Medical scholarships at Duke-NUS University in Singapore

Deadline:

Applications to programs open by June each year

For applications to the MD program (Doctor of Medicine), 1st January is the final deadline.
For applications to the PhD programs
– PhD in Integrated Biology and Medicine
– PhD in Integrated Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
– MD-PhD track
15th January is the final deadline.

Location:

Singapore

(Partially Funded)

Description

Merit and need based medical scholarships and Duke-NUS

Duke-NUS provides a critical learning environment that draws from the best of both universities to prepare doctors who can transform the practice of medicine and improve lives.

Merit scholarships

Merit scholarships are generally awarded based on academic achievement and personal attributes such as meaningful involvement in community service or leadership experiences.
Several scholarships are valid for 4 years and may be used for tuition, living expenses, or other fees associated with attending Duke-NUS.
To be considered for a merit scholarship at Duke-NUS, interested applicants should submit a financial aid application after receiving the invitation to apply for financial aid. Scholarship recipients are selected by the school’s Scholarship Selection Committee.

Need based scholarships

Depending on financial circumstances, as well as academic performance. For students enrolling from Academic Year 2017-2018 on wards, financial aid is expected to fall between 26% and 72% of tuition fees payable (exclusive of miscellaneous fees). The amount of financial aid varies depending on the financial circumstances of a student, which may include that of self, immediate family, and/or spouse as applicable.

Required Languages

English

Eligible Countries

ALL WORLD COUNTRIES

Program Period

Doctor of Medicine (MD)
4 years

PhD in Integrated Biology and Medicine
4-5 years

PhD in Integrated Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
4-5 years

MD-PhD track
Minimum 7 years

Eligibility Requirements (Criteria)

Specific Requirements for each program

For Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program

All applicants must have completed, or be in the final year of, a bachelor or honours degree. MBBS holders will not be considered for admissions.
Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) results.
3 – 5 recommendation letters, typically from professors, mentors and/or employers.
Research experience is looked upon favourably.
Applicants are also required to meet the “Other Requirements” and “Technical Standards” below.

For Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Integrated Biology and Medicine Program

Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test results.
3 – 5 recommendation letters, typically from professors, mentors and/or employers.
Research experience is looked upon favourably.
Applicants are also required to meet some of the “Other Requirements” below.

For Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Integrated Biostatistics and Bioinformatics program

Biostatistics: a master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in a quantitative discipline (Stat/Biostat/Math/Computer Science/Epidemiology)
Bioinformatics: a bachelor’s degree in biological, computational, or quantitative discipline
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test results.
3 – 5 recommendation letters, typically from professors, mentors and/or employers.
Applicants are also required to meet some of the “Other Requirements” below.

For MD-PhD Track

Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) results.
3 – 5 recommendation letters, typically from professors, mentors and/or employers.
Research experience is looked upon favourably.
Applicants are also required to meet the “Other Requirements” and “Technical Standards” below.

Other Requirements

English Language Proficiency

• 600 on the TOEFL paper-based test; OR

• 85 on the TOEFL internet-based test; OR

• an overall band score of 7 on the IELTS
Duke-NUS does not accept TOEFL or IELTS scores earned more than two years ago.

Health Requirements

Please be advised that in accordance with Singapore Ministry of Health regulations, MD and MD-PhD candidates matriculating into Duke-NUS Medical School must provide documentation for the following screening and immunization requirements:

• Screening for Hepatitis B and Immunity Status

• Screening for Hepatitis C Antibody and HIV Antibody

• MMR (Mumps, Measles and Rubella) Immunity Status

• Varicella (Chicken pox) Immunity Status

• Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) Immunity Status

Additional health requirements upon acceptance to Duke-NUS are currently under review, in keeping with local health mandates. Applicants who are offered admission will be apprised of health screening and immunization requirements.

