Graduate Programme
CBmE’s graduate programme is part of the NUS Medicine Graduate Programme which is administered by the Division of Graduate Studies. Bioethics students with CBmE are to enroll into the NUS Medicine Graduate Programme, and will be expected to fulfill the School’s requirements to graduate with either an MSc or PhD degree. There is no specialisation of the degree awarded.
Programme Details
Programme
Maximum candidature (for both part time and full time students; inclusive of periods of approved study leave and leave of absence
Coursework
MSc
36 Months
PhD
Students are required to pass a coursework component as well as a research (thesis) component. Students who enrol for a PhD programme, as well as MSc students who wish to upgrade to PhD, are required to complete 4 courses (2 core and 2 elective courses), and to pass the Qualifying Examination within 24 months of enrolment to be confirmed a PhD candidate.
CBmE graduate students are required to take these core courses to develop their skills for bioethics research and dissemination:
1. NG5001 Academic Communication for Graduate Researchers
2. MDG5230 Bioethics: Core Philosophical and Empirical Approaches
For the elective courses, students may choose from those offered by CBmE (see below) as well as relevant courses from broader NUS offerings (usually NUS Medicine, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences). Students should discuss what electives to take with their supervisor(s).
For the research (thesis) component, students will be engaged in supervised research with a member of the CBmE faculty as the primary thesis advisor for their candidature, at the end of which, they submit a thesis that is examined by a Board of Examiners. PhD students will also have a Thesis Advisory Committee which is responsible for monitoring their progress and making recommendations on the suitability of the candidate for submission of their theses.
For more information, please see Programme Overview – NUS Medicine Graduate Studies | NUS Medicine Graduate Studies
Thesis Topics
The interdisciplinary nature of CBmE and our diverse expertise means that we are able to provide supervision for thesis projects in bioethics that employ philosophical or policy analysis methods, or which incorporate empirical research methods. Topics should generally reflect the research interests of our faculty members (Assistant Professor and above), which include a broad range of topics across the field of bioethics, including: clinical ethics, public health ethics, research ethics, reproductive ethics, and the ethics of biotechnology, including AI.
Scholarship and financial aid opportunities may be available for outstanding prospective students.
Please email individual faculty members to discuss their interest and availability for supervision prior to application with the School. Or you can contact Director of Graduate Education, Professor Angus Dawson, at ajdawson@nus.edu.sg in the first instance.
Admission
There are two intakes per academic year, one in August and the other in January.
Intake
Closing Date
Application Outcome
Semester 1 (August)
31 December
30 April*
End of April
End of June
Semester 2 (January)
30 June
30 September*
End of October
End of November
- MSc students should have the ability to pursue research in bioethics at a MSc level
- PhD students should have the ability to pursue research in bioethics at a PhD level
If you are interested in pursuing a PhD or MSc with CBmE, please contact individual faculty members to discuss potential thesis topics and their availability for supervision prior to your application.
You may also contact our Director of Graduate Education, Professor Angus Dawson, at ajdawson@nus.edu.sg if you are unsure about suitable topics or supervisors, or you have academic queries about our graduate bioethics programme.
Please click on the below links for information on admission requirements, application procedures and other relevant information.
Contact Persons
Name
Contact for
Tel No.
General enquiries related to graduate research programmes
(MSc / PhD) in NUSMed
Professor Angus Dawson
Suitable topics or supervisors, or academic queries about our graduate bioethics programme
+65 6516 7201
Courses
Semester 1 - MDG5231 Topics in Biomedical and Behavioural Research Ethics
Coordinator/s
Professor Jerry Menikoff
Course Description
This course will expose students to the history and theoretical foundations of ethics in biomedical and behavioural research as well as examination of major ethical issues arising in the conduct of such research. Topics covered include the history of research ethics, theories and concepts in research ethics review, ethical issues relating to various research methodologies, and ethical issues arising in various types of biomedical and behavioural research.
