Scholarship and Financial Aid Schemes
We understand the challenge of financing a medical education and strive to help our students tap on available resources to meet their financial needs. Depending on individual’s financial circumstances and academic performance, students may apply for any one or any combination of the three financing options available - tuition fee loan, bursary and merit scholarship. About two-thirds of our students are on some form of financial aid. The exact quantum of financial aid extended to a student varies, depending on the financial circumstances of the student, their immediate family members and spouse (where applicable).
Tuition Fee Loan
Students with financial need are expected to take up a Tuition Fee Loan. Any financial aid provided by the school is intended to only assist in meeting those needs not met by the Tuition Fee Loan.
More information on the Tuition Fee Loan scheme may be found at https://nusgs.nus.edu.sg/tuition-fee-loan-scheme/.
Matriculating students of all nationalities may apply for the Tuition Fee Loan (TFL) scheme which is administered by two Singapore agent banks, DBS Bank and OCBC Bank. All students may opt to take up to a maximum amount that is equal to 90% of tuition fees payable by Singapore Citizens.
About three-quarters of our Doctor of Medicine (MD) students have taken up the TFL. Limits may exist for students who have already been awarded bursaries/scholarships which cover in whole/part of the tuition fee, although these generally do not apply to scholarships awarded using Duke-NUS resources. Details on the TFL are available at the NUS Registrar’s Office website.
Bursary
Bursaries are awarded based on familial and personal financial need.
In recent years, about 60% of our MD students have been awarded bursary of varying amounts. For students enrolling from Academic Year 2019-2020 onwards, these amounts are expected to fall between 14% and 71% of tuition fees payable (excluding miscellaneous fees). When invited for an admissions interview, prospective students in need of financial assistance will be advised as to how and when to apply for financial aid through an online link. Bursaries are awarded on a 4-year basis, subject to yearly renewal and students are therefore not required to re-submit their application annually unless there is a material change of family finances since their last application. To be considered for a bursary award at Duke-NUS, interested applicants must submit a financial aid application within 28 calendar days after attending the admission interview on Applicant Day. When making decisions regarding bursary awards, Duke-NUS takes into account financial aid received by students from external sources (such as external scholarships). It is therefore the responsibility of financial aid applicants to keep Duke-NUS informed of any financial aid received, including external awards as the School reserves the right to vary an offer of financial assistance in the event of such changes.
Potential applicants who would like to know of the likelihood of their application success may want to access the Bursary Eligibility Calculator. Based on the financial profile of the applicant’s family, the Bursary Eligibility Calculator will provide the applicant with an indicative eligibility for their bursary application. Nonetheless, please note that this is an indicative outcome. All applicants are welcome to proceed with an actual bursary application regardless of their indicative outcome from the Bursary Eligibility Calculator.
The SMA Medical Students’ Assistance Fund was set up by the Singapore Medical Association (SMA)Open in new tab to support the living expenses of needy medical students in Singapore. This is a long term commitment by the medical professional body of doctors and students to help their peers in focusing on what’s important in medicine – being a good and ethical doctor. This Fund is a programme under the SMA Charity Fund (SMACF)Open in new tab, an Institution of Public Character and charity in Singapore. Bursaries awarded by SMACF are only available to Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. More information on the application process can be found on the Singapore Medical Association website. Open in new tab
Merit Scholarship
There are various merit scholarships schemes available, both externally and at Duke-NUS. Merit scholarships are generally awarded based on personal academic achievements and attributes such as meaningful involvement in community service or leadership experiences.
Several scholarships are valid for the full MD duration of 4 years and may be used for tuition fees, miscellaneous fees, living expenses as well as other fees associated with studying at Duke-NUS.
To be considered for a merit scholarship at Duke-NUS, interested applicants must submit a financial aid application within 28 calendar days after attending the admission interview on Applicant Day. Scholarship recipients are selected by the School’s Scholarship Selection Committee and only successful applicants will be informed of their award – typically between March and June of each year. Examples of the merit scholarships available are as follows:
The Goh Foundation was instituted by philanthropist Mr. Goh Cheng Liang to support programs that significantly improve the quality of human lives. The foundation has contributed to countless endeavours in the education and healthcare realms, amongst others. Goh Foundation Scholarships have been made available for qualified Duke-NUS students at an annual value of S$20,000.
