New Route PhD:

A Professor-Led PhD at TUMS

 

Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) offers a Professor-Led PhD pathway for qualified international students who wish to pursue doctoral research under the direct supervision of an experienced TUMS faculty member.

Unlike a conventional PhD pathway in which applicants typically apply to a broad doctoral program, this pathway places the academic supervisor and the student's research interests at the center of the admission process.

You identify a research area and a suitable TUMS professor, develop your initial research topic with the professor, and—following academic and university approval—begin your doctoral journey at TUMS.

Official program title: New Route PhD
Study mode: Professor-led, research-focused
Eligibility: International students (non-Iranian)
Degree awarded: PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)

 

Why choose a Professor-Led PhD?

This pathway is designed for students who already have a clear academic or research direction and want to develop it closely with a specific researcher.

You will:

• Work directly with an experienced TUMS faculty member.
• Develop your doctoral research around your academic interests.
• Join an established research environment within TUMS.
• Receive structured doctoral education alongside your research.
• Develop and defend a doctoral dissertation under TUMS academic regulations.
• Build international academic and research experience at one of Iran's major medical universities.

The emphasis is on research, supervision and academic collaboration, while the program continues to meet the educational and academic requirements of a TUMS PhD.

 

Is this pathway right for you?

The Professor-Led PhD pathway may be particularly suitable if you:

• already have a clear research interest or potential research topic;
• want to work closely with a specific professor or research group;
• have a strong academic background;
• are interested in research in medicine, health sciences, biomedical sciences or related fields;
• are prepared to undertake independent doctoral research in English.

 

You may apply if you are a non-Iranian applicant with:

 

• a Master's degree or higher, or a professional doctoral degree, in a relevant field;
• an acceptable academic record;
• sufficient proficiency in English;
• the approval of a prospective TUMS faculty supervisor; and
• the approval of the relevant TUMS academic/admission authorities.

The final assessment of eligibility is carried out according to TUMS regulations and the requirements of the relevant academic unit.

 

How does the Professor-Led PhD work?

Explore research opportunities

Review the available fields and TUMS professors participating in the Professor-Led PhD pathway.

1. Identify a potential supervisor

Choose a professor whose research interests closely match your academic background and research goals.

2. Discuss your research idea

Contact the professor and discuss your proposed research area and initial topic,

3. Obtain preliminary agreement

If the professor agrees to supervise you, an initial research topic is developed and approved as required.

4. Apply to TUMS

Submit your application and supporting documents through the official TUMS international admission process.

5. Academic assessment and admission

Your qualifications and proposed supervision are reviewed by the relevant academic unit and the designated admission committee.

6. Begin your PhD

After admission and registration, you begin the doctoral program at TUMS.

Important: Contacting a professor does not by itself constitute admission. Final admission is subject to the university's academic and administrative approval procedures.

 

Program Structure

The Professor-Led PhD is a 3-4 year doctoral program.

The program begins with a limited period of coursework and then focuses primarily on doctoral research. Under the current regulations:

• 6-10 credits of specialized coursework are completed.
• 4 credits of basic/research-methodology coursework are required.
• Coursework is normally completed during the first 1-2 semesters.
• The remaining period is primarily devoted to research and the doctoral dissertation.

All educational and dissertation procedures are conducted under the applicable TUMS PhD regulations.

 

Your Research Journey

After admission, your research progresses through the standard TUMS doctoral framework.

Initial research topic è Research proposal è Proposal approval è Research & dissertation è Pre-defense è Final defense è PhD degree

The dissertation topic should be consistent with the initially approved research area and is formally registered through the university's research system.

 

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must:

• successfully complete the required coursework;
• complete and defend their doctoral dissertation;
• satisfy the applicable TUMS academic requirements; and
• meet the publication requirements specified for the program.

Under the current regulations, successful completion normally requires at least one original article derived from the dissertation in a Q1 ISI-indexed journal, with additional publication requirements that may be fulfilled through another eligible original/review article or certain recognized research outputs such as an international patent, according to university regulations.

The degree awarded is Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

 

Available Fields & Professors

Explore the currently available Professor-Led PhD opportunities by field and identify professors whose research interests match your goals.

 

How to Apply

Your application has two important components:

Academic fit

Your academic background and research interests should match the proposed field of study and the research interests of the prospective supervisor.

Official admission

Once the academic and supervisory requirements are met, you must complete the official TUMS international admission process and submit the required documentation.

 

Tuition & Financial Information

Tuition for Professor-Led PhD students is determined according to the applicable TUMS fee regulations and the approved fee for the relevant field.

Before applying, please check the current TUMS fee structure and payment regulations.

[View Current TUMS Fee Structure]

The Professor-Led PhD financial structure also provides for a defined allocation of tuition revenue to the supervising academic host and the relevant academic/research units, in accordance with university regulations. This is an internal university financial arrangement and does not constitute a scholarship or reduction in the student's tuition fee.

 

Find Your Supervisor

The most important step in this pathway is finding the right academic match.

When contacting a professor, we recommend sending:

• a short academic CV;
• your degree and academic background;
• a brief description of your research interests;
• your proposed research topic, if available; and
• a short explanation of why you would like to work with that professor.

 

 

 

New Route PhD Forms