The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) is partnering with Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to offer a MD-PhD Dual Degree programme.

The postgraduate medical degree will be awarded by SRIHER and a PhD degree by the Department of Medical Sciences and Technology of IIT-M. This partnership will concentrate on core clinical, interdisciplinary, and translational research.  

A MoU towards this Dual Degree programme was signed by Dr Uma Sekar, Vice Chancellor, SRIHER and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT-M.

IIT Madras in May 2023 had launched the Department of Medical Sciences and Technology, which will offer a four-year B.S. programme in medical sciences and engineering. This course will be a first-of-its-kind in India.

The objective of MD-PhD Dual Degree Programme is to produce well-trained research scientists who will lead India’s quest for self-sufficiency in the field of medicine and health. The programme will be operational from the next academic year.

The postgraduates admitted to SRIHER through NEET and desirous of doing PhD will apply for the PhD programme at the end of the second year to the Department of Medical Sciences and Technology at IIT-M. The Department of Medical Sciences and Technology will follow established procedure to select candidates to pursue the PhD programme. 

Once selected, IIT-M will issue them a pre-PhD offer and they will be eligible to register after their degree in SRIHER. Such candidates will be mentored by IIT-M faculty and a SRIHER faculty during their third year at SRIHER.