Child and Adolescent Health

Programme Objective 

Jointly organised by the Division of Graduate Medical Studies and the Department of Paediatrics, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, the Graduate Diploma in Child and Adolescent Health (GDCAH) is designed to provide continued professional development for physicians (general practitioners, family physicians and community paediatricians) who are motivated to advance their clinical expertise in the delivery of child and adolescent health in the community and in their family practice.

The GDCAH intends to build a community of practice made up of community physicians serving in our primary healthcare who are driven to pursue a journey of lifelong learning to continually improve our practice in delivering care to children and adolescents. This community of practice is scaffolded by provision of longitudinal mentorship and development of an enduring, interprofessional, collaborative relationship amongst family physicians and paediatricians.

Programme Overview 

Programme Structure

The GDCAH is a 1-year part time graduate diploma programme made up of 6 academic courses (4 modular credits per course, therefore a total of 24 modular credits). Participants can choose to complete either Graduate Certificate in Child Health (comprising Courses 1 – 3) and/or Graduate Certificate in Child Development and Adolescent Health (comprising Courses 4 – 6). Participants who successfully complete the 2 Graduate Certificates are eligible to be conferred the Graduate Diploma in Child and Adolescent Health (GDCAH). Email us for details.

Programme Schedule

The Graduate Diploma in Child and Adolescent Health (GDCAH) Programme will be taking place during the following periods:

1. Graduate Certificate in Child Health (Courses 1 – 3) : 3 August 2024 to 14 December 2024
2. Graduate Certificate in Child Development and Adolescent Health (Courses 4 – 6): 8 February 2025 to 28 June 2025

Please click here to view the detailed GDCAH schedule.

Learning Together Clinics (LTC) will be conducted once every two weeks (weekday AM/PM) or weekend (AM only).

Successful applicants may be able to choose their preferred LTC sessions based on the availability of clinic slots. More details will be shared closer to the clinic dates.

Trainers

The GDCAH faculty consists of specialists working in related fields including paediatrics, child development, adolescent medicine, family medicine, lifestyle and weight management, psychiatry and psychology, sexual health, dental, dietetics and complementary health, etc.

From Our Past Participants

“The course has been very useful, and I have definitely gained more confidence seeing paediatric cases. The faculty and trainers are so nice and encouraging too.” Dr Jacquelyn Melody, Deputy Head (Family Physician) National University Polyclinic

“For those who are joining the GDCAH, my advice would be: Participate and take away valuable pearls to improve your future practice. Also build a community of physicians who you can tap on for wisdom.” Dr Jonathan Tan, Family Physician National Healthcare Group Polyclinics

“This module on Acute Paediatrics is relevant for the Family Physician. I gained a lot of insight and confidence to practice and see young patients after refreshing my memory at this course and learning from the experts!” Anonymous

Programme Components 

Graduate Certificate in Child Health

Course	Title	Description	NUS Programme Code	SkillsFuture TGS No.
Course 1	Care of the Newborn and Common Paediatric Surgical Issues	This course emphasises on the general practitioner’s (GP’s) role in the care and management of common neonatal conditions and paediatric surgical conditions that present within the community, including neonatal rash, neonatal jaundice, lumps and bumps, common urogenital and umbilical complaints in children. Parental counselling techniques, including knowledge on expected weight gain, breastfeeding and other feeding techniques, fussing, sleeping habits and safe positions, stool changes, will be imparted in this course. Up-to-date knowledge on how socioeconomic status and psycho-emotional health of parents may affect neonatal outcomes and a young child’s neurodevelopment will be addressed.	CAH5101	TGS-2022011575
Course 2	Care of the Well Child	This course emphasises on the general practitioner’s (GP’s) role in the care of the well child – It will enable and empower our learners to understand and differentiate between the normal, normal variants and abnormalities in a child's growth and development, including knowing the importance of childhood vaccinations and how to manage parental concerns regarding vaccines, dietary habits and requirements in a growing child, toilet training and achieving bladder and bowel control. Learners will also acquire knowledge and experience communicating and counselling parents and patients, and providing anticipatory advice through clinical exposure at our 'Learning Together' clinics.	CAH5102	TGS-2022011545
Course 3	Acute Paediatrics	This course emphasises on the general practitioner’s (GP’s) role in managing common acute medical conditions in children and adolescents presenting to primary healthcare. Learners will also be proficient in recognising and stabilising common paediatric emergencies such as acute respiratory distress, severe infections, shock states and more. In addition, learners will gain insight on how to refer to specialist care appropriately after initial management.	CAH5103	TGS-2022011546

