NUS Engineering & Medicine Track

Engineers to Clinicians

The practice of medicine is fast changing. The future of medicine will no longer be just about the application of science. We see technology playing a significant role and impacting treatment that is given to patients. The Engineering and Medicine track offered by Natonal University of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Engineering and Duke-NUS Medical School prepares students with a background in engineering for leadership roles in healthcare as clinicians who can both treat patients and harness technological advancements to bring about innovations that impact medicine. Successful students will graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree at NUS followed by a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree at Duke-NUS Medical School.

Programme Highlights

Engineering students in this track can expect an interdisciplinary learning environment that stretches both their engineering and clinical knowledge. Students will be encouraged to apply their engineering skills to analyse issues in healthcare and develop innovations to address them. Learning will take place not only at NUS Engineering campus, but also at Duke-NUS Medical School and Singapore General Hospital’s Outram Campus.

During their undergraduate course of study in the Faculty of Engineering, students will participate in the Innovation and Design Programme (IDP) where they will be awarded a Second Major in Innovation & Design. Working closely with medical professionals and engineering faculty, students will conceptualize, design, test and develop medical technology for the healthcare industry.

To introduce current research issues in biomedicine, students will need to read GMS1000 - The Duke-NUS Pre-Med Course conducted at Duke-NUS Medical School. During their undergraduate studies in engineering, students can expect to stay engage with Duke-NUS through extra-curricular activities such as seminars, workshops, visits and mentorship. These activities are designed to build up their competency as future physicians. A general overview of the mentorship and enrichment activities is below.

Coursework Requirements

Innovation & Design Programme (iDP)
Duke-NUS Pre-medical Module (GMS1000)

Mentorship and Enrichment Activities

Advising Sessions with Duke-NUS Medical School Faculty
Duke-NUS Prehealth Experiential Programme
Duke-NUS Medical Specialties Workshops
Duke-NUS Alumni Clinical Observership
Community Projects

Read about an engineering graduate who went on to pursue medicine at Duke-NUS Medical School

Requirements for Engineering and Medicine Track

Admission to the Engineering and Medicine track is competitive and only Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents (PR) may apply. The following will be considered in the selection process:

Academic excellence and motivation to study in the field of medicine
Records of leadership experience and community service
Performance at interviews

How to Apply

1. Applicants must first apply to NUS Faculty of Engineering, indicating their interest in the “Engineering and Medicine (Duke-NUS)” Track in their application form during the online NUS Application Exercise.

2. Upon acceptance of the offer of admissions to the Faculty of Engineering, shortlisted applicants who earlier indicated their interest will be invited to complete the online Duke-NUS Conditional Admissions Application, including:

A completed online application
A personal statement
Two letters of recommendation

3. Completed applications will be reviewed and selected applicants will be invited for interviews.

4. Finally, the Admissions Committee will review all interviewees and make a final decision. Successful applicants will receive a conditional admissions offer for the Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme at Duke-NUS.

Important Note

Students are expected to maintain a stipulated academic performance and fulfil conditions stated in the conditional offer for successful admission into the Doctor of Medicine (MD) progamme upon their graduation. An general overview of the final acceptance criteria is illustrated below.

Final Acceptance Criteria:

CAP of ≥4.4
MCAT score of ≥509
Evidence of meaningful clinical/medical experience
Successfully graduate from NUS

Frequently Asked Questions

What is interview process like - is it like Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine's Multi-Mini Interviews?

It will not be MMI. There will be two rounds of interviews to evaluate an applicant’s academic preparation, related experience, personal qualities and communication skills. The interviews will be conducted by members of the MD Admissions Committee (AC).

Do shortlisted candidates have to write an essay & assemble 2 referee reports similar to Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine's interview process?

Yes, the completed Duke-NUS application will consist of an online application, personal statement and 2 letters of recommendation.

When are the interviews held?

Interviews are held in April. The interview will be for those who have selected an engineering course and indicated an interest in the Engineering and Medicine track.

Who are the interviewers?

Our MD Admissions Committee (AC) members will be interviewing the students. The MD AC is the institutional body charged with making recommendations pertaining to admission of applicants into the Duke‐NUS MD program, aligned with the educational mission of the School. Members of the Admissions Committee are selected, with input from leadership stakeholders, from among various academic leaders within SingHealth, and clinical, research, &/or education faculty at Duke‐NUS.

How long is each interview?

Each interview will last for 30 mins.

How many rounds of interview will there be?

Just 2 rounds of interviews.

Are any scholarships available for this Engineering and Medicine Track (8 years in total)?

At the moment, there are no Duke-NUS scholarships available for the entire conditional admissions track (8 years). However, there are scholarships for the 4-year MD component. To assist students in financing their MD tuition and other fees, Duke-NUS offers a variety of scholarships, bursaries.

Is there a continuation requirement in terms of CAP or will an eventual CAP of 4.4 suffice?

Students must Achieve a 'B+' or greater in all required courses and will be expected to maintain a Cumulative Average Point (CAP) of 4.4. Conditionally admitted students need to participate in the required curriculum for the FoE and perform well throughout their terms.

Following each semester at NUS FoE, students are required to submit, for review by the Vice Dean of Education (or designate) at Duke-NUS, (a) an academic transcript, (b) a list of courses scheduled for the coming semester, and (c) a brief update on activities and involvement for the previous semester.

The Vice Dean of Education (or designate) will provide a progress report to the MD Admissions Committee in the summer or fall of the students’ final year. The MD Admissions Committee is responsible for assisting the Vice Dean (or designate) in efforts to track the academic success of students admitted through the conditional track.

Could you elaborate the phrase of “meaningful clinical/medical experience” as stated on the website?

Students should gain some volunteer or clinical experience in healthcare institutions, including hospitals, clinics, and hospices. Besides being able to serve and contribute to society, volunteering also provides an opportunity to learn and apply many useful skills such as communication, teamwork, and time management. They should make the most of their volunteering experience by communicating with patients, nurses and doctors, offering their help, and reflecting on their own interests and aptitude thereafter.

Shadowing
Shadowing will help students decide for sure that they want to be a doctor. It will give them some insight into what a real, average day is like for a person in that specialty. Students will know what it’s like to actually be a doctor. It’s best to approach a doctor they like to shadow in person.

Volunteering
Volunteering of all kinds is helpful, but volunteering in medical settings is especially useful. The quality of the volunteering experience will also matter to us. It is much more meaningful to dedicate longer periods of time to projects that they are passionate about than to just attend several one day events (for example: Volunteer at Assisi Hospice, Singapore Association for The Deaf etc.)

Can a student admitted into the Engineering and Medicine Track lose conditional admission status to Duke-NUS Medicine in the course of his/her engineering education?

A student will lose conditional admission if any of the following occur during the completion of their Engineering degree programme:

Withdrawal from NUS.
Failure to achieve the required grade on completion of the degree.
Failure to submit the Duke-NUS MD application and all required application materials to the Duke-NUS Admissions Department by the specified deadlines.
Failure to fulfil the Technical Standards of Duke-NUS (see https://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/admissions/admission-requirements for a description of these standards).
Violate a standard of academic or ethical conduct policy or any other applicable policy of NUS where the potential outcome could result in a failing assignment or exam grade, a failing course grade, or disciplinary action (including but not limited to probation, suspension, expulsion or removal from the university).