Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the eligibility criteria for NUS Medicine?

All high school graduates with recognised qualifications which fulfil the subject pre-requisites are eligible, regardless of nationality. Please refer to NUS Medicine Pre-requisites for more details.

2. What are the accepted qualifications?

Information on the accepted qualifications can be found at NUS Medicine Pre-requisites.

2. What are the required qualifications for those taking the May IB examinations and unable to submit actual results during the application window?

For those submitting predicted IB Diploma results, you would need to submit your predicted IB Diploma results as attested by the applicant’s high school and one of the following:

•    • UCAT
•    or

•    • SAT/ACT with Writing and SAT subject Tests/AP Exams.

Information on the accepted qualifications for IB can be found at NUS Office of Admissions webpage.

3. Are there additional pre-requisites needed for applicants presenting international qualifications?

Yes. All applicants who are presenting international qualifications must present:

•    • high-school examination results
•    or

•    • SAT/ACT with Writing and SAT Subject Tests/ AP Exams for other qualifications such as American High School Diploma

Plus:

•    • UCAT
•    or

•    • For applicants who are not submitting SAT/ACT with Writing and SAT Subject Tests/ AP Exams as their high school qualifications, they may present these as their supplementary qualifications

Applicants must submit good grades for both the high school exam and the UCAT. Both qualifications will be used for shortlisting applicants.

Applicants who do not submit the required pre-requisites will not be shortlisted for NUS Medicine. The list of international qualifications can be found at NUS Admissions Requirements.

4. Why are there additional requirement(s) for international qualifications?

The UCAT are used for top level universities, it provides information about a student’s aptitude for Medicine.

With varying standards across the different international qualifications, the UCAT will provide standardisation across all international qualifications.

5. Can I apply for the upcoming application cycle if I do not have the additional requirements?

All applicants submitting international qualifications will need to submit additional qualifications as stated in point 3.

If you have not taken the UCAT, you may apply by submitting the SAT/ACT with Writing and SAT Subject Tests/ AP Exams for those who are not taking the SAT/ACT with Writing and SAT Subject Tests/ AP Exams as their high school qualifications.

Alternatively, international applicants without UCAT may consider applying in the following application cycle after having taken the UCAT.

1. How do I apply for NUS Medicine?

There are 2 steps to the application process.

All applicants must complete Step 1 and Step 2 to apply to NUS Medicine.

Please refer to How to Apply for more details on the application process.

2. When can I apply for NUS Medicine?

Different qualifications have different application windows. Please refer to NUS Office of Admissions for your respective qualification application window.

Generally, here’s the application windows for various qualifications:

3. Can I apply before my final examination results are released?

All applicants must apply with their final results to be considered for the admissions exercise. Only applicants presenting IB forecast results and local polytechnic graduates may apply before receiving their final results.

More information on the pre-requisites for application may be found at NUS Medicine Pre-requisites

4. Should I apply for NUS Medicine now or only after I have completed my National Service?

Your National Service obligation does not affect your application.
You may choose to apply once you are eligible.

5. Do I have to complete the both the online application form and portfolio submission in one sitting?

There are 2 steps to the online application, which you may do separately.

Step 1 – Apply through the NUS Office of Admissions portal

Step 2 – Submit a portfolio to the NUS Medicine Admissions Portal

You must complete step 1 before proceeding with step 2.

All application submission must be completed within the application period to be considered for shortlisting. Please refer to How to Apply for the application process to NUS Medicine.

6. I have applied to NUS Medicine before. Can I apply again?

Yes, you may re-apply. However, you would need to apply via the Aptitude-Based Admissions Scheme (ABAS) route.

In addition to your online application through the NUS Office of Admissions, you should submit your portfolio to NUS Medicine through the ABAS route. Your application will then be considered with other applicants for the current year of admission.

If you were enrolled in NUS/NTU/SMU previously, you can consider applying under Category E, when the application opens in February. Your application will be considered on the basis of your university results in addition to your ‘A’ level/high school results.

If you are enrolled in a local university, please note that your eligibility for the MOE Tuition Grant is equal to the number of years in your new course, minus the number of years you have already spent in the local university. Thus, if you enroll in Medicine after one year at NUS/NTU/SMU, you would be liable for full (non-subsidized) tuition fees for your last year of study in Medicine.

