MD Programme
Duke-NUS Medical School
Key Information
Campus location
Singapore, Singapore
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
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Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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Applications to our MD & PhD Programme are now open.
Introduction
At Duke-NUS, we are driven by our core values. Our passion is delivering a medical education program based on two goals: providing active learning opportunities and supporting personalized deeper dives in areas of interest. We achieve these through our world-renowned TeamLEAD educational strategy, which promotes collaboration and teamwork, and through our students’ participation in a mentored research experience where they use innovation and creativity to answer significant, cutting-edge research questions. We believe that this teamwork-oriented approach, in this multi-ethnic environment, allows our students to gain a richer appreciation and respect for diversity and promotes the development of their professionalism.
The Duke-NUS MD program is a 4-year graduate program. Students are awarded the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) jointly by Duke University and the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Learning Philosophy
Team-Based Learning
The Duke-NUS Medical School takes the innovative Duke School of Medicine curriculum as its foundation and builds on the best elements of Team-Based Learning. In Team-Based Learning, lectures, readings, and reviewing supplemental material on a given topic are completed before class. The in-class activity focuses on assuring understanding, applying principles, and solving problems within student teams facilitated by faculty. Courses are run by multidisciplinary faculty teams of clinicians and scientists supported by education faculty with expertise in the science of learning. The classroom discussions are principally driven by student inquiry instead of faculty answers.
Engaged Learners
Activities are built into the learning day that requires students to make meaningful choices to respond to challenging questions, and students are given constant feedback from their peers and faculty on their learning. Students learn techniques for effective peer feedback, and the peer evaluation process allows opportunities to practice and refine these skills.
Educational technology
Educational technology, including social media tools, is integrated into all aspects of the learning experience; examples include utilizing classroom technology that facilitates interaction between students and faculty and converting traditional lectures into voice-annotated presentations that are reviewed before class sessions. This active-learning process that students are engaged in makes the knowledge acquired more relevant to the way clinicians learn and work. We call this pioneering learning method TeamLEAD (Learn, Engage, Apply, and Develop).
MD-PhD Programme
Duke-NUS offers a combined MD-PhD track to students who wish to further their academic training. The program combines medical education with research training to develop clinician-scientists who interface between medicine and science. All students admitted into the program will be offered a full scholarship for the Ph.D. component as well as scholarships to cover tuition fees for their first two years in the MD program and their final year of MD training (funding amount will depend on bursaries and other scholarships already awarded to assist with MD tuition fees).
Students embark on the Ph.D. component after completing their second year of the MD program. Upon completion of the Ph.D. component, students will complete the final (fourth) year of the MD program. Interested students can either apply directly to the MD-PhD program at the time of initial application or after matriculation into the MD program. Every year, approximately 15-20% of the MD cohort may be offered a place in the MD-PhD track.
All applicants for the MD-PhD program are required to sit for the MCAT. This program does not accept GRE scores. Assuming successful fulfillment of requirements, students in the MD program will be awarded a joint Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from Duke University and the National University of Singapore. For those having completed the MD-PhD option, the Ph.D. degree will be awarded by the National University of Singapore.
Student Support
Duke-NUS College System For Student Enrichment
Duke-NUS Medical School created the Duke-NUS College System to bolster our students’ professional and personal development by providing support, advice, mentoring, and facilitating relationship building among students of different years. The philosophy behind the Colleges is that if students experience the benefits of a supportive community, they will be better able to cope with the challenges of medical education, thereby becoming more capable and effective physicians.
During the first year of the medical program, weekly meetings of the Colleges allow the students to know and be known by their Masters and fellow College members in the context of giving and receiving support. College Masters are also available for individual meetings and may assist students with academic difficulties or other challenges. The College Masters include clinicians from a wide range of specialties, as well as physician-scientists who assist the students in formulating research ideas and selecting mentors for their third-year research project.
Student Interest Groups
Enhance your learning experience at Duke-NUS with our many academic and non-academic student interest groups
Stress Management And Counselling Services
Everyone can use support now and then. If you experience times when the types and amounts of stress exceed your ability to cope effectively, reach out to Student Affairs to direct you to support services. We can help you find the appropriate services to help you cope with stress, anxiety, depression, or other personal life issues interfering with your wellness and professional performance.