Service Commitment

As the cost of medical education at Duke-NUS is subsidized by the Singapore Government, all graduates of its MD program or the MD-PhD track are required to fulfill a service commitment. If this service commitment is broken or unfulfilled, liquidated damages – pro-rated according to the bond period not served – must be paid off to the government. The amount of liquidated damages is based on the government subsidy granted and compounded annual interest. For more information, please refer to the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) website.

According to MOH guidelines, the service commitment period is as follows:

4 years for Singapore citizens

5 years for international graduates and Singapore Permanent Residents

The service commitment period excludes the first year of postgraduate (residency) training, commencing only after satisfactory completion of the first postgraduate training year. The service commitment is fulfilled in a public sector hospital/institution in Singapore as determined by the Ministry of Health (MOH). Assuming satisfactory completion of the first postgraduate training year, trainees can fulfill their service commitment during residency training in Singapore ; or alternatively, in an MOH-approved public sector research setting in lieu of further residency training

Completion of National/Military Service

Completion of an Existing Bond

We require all applicants to Duke-NUS who have previously accepted scholarship offers with service commitment expectations, to directly confirm with their respective sponsoring organization(s) whether or not they are eligible to join Duke-NUS, and how this may additionally impact their future service commitment to the Singapore Ministry of Health.

All candidates for the M.D. degree must possess the physical and mental skills and abilities necessary to successfully complete the medical school curriculum. To achieve the optimal educational experience, students are required to participate in all phases of the training program.

Technical Standards

The study of medicine is not a pure intellectual exercise. Rather, a specific set of minimum physical, mental, emotional and social abilities are needed to be a successful student. Students must possess all of the abilities listed in the five categories below. The use of an intermediary that would, in effect, require a student to rely on someone else’s power of observation and/or communication will not be permitted.

Opportunity Cost

(Partially Funded)

You will only be invited to apply for financial aid if you are shortlisted for interviews. You will receive the email inviting you to apply for financial aid the same time you receive the invitation to attend the interviews on Applicant Day.

Some examples of merit scholarships are highlighted below.

How to Apply

Step 1: Pre-Application

For MD program

Those applying to the MD or MD-PhD program will need to register and sit for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) or Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT).

1) MCAT

The MCAT is a standardized test administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) for prospective students seeking to study medicine in medical schools in the United States and Canada.

Duke-NUS accepts test scores taken within the last four years. You may nominate which results you want us to consider if more than one set of test results is valid. Individual section scores from different tests cannot be mixed.

Details about MCAT, including registration dates, location and dates of tests and preparation guidelines are available on the official MCAT website. More about MCAT.

2) GAMSAT

The GAMSAT is a requirement for Graduate Medical programmes in the UK, Ireland and Australia. It is developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) in conjunction with the Consortium of Graduate Medical Schools.

Please note that the GAMSAT results are valid for two years. You may nominate which year’s results you want considered if more than one set of test results are valid. Individual section scores from tests in different years cannot be mixed. Applications, information and sample questions for GAMSAT are available on the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) website.

For PhD program

Those applying to the PhD program will need to register and sit for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). GRE test dates are available year round.

Step 2: Submit Online Application From button “Apply Now”

Register for a username and password on our application site to proceed. Log into the application portal and complete the online application form, which includes various sections on personal data, academic records, past activities and achievements, research experience and essays.

Here are some things to note:

• Applicants may save their application at any point and return to complete the application at a later time.

• You do not need to have your MCAT/GAMSAT/GRE results before registering for an application account. Be sure to provide us with your AAMC ID, GAMSAT ID or GRE Registration Number on your application, and notify us via email with your results as soon as they are available.

• For MCAT results, please release the scores to Duke-NUS via the MCAT Thx online system
• For GAMSAT results, please submit your PDF score report to admissions@duke-nus.edu.sg
• For GRE results, please have your scores sent directly to Duke-NUS with the Designated Institution (DI) code of 4915.

