A 3-year course of research development, which corresponds in level and time spent, to a tripling of the 'Research Year study'. The Ph.D. study is most often carried out by fully qualified medical practitioners, but those undergoing medical school training, for example, can also gain admission. Provided there are extenuating demands from the medical community on the Ph.D. student, it is possible to take a leave of absence fromt he course, thereby extending the time elapsed between course start and finish dates.

Fullfillment of the Ph.D. study requires participation in a set of courses that together confer an award of 25 merit points. (Merit points earned for constituent courses completed under the research year study can be transferred. Furthermore, having done a research year prior to commencement of a Ph.D. study, the course will run for 2 1/2 years).