How to Apply

Application Procedure for MD-PhD

Applications to the MD-PhD open by June of the preceding year of intake. For applications to the MD-PhD programme, 31st January is the final deadline. While particularly strong candidates are encouraged to apply by 1st September to be considered for early acceptance, admission requirements are the same for both the early and regular application period. We select and accept candidates throughout the application period.

Month	Application Timeline for MD & MD-PhD
Jun	Applications open
Sep	Early application deadline: 1 September Interviews begin
Nov	Admissions offers are made from November
Dec	Financial aid offers are made from December
Jan	Final application deadline: 31 January
Jul	Class confirmed by July

Step 1: Pre-Application

Those applying to the MD-PhD programme will need to register and sit for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) or Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT).

1) MCAT

The MCAT is a standardized test administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) for prospective students seeking to study medicine in medical schools in the United States and Canada.

Duke-NUS accepts test scores taken within the last four years. You may nominate which results you want us to consider if more than one set of test results is valid. Individual section scores from different tests cannot be mixed.

Details about MCAT, including registration dates, location and dates of tests and preparation guidelines are available on the official MCAT website.

2) GAMSAT

The GAMSAT is a requirement for Graduate Medical programmes in the UK, Ireland and Australia. It is developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) in conjunction with the Consortium of Graduate Medical Schools.

Please note that the GAMSAT results are valid for two years. You may nominate which year's results you want considered if more than one set of test results are valid. Individual section scores from tests in different years cannot be mixed. Applications, information and sample questions for GAMSAT are available on the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) website.

Step 2: Submit Online Application

Fill in the online application form at https://myportal.duke-nus.edu.sg/admissions/
Applications open on 1st June 2020.

Register for a username and password on our application site to proceed. Log into the application portal and complete the online application form, which includes various sections on personal data, academic records, past activities and achievements, research experience and essays.

Here are some things to note:

• Applicants may save their application at any point and return to complete the application at a later time.

• You do not need to have your MCAT/GAMSAT results before registering for an application account. Be sure to provide us with your AAMC ID or GAMSAT ID on your application, and notify us via email with your results as soon as they are available.

• For MCAT results, please release the scores to Duke-NUS via the MCAT Thx online system
• For GAMSAT results, please submit your PDF score report to admissions@duke-nus.edu.sg

Step 3: Submit Letters of Reference

You are required to provide at least 3 referee reports, of which at least one should be an academic reference. Your references should be carefully chosen from faculty or others (e.g. job supervisors) who know you and your character well. If you have undertaken research projects, for example, we would like to hear from your research supervisor. At least one letter must come from a research mentor or advisor.

Please send a copy of this form to each of your referees. Ask your referee to complete the form and return it directly to Duke-NUS.

Your referees may email the referee report in PDF format to admissions@duke-nus.edu.sg. They will need to indicate your name and the programme to which you are applying in the email subject line.

Step 4: Submit Official Transcripts and Other Supporting Documents

Applicants applying to Duke-NUS MD-PhD Track should have their official transcripts and supporting documents (where applicable) sent to Duke-NUS at the following mailing address.

Duke-NUS Office of Admissions (MD-PhD Track)
Transcript/Supporting Documents for “Applicant’s name”
C/O Ms Tammie Zhu, Senior Manager
Duke-NUS Medical School
8 College Road Singapore 169857

Upon completion of the online application, you will be notified if the supporting documents have not been received by our Admissions Department. Below is the full list of documents needed to complete your application:

Official Transcripts

Applicants should request their institutions to send their official transcripts directly to Duke-NUS at the mailing address above.

World Education Service (WES) Report

Students who are applying to Duke-NUS from schools outside of Singapore or the US must also request for their institutions to submit their transcripts World Education Services (WES) for a credential evaluation. Please opt for the US Equivalent WES International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) with a course-by-course report. A detailed report by WES will be sent directly to Duke-NUS. Please visit www.wes.org for further details.

Applicants from Canadian universities may contact the Admissions Office at admissions@duke-nus.edu.sg to see if a WES report is required for your application.

Results of TOEFL or IELTS

Applicants who previously studied in a non-English speaking curriculum will be required to present documented evidence of their competence in written and spoken English by submitting their results of TOEFL or IELTS exams.

Applicants are required to mail their official result slip directly to Duke-NUS at the mailing address above.

Step 5: Applicant Day

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an Applicant Day through an email invitation containing information about the day’s programme 1-2 weeks in advance. The majority of our Applicant Days are held on the Duke-NUS campus in Singapore, and a small number will be held in the US – mainly at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

Applicant Day is an excellent opportunity for applicants to meet faculty and students, to learn more about Duke-NUS and determine if the school is a good fit. Apart from meeting the Duke-NUS community, applicants also get to experience the school’s teaching pedagogy in an abridged version of TeamLEAD. Interviews and a written exercise will also be conducted on the same day for the school to evaluate the suitability of an applicant for admission into Duke-NUS.

For the 2021 Admissions Cycle

In the light of the COVID-19 situation in Singapore, we will be conducting our September-December Applicant Days via Zoom for shortlisted applicants to safeguard the health and safety of prospective students and Duke-NUS staff. There will not be any face to face interviews conducted at Duke-NUS during that period. Please be assured that an interview via Zoom will not disadvantage your application in any way.

Download the latest Applicant Day schedule for the current admissions cycle here. Please note that these dates may occasionally change depending on the circumstances.