Terms of Scholarship:
- Candidates must be a full-time local or international student at Duke-NUS who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements.
- Preference may be given to those with demonstrated financial need.
This scholarship is tenable for the 4-year duration of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program and can be used for tuition fees, educational as well as living expenses.
The Lee Foundation was founded in 1952 by philanthropist and businessman, Mr. Lee Kong Chian with the aim of supporting educational, cultural, charitable and public organisations.
The Lee Foundation Scholarship for Duke-NUS Medical Students aims to inspire and nurture a strong medical talent pipeline for the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC) to improve patients' lives.
Each Lee Foundation Scholarship award is for S$20,000, and may vary where applicable.
Terms of Scholarship:
- Candidates must be a full-time local or international student at Duke-NUS in the MD-PhD programme or MD programme (with existing PhD degree) with excellent academic accolades and/or strong research background.
- Preference may be given to those with demonstrated financial need.
This scholarship is a single year award that can be used for tuition fees, education as well as living expenses
The Shaw Foundation was established by philanthropist Tan Sri Dr. Runme Shaw in 1957 to provide funds that would help charitable endeavours in Singapore with their missions. Since inception, the foundation has contributed over US$150 million to a myriad of organizations.
Through generous Shaw Foundation Scholarships, selected Duke-NUS students may receive an annual scholarship of between S$10,000 and S$50,000.
Terms of Scholarship:
- Candidates must be a full-time local or international student at Duke-NUS who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements, leadership qualities and contribution made to the community.
- Subjected to satisfactory academic performance throughout course of study,
This scholarship is tenable for the 4-year duration of the MD programme.
The Ngee Ann Kongsi was formed in 1845 by a group of prominent Teochew leaders who came from Ngee Ann county, Canton (Guangdong) province, China and was originally established to support the welfare of Teochew immigrants in Singapore. The Ngee Ann Kongsi (Incorporation) Ordinance was drawn up in 1933, and the Ngee Ann Kongsi was formally incorporated as a charity. The Kongsi has since awarded numerous scholarships and bursaries to students pursuing tertiary education in Singapore.
Under the Ngee Ann Kongsi Distinguished Scholars Programme, Duke-NUS has been able to award selected students with scholarship value of between S$10,000 and S$50,000 per year.
Terms of Scholarship:
- Candidates must be a full-time local student (Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident) at Duke-NUS who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements.
- Subjected to satisfactory academic performance throughout course of study,
This scholarship is tenable for the 4-year duration of the MD programme.
The Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple was founded in 1884. Since 1997, the Temple foundation has enabled the advancement of multiple charitable initiatives within education, healthcare, social services, and the arts.
Duke-NUS awards scholarship annually under the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Scholarship Programme, with an annual value between S$10,000 and S$50,000. The scholarship is usually awarded to a second-year medical student.
Terms of Scholarship:
- Candidates must be a full-time local student (Singapore Citizen) at Duke-NUS who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements.
- Preference may be given to those with demonstrated financial need.
- Subjected to satisfactory academic performance throughout course of study,
This scholarship is tenable for the 4-year duration of the MD programme.
Research Fellowships
All students who join Duke-NUS under either the PhD (Integrated Biology and Medicine) or PhD (Quantitative Biology and Medicine) programmes will be offered the Duke-NUS PhD Fellowship and the Khoo Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Award respectively.
Under the awards, all students will be provided with financial support for 100% of tuition and miscellaneous fees charged for their PhD studies. In addition, students will also be provided with a monthly stipend with Singapore Citizens also receiving voluntary CPF contribution on their monthly stipend in accordance to prevailing employer’s CPF contribution rate.
Students may refer to the following for the respective awards’ Terms and Conditions:
- Duke-NUS PhD Fellowship; and
- Khoo Pre-Doctoral Fellowship