For more information on fees and the MOE Tuition Grant, please refer to NUS Registrar’s Office .

Please refer to Aptitude-Based Admissions Scheme for more details on re-applying via ABAS.

7. What is the aptitude-based admissions scheme (ABAS)?

The ABAS is a way of exercising discretionary criteria in admitting a small number of students to the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. Applications submitted through this route will be evaluated by the Selection Committee on the basis of exceptional talent and achievement in addition to academic results. More information can be found at Aptitude-Based Admissions Scheme.

8. Why am I directed to another website when I click on the ‘Apply Now’ or ‘Submit Portfolio’ button?

Application is done via the NUS Office of Admissions portal while the portfolio is submitted via the NUS Medicine Admissions portal. Please refer to How to Apply for the application process to NUS Medicine.

9. How soon can I expect to hear from NUS Medicine Admissions once I have submitted my application?

Applicants can check the updated status of their application/shortlisting by the first week of April via the NUS Applicant Portal. You will not receive any hardcopy or email notifications. Applicants who provide a valid Singapore mobile number on the NUS Office of Admissions application form will receive an SMS notification. Shortlisted candidates must complete the Admissions Assessment in April to be considered for admission. Please refer to How to Apply for the timeline after application and portfolio submission

10. Given my academic results, what are my chances of being shortlisted?

The cut-off point depends on the competition of the pool of applicants each year. You may refer to NUS Indicative Grade Profile for the indicative grade profile of students admitted into NUS Medicine.

1. What should I include in my NUS Medicine Portfolio.

You can find detailed information at NUS Medicine Portfolio

2. Can I make changes to my portfolio after I have submitted in the portal?

No, changes cannot be made and your submission would be taken as the final. Please refer to NUS Medicine Portfolio for more details on the portfolio.

1. What is the shortlisting criteria for NUS Medicine?

There are 2 methods for shortlisting:

1. Applications via Standard Scheme – shortlisted purely based on academic grades.

2. Applications via Aptitude-Based Admissions Scheme (ABAS) – shortlisted on the basis of exceptional talent and achievement in their portfolio in addition to adequate academic results.

Applicants who have previously attended the admissions assessment must apply via the Aptitude-Based Admissions Scheme (ABAS) and are advised to submit an updated portfolio. The Admissions Committee will take account achievements and activities you did in school, as well as in the period between your last interview and application.

2. What is the selection process for NUS Medicine?

In selecting students who will be trained and educated to become the next generation of doctors for Singapore, it is necessary to look beyond academic measures. Some other attributes of a good doctor are pro-social behaviour, strong communication skills, insight, integrity, teamwork, meticulous work habits and a sense of responsibility. Our careful examination of this issue has involved discussion with many segments of the medical community and research into best practices from top medical schools around the world. Admission to NUS Medicine is extremely competitive. Each year, we make difficult decisions when selecting from among the many talented and accomplished students who apply for admission.

Shortlisted candidates will need to complete the Admissions Assessment to be considered for admission. The Admissions Assessment comprises of:

1. Focused Skills Assessment (FSA)

2. Situational Judgement Test (SJT)

NUS Medicine offers 280 places annually to the top-ranking candidates. The subsequent 70 candidates will be placed on the NUS Medicine reserve list and notified of their status via email.

Please refer to NUS Medicine Admissions Assessment for more details on the shortlisting and selection process.

3. Are there any changes to the selection process due to COVID-19?

The selection process remains unchanged, applicants are required to attend the Admissions Assessment to be considered for admission.

The Focused Skills Assessment (FSA) will be held in person on campus.

The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) will be held online.

Please refer to NUS Medicine Admissions Assessment for more details on the Admissions Assessment.

4. How many places are offered every year?

280 places are offered each year.

1. What is the study duration for NUS Medicine?

The study duration is 5 years. All medical students upon graduation must successfully complete a one-year housemanship in order to qualify for registration by the Singapore Medical Council as a doctor. In addition, they would also need to serve a bond with the Singapore Ministry of Health. For local students, the period of the bond is five years; for international students, it is six years. During this time, they will be working as a doctor in a government hospital in Singapore. Please refer to MOH Service Obligation for more details on the Service Obligation.

