The Primary Master of Medicine (Surgery) / MHKICBSC Written Examination is offered as a conjoint exam, with tripartite arrangements amongst NUS DGMS, College of Surgeons Hong Kong (CSHK) and The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd). Successful candidates may apply to be a Member in Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd).

PROGRAMME COMPONENTS

Part 1 - Applied Basic Sciences Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) paper

This part consists of 180 One Best Answer questions on Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology.
Each question will have 5 options and only one will be the best answer.
No mark will be deducted for wrong answers. Equally, no mark will be given if more than 1 answer are marked per question
Duration of the exam is three hours

Part 2 - Clinical Problem Solving Extended Matching Question (EMQ) paper

This part consists of 150 extended matching items on different themes in surgery.
Questions consist of a theme, a list of options (labelled alphabetically), an instruction and a variable number of clinical situations.
For each of the clinical situations, the candidates should choose the single most likely option according to the instruction.
It is possible for one option to be the answer to more than one of the clinical situations.
Marks will not be deducted for a wrong answer. Equally, no mark will be given if more than one option is marked.
Duration of the exam is three hours.

Please refer to the MHKICBSC Exam Regulations” for more details.

Parts 1 and 2 do not need to be taken in sequence.

ADMISSION

Expand All +Collapse All -

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

All applicants applying for this examination must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

Hold a recognised basic medical degree. 
Possess a valid Singapore Medical Council (SMC) Practising Certificate. 
Have successfully completed their PGY1 or houseman year

Examination Placements

Priority will be given to applicants applying to both Part 1 and Part 2 examinations in 1 examination sitting. All applications will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis with completed application and payment.

The Division of Graduate Medical Studies (DGMS) is not obliged to give any reasons for unsuccessful applications.

APPLICATION

Subject to satisfying the eligibility criteria, applicants may choose to apply to 1 of the following exam options:

Exam Option A: Primary MMed (Surgery)/MHKICBSC Part 1 & 2 Written Exams (both exams to be taken consecutively on 2 exam days in 1 exam diet)
Exam Option B: Primary MMed (Surgery)/MHKICBSC Part 1 Written Exam
Exam Option C: Primary MMed (Surgery)/MHKICBSC Part 2 Written Exam

There are 2 application steps to complete for this exam application. All applicants are required to complete the following:
1. Apply online via the DGMS Online System for Course Applications (OSCA) by 10 December 2025:
  1. A completed application does not indicate a successful placement or admission into the examination.
  2. After submitting the online application, candidates must complete the Declaration on Current Employment.
    .
2. Submit the MHKICBSC application form (in hardcopy) with 2 passport-sized photographs by 5 January 2026:
  1. Applicants may refer to the guide to filling up the MHKICBSC application form.
  2. Applicants are to indicate clearly which exam part(s) they wish to take by ticking the corresponding checkboxes in Section 1.
  3. Submission of document to DGMS' office may be done either in person or by post:
    - In-person submissions: Schedule an appointment by emailing both Ms Rachel Seow and Mr Jason Low at rachelseow@visitor.nus.edu.sg and jasonlow@visitor.nus.edu.sg.
    - Postal submissions: Ensure that your documents reach the DGMS office by the application deadline; late submissions will not be accepted.
      .
The following documents must be attached to the online submission to DGMS by the closing date:
1. Recent passport-sized photograph (image has to be 400 by 514 pixels)
2. 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):
  1. Identification documents:
    - NRIC for locals / Permanent Residents or Employment Pass and Passport for foreigners (residing in Singapore)
  2. Recognised basic medical degree
  3. Valid practising certificate from SMC
  4. Certificate of Experience as proof of satisfactory completion of PGY1 or Housemanship
    .
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:
1. the issuing University or Medical School;
2. Medical Council of which you are registered and licensed to practice;
3. Government Ministries of Health;
4. a notary public or Justice of the Peace;
5. DGMS - For authentication by 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 examination.

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

Late or incomplete applications will not be entertained. Email applications will not be accepted.

Successful applicants will be notified via email to accept the placement and make the Examination/Programme fee payment via the application portal. Placement will be confirmed only after payment receipt. The Division of Graduate Medical Studies (DGMS) is not obliged to provide any reasons for unsuccessful applications.

FEES

Expand All +Collapse All -

FEES

Description	Fee (SGD)
Application Fee*	98.10
Examination fee for Part 1 & Part 2 (Exam Option A)	3,300.00
Examination Fee for Part 1 only (Exam Option B)	1,600.00
Examination Fee for Part 2 only (Exam Option C)	1,700.00
Payment Modes	PayNow (preferred option), Credit / Debit card

Notes:

All fees listed are in Singapore Dollars, including the prevailing Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate unless stated otherwise.
*The Application fee is non-refundable and must be paid at the time of application.
All successful payments will receive a Tax Invoice (also known as the receipt) via a system-generated email. 
Successful applicants will be notified via email to accept placement and to pay the Examination fee. Placement will be confirmed only after payment receipt.
DGMS reserves all rights to review and adjust fees as necessary and accordingly without prior notice.

