Fellow Highlights and News

Eligibility Guide for MD/PhD PD Soros Applicants

June 4, 2025

If you’re in an MD/PhD program and unsure about when you can apply to the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, you’re not alone—we’re here to break it down. 

The information below assumes a typical MD/PhD timeline: years 1 & 2 MD, years 3-5 PhD, and years 6-7 MD. 

Treating MD and PhD as Separate Degrees

At the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, we treat the MD and PhD as separate degrees. As a result, eligibility is based on your current stage in each program—not your overall standing in the combined MD/PhD program. 

So, When Can You Apply?

You are eligible to apply when applying to the MD/PhD program or within the first two years of each degree program:

• MD Portion: When you’re applying to the MD/PhD program or during your first and second years of medical school, you’re eligible to apply just like any other MD student at that level.
  • In the final year of your PhD, you could apply for the Fellowship to cover your 3^rd and 4^th years of medical school.
• PhD Portion: Once you transition into your PhD training, you’re again eligible to apply during your first two years of the PhD program.
  • In the second year of your MD or in the first 2 years of your PhD training, you are again eligible to apply for funding directed towards your PhD. You are eligible as long as you have not started the third year of the specific degree you are seeking funding for by our application deadline.

A Quick Example

Let’s say you start your MD/PhD in Fall 2025:

• Fall 2025 – Fall 2026: First two years of the MD phase – Eligible to apply.
  • If you apply in Fall 2026, the Fellowship would apply to your first year of the PhD program.
• Fall 2027 – Fall 2028: First two years of the PhD phase – Eligible to apply.
• Fall 2029: Third year of your PhD phase but because you are not yet in your third year of your MD program, and that will be the program you are pursuing in the Fall of 2030 when the Fellowship begins, you would be eligible to apply. – Eligible to apply.
  • If you apply in Fall 2029, the Fellowship would apply to the last 2 years of your MD program.
• Fall 2030: At this point you have started the third year of both the MD and the PhD so you would not be eligible to apply. 

Applying While in the Application Process

Even if you’re in the process of applying to your MD/PhD program, you can still apply for our Fellowship. However, you must be enrolled full-time in the MD/PhD program by the time the Fellowship cohort you applied for begins in order to maintain eligibility. For example, if you’re applying to MD/PhD programs while also applying for the 2026 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship, you will need to be accepted and begin the program by Fall 2026 (when the 2026 Fellowship funding begins). 

Still Have Questions?

We understand that MD/PhD timelines are a bit more complex than traditional academic paths, which is why we’ve structured our eligibility criteria to reflect that. If you’re unsure about your eligibility or which year of each program you’re in officially, don’t hesitate to reach out to your program director or contact us directly at [email protected]—we’re happy to help!