Overview
The PhD is a research‑intensive Doctor of Philosophy degree administered by the NUS Medicine Graduate Studies Office, with supervision by faculty affiliated with the Centre of Behavioural and Implementation Science Interventions (BISI). This PhD offers a distinctive doctoral training model that integrates behavioural science, implementation science, and real-world application within a coherent academic ecosystem. It enhances the academic and developmental experience of PhD students through curated coursework, structured teaching exposure, and intentional research building.
Candidates conduct original research culminating in a thesis and an oral defence.
The core curriculum consists of independent research, coursework and a PhD Qualifying Examination (PQE).
Objectives
- Build strong foundations in behavioural and implementation science theory, methods, and application.
- Develop the skills to translate evidence into practice across healthcare, policy, and community settings.
- Strengthen research and academic identity through teaching and pedagogical development, building an education portfolio in the process.
- Foster a robust scholarly identity through a cohesive and supportive doctoral experience that is multidisciplinary and well-integrated with the School of Medicine and BISI.
- Be prepared for diverse career pathways, including academia, policy, health systems, and applied research roles.
Candidates conduct independent research under a faculty member who is in BISI or is a BISI Affiliate. The faculty member will be the candidate’s primary supervisor.
As such, prospective candidates must reach out to the faculty member to discuss research interests and obtain supervision approval before applying. It is strongly recommended for the research topic to fall within one of the chosen faculty member’s area(s) of research.
Please click here for BISI’s faculty members and their respective area(s) of research.
Candidates must complete a total of 24 Units comprising two core courses + elective courses.
Aside from the School of Medicine’s mandated core courses (listed here), below is a curated list of courses students enrolled in the BIS-focused PhD can choose from.
This list of courses has been curated to align with the majority of candidates’ research trajectory with BISI and hence ensures that their coursework directly supports thesis development and scholarly identity, rather than functioning as a stand-alone requirement.
Candidates enrolled in the BIS-focused PhD programme must accrue teaching experience as part of a core developmental component. This experience should reflect the candidate’s classroom confidence, teaching readiness and linkages between pedagogical choices to behavioural and implementation/learning science principles.
Candidates will work with their primary supervisor and the programme team to decide on the most suitable course(s) to teach that align with their research and academic identity.
Candidates are expected to participate in any ongoing activities (whether routine or ad hoc) relevant to the BISI research ecosystem and wider community. This reinforces integration into the scholarly community and shared standards.
Some of these activities include, but are not limited to, journal clubs, research workgroups and cross-project collaborations.
| Phase | Timeframe | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Onboarding | Semester 1 | Coursework planning, scoping of research, BISI/SoM community integration |
| Foundation | Year 1–2 | Proposal development, grounding of research methods, PQE completion |
| Research | Year 2–3 | Data collection, analysis, publication |
| Consolidation | Year 3–4 | Teaching practicum, dissemination |
| Completion | Year 4–5 | Thesis submission and oral defence |
Applicants typically require one of the following core academic qualifications:
- A good Master’s degree in a relevant field; OR
- An Honours (2nd Upper or above) Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; OR
- A professional clinical degree (e.g., MBBS/BDS) with research capability.
Additional requirements include:
- Research proposal / statement of purpose
- Curriculum vitae
- Referee reports
- Identified supervisor
- English proficiency test (if applicable)
- Standardised test scores such as the GRE (optional)
- Publications or involvement in research projects (optional)
More details can be found here.
There are typically two application intakes each year: January and August. Exact deadlines are published annually by the NUS Medicine Graduate Studies Office.
The programme welcomes both full-time and part-time candidates. Part-time study is common for working healthcare professionals, with workload and timelines planned alongside the supervisor.
For students admitted from AY2025/2026 intake onwards (fees may change on a year on year basis):
| Fees (per year) | |
|---|---|
| Singapore Citizen | S$9,600 |
| Singapore Permanent Resident | S$14,100 |
| International Student (subsidised / service obligation) | ~S$21,900–S$37,900 |
| International Student (non-subsidised) | up to ~S$40,300 |
These fees are charged per academic year and fixed upon admission (cohort-based.)
Part-time and full-time students pay the same annual tuition rate.
Miscellaneous student fees are charged separately each semester.
Scholarships or employer sponsorship may offset tuition fees.
For the most up‑to‑date information, please refer to the NUS Office of the University Registrar – Graduate Tuition Fees page found here.
Applications are submitted online via the NUS Graduate Admission System (GDA3) found here.
Submissions must include all supporting documents and confirmation from your supervisor as detailed above.
For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the Division of graduate studies, NUS Medicine – Application Procedure page found here.
Want to know more?
Please contact bisiphd@nus.edu.sg.