Graduate Certificate in Child Development and Adolescent Health

Course	Title	Description	NUS Programme Code	SkillsFuture TGS No.
Course 4	Early Childhood Development	Touchpoints are periods in the first years of life during which the child’s spurts in development result in disruption in the family. The succession of touchpoints in a child’s development functions as a map that can be identified and anticipated by both parents and care providers. As parents would benefit from affirmation of their child’s development and the nurturing environment they have provided for their child, this short intensive 3-day course teaches healthcare professionals caregiving themes that matter to parents (as opposed to traditional milestones). It will develop a model of practice that establishes collaborative relationships with families presenting to our primary healthcare, laying the foundation for strong family bonds.	CAH5104	TGS-2022012273
Course 5	Holistic Care in School-Aged Children	This course emphasises the general practitioner’s (GP’s) role in prevention and early identification of common learning, emotional, behavioural and health problems in school-going children – learners will be equipped with skills to recognise these problems as school-going children frequently present to the primary are setting for minor ailments. Apart from timely and appropriate referral to specialist care when required, learners will be imparted skills to provide advice to parents, offer community-based resources, and lifestyle modification counselling to these children.	CAH5105	TGS-2022012343
Course 6	Adolescent Health	This course emphasises the general practitioner’s (GP’s) role in providing holistic management for or of an adolescent/young adult (10 – 24 years old) presenting to primary healthcare and identifying biopsychosocial risks and/or conditions requiring specialist referral. Learners will be imparted skills on understanding psychosocial assessment such as H.E.A.D.S.S, how to conduct a youth-friendly consultation while effectively applying respect for the young adult and patient confidentiality. Common medical problems in adolescence will also be taught, and learners will also be equipped with motivational interviewing strategies to facilitate adolescent behaviour change.	CAH5106	TGS-2022012344

Eligibility Criteria 

Learners must meet the following prerequisites for all courses:

1. M.B.B.S. degree or equivalent
2. At least 2 years post-registration
3. English language requirement: Applicants whose native tongue or medium of undergraduate instruction is not English must fulfil a minimum level of English proficiency (TOEFL)

CME Points 

25 CME points will be awarded to students upon completion of the Graduate Certificate. 

Programme Assessment and Examination 

Programme assessment will be conducted longitudinally throughout the programme using the following formats:

• Attendance (at least 80%)
• Assignments
• Demonstrations
• Online self-assessments
• Key Feature Problems and/or Script Concordance Tests

As this is a SSG-approved programme, learners must record attendance as per the programme assessment requirements (at least 80%), and pass all assessment components in order to be eligible for SSG funding.

Fees and Funding 

Eligible Singaporeans and Permanent Residents may be able to enjoy up to 70% - 90% SSG subsidies. All self-sponsored Singaporeans aged 25 and above can use their existing SkillsFuture Credits to offset for the nett programme fees.

Pricing and Subsidies Summary

Programme types	A. Graduate Certificate in Child Health (GC1)	B. Graduate Certificate in Child Development and Adolescent Health (GC2)	Graduate Diploma in Child and Adolescent Health (GDCAH) A + B (GC 1 + GC 2)
Total Full Programme Fee [Without SSG Subsidy & with GST]	SGD 17,658.00	SGD 17,658.00	SGD 35,316.00
	With SSG Subsidy & GST (All GC1 3 courses will be SSG subsidised.)	With SSG Subsidy & GST (All GC2 3 courses will be SSG subsidised.)	With GST (Only one GC will be SSG subsidised.*)
Total Nett Programme Fee for Singaporeans 39 years and below, PRs and eligible LTVP+1 holders	SGD 5,297.40	SGD 5,297.40	SGD 22,955.40 (SGD 5,297.40 + SGD 17,658.00)
Total Nett Programme Fee for Singaporeans 40 years (MCES2) and learners eligible ETSS3	SGD 1,765.80	SGD 1,765.80	SGD 19,423.80 (SGD 1,765.80 + SGD 17,658.00)

• *Only 1 Graduate Certificate (either GC1 or GC2) will be SSG subsidised for the GDCAH.
• If applicants are interested in applying for the entire GDCAH; they will have to pay the full programme fee for the other GC.
• If both GCs are SSG subsidised, the learner will not be conferred the GDCAH but will receive 2 GCs instead.

