Pre-MD Pathway - SUTD-Duke-NUS Special Track

Admission to the SUTD-Duke-NUS Special 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

Note: The admissions processes for each school are independent of each other. SUTD will be responsible for the entire period that students are in their course of study, while Duke-NUS will engage with students prior to their graduation from SUTD, and for subsequent admissions into the MD programme.

1. Applicants must indicate an interest in applying for the “SUTD-Duke-NUS Special Track” in their Undergraduate Application Form during the online SUTD Application Exercise.

2. Applicants who are offered and accepted a degree programme at SUTD will be invited by Duke‐NUS to complete the online Conditional Admissions application.
3. Completed applications will be screened after the 2^nd Common Acceptance deadline in mid-June and only selected applicants will be invited for interviews from mid-July onwards.
4. To be offered a place in “SUTD-Duke-NUS Special Track”, applicants will first need to be accepted into an undergraduate programme and also be offered conditional admission into the Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme at Duke-NUS.

The Duke-NUS Conditional Admissions application will open between June to July and our interviews will take place in July.  The Conditional Admissions offers will be made from August onwards.

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) programme upon their graduation. A general overview of the final acceptance criteria is illustrated below.

Final Acceptance Criteria:

• Strong Cumulative Average Point (CAP) or Grade Point Average (GPA) – as an indication of academic performance
• Complete the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) by September of the year prior to entry to Duke-NUS
• Evidence of meaningful clinical/medical experiences
• Successfully graduate from SUTD

We are inviting high-achieving Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents who have a strong interest in both treating patients and harnessing technological advancements across disciplines to bring about medical innovations.

The first intake of students will be in May 2018.

While there is no limit to the number of students enrolled in this special track, due to the demanding and unique nature of this programme, we envisage that the intake will be no more than 10 students per cohort.

The duration of the undergraduate programme is 3.5 years over 8 terms and the graduate programme is 4 years. Each new cohort begins the programme in SUTD in May of every year.

All applications are centrally managed by SUTD. Please visit the application detailsOpen in new tab for more information. Simply indicate your interest to apply for the SUTD-Duke-NUS Special Track in the online application and submit a personal statement.

Yes. NSF can apply and places will be reserved for successful applicants who have accepted the offer.

Students in the SUTD-Duke-NUS Special Track can take up the single degree programme offered by either one of the four pillars. Students who have a place reserved for the DDP or STEP from previous Admissions Exercises, or are keen to apply for DDP or STEP in this Admissions Exercise, may still apply for the SUTD-Duke-NUS Special Track. However, should you be successful and be offered the Special Track, you should decide whether to take up the Special Track or DDP/STEP, but not both special programmes. This is on consideration of the differing objectives of the special programmes, as well as the complexity of fulfilling the academic requirements of both programmes. DDP and STEP students who are interested in pursuing a MD can still apply to Duke-NUS after they have completed their degrees with SUTD.

Only shortlisted applicants will be interviewed by both SUTD and Duke-NUS independently. Applicants who are not shortlisted for this special track may still be considered for other programmes in SUTD.

The interviews will be conducted at SUTD campus and Duke-NUS campus accordingly.

Both SUTD Admissions and Duke-NUS Admissions will contact the shortlisted applicants independently.

Please check with SUTD Admissions via https://sutd.edu.sg/Admissions/Undergraduate/AskAdmissions/ApplicantOpen in new tab.

As the admissions process is independent for both SUTD and Duke-NUS, the admissions outcome will be independent for both programmes. To be considered for this track, applicants must be given a firm offer into the undergraduate programme from SUTD AND a conditional offer into the Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme from Duke-NUS. If you had attended an interview with Duke-NUS but were not given the conditional offer into the MD programme, you may appeal to Duke-NUS.

Outstanding students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership qualities, special talents, good moral character and strong community spirit will be considered for scholarships for the undergraduate programme. You may apply for scholarships for the graduate programme before the programme at Duke-NUS commences.

You can still enrol in this track. You will need to inform SUTD of your intention not to take up the scholarship.

The annual tuition fees for the undergraduate programme will be pegged to the prevailing fees charged by SUTDOpen in new tab. 

The annual tuition fees for the graduate programme will be pegged to the prevailing fees charged by Duke-NUS.

Conditional admission to MD programme may be lost if any of the following occur during your undergraduate programme with SUTD:

• Withdrawal from SUTD.
• Failure to achieve the required grade on completion of the degree.
• Violate a standard of academic or ethical conduct policy or any other applicable policy of SUTD 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).

Admitted students must have demonstrated academic excellence in their studies and meet the following criteria to be considered for final acceptance into Duke-NUS:

• Achieve a “B” or greater in all required courses and will be expected to maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.4.
• Achieve a recommended score of 509 or greater on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) exam by Term 6.
• Complete meaningful clinical/medical and service experiences throughout their undergraduate years.
• Expected to conduct themselves professionally. If concerns should arise at any time regarding a student’s academic performance or personal/professional development, the student may be reviewed by the Admissions Committee resulting in action up to and including withdrawal from the offer.
• Successful graduation from SUTD.

Although you are not required to make a binding commitment to Duke-NUS at the time of admission, you should inform SUTD and Duke-NUS of your withdrawal from the track at least the year preceding medical school matriculation. You can still continue with SUTD’s normal undergraduate degree programme should you discontinue with the track, subject to meeting the academic requirements for the undergraduate programme.