WITHDRAWAL

Expand All +Collapse All -

WITHDRAWAL POLICY

All withdrawal and refund requests will be subject to a 10% administrative charge capped at SGD 500.00. To submit your request, please use this form.
All requests must be submitted within 14 calendar days from the last day of the Examination end date or before the programme commencement date, where applicable.
Supporting documents must be submitted via email in all cases after submission of the online request.
The Division will generally consider providing refunds to candidates under the following circumstances:
- Medical – Refund request must be accompanied by a medical certificate.
- Pregnancy – Refund request must be accompanied by a medical report.
- Involvement in an accident, e.g. victim of crime, accident or disaster – Refund request must be supported by evidence such as a medical report and/or police report.
- Compassionate grounds - Bereavement in the immediate family refers to the loss of parent(s), grandparent, sibling, spouse, or child and must be supported by relevant documents such as a death certificate, proof of the relationship, etc.
Requests for refund under the following reasons will not be considered:
- Lack of preparedness or readiness for the Examination/Programme for which the candidate/student has enrolled.
- Failure to arrange time away from work.
- Inability to secure a visa or other travel documents required to attend the Examination/Programme.

For further inquiries, please contact:
Rachel SEOW (Ms) / Jason LOW (Mr)
Tel: (65) 6601 4074 / 6516 3301
Email: rachelseow@visitor.nus.edu.sg / jasonlow@visitor.nus.edu.sg

DGMS Address
National University of Singapore
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Division of Graduate Medical Studies
16 Medical Drive
Block MD3 Level 2
Singapore 117600
Attn: Rachel Seow

Master of Medicine (Surgery) Examination - VIVA

EXAMINATION DATES

Saturday, 29 November 2025

APPLICATION PERIOD

November diet:
Tuesday, 9 September 2025 to Tuesday, 23 September 2025
[select programme under Master’s by Coursework, Part-Time, Term = Aug 2025]

APPLY ONLINE (New Application Portal: All applicants, including resit candidates, will need to create a new account in GDA3)

ADMISSION FEES WITHDRAWAL

ADMISSION

Expand All +Collapse All -

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Residents should adhere to the timelines for completing their Master of Medicine (Surgery) [MMed (Surg)] VIVA examination as per Residency Advisory Committee (RAC) rules. Failure to do so may render themselves vulnerable to delays in passing the MMed (Surg) examination and subsequent delays in becoming eligible for promotion/taking the exit examination.

All applicants applying for this examination must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

Hold a recognised basic medical degree. 
Have successfully completed the Primary MMed (Surg) [Pri MMed (Surg)], or obtained full MRCS or equivalent.
Possess a valid Singapore Medical Council (SMC) Practising Certificate. 
Residents undergoing the specialist/ residency training in Singapore and must have completed Year 2 of the Residency Programme (R2).

APPLICATION

Applicants are required to submit an online application via Graduate Admission System (GDA3) by the stipulated closing date. A step-by-step guide to applying online can be found here. A completed application would have fulfilled the following:

All required fields are accurately filled, and all supporting documents are uploaded into the system.
The non-refundable application fee payment is successful and supported by Tax Invoice (also known as the receipt), which is downloadable from the system.

The following documents must be submitted together with your application:

Recent passport-sized photograph (image has to be 400 by 514 pixels)
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 (residing in Singapore)
Recognised basic medical degree
Pass letter for Pri MMed (Surg) or Inter-Collegiate MRCS
Valid practising certificate from SMC

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 DGMS office, original certificates and documents must be produced.

^#Applicants must submit an authenticated translation if their official supporting documents is 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 examination.

Applicants whose original documents have been damaged or misplaced must apply to the relevant organizations / 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.

FEES

Expand All +Collapse All -

FEES

Description	Fee (SGD)
Application fee*	87.20
Examination fee	3,522.80
Payment Modes	PayNow (preferred option), Credit / Debit card

Notes:

All fees listed are in Singapore Dollars, including the prevailing Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate unless stated otherwise.
*The Application fee is non-refundable and must be paid at the time of application.
All payments should be supported by a Tax Invoice (also known as the receipt), which can be downloaded from the system upon successful payment.
Successful applicants will be notified via email to accept placement. Placement will be confirmed only after successful payment transaction.
DGMS reserves all rights to review and adjust fees as necessary and accordingly without prior notice.

WITHDRAWAL

Expand All +Collapse All -

WITHDRAWAL POLICY

All withdrawal and refund requests will be subject to a 10% administrative charge capped at SGD 500.00. To submit your request, please use this form.
All requests must be submitted within 14 calendar days from the last day of the Examination end date or before the programme commencement date, where applicable.
Supporting documents must be submitted via email in all cases after submission of the online request.
The Division will generally consider providing refunds to candidates under the following circumstances:
- Medical – Refund request must be accompanied by a medical certificate.
- Pregnancy – Refund request must be accompanied by a medical report.
- Involvement in an accident, e.g. victim of crime, accident or disaster – Refund request must be supported by evidence such as a medical report and/or police report.
- Compassionate grounds - Bereavement in the immediate family refers to the loss of parent(s), grandparent, sibling, spouse, or child and must be supported by relevant documents such as a death certificate, proof of the relationship, etc.
Requests for refund under the following reasons will not be considered:
- Lack of preparedness or readiness for the Examination/Programme for which the candidate/student has enrolled.
- Failure to arrange time away from work.
- Inability to secure a visa or other travel documents required to attend the Examination/Programme.

For further inquiries, please contact:
Nur Irdina MAH (Ms) - OIC | Joanne TAN (Ms)
Tel: (65) 6601 8210 | 6516 4527
Email: irdina@nus.edu.sg | joannetan@nus.edu.sg