2. What is the bond period for studying in NUS Medicine?

For local students, the period of the bond is five years; for international students, it is six years. During this time, graduates work as a doctor in a government hospital in Singapore under the Singapore Ministry of Health. Do note that the bond period begins after medical students have successfully completed their one-year housemanship upon graduation to qualify for registration by the Singapore Medical Council as a doctor.

Please refer to MOH Service Obligation for more details on the Service Obligation.

1. How much are the tuition fees?

Tuition fees are highly subsidised by the Singapore Government, which pays for the bulk of the operating costs besides the infrastructural costs. The fees are reviewed and adjusted periodically to reflect the cost of providing education to students. Please refer to NUS Medicine Tuition Fees for the tuition fees of the current academic year.

2. What scholarships and financial aid are available?

Students can receive financial assistance from the NUS Office of Financial Aid as well as needs-based scholarships and bursaries from NUS Medicine. All offered candidates will be considered for NUS Scholarships and are shortlisted based on their performance at the Admissions Assessment before being invited for the Scholarship Interviews. Please refer to NUS Medicine Financial Assistance for more information.

1. Can I appeal if I am not offered a place after attending the assessment?

Every year, nearly 2,000 students apply to study Medicine at NUS. About 1,200 are shortlisted for interviews to fill 280 places. We regret that we must turn away many deserving candidates. Please understand that your candidacy would have been carefully considered, and the decisions of the Admissions Committee are final. If you decide to appeal, you should remain realistic about your chances. At this time, all places have been filled. Should any student withdraw from the class before the beginning of term, we may be able to make an offer to shortlisted students on our reserve list. In the meantime, if you were offered another course of study at NUS or at another university, or are in receipt of a scholarship offer, we would encourage you to take up that opportunity.

2. I am not offered a place in the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine but would like to study Medicine. What other options do I have?

You may wish to consider the Duke-NUS Medical School, a partnership between NUS and Duke University School of Medicine in the U.S. This four-year programme, culminating in the degree of Medical Doctor (M.D.), accepts students with bachelor’s degrees and will enable graduates to practice medicine in Singapore. They also have a pathways programme that offers conditional admissions in partnership with undergraduate programmes. More information can be found at Pre-MD Pathways for a Medical Degree at Duke-NUS

Medical schools in Singapore have limited places. You may consider applying to any of the other medical schools that are recognised by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC). You can find the full list at the Singapore Medical Council website.

3. Can I study Medicine overseas for a few years and then transfer to NUS Medicine?

Only Singapore Citizens and its Permanent Residents who are current medical students of recognised overseas institutions are eligible. These overseas institutions must be recognised by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC). You can find the full list at the Singapore Medical Council website.

For more information on transferring to NUS Medicine, please refer to Transfer to NUS Medicine.

Please note that NUS has a residency requirement of 50%, so transfer students must spend at least three years in the medical school at NUS, no matter how many years they have already completed elsewhere.

Foreign students must apply via the standard admissions route to begin at Year 1. For more information, please refer to How to Apply.

You may also refer to the Transfer Frequently Asked Questions for more details.

4. Can I study Medicine overseas and return to Singapore for my house officer or residency training?

International medical graduates from any of the medical schools listed on the Singapore Medical Council’s (SMC) Schedule of schools will be eligible to apply for medical registration with SMC to undertake housemanship or residency in Singapore upon their return.

If you are keen on returning to practise medicine in Singapore upon graduating from a medical school overseas, you are strongly encouraged to enrol in and complete your medical training at one of the schools on the SMC’s Schedule. Otherwise, you are advised to attain a postgraduate medical qualification recognised by SMC in order to be considered for medical registration. It will also be beneficial for you to familiarise yourself with the requirements and criteria for medical registration in Singapore.

More information regarding the SMC’s list of basic and postgraduate medical qualifications as well as criteria for medical registration can be found on its website at www.smc.gov.sg.

1. What is the career path for doctors in Singapore?

All medical students upon graduation must successfully complete a one-year housemanship in order to qualify for registration by the Singapore Medical Council as a doctor. Here is the overview (taken from Medical Service Career Path (mohh.com.sg)):

For more details, please refer to MOHH’s website: Medical Service Career Path (mohh.com.sg)

1. Can I know more about transferring to NUS Medicine?

Please refer to details on the transfer process here: Transfer to NUS Medicine

You can also find the transfer FAQ here: Transfer FAQ

1. Who can I contact for further enquiries?