Duke-NUS Medical PhD admission requirements and pre-requisites

Admission Requirements for PhD

In alignment with our education mission, we review all applicants holistically. We also consider evidence of scholarly work such as research favourably. While we do not set pre-determined cut-offs for GPA scores, they should reflect an academic background that is able to withstand the rigours at Duke-NUS.

The Admissions Committee reviews all application material, reference letters, and interviewer comments carefully to better understand each applicant. We seek to identify those with the traits and skills that will help them succeed as scientists. The Admissions Committee seeks applicants who are academically capable team players and who have demonstrated a strong interest in research.

There is no restriction on re-application.

Pre-requisites for PhD Programmes

(I) PhD in Integrated Biology and Medicine

  • All applicants must have completed, or be in the final year of, a bachelor or honours degree
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test results (Optional)*
  • 3 – 5 references, typically from professors, mentors and/or employers
  • Relevant research experience is looked upon favourably
  • Applicants are also required to meet the "Other Requirements" below

 

(II) PhD in Quantitative Biology and Medicine

  • Depending on your intended concentration area,
    • Biostatistics and Health Data Science: a master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in a quantitative discipline (Statistics/Biostatistics/Math/Computer Science/Epidemiology).
    • Computational Biology: a bachelor’s degree in biological, computational, or quantitative discipline.
  • All applicants must have completed, or be in the final year of, a bachelor or honours degree
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test results (Optional)*
  • 3 – 5 references, typically from professors, mentors and/or employers
  • Applicants are also required to meet the "Other Requirements" below

*Submission of GRE Test results

With effect from 2026 Intake, standardized test scores such as the GRE are optional for PhD (IBM) and (QBM) applications.

You may still choose to submit your GRE scores, and it is encouraged to do so if you believe it will enhance your application. Evidence of strong quantitative, verbal, and analytical skills through GRE scores, as well as indicators of research skills and experience will significantly strengthen your application.

If you choose to enter self-reported test scores, official test scores will become a required component of your application and the official GRE test results must be received by Duke-NUS before the application deadline i.e. 15 Jan. Submitted scores should not be more than 4 years old at the time of admission. Please have your scores released directly to Duke-NUS with the Designated Institution (DI) code of 4915.

Information on the GRE can be found on the ETS website.

 

Other Requirements

Please note that all information provided by the Admissions Department is for information purposes only and does not constitute a legal contract between Duke-NUS and any other person or entity unless otherwise specified. The terms of admission (e.g. tuition fees and the service commitment agreement) and these admissions documents are subject to change without prior notice with input from Duke-NUS stakeholders including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and NUS. Although every reasonable effort is made to present accurate information at the time of publication, Duke-NUS gives no warranties and accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided.

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