Welcome to Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

A joint collaboration between two educational powerhouses, Duke University in the United States and the National University of Singapore, Duke-NUS is committed to developing future leaders in medicine. Our 4-year graduate medical program is based on an innovative and highly rigorous curriculum, with the distinctive aim of developing researchers and practitioners who are exceptionally skilled in medical research and patient care.

Because it is impossible to teach medical students everything they will ever need to know throughout their medical careers, our curriculum is springboard, not an endpoint. We teach our students the fundamentals of medicine, research, and patient care, and how to become lifelong learners. It’s this education that will make Duke-NUS graduate leaders, creative thinkers who will improve the practice of medicine.

Creating Duke-NUS

The beginning of Duke-NUS can be traced to 2000 when Singapore launched its ambitious Biomedical Sciences Initiative designed to make Singapore the biomedical hub of Asia.

MD Program

Introducing the TeamLEAD Curriculum Our curriculum is based on the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program offered at the world-renowned Duke University School of medicine, with its distinctive focus on research. Students learn via TeamLEAD, an innovative team based learning platform that focuses on complex problem solving, collaboration and application.

This stands for Learn Engage Apply & Develop. The premise behind this acronym is to fill our school with learners who will be engaged in their individual and team learning; developing critical and creative thinking skills which will enable them to be major advocates for their patients, society, and towards their own learning.

The elements of the TeamLEAD learning sessions are formed from the Team-based Learning concept. This involves students doing independent and team pre-preparation. Students are then held accountable for their independent learning through an Individual Readiness Assessment Test (IRA), where the key concepts of the pre-preparation materials are assessed. This is followed by the students taking the same test as a group (called a Group Readiness Assessment Test or GRA). The purpose of this assessment is to ensure the core principles are understood by the students. Once these core concepts are discussed with the teams and faculty, students move to a practical application of the material through problem solving activities. The learning is active and engaging; designed to help students become self-directed learners, accountable for their learning process, as well as critical and creative thinkers.

Our MD Curriculum spans 4 years

Yr 1- Basic Science: a rigorous program generally covered in two years in most medical schools, allowing our students to begin active patient care in year 2, a full year earlier than their peers at US medical schools.

Yr 2- Clinical Rotations: students begin taking an active role in patient care as members of health care teams in hospitals and clinics.

Yr 3- Independent Research: devoted to scientific research, students are encouraged to explore their personal areas of interest.

Yr 4- Specialty Clinical Rotations: students begin to explore potential fields of specialization.

At the successful conclusion of our program, students are awarded a join Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from Duke University and NUS.

Learn More about the MD Curriculum here:
http://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/web/education_curriculum.htm

MD Program

For students wishing to further their academic training, Duke-NUS offers a combined MD/PhD program. MD/PhD training is most appropriate for students who are committed to intensive research-oriented careers, combining biomedical research with the practice of clinical medicine. The Duke-NUS PhD component is offered in Integrated Biology and Medicine, a unique program designed to drive research in translational medicine.

Students interested in pursuing an MD/PhD at Duke-NUS may apply directly to the program. Admitted MD students may also apply at selected times during their 1st or 2nd years of study. PhD training will begin in their 3rd year. The PhD typically takes fours years to complete, but timing will depend on the student’s area of research. Students admitted to the program will be offered a full scholarship for the PhD component as well as for the remaining tuition required to complete their MD training.

Program Length
All MD/PhD candidates will complete the first two years of the MD program. In lieu of their third year, candidates will begin the PhD program. The PhD typically takes four years to complete, but timing will depend on the student’s area of research. After completing their PhD, students will return to the MD program to complete their final year. It is estimated that it will take 7 years to complete an MD/PhD at Duke-NUS.

Students admitted to the program will be provided with a stipend and scholarship to cover the full cost of tuition and fees for the PhD component as well as a scholarship to cover the remaining tuition required to complete their MD training.

Learn more about MD/PhD here:
http://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/web/education_md_program.htm

PhD Program

Duke-NUS launched its inaugural PhD program in Integrated Biology and Medicine (IBM) in August 2010. The program distinguishes itself from others in Singapore and abroad by emphasizing training in translational bioscience, preparing cutting edge researchers to take their research findings from "bench to bedside."

Students will complete their advanced training in one of Duke-NUS’s five Signature Research Programs.

Program Length
The degree, which will take on average 4 to 5 years to complete, culminates with the development of a written thesis and a successful oral dissertation defense.

Learn More about PhD here:
http://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/web/education_phd_program.htm