The cultivation of research ability can promote eight-year medical students to explore the uncharted academic fields and solve complex clinical problems. One of the firts pilot universities to provide eight-year programs

Xiangya Medical College of Central South University builds on its profound experience in medical education

and establishes a curriculum structure aiming at improving the students' research ability. In the general education stage

cross-disciplinary courses are set up. In the core medical education stage

basic medical innovation experiment extracurricular research courses are set up

and a two-year overseas exchange program is set up in the postgraduate training stage. Different evaluation methods are also designed to meet the specific needs in each stage. This program has achieved preliminary effects.