The Joint UCSF/UCB PhD in Medical Anthropology is one of the pioneering programs in the discipline both nationally and globally. The program provides disciplinary leadership and outstanding, comprehensive training leading to the PhD degree. No other program offers the Joint Program’s combination of excellence in critical medical anthropology; studies of science, technology, and modernity; and training in historically informed, pedagogically rigorous social theory. Our students are trained to develop original, creative, and relevant scholarship that makes contributions across the medical and social science fields.
The program emphasizes the way social theory can be used to analyze urgent issues in contemporary health including:
- Formation of subjectivities and the governance of populations around forms of life
- How populations are constituted for care or violence
- Structuring logic of markets in the provision of aid and health
- Constitution of truth through particular conceptualizations of life, ethics, and personhood
The Joint UCSF/UCB PhD Program brings together one of the finest medical universities and one of the finest arts and sciences universities in the country to offer students a theoretically engaged approach to emerging issues in medical anthropology. It also offers a unique opportunity for PhD training for MDs and MD students through our MD/PhD track, which includes the Medical Sciences Training Program.
Faculty
Affiliated Faculty
Program Manager
Admissions
For 2025-2026, the Program is only able to accept applications for the MD/PhD in Medical Anthropology. Applications for the PhD-track only will be accepted in the next cycle (2027). Individuals interested in applying to the PhD-track in 2025 are welcome to apply on the UC Berkeley side of the joint Program.
MD/PhD applicants
Students applying to the Medical Services Training Program (MSTP - also known as MD/PhD in Medical Anthropology) must submit the online Medical Anthropology program application by December 1st each year.
Please note that the School of Medicine and MSTP Medical Anthropology interview dates will be in January of each year.
Please read our MSTP Medical Anthropology Applicant Information.
The full Medical Anthropology application can be found at the UCSF Graduate Division's Online Application Portal.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What are the admission requirements
- A minimum of a bachelor's degree (BA/BS) or the equivalent from an accredited institution is required.
- To be eligible for admission, you must have at least a 3.0 (B) grade point average.
- Unofficial transcripts may be submitted for review purposes only. Final official transcripts must be submitted upon matriculation if an offer of admission is made.
- 3 Letters of Recommendation submitted by the recommender
- Upon completion of the application and receipt of the non-refundable application fee ($120 for US citizens and permanent residents, and $140 for international applicants).
- Fee Waivers (US citizens and permanent residents only): Eligible applicants may apply for a fee waiver in the Payment Options section of the online application system. Applicants should not email individuals within UCSF to request an application fee waiver.
- More details: https://graduate.ucsf.edu/admission/application-fee-waivers
- International Admission Requirements: https://graduate.ucsf.edu/admission/intl-admission-requirements
- Application: https://gradapp.ucsf.edu/register/apply
2. Is there a word limit and/or typical word count for the Personal History Statement and Statement of Purpose?
Answer: The personal history statement should not exceed 3 pages. Please remember this is your opportunity to share how your personal background informs your decision to a Medical Anthropology degree
Personal History Statement: Discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Please include any educational, cultural, economic, family or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey.
Statement of Purpose: Describe your background, career goals, and the relevance of the proposed training in medical anthropology to these goals. It should bring together the material on your background and prior training, as well as your career objectives. Should not exceed 4-5 pages.
3. What are the guidelines for the Example of Written Work?
Answer: The example of written work doesn't have a word limit. It's fine for applicants to turn in long examples of written work, but please keep in mind we're interested in quality over quantity.
4. Should the Background section be written as a bulleted list (like a resume/cv) or in paragraph form? And is there a word limit?
Answer: Please organize your Background section as you see fit as there isn't a word limit. We're interested in quality not quantity.
5. Are the courses offered virtual/remote?
Answer: No, our classes are in person at both UCSF and UC Berkeley campus'
6. Can you clarify the MD/PhD MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program) admissions process?
Answer: The MSTP application opens every year. All applications are first reviewed by the School of Medicine to determine if an applicant receives an invitation to complete a secondary application. The process of verification by AMCAS and then review by the UCSF SOM may take 8-12 weeks after you submit your primary application. If you receive a secondary application (Graduate Division Medical Anthropology Application), at that time, you should complete the Graduate Division Medical Anthropology MD/PhD application https://gradapp.ucsf.edu/register/apply.
7. MD/PhD MSTP Application: Will the admissions committee have access to my MD/PhD medical school application (AMCAS)? I want to make sure I'm not being repetitive with my materials.
Answer: As part of your primary application in AMCAS, the audience is more general, but science and medicine related. Your secondary application (Graduate Division Medical Anthropology) if invited to complete one, will be primarily reviewed by Medical Anthropology Faculty. Furthermore, faculty will have access to your AMCAS/MSTP application, but your Medical Anthropology application will be the focus to determine eligibility into our program. With that said, we know there may be some overlap, but your Med-Anthro application should show your interest specifically to medical anthropology.
More details visit: https://mstp.ucsf.edu/
8. As a joint program, do I apply to UCSF, UC Berkeley, or both?
Answer: We are a joint program, but you can only apply to either UCSF or UCB, as your degree will be conferred by one campus. For example, if you apply to our program, your degree will only state UCSF. Our UCSF side accepts applications every other year, while the UC Berkeley side accepts applications every year. If you're interested in the UC Berkeley side of our joint program, please check their website below and be sure you look closely at what each side of the program offers. After you have reviewed these websites, I suggest you also look at the faculty on both the UCSF and UC Berkeley sides and perhaps an article by each of them, to get a sense of the kind of Medical Anthropology we do.
- For information regarding UC Berkeley Medical Anthropology Program admission application process, please visit: https://anthropology.berkeley.edu/graduate-program/medical-anthropology-joint-phd-ucsf
Additional resources
- MSTP Program
- Current Students
- Admissions to PhD Program
- Admissions to MSTP Program
- UC Berkeley Medical Anthropology
- Policy on student progress: requirements, notification, remediation, and review
- Medical Anthropology Program Bylaws
- Medical Anthropology Alumni and their Dissertation Titles
Student disability services
UCSF is committed to ensuring access to graduate education for all students. Early communication with the relevant administrators is critical to successful partnership in arranging accommodations. SDS is the appropriate and confidential office for seeking accommodations, and will coordinate communications and procedures with you and the graduate faculty and programs. Please visit the website and look over the student disability services info for more information.
Student success at UCSF
Success in graduate school requires care and attention to all aspects of your life: health and wellness, community, career development, personal and professional relationships, and security and safety. UCSF is committed to providing a full range of resources and services to help you succeed. Learn more about these resources by visiting our Student Success website.