SAMW/ASSM Swiss National MD-PhD Fellowships Program

MD-PhD fellowships enable talented young physicians to complete a doctoral research training in natural sciences, public health sciences, clinical research or biomedical ethics. At EPFL, applicants must be matriculated at the School of Life Sciences.

Funding: Grantee’s salary (SNSF rate) & employer’s social security contributions. Note that research costs must be covered by the institution.
Duration: Swiss National MD-PhD Fellowships are awarded for a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 3 years. Note that funding for a 4th salary year after expiration of the grant if necessary to complete the MD-PhD, must be guaranteed by the host institution.

Call 2026
Submission deadline: 15 May 2026
Interviews in Bern: 1 October 2026 (upon invitation)
Earliest start of the grant: 1 January 2027
Latest start of the grant: 1 January 2028 (provided that the personal and formal requirements are still fulfilled)
 
Submission of applications
Details available on the registration page.

Participation requirements
Applicants must have successfully completed their studies in human, veterinary or dental medicine and be admitted as doctoral students in one of the local MD-PhD programs of a Swiss university associated with the national program by the time of the grant start.
 They must have obtained their medical degree (Swiss state examination or equivalent degree) generally shortly before and no more than 5 years before the submission deadline.
Eligibility window: Time window of 4 years starting from the date of matriculation as MD-PhD student. This time window may be extended by a maximum of 1 year in justified cases.
Complete participation requirements, reasons to request an extension of the eligibility window and evaluation criteria are described in the program regulations.

Time commitment: Grantees must devote at least 80% of a full-time employment to their MD-PhD project. For clinically-oriented projects, grantees who have clinical duties next to their research activities can request to devote a lower work quota – but at least 60% of a full-time employment – to their MD-PhD project. The maximum duration of the fellowship remains unchanged.
 
For more information:
Swiss National MD-PhD Fellowships Program regulations
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) 
Online registration page
National MD-PhD Evaluation Committee
Synopsis of grantees