Step 3: Submit Letters of Reference

For MD Program

You are required to provide at least 3 referee reports, of which at least one should be an academic reference. Your references should be carefully chosen from faculty or others (e.g. job supervisors) who know you and your character well. If you have undertaken research projects, for example, we would like to hear from your research supervisor. If you are applying to the MD-PhD track, at least one letter must come from a research mentor or advisor.

Please send a copy of this form to each of your referees. Ask your referee to complete the form and return it directly to Duke-NUS.

There are 2 ways for your referees to send us the completed report:

1. Email

– Your referees may email the referee report in PDF format to admissions@duke-nus.edu.sg.
– Please ask your referees to indicate your name and the programme to which you are applying in the email subject line.

2. Alternatively, you may inform your referees to send the report to the following address:

Programme of Interest: MD or MD-PhD (choose one as applicable)
Duke-NUS Office of Admissions
C/O Ms Tammie Zhu, Senior Manager
Duke-NUS Medical School
8 College Road Singapore 169857

For PhD program

You are required to provide at least 3 recommendations. Kindly include at least 1 recommendation from someone who can speak to your research experience or potential, preferably from an academic professor or a research mentor. Recommendations should be sent to us directly on your referee’s official letterhead and include your referee’s signature.

There are 2 ways to send us your recommendations:

1. Email

– Your referees may email your recommendation to us in PDF format to admissions@duke-nus.edu.sg.
– Please ask your referees to indicate your name and the programme you are applying for in the email subject line.

2. Alternatively, you may inform your referees to send their recommendation letters to us at the following address:

Programme of Interest: PhD
Duke-NUS Office of Admissions
C/O Ms Tammie Zhu, Senior Manager
Duke-NUS Medical School
Office of Admissions
8 College Road
Singapore 169857

Step 4: Submit Official Transcripts and Other Supporting Documents

Applicants applying to Duke-NUS MD Programme, PhD Programme or MD-PhD Track should have their official transcripts and supporting documents (where applicable) sent to Duke-NUS at the following mailing address.

Duke-NUS Office of Admissions – specify programme applied for “MD Programme, PhD Programme or MD-PhD Track”
Transcript/Supporting Documents for “Applicant’s name”
C/O Ms Tammie Zhu, Senior Manager
Duke-NUS Medical School
8 College Road Singapore 169857

Upon completion of the online application, you will be notified if the supporting documents have not been received by our Admissions Department. Below is the full list of documents needed to complete your application:

Official Transcripts

Applicants should request their institutions to send their official transcripts directly to Duke-NUS at the mailing address above.

World Education Service (WES) Report

Students who are applying to Duke-NUS from schools outside of Singapore or the US must also request for their institutions to submit their transcripts World Education Services (WES) for a credential evaluation. Please opt for the US Equivalent WES International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) with a course-by-course report. A detailed report by WES will be sent directly to Duke-NUS. Please visit www.wes.org for further details.

Applicants from Canadian universities may contact the Admissions Office at admissions@duke-nus.edu.sg to see if a WES report is required for your application.

Results of TOEFL or IELTS

Applicants who previously studied in a non-English speaking curriculum will be required to present documented evidence of their competence in written and spoken English by submitting their results of TOEFL or IELTS exams.

Applicants are required to mail their official result slip directly to Duke-NUS at the mailing address above.

Step 5: Applicant Day

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an Applicant Day through an email invitation containing information about the day’s program 1-2 weeks in advance. The majority of our Applicant Days are held on the Duke-NUS campus in Singapore, and a small number will be held in the US – mainly at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

Applicant Day is an excellent opportunity for applicants to meet faculty and students, to learn more about Duke-NUS and determine if the school is a good fit. Apart from meeting the Duke-NUS community, applicants also get to experience the school’s teaching pedagogy in an abridged version of TeamLEAD, led by Dr Sandy Cook (Interim Vice Dean, Education). Interviews and a written exercise will also be conducted on the same day for the school to evaluate the suitability of an applicant for admission into Duke-NUS.

Download the latest Applicant Day schedule for the current admissions cycle here. Please note that these dates may occasionally change depending on the circumstances.