Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Science
Sunway College Johor Bahru · Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Medical Science is a research-based programme in which students become actively engaged in bidirectional translational medicine. The programme focuses on studies that either bring current issues from patients and medical care to laboratory settings, or take scientific discoveries made in the laboratory or clinic and transforms them into new treatments and approaches to improve health and medical care in the community.
With supervisory guidance, students identify a research question or topic within the scope of medical science and work independently on a research project. Students are required to complete one taught module, Clinical Research Methodology, and to graduate they must produce a thesis based on their original research and subsequently pass the thesis examination and viva voce.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Complete the taught module Clinical Research Methodology to prepare for project planning and management.
- Build capability for ethical and socially responsible clinical research, including ethics for utilization of human specimens.
- Develop statistical analysis knowledge and methods used in clinical and health research.
- Confirm the research question or topic within the scope of medical science with supervisory guidance.
- Work independently on an original research project under supervisory guidance.
- Conduct research aligned with bidirectional translational medicine, connecting clinical/health issues with laboratory settings and vice versa.
- Progress the research plan and research work that supports the final thesis submission.
- Continue research work across the PhD candidature until thesis completion.
- Submit a PhD thesis based on the candidate’s original research.
- Pass the thesis examination to be awarded the PhD degree.
- Complete the viva voce associated with the thesis examination.
Career outcomes
- You develop research-ready expertise in translational medical science, positioning you for roles that require health and clinical research leadership.
- You gain structured competence in clinical research project planning, ethics, and statistical analysis, supporting careers such as clinical research coordinator or regulatory-focused work.
- You strengthen your ability to communicate and present medical science research, supporting pathways that include science communication roles.
- You build a thesis-based qualification through original research, helping you progress into researcher and educator pathways such as lecturer or medical educator.
- You train for industry-facing responsibilities that connect research to application, supporting roles including medical science consultant and medical device specialist.
Employability rate
For medical science PhD graduates in Malaysia, the employability outlook is typically strong, with an estimated employability rate of around 86% and an unemployment rate of about 14% as demand persists for research, clinical research coordination, and science leadership roles.
Together, these figures suggest a stable career outlook in academic, healthcare, research, and health policy-adjacent pathways for graduates who can translate research into practice.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree (Medical Science or related) | International applicants must hold a Master’s Degree (Level 7, Malaysian Qualifications Framework) in Medical Science or related fields accepted by the Academic Senate. |
| Equivalent qualification recognised by the Government of Malaysia | International applicants may be considered with other qualifications equivalent to a Master’s Degree that are recognised by the Government of Malaysia. |
| Bachelor’s degree with specific conditions | International applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (Level 6, MQF) may apply under conditions including a first-class degree requirement (CGPA ≥ 3.67) in the relevant or related field, internal assessment, and any other requirements of the Academic Senate. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Science and related research background | Direct match | This PhD is a research-based programme focused on medical science, and applicants select a research question/topic within the scope of medical science for their thesis. |
Language requirements
For international applicants, Sunway University requires an English language qualification as published for this PhD programme. English requirement exemptions may apply for students whose qualifications or country of study use English as the official language or as a full medium of instruction.
IELTS Academic
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | MYR 69460 / total program | Estimated Total Course Fee (Year 2026) for international students: RM69,460. (The page states USD is indicative only; international students must pay in RM equivalent.) |
Proof of financial resources
You should prepare proof of funds for tuition and related study costs before applying and during the student pass process. For specific Malaysia student-pass expectations and any required amounts, follow the official Malaysia student-pass guidance used by your education provider.
- Evidence of ability to pay tuition fees in Malaysian Ringgit as required by Sunway University for international students.
- Any additional proof of funds requested during the student pass process (provided through Sunway/EMGS instructions).
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | January - Winter intake | July - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | N/A | N/A |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | January - Winter intake | July - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | January - Winter intake | July - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Prepare your research plan and documents
International applicants should review the entry requirements and confirm your Master’s or equivalent qualification meets the Academic Senate acceptance criteria. Prepare your research statement describing the research question(s) discussed with your future MSc/PhD supervisor, plus a CV and reference letters. Prepare certified true copies of required documents and ensure your English language qualification evidence is included, unless an exemption applies.
Apply using Sunway University’s official postgraduate application process
Submit the Sunway postgraduate application form and required application documents during the intake window used by the university. Include all supporting items such as your research statement, CV, scholarship application form if applicable, and reference letters. Ensure your passport copy and academic transcripts are provided as certified true copies for international applicants.
Submit the research proposal in the required format
Prepare your research proposal between 1,000 and 1,500 words excluding references, using the structure specified by the programme. Your proposal should include an appropriate title, introduction and justification, literature review, research methodology, a proposed research schedule, and a list of references. Confirm that the proposal aligns with your intended research topic within medical science and the discussions with your supervisor.
Follow offer, tuition payment, and student pass steps
After your application is reviewed, you will follow the university’s next steps for acceptance and fee administration for international students. For Malaysia student pass processing, complete the required pre-arrival steps requested by Sunway and submit documents to the student-pass processing route used for international students. Plan your timeline early so you have sufficient time for document preparation and processing.