Medical Sciences PhD

The Ph.D. in Medical Sciences prepares students with critical thinking and innovative technical skills to conduct basic science, clinical, translational and transformative research in order to solve important complex biomedical problems, and to pursue a career as an independent scientist in the rapidly expanding areas of medical sciences, required for future employment in academics, research institutes or industry. The Ph.D. in Medical Sciences provides advanced training in the primary areas of Basic Science, Clinical & Translational Science, and Medical Education. While students will work within areas of in-depth study that are driven by faculty research as outlined in detail below, they will be exposed to a rigorous and individualized multi-disciplinary education that will prepare them to integrate information from multiple domains and conduct independent and team-oriented research to improve knowledge in biomedical sciences, as well as human and global health.

 

GENERAL OBJECTIVES:

• Promote scientific inquiry in medical sciences
• Develop leaders in medical science inquiry who can influence policy and practice in medical science
• Develop regional research capacity and competencies to enable knowledge generation to ensure that health research is aligned to national and international health needs
• Strengthen the research potential of Cyprus in the field of medical science
• Strengthen the implementation of medical science actions (basic and clinical research) in Cyprus
• Contribution and reinforcement of the research culture in the medical sciences.

 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

 

• Develop medical scientists and researchers who can identify a research problem and develop an appropriate study design
• Develop medical scientists and researchers who can conduct a critical review of the scientific literature and critically assess current trends in biomedical science
• Develop medical scientists and researchers who can design, implement and manage an original research project, analyze data and interpret scientific findings
• Develop skills for the communication of findings to scientific communities, stakeholders and the general public through publications in international peer-reviewed journals or scientific fora
• Acquire foundation of science and principles of knowledge acquisition in medical and health research
• Build and manage professional networks.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of the program, students are expected to be able to:

• Recognize the diversity of research approaches and methods relevant to medical research, as well as the forms and principles of research innovation
• Identify the strengths and weaknesses of their own research design, methods and challenges within the field
• Recognize the ethical dilemmas and principles within medical research and be aware of the relevant legislation
• Apply principles for convergence and interdisciplinarity in medical science research
• Identify and develop innovative, original research questions
• Demonstrate original, independent and critical thinking
• Reflect on and discuss ethical and epistemological dilemmas in research
• Read and critically assess the breadth of research literature in medical science
• Compose, organize and manage scientific work of different types and forms in the field of medical science
• Organise and compose systematic reviews of contemporary research issues in the field of basic and/or clinical medical science
• Recognize, analyse and describe the advanced quantitative and qualitative research approaches and the application they have in various research problems
• Explain, interpret and document research data with advanced statistical methods and describe the results obtained from them
• Compose and present scientific publications in basic and/or clinical medical science
• Evaluate, examine, reformulate the use and application of best practices in clinical questions or issues in basic and clinical medical science
• Present with sufficiency, support, discuss and document publicly their research results, conclusions and proposals.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

With the acquisition of their Doctoral Degree, graduates of the program will have the possibility of claiming academic positions in academic institutions domestic and/or abroad, working in research centres or claiming, managing and implementing autonomous research programmes. They may also work as consultants or experts in various companies or organizations of private or public interest and generally undertake the provision of high-quality services in medical science.

Doctoral candidates of the Ph.D. program in Medical Science will be given priority for partial or full employment in externally funded research programs of faculty members of the School of Medicine based on their research interests and/or specialization for the Ph.D. for which they have been accepted. The aim will be to acquire research experience and develop their research skills in the fields of their research interests.

During their studies in the Ph.D. program in Medical Science and depending on the needs of the School that arise, doctoral candidates may be employed for two (2) or more semesters as scientific collaborators, clinical trainers, or as laboratory assistants in the School of Medicine. Based on their qualifications and previous experience they will undertake (under the supervision of faculty members-instructors), laboratory or consultative tasks in undergraduate and/or postgraduate courses of the School of Medicine with the aim of acquiring teaching experience in academic environment.

SPECIFIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Applications for admission to the Ph.D. in Medical Sciences are accepted from individuals with a Medical Degree (M.D.) and/or Dental Degree and/or a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline.

The School, after examining the content/discipline of previous academic studies, in association to the area of specialization of the proposed “Program”, and the possible research area/discipline, reserves the right to request that applicants take specified postgraduate courses and/or pass specified appraisals prior to admission.

All candidates will be invited to an interview.

 

TABLE 1: STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM OF STUDY

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS	ECTS
All students pursuing the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in “Medical Sciences” program, must complete the following requirements:
PMS700 Methods in Basic Science and Clinical Research	10
PMS710 Statistics in Medical Research, Data Analysis and Interpretation	10
PMS720 Research Ethics and Scientific Writing	10
Comprehensive Qualifying Examination	10
Preparation and Submission of a Dissertation Proposal	20
Ph.D. Fieldwork	90
Ph.D. Dissertation	30
Total Requirements	180

“Medical Sciences (3 Years/180 ECTS, PhD)”

 

TABLE 2: COURSE DISTRIBUTION PER SEMESTER

Α/Α		Course Type	Course Name	Course Code	Periods per week	Period duration	Number of weeks/ Academic semester	Total periods/ Academic semester		Number of ECTS
Semester 1
1.		Requirement	Methods in Basic Science and Clinical Research	PMS700	3	50	14	42		10
2.		Requirement	Statistics in Medical Research, Data Analysis and Interpretation	PMS710	3	50	14	42		10
3.		Requirement	Research Ethics and Scientific Writing	PMS720	3	50	14	42		10
Semester 2
1		Requirement	Comprehensive Qualifying Examination	Ν/Α	Ν/Α	Ν/Α	Ν/Α	Ν/Α		10
2		Requirement	Preparation and Submission of a Dissertation Proposal	Ν/Α	Ν/Α	Ν/Α	Ν/Α	Ν/Α		20
Semester 3,4 & 5
1		Ph.D. Fieldwork		Ν/Α	Ν/Α	Ν/Α	Ν/Α	Ν/Α		90
Semester 6
1	Ph.D. Dissertation			Ν/Α	Ν/Α	Ν/Α	Ν/Α		Ν/Α		30