 600 on the paper-based test and 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE); or

a minimum score of 100 on the Internet-based test and 25 on the writing and speaking sections.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS): minimum overall score of 7.5 with at least 6.5 in each component.

Certificate of Proficiency in English (COPE): minimum total score of 86 with minimum writing score of 32, reading score of 22, and listening score of 22. Test of Oral Proficiency assessment band = 7.

Applicants may be accepted into the PhD program after completing a two-year, thesis-based MSc degree (with a defended MSc thesis) with at least an A– standing from a recognized university.

Completion Requirements

Coursework. Students must complete a minimum of 2.0 graduate full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

MSC1011H PhD Student Seminars in Translational Research .

Attendance at the Ori Rotstein Lecture*

Completing the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2) Ethics Certificate*

Presenting at IMS Scientific Day*

MSC modular courses (two courses worth 0.25 FCE each).

1.0 elective FCE.

Students may be required to take extra courses in addition to the degree requirements.

Students must pass a qualifying examination within 18 to 21 months of starting the program.

A research thesis must be submitted, and the student must pass an IMS departmental oral examination before proceeding to the Doctoral Final Oral Examination conducted by the School of Graduate Studies.

At the end of Year 3, students must have completed all program requirements exclusive of the thesis research in order to achieve candidacy.

In cases where a student's prior academic background may have covered any of the courses listed above, substitutions will be required. Such substitutions can include any courses in IMS. For courses taken outside of this graduate unit, students should consult with their Graduate Coordinator.

*Students who have completed these requirements previously as part of their conferred IMS master’s degree are exempt from these requirements.

PhD Program (Transfer)

Transfer requirements.

Applicants may be accepted into the PhD program via transfer from the University of Toronto MSc program. Outstanding students may be considered for reclassification/transfer into the PhD program without writing an MSc thesis.

Students must complete 3.0 graduate full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

MSC1010H MSc Student Seminars in Translational Research .

Attendance at the Ori Rotstein Lecture.

Completing the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2) Ethics Certificate.

Presenting at IMS Scientific Day.

1.0 elective FCE with a minimum A– average.

The student will be evaluated in an oral transfer examination within 18 to 21 months of initial graduate registration.

The successful applicant will enter the PhD program and complete:

MSC1011H PhD Student Seminars in Translational Research if credit for MSC1010H has not been obtained prior to transfer.

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

Students are accepted via direct entry into the PhD program after completing an appropriate BSc or an MD degree, without completing a two-year, thesis-based MSc degree.

Coursework. Students must complete a minimum of 3.0 graduate full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

2.0 elective FCEs.

At the end of Year 4, students must have completed all program requirements exclusive of the thesis research in order to achieve candidacy.

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