Geriatric Medicine

Fees

Description	Fee (SGD)
Application fee*	76.30
Programme fee (inclusive of Examination fee)	7,443.70
Re-Examination fee: Written Examination: Practical Examination:	744.00 1,484.00

Notes:

• Payment modes: PayNow (preferred), VISA, Mastercard or Amex.
• *Application Fee is non-refundable and must be paid at the time of online application.
• All fees are inclusive of the prevailing GST rate and are subject to changes without prior notice.
• Successful applicants will be notified to accept placement and make payment of full Programme fee via email within 2-3 weeks after application closes. Placement will be confirmed only after payment receipt.

Programme Overview

This is a 1-year part-time Programme consisting of 10 self-directed learning workshops. Each workshop is conducted on a Saturday afternoon (3-hour duration) once a month from August 2024 to May 2025. From the AY24/25 intake onwards, there is an added component of a Community Hospital Visit for all learners (more information will be provided during orientation).

Programme Objective

The Graduate Diploma in Geriatric Medicine [GDip (Geri Med)] Programme is offered by the Division of Graduate Medical Studies (DGMS), NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, in collaboration with the Society for Geriatric Medicine Singapore (SGMS). The Programme is designed to provide primary care physicians with basic skills in caring for the older adults.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Medical Officers or General Practitioners with a recognised medical degree (or equivalent).
2. Minimum 2 years of postgraduate clinical experience (excludes housemanship).
3. At least 6 months looking after older adult on a regular basis within the last 3 years. Experience could be gained either locally or overseas.
4. Overseas doctors from non-traditional sources must fulfil additional criteria:
   1. An additional 1 year (minimum) of local experience in Geriatrics (i.e. 2 years of clinical postgraduate experience plus 1 year of geriatrics-related work experience in Singapore)
   2. Submit at the point of application, a strong letter of support from the institution which they are working.
5. English Language Requirement: Applicants whose native language or medium of undergraduate instruction is not English must fulfil a minimum level of English proficiency as listed in the table below.
   

   Types of Tests	Minimum Acceptable Score
   EL1119	C6
   IELTS	6.5 overall with 6.5 in Reading and Writing component
   MUET	200
   TOEFL	580 for paper-based/ 92 - 93 for internet-based

Intake Date

The Programme commences in August annually subject to minimum uptake.

CME Points

CME points will be awarded to successfully enrolled students who attend the GDip (Geri Med) sessions.

Programme Component

There are a total of 10 workshops which will be held from August 2024 to May 2025. The duration of each workshop is 3 hours conducted in the form of lectures, case studies and / or discussions.

Title		Date	Mode of Delivery
Workshop 1	·    Physiological Changes In Older Adults ·    Community Services ·    Atypical Presentation Of Disease	17 Aug 2024	To be conducted face-to-face on NUS Campus.
Workshop 2	·    Approach To Falls And Immobility ·    Principles Of Geriatric Rehabilitation ·    Case Studies: Terminal Care of Older Adults	14 Sep 2024
Workshop 3	·    Health Promotion In Older Adults ·    Principles Of Prescribing In Older Adults - Lecture & Case Studies	12 Oct 2024
Workshop 4	·    Geriatric Assessment, Frailty and Sarcopenia ·    Assessment Of Pain and Use Of Analgesics	9 Nov 2024
Workshop 5	·    Case Studies: Ethical Issues In The Elderly (I.E ACP, DNR, Feeding) ·    Case Studies: Hypertension, Postural Hypotension, Congestive Cardiac Failure	30 Nov 2024
Workshop 6	·    Performing Mental State Examination ·    Differentiating Delirium From Dementia ·    Case Studies: Dementia	11 Jan 2025
Workshop 7	·    Depression & Insomnia ·    Case Studies: Older Adult Abuse	8 Feb 2025
Workshop 8	·    Approach To Poor Feeding, Nutritional Support In Older Adults - Case Studies ·    Practical: Feeding Aids & Appliances ·    Practical: Aids And Appliances	8 Mar 2025
Workshop 9	·    Principles Of Wound Management ·    Wound Care Products ·    Assessment Of Swallowing Impairment In Older Adults	12 Apr 2025
Workshop 10	·    Assessment Of Urinary Incontinence ·    Case Studies: Urinary Incontinence ·    Practical: Continence Aids & Appliances	17 May 2025

Note: The information above is subject to changes without prior notice.

