{"id":4034,"date":"2026-05-13T20:54:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T12:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medicine.nus.edu.sg\/bisi\/?page_id=4034"},"modified":"2026-08-28T22:15:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T14:15:55","slug":"phd-programme","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/medicine.nus.edu.sg\/bisi\/phd-programme\/","title":{"rendered":"PhD Programme"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

PhD Programme<\/p>\r\n

Centre Director’s Message<\/h2>\r\n

Doctoral training built around the science of change<\/em><\/p>\r\n

The questions that drive the behavioural and implementation sciences are among the most consequential in contemporary health research – how do we reliably translate what works in evidence into what actually happens in practice? How do systems, contexts, and human behaviour shape whether an intervention succeeds or fails? These are not questions that yield to a single study or a single method. They demand sustained, rigorous, independent inquiry.<\/p>\r\n

The PhD Programme at BISI was designed for researchers who want to work at that frontier. You will pursue original doctoral research under the supervision of faculty at the forefront of the behavioural and implementation sciences in Asia, within a community that takes theory and methods seriously – and that cares equally about what the science is for. Our candidates come from clinical, public health, social science, and policy backgrounds. What they share is a commitment to producing research that is methodologically rigorous and grounded in real-world problems.<\/p>\r\n

Alongside the research, this programme builds a broader scholarly identity. You will develop as a teacher and communicator, participate in BISI’s active research ecosystem, and engage with a community of practice that spans academia, health systems, and policy. Our goal is not simply to produce a thesis, but to produce a researcher who is ready to lead.<\/p>\r\n

I look forward to hearing about your research interests and welcoming you to this community.<\/p>\r\n

Professor Nick Sevdalis
\"\"
Centre Director
Centre for Behavioural & Implementation Science Interventions (BISI)<\/p>\r\n

\"Sevdalis<\/figure>\r\n

Programme Director’s Message<\/h2>\r\n

Choosing to pursue a PhD is a significant commitment. It is not only a period of intensive research, but also a time to develop your confidence, judgement, and identity as a scholar.<\/p>\r\n

PhD candidates at BISI undertake research focused on the behavioural and implementation sciences within the NUS Medicine PhD Programme. Their projects address practical questions about how people behave, how healthcare systems function, and how evidence can be translated into better practice, policy, and outcomes.<\/p>\r\n

Alongside your independent research, you will be part of an active and supportive research community. You will engage in coursework that strengthens your theoretical and methodological foundations, contribute to BISI’s research activities, gain teaching experience, and develop the skills needed to communicate your work to both academic and applied audiences.
We welcome candidates from a range of clinical, public health, psychology, social science, policy, and related backgrounds. You do not need to arrive with every aspect of your project fully formed, but you should bring a strong interest in the behavioural and implementation sciences, a willingness to engage deeply with complex problems, and the motivation to grow as an independent researcher.<\/p>\r\n

Our aim is to provide both the intellectual challenge and the support needed for you to do meaningful work and develop into a thoughtful, rigorous, and confident scholar.<\/p>\r\n

I look forward to welcoming you to BISI and supporting you through your PhD journey.<\/p>\r\n

Dr Jessica Ng
Programme Director, PhD Programme
Centre for Behavioural & Implementation Science Interventions (BISI)<\/p>\r\n

\"Jessica-Ng_cropped\"<\/figure>\r\n

About the Programme<\/h2>\r\n

The PhD is a research-intensive Doctor of Philosophy degree administered by the NUS Medicine Graduate Studies Office. There is no specialisation in the degree title. Candidates whose research is supervised by faculty affiliated with the Centre for Behavioural and Implementation Science Interventions (BISI) pursue thesis projects grounded in the behavioural and implementation sciences, with an emphasis on real-world application.<\/p>\r\n

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).<\/p>\r\n

The PhD Built Around the Behavioural and Implementation Sciences<\/h4>\r\n

Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine offers several research PhD pathways. Candidates supervised by BISI faculty pursue doctoral work on how and why evidence-based practices are adopted, sustained, or scaled in health systems, grounded in the theoretical underpinnings of the behavioural and implementation sciences.<\/p>\r\n

What This Programme Offers<\/h4>\r\n

A curated intellectual environment. Elective coursework is curated to directly support thesis development in the behavioural and implementation sciences. Candidates engage with shared theoretical frameworks, methods, and empirical questions – building a common intellectual language that accelerates research development and scholarly depth.<\/p>\r\n

Teaching and pedagogical development. Candidates are encouraged to develop classroom confidence and to connect their teaching choices to principles from the behavioural and implementation sciences – building both research and academic career readiness.<\/p>\r\n

Integration into an active research community. Candidates join BISI’s ongoing research activities – journal clubs, research workgroups, and cross-project collaborations. This sustained engagement with live research is a deliberate part of doctoral formation.<\/p>\r\n