Funding and Fellowships

The MSTP provides financial subsidy throughout the dual-degree training pathway. Students are fully funded during the first two years of medical school (M1–M2) through institutional MSTP support, which covers tuition, stipend, and health insurance. After completing Step 1, Phase 1 requirements, and declaring a dissertation mentor and Multidisciplinary Training Area (MTA), students transition into the PhD phase.

During the first two years of MD-PhD training, students are supported by the MSTP through institutional funds and T32 training grants. Students entering the PhD phase are strongly encouraged to apply for individual NIH F30 predoctoral fellowships. An F30 award can provide additional funding and valuable grant-writing experience. Students should be aware that combined NIH predoctoral training support (T32 plus F30 or F31) is generally limited to six years. Institute-specific rules may vary, so students are encouraged to reach out to NIH program officers early for guidance on eligibility and timing.

During the PhD phase, primary funding responsibility shifts to the research mentor (see Funding Package and Direct Compensation). Mentors are required to ensure funding for their MSTP students as a condition of the MSTP Mentor-Mentee Compact. Support typically comes from the mentor’s research grants, institutional training grants (e.g., T32 programs), or individual fellowships (e.g., F30, F31 awards). Students are encouraged and mentored to apply for competitive external fellowships, and successful applicants receive additional recognition and support.

Additional Funds Upon Receipt of External Fellowships

• Students who apply for and receive an NIH “F” grant, or who receive a federal or non-federal fellowship of comparable stature (e.g. AHA, HHMI, , will receive from the Graduate School an additional $2,000 annually, for the period the award is in effect.

• Research mentors are encouraged to match this $2,000 with an additional $2,000 if lab funding allows. (Matching funds from research mentors must come from a funding source that permits such payments.)

• Students who receive such fellowships should email the Graduate School at [e-mail] to request such payment, attaching the notification of the award and cc-ing their faculty research mentor.

After successful completion and defense of the PhD, students re-enter the clinical training phases of the MD curriculum (Phase 2/Phase 3), at which point financial support reverts to institutional funding.