- Focuses on research related to clinical settings, public health, medical treatments, or biomedical sciences.
- Students typically have a background in medical or biomedical sciences.
- Prepares graduates for research careers in academia, healthcare institutions, pharmaceutical companies, government organizations, etc.
- In the US, it involves coursework, research, dissertation, and defense.
Regular Ph.D.
- Covers diverse fields of study across various academic disciplines (excluding those in the medical domain).
- Students come from various backgrounds such as humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, etc.
- Prepares graduates for research and teaching positions in universities, research institutes, think tanks, private industries, etc.
- Includes similar requirements of coursework, research, dissertation, and defense.
Key Differences:
- Medical Ph.D. focuses on the medical field, while a regular Ph.D. explores diverse non-medical subjects.
- The background and qualifications of those pursuing each degree vary accordingly.
- Graduates have specific career opportunities aligned with their respective degree's research field.