Typically, MD students take a Fifth Year between their third year and fourth year. No credit is awarded for taking a Fifth Year for research. For general information about Fifth Year options students can pursue, please visit the Student Handbook:
Funding Overview
External Funding
Students are encouraged to apply for funding from the many excellent national and professional society fellowships available for MD student research project support. Common fellowships are listed on our external funding resources site.
OSE Funding
MD students who are taking a Fifth Year for research may apply to the OSE for funding (up to $15,000) to match a mentor’s financial contribution towards a student stipend. Students participate in a rigorous application and review process to be eligible for OSE funding. The OSE does not fund research carried out while students are enrolled at HMS full-time. Student stipends are capped at $30,000 a year for 12 months of full time work ($1250 a month from OSE and $1250 a month from the mentor).
- OSE Funding Amount: Up to $1250/month for up to 12 months of full-time research
- Matching funding expectation: Students are responsible for securing matching funding from their mentors or an external funding source. Mentors should acknowledge their funding contribution in the Mentor Agreement Form. Mentors pay their funding contribution directly to you. If you are unable to secure matching funding, this must be noted in your Scholarly Project Proposal.
Application and Deadlines
- Complete a Fifth Year Plan form and submit it to your Society Administrator for approval. Contact your society for this form.
- Ask your mentor to complete the Mentor Agreement Form. Your mentor should state the matching funding provided and source(s) OR state that they cannot offer matching funding.
-
One month prior to project start date email the following to scholarsinmedicine@hms.harvard.edu.
- A completed Fifth Year Plan form with approval from your Society
- Project Proposal
Your proposal will be reviewed by OSE faculty. The OSE will notify you if you need to make revisions to your proposal. It may take at least one month (or more) from submission to approval of your funding request.
After Approval
Once approved, an award letter will be sent to you with a payment schedule for your funding. Funding is disbursed in two installments, one at the beginning of your project and the second midway through your project.
If the focus of your project changes, you should notify OSE immediately and the office will advise you on next steps.
All students who receive HMS funding are required to submit an abstract on their project and are invited to present posters on their projects at the annual Soma Weiss Student Research Day.