Community Hospital Visit

All learners will be required to visit a community hospital as part of the programme. The visit which involves multi-disciplinary collaborations and clerking, is meticulously designed to enrich the learners’ medical education and clinical skills. More information will be provided during orientation.

Programme Assessment and Examination

Students will be assessed as follows:

1. Each student must achieve at least 80% attendance for the 10 workshops to be eligible to take the examination.
2. Assessment Component
   1. Part A: Theory Assessment (20%)
      • Part A (I): Workshop Assessment (10%)
        • 10 End-of-Workshop Assessment. Each assessment consists of 10 Multiple-choice-question (MCQ) with a duration of 20 minutes. Total mark awarded to each workshop assessment will sum up for the tabulation of the final score for Part A (I)
      • Part A (II): Case Write-ups (10%)
        • Each student is required to write two case reports which should address some of the following areas: immobility, instability, incontinence, intellectual decline, chronic medical problems, social & psychological issues, and carer issues.
        • The case write-ups are to be submitted: by 11 November 2024, 2359hrs (tentative) and by 10 March 2025, 2359hrs (tentative) respectively. The submitted case write-ups will be graded by 2 independent markers and the final score will be the average of the 2 scores.
        • Note: Student must achieve at least 80% combined attendance for the workshops and must pass Part (A) in order to take the written examination held in June 2025.
   2. Part B: Written Examination (30%)
      • 100 MCQs with a duration of 120 minutes.
   3. Part C: Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) (50%)
      • 10 stations where each station consists of 11 minutes (3 minutes of reading and 8 minutes of examining).
      • The category of the stations includes the following:
        • Category I (Practical) – 4 stations: Aids and appliances; Continence devices; Feeding and medications and wound care
        • Category II (Clinical) – 3 stations: Services for the older adult
        • Category III (Clinical) – 3 stations: Approach to clinical problem

Note: Student must achieve at least 80% combined attendance for the workshops, must pass Part (A) and attempted Part (B) in order to take the OSCE held in July 2025.

Retake of Examination

A student who fails either the written or practical examination component may retake the examination at the next available examination upon paying the re-examination fee. All students have two re-examination attempts within 3 years of candidature period.

Funding

The Programme is eligible for the following funding scheme:

1. Agency for Integrated Care (AIC)’s Community Care – GP Partnership Training Award – for GPs sponsored by a Community Care institution. For more information, please email to: ccgpta@aic.sg
2. Claim Skillsfuture credit - At the point of programme registration, please inform the programme administrator that you intend to use your SkillsFuture Credit in part or in full for the qualifying programme fee. You should then submit your claim on the MySkillsFuture Portal within 60 days before the programme start date (date inclusive). Please visit the Skillsfuture site for more information.

Minimum and Maximum Number of Students

The GDip (Geri Med) Programme will commence upon a successful enrolment of the minimum 15 students. The maximum capacity for each intake is 30 students. If there is an over-subscription, applicants will be placed on the waiting list and will be contacted once a vacancy becomes available.

Application

All applications are to be submitted online via Graduate Admission System (GDA2) by the stipulated closing date. A step-by-step guide to applying online can be found here. A completed application has to fulfil the following:

1. All required fields are duly completed concisely with supporting documents^** uploaded onto the system.
2. Obtain a unique 10-digit application number that is auto-generated by the system (we recommend that you jot down the number for reference).
3. A non-refundable SGD76.30 supported by a tax invoice which can be downloaded from the system.

