Application

Applicants must hold a university Master’s degree in Medicine, Biology, or Psychology. Further eligible qualifications are defined in the Doctoral Program Regulations.

Important Note: Simultaneous enrollment in the general doctorate (Dr. med.) and the PhD Program Clinical Science is not permitted. If you are nearing completion of your Dr. med. studies at the time of application, please state this explicitly in your application.

Recognition of Medical Degrees (MEBEKO): Foreign medical degrees must be recognized by the responsible authority if required for the specific PhD position. The recognition process is handled by the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG).

Please ensure your application includes the following required documents:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Academic Certificates (Master’s degree or equivalent)
• Letter of Motivation
• Contact details of two Referees

Submission: All applications must be submitted exclusively via the Life Science Zurich Graduate School Join portal.

Application Tracks

The program offers two distinct entry pathways:

• Applicants currently seeking a PhD position are required to apply via Track 1. PhD positions are typically advertised competitively via jobs.uzh.ch. All applications are screened for suitability regarding specific open projects.
• Applicants with a confirmed supervisor and a secured position are required to apply via Track 2.

Application Deadline

Fall Semester Intake: 1 May
Spring Semester Intake: 1 November

Selection Procedure

Applications are reviewed based on the admission requirements and the candidate's profile. Successful applicants will be invited to an interview, conducted in English, by a member of the Program Committee. You can monitor your application status at any time via the Join portal.

Interview: The Admissions Committee evaluates each candidate’s academic qualifications, research motivation, and professional goals.

For Track 1: The Principal Investigator (PI) offering the PhD position will participate in the interview and holds the final decision authority.
For Track 2: The focus lies on the synergy between the candidate, the project, and the program requirements.

Final Admission & Enrollment

Admission to the PhD Program Clinical Science is a prerequisite, but not the final step. To be officially enrolled, all admitted candidates must submit a formal application through the University of Zurich (UZH) Admissions Portal.

Required Documents: Please refer to the official checklist for doctoral students.

Note: We point out that UZH charges a fee for the formal processing of applications. 

Once you have received your official letter of admission from the University of Zurich, you can proceed with the matriculation.

Important: You must remain enrolled as a doctoral student for the entire duration of your studies until you have successfully completed the program.