Units
4
Semester 1 - MDG5215 Healthcare Ethics and Law
Coordinator/s
Dr Sumytra Menon and Adj. Associate Professor Lee See Muah
Course Description
This course is an introduction to healthcare law and clinical ethics. No experience in law or bioethics is needed. The course will cover the core legal and ethical issues in clinical practice including clinical decision-making (consent, mental capacity, refusal, end of life, role of family, mature minors, lasting powers of attorney, advance plans, best interests), medical negligence, patient confidentiality and disclosure, vulnerable adults and children at risk, innovative treatments and telemedicine. The course aims to develop skills of critical thinking and analysis to equip participants to apply bioethical and legal principles to various healthcare issues in healthcare practice.
Units
4
Semester 1 - MDG5216 Ethics in Infectious Disease and Public Health
Coordinator/s
Professor Angus Dawson
Course Description
Students will be able to identify and critically evaluate ethical considerations in policies, systems and interventions intended to protect and promote the health of populations. Students will be introduced to ethical theories and frameworks used in public health, and asked to consider the role of culture, values and context in applying these in practice. Seminars will revolve around topics in disease prevention and control, resource allocation in healthcare, and global health. Case studies in, e.g. vaccination ethics, use of technology in healthcare, tobacco control, etc, will illustrate the application of key principles. Students will be assessed via presentations and written submissions, and participation in class discussions and an online forum.
Units
4
Semester 2 - MDG5248 Ethics of Health Data and Artificial Intelligence
Coordinator/s
Dr Owen Schaefer
Course Description
This course will explore the ways in which ethical values, analysis, and reflection can inform the use of health data and artificial intelligence/machine learning, enabling students to critically engage with ethical nuances and tradeoffs that pervade the area. We will provide general tools for ethical analysis, then apply these to various facets of data and AI ethics: Privacy, consent, public interest, bias, transparency, governance, and public engagement. Focus will be on application of analysis to cases involving health data and healthcare settings, though many of the principles and issues discussed have application much more widely.
Units
4
Semester 2 - MDG5230 Bioethics: Core Philosophical and Empirical Approaches
Coordinator/s
Associate Professor Michael Dunn
Course Description
Ethical issues (questions about values, right and wrong) pervade many areas of biomedicine and biomedical science. This course aims to provide students with the theoretical understanding and practical skills necessary to reflect critically upon bioethical issues and engage effectively in discussions about them. Students will be introduced to methodological techniques of argumentation via an analysis of some of the major contemporary debates in the ethics of health care and the biomedical sciences, developing highly transferrable skills in ethical reasoning, critical reflection and moral justification. Students will also learn how empirical research can, in various ways, support the process of developing arguments to address questions about what ought to be done in the face of ethical uncertainty.
Units
4
Semester 1 and 2 - NG5001 Academic Communication for Graduate Researchers
(For students admitted from AY2022/2023 onwards)
Coordinator/s
Professor Angus Dawson
Course Description
Designed for all PhD students of the NUS Graduate School (NUSGS), this course facilitates further development of students’ academic literacies in critical reading, writing and oral presentation. For critical reading, students will be guided to deconstruct and evaluate arguments – competences which students will then deploy by writing a proposal. In writing the proposal, students will need to demonstrate the ability to use suitable academic conventions. This proposal will subsequently be delivered as an oral presentation to a cross-disciplinary audience. This course utilizes a blended learning approach, where students’ learning experiences will comprise in-class and online synchronous and asynchronous lessons and activities.
Units
4
Semester 1 and 2 - MDG5234 Independent Study (IS) course (CBmE)
Coordinator/s
PhD Student Individual Supervisors
Course Description
PhD and MSc candidates may undertake independent study of a topic in bioethics under the supervision of a member of the Centre for Biomedical Ethics (CBmE) faculty. They can formulate a topic of interest in advance and approach their prospective supervisor (with relevant research interests) to discuss and write a proposal for the Independent Study (IS) course (CBmE). They are advised to start working on the project several weeks before the start of the semester so that they can have sufficient time for any project revision if necessary. Students and supervisors are required to submit the CBmE ISC Contract agreeing to a plan of work and assessment. Students may check with CBmE to check for the list of ISC projects and prerequisites.
Units
4