Footnotes:

1. Long Term Visit Pass+ (LTVP+) Holders are also eligible for SSG funding. Terms & Conditions Apply.
2. Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy (MCES) - Singaporeans aged 40 and above may enjoy subsidies up to 90% of the programme fee.
3. Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS) - SME-sponsored employees (Singapore Citizens and PRs) may enjoy subsidies up to 90% of the programme fee.

Student Services Fee

Description	Fees (SGD)
Student Services Fee#	25.46

• Successful applicants will be notified via email to accept programme offer.
• Student bill will be generated after you have completed your online Registration (Part One), from end July (for August intake) or end December (for January intake) onwards.

^# In addition to the programme fee, you are required to pay a non-refundable and non-transferable Student Services Fee (SSF) of S$25.46 (incl. GST) for enrolling into the programme every semester.

Minimum and Maximum Number of Candidates 

The maximum capacity is 20 students for the upcoming intake.
If there is an over-subscription, applicants may be placed on the waiting list and will be notified once seats are available.

Application 

Graduate Certificate in Child Development and Adolescent Health (GC2): 8 February 2025 to 28 June 2025

The application period for courses under the Graduate Certificate in Child Development and Adolescent Health (GC2) is from 4 October 2024 to 1 November 2024. The 3 courses are to be registered individually via the NUS Online Application Portal.

Please refer to the NUS Lifelong Learning Online Application Portal User Guide.

For assistance with the NUS Online Application Portal, contact lifelonglearning@nus.edu.sg.

For course enquiries, contact nusmedcet@nus.edu.sg.

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

The following documents must be submitted by the closing date:

• Certified true copy / scanned coloured copy of the following documents (Official English translations will be required for stamps or certificates sent that are not in English):
  • Identification documents:
    • NRIC: for locals / Permanent Residents
    • Employment Pass and Passport: for foreigners
  • Recognised basic medical degree
  • Certificates of other medical qualifications, where applicable
  • A copy of personal indemnity insurance (Medical Malpractice Insurance)
  • Singapore Medical Council (SMC) Practising Certificate (can be downloaded from SMC website)
• Updated CV
• Motivation letter (maximum word limit: 1000 words):
  • Tell us about yourself and your current job, the different roles and responsibilities you hold.
  • Tell us what motivate you to take on the Graduate Diploma in Child and Adolescent Health/ Graduate Certificate programme.
  • What are you expecting to take home after completion of the programme.
  • What are you intending or hoping to change (can be at a personal, professional and societal levels) after acquiring new skills and knowledge.

Withdrawal Policy 

If you wish to withdraw from a course enrolled under NUS lifelong learning programmes, please email to lifelonglearning@nus.edu.sg for advice. Withdrawal without penalty is only allowed if your request is submitted before end of 2^nd instructional week and refund of paid programme fee will be arranged after the withdrawal request is processed.

Depending on when (within the academic calendar) you submit your withdrawal, a corresponding letter grade ("W" for withdrawn or "F" for failed) may be recorded, and if you are taking a course on an Audit Basis, the letter grade "W" will be recorded. Please refer to this link for more information.

Please note that the Tuition Fee and Student Services Fee (SSF) are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Please note that if you have taken a SSG-funded course, you may be liable to pay back the SSG training grant plus the prevailing Goods and Services Tax (GST) to NUS if you have received the grant for the course and fall into any of the following categories:

• • Failure to fulfil a minimum attendance of 80% for the programme
  • Premature withdrawal from the programme
  • Failure to complete and pass all prescribed coursework, examinations and/or assessments for the programme

 

For course enquiries, contact nusmedcet@nus.edu.sg

For assistance with the NUS Online Application Portal, contact lifelonglearning@nus.edu.sg