Medical Scientist Training Program

Curriculum

The Medical Scientist Training Program curriculum consists of 415.5 credits or more and is designed to be completed in 23 semesters. Below is the standard plan of study outlining the structured progression of coursework as you advance through the program.

Year 1, Fall

Year 1, Spring

Year 1, Summer

Year 2, Fall

Year 2, Spring

Year 2, Summer

Year 3, Fall

Year 3, Spring

Year 3, Summer

Year 4, Fall

Year 4, Spring

Year 4, Summer

Year 5, Fall

Year 5, Spring

Year 5, Summer

Year 6, Fall

Year 6, Spring

Year 6, Summer

Year 7, Fall

Year 7, Spring

Year 7, Summer

Year 8, Fall

Year 8, Spring

Clinical Experience

MSTP students complete the full M.D. curriculum alongside their medical classmates, gaining broad and immersive clinical training across foundational and advanced experiences. Clinical exposure begins early and continues throughout the program to ensure strong continuity between patient care and research training. Students engage with diverse patient populations and clinical environments that help shape meaningful research questions grounded in real-world health challenges. This sustained clinical engagement reinforces professional identity, sharpens clinical reasoning, and strengthens the ability to translate discovery into improved care.

Research Experience

Research training is the centerpiece of the MSTP experience. Students explore research areas early through rotations before committing to focused doctoral training guided by accomplished faculty mentors. The program supports deep laboratory immersion, rigorous graduate coursework, and exposure to translational research environments that connect science to human health. Through sustained investigation, scholarly dissemination, and close mentorship, trainees develop the skills needed for independent research careers and future leadership within the biomedical research enterprise supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Application Process

Each year, the MUSC Medical Scientist Training Program receives hundreds of applications. Applicants must apply through the American Medical College Application Service known as AMCAS. The MSTP Admissions Committee holistically reviews candidates based on their experiences, attributes, and academic metrics and invites candidates to interview from October to January.

Primary AMCAS Application

To apply to the MUSC Medical Scientist Training Program, applicants must first apply through AMCAS, the American Medical College Application Service. The AMCAS application will take approximately 4 to 6 weeks for verification.

Secondary Application

To receive an invitation to complete the online MUSC secondary application, applicants must meet all minimum requirements under the MCAT Score, Grade Point Average, and Residency/Citizenship. When the verified AMCAS application is received, qualified applicants will be emailed an invitation to complete the secondary application. Applicants should check their spam folder for any MUSC email communications. The secondary application fee is waived on a case-by-case basis. Requests can be sent to lesterd@musc.edu for consideration. Applicants must include a copy of your AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP) waiver in order to be considered.

The MUSC secondary application is a requirement for all MUSC applicants regardless of program or degree. Applicants are expected to submit essay responses to questions as well as upload a copy of their CV.

Interview Process

Interviews allow applicants to meet with members of the MSTP Admissions Committee, COM Admissions Committee, and faculty of their choosing and give them a better understanding of their interests, experiences, motivation, and capacity to be a physician scientist.

For the current Admissions cycle, the interview process will be held virtually on select dates from October through January.

Application Deadlines

Fees

Application Requirements

1. AMCAS Application: The following materials must be submitted through the AMCAS application. Applicants do not need to send any of the following information directly to MUSC.
   • Letters of recommendation: All applicants should submit three to five references from individuals who know the applicant well enough to comment on their education and research potential. These letters should come from prior or current research mentors, instructors, physicians, or employers. We will also accept a committee packet with three separate letters from their college pre-med advisory committee. Non-traditional students who have been away from college for a number of years can substitute an employer for one of the faculty letters.
2. Supplemental Application: All applicants must submit the MUSC Supplemental Application.

Applicants must select the M.D./Ph.D. program type on their application. This application will permit the applicant to submit essays describing their interest in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program. Applicants should instruct AMCAS to forward their AMCAS application to MUSC.

International Applicants

MUSC's Medical Scientist Training Program is unable to accept international applicants. Applications are only accepted from U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents.

Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance, or COA, estimates the total educational expenses for an enrollment period. The information below reflects the 2026-27 academic year. The COA includes direct costs, such as tuition and fees, billed by the university, as well as indirect costs you may need to plan for, including housing, food, transportation, books and other personal expenses.

For MSTP students, the COA does not reflect what you should expect to pay out of pocket. Tuition, health insurance and a stipend are generally provided as part of the student's funding package. Instead, the COA helps determine the maximum amount a student may borrow in an academic year and supports funding-related determinations, such as grants, scholarships, loans and others.

Your actual expenses may be lower than the COA, especially with careful budgeting. MUSC's Office of Student Financial Literacy can help you create a budget that supports your education, personal needs and long-term financial goals.

Scholarships & Aid

MUSC offers scholarships for which you may be eligible. Some are awarded based on academic achievement; others are awarded based on community service, for example. However, the majority of scholarships awarded at MUSC are based on financial need. This means that these scholarships are only awarded to students who need some financial assistance to cover the cost of tuition and fees. If you would like to be considered for a financial need-based scholarship, you must have an up-to-date Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file. Make sure you list the Medical University of South Carolina on your FAFSA form, along with MUSC's code: 003438. We encourage you to submit your FAFSA as early as possible. It is recommended to submit your FAFSA in January if you plan to enroll in the fall.

Annual Stipend

Applicants who are accepted to the MSTP and maintain academic requirements generally receive full tuition, health insurance and stipend support throughout their training. The annual stipend rate is $39,000, effective July 1, 2026.

Competencies

Upon completion of the MSTP program, graduates should be able to:

• Formulate significant research questions and hypotheses grounded in scientific literature and clinical observation
• Design and implement rigorous experimental and analytical approaches appropriate to biomedical, translational, or clinical research
• Analyze, interpret, and synthesize complex scientific and clinical data using appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods
• Disseminate research findings effectively through peer-reviewed publications, scientific presentations, and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Apply foundational and advanced medical knowledge to deliver evidence-informed, patient-centered care
• Integrate clinical insight with scientific reasoning to inform translational research and improve health outcomes
• Lead and collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary teams, fostering inclusive, ethical, and productive research and clinical environments
• Communicate complex scientific and clinical concepts clearly and professionally to patients, trainees, colleagues, and diverse stakeholders

Vision

To develop physician-scientists who integrate rigorous biomedical research with medical practice to advance discovery, translate science into improved health outcomes, and lead ethically within academic medicine.

Values

At the core of our program, we are guided by a commitment to the following values that drive our mission:

• Compassion: We act with kindness, empathy, and dignity.
• Collaboration: We achieve common goals through teamwork and partnerships.
• Innovation: We drive transformation by embracing new ideas, discoveries, and practices.
• Integrity: We do the right thing and commit to accountability in words, actions, and use of resources.
• Respect: We value everyone and their many perspectives to build trust and a sense of belonging.

Mission

To train the future generation of physician-scientists and leaders in academic medicine.