Note that a successfully application does not imply a confirmed placement or admission into the programme.

All applications and fees must be submitted by the stipulated closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be entertained. Hardcopy and email applications will not be accepted.

**The following supporting documents must be uploaded to the GDA2 system by the closing date:

• A recent passport-sized photograph (image has to be in jpeg format, and has to be 400 x 514 pixels)
• CV (employment history; in ascending order) to be submitted using the template provided HERE.
• A certified true copy/scanned coloured copy of the following (Official English translations will be required for stamps or certificates that are not in English):
  • Identification documents:
    • NRIC: for locals/ Permanent Residents
    • Employment Pass and Passport: for foreigners (residing in Singapore)
  • Recognised basic medical degree certificate (MBBS)
  • Valid practising certificate
  • Certificates of other medical qualifications, where applicable
  • English Language Proficiency Test scores, where applicable
  • Documentation of Geriatric posting experience
  • Letter of Support (applicable to overseas applicants)

Photocopies of certificates and/or official translations (in English)# including any other official supporting documents will be accepted only if they have been prepared and/or authenticated by one of the following:

• Issuing University of Medical School;
• Medical Council of which you are registered and licensed to practice;
• Ministry of Health, Singapore;
• Notary public or Justice of the Peace;
• Division of Graduate Medical Studies (DGMS) - For authentication by the DGMS office, original certificates and documents must be produced.

#Applicants must submit an authenticated translation if their official supporting documents are not in English. A fresh ink stamp must be used to authenticate the copy or translation of the primary medical qualification.

Applicants who fail to present their original documents for verification without acceptable reasons will not be admitted to the Programme.

Applicants whose original documents have been damaged or misplaced must apply to the relevant organisations / authorities for replacements or letters of verification.

An applicant is only allowed to enrol concurrently in another programme offered by NUS or another University only if granted approval from the Vice Dean of Faculty and the Head of Department. The Degree Programme refers to any programme (including examination-only programmes) which leads to NUS Degree conferment. DGMS is not obliged to provide reasons for unsuccessful applications. Other respective rules/regulations of DGMS apply.

Deferment Policy

Students who wish to defer will need to write to DGMS, citing the reason for deferment and providing supporting evidence where applicable after acceptance of placement. This request will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The candidature will automatically lapse should an enrolled student fail to complete the Programme within 3 years from the date of matriculation.

Withdrawal Policy

Students must contact the respective Officer-in-Charge (OIC) as soon as they know that they are unable to attend the Programme enrolled. Request to withdraw from the Programme must be made in writing. Emails are acceptable.

Students who notify the Division of their intent to withdraw from the programme must request for a refund before the acceptance of the placement deadline and provide the supporting evidence where appropriate. Any withdrawal request received after acceptance of the placement deadline will not be entertained.

1. Illness - Request for refund must be accompanied by a medical certificate.
2. Pregnancy – Request for refund must be accompanied by a medical report.
3. Involvement in an accident, e.g. victim of crime, accident or disaster – request must be supported by evidence such as a medical report and/or police report.
4. Bereavement in the immediate family – this normally refers to the loss of parent, grandparent, sibling, spouse, or child and must be supported by relevant documents such as a death certificate, proof of the relationship, etc.

Supporting evidence must be presented in all cases.

All refunds granted will be subject to 10% administrative charges capped at SGD500.00.  Requests for refund under the following reasons will not be entertained:

1. Lack of preparedness or readiness for the Programme for which the student has enrolled.
2. Failure to arrange time away from work.
3. Inability to secure a visa or other travel documents required to attend the Programme.

 

To submit your interest in this programme and to be included in our mailing list, please complete this form.

For further inquiries, please contact:
Juay HENG (Mr)
Tel: (65) 6516 4915
Email: tj_heng@nus.edu.sg