Graduate Education

4.1       Research Programmes

The School of Medicine has a strong graduate programme that will be a significant factor in making the University a world-class tertiary institution, and providing the industry with highly competent biomedical scientists who will spearhead and drive the medical biotechnology efforts.

4.1.1      Degrees Offered

The students are enrolled for the M.Sc. or Ph.D. programme at admission and fulfil requirements to graduate either with a generic M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree. There is no specialisation of the degrees awarded. Students will engage in supervised research with staff members from any of the departments for their period of candidature, at the end of which, they submit a thesis that is examined by a Board of Examiners.

Only those candidates who have fulfilled the criteria for Ph.D. will be awarded the Ph.D. degree. All other candidates will have to fulfil the criteria for the M.Sc. in order to be awarded the M.Sc. degree.

4.1.2   Degree Requirements

M.Sc. Programme

• •      A relevant Bachelor’s degree with at least a second honours class or its equivalent
• •      The degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.,B.S.) or
• •      The degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery and
• •      The ability to pursue research in the candidate’s proposed field of advanced study.

Ph.D. Programme

• •      A good Master’s degree in a relevant discipline or
• •      A relevant Bachelor’s degree with at least a second upper honours class or its equivalent
• •      The degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.,B.S.) or
• •      The degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery and
• •      The ability to pursue research in the candidate’s proposed field of advanced study.

Other Requirements

TOEFL

As the medium of instruction is English, applicants whose native tongue and medium of undergraduate instruction is not English must submit TOEFL scores as evidence of their proficiency in the English Language. Exemptions will be given to applicants with distinctions in the Cambridge GCE ‘O’ level examination English Language Paper 1119. The minimum TOEFL score required is 580/237/85 for the paper-based, computer-based and internet-based tests respectively. For IELTS, the minimum score required is 6.5.

TOEFL/IELTS scores are valid for 2 years from the test date. The score of tests that are taken more than 2 years will not be accepted.

GRE

Applicants (except NUS & NTU graduates from relevant disciplines) must also submit GRE scores to support their application. A minimum total GRE score of 320 for the verbal and quantitative sections and of 3.5 for the Analytical section is required.

GRE scores are valid for 5 years from the test date. The scores of tests that are taken more than 5 years will not be accepted.

Credit Transfer and Exemptions

Credit transfer and exemption are allowed subject to the following conditions:

• There is no limit to the transfer of credit for relevant modules that have not been used towards another degree at NUS or elsewhere.
• For relevant modules that have been credited towards another degree elsewhere, up to 50% of the modular credits (MCs) required in the coursework component of the NUS graduate research programme into which the candidate seeks admission may be exempted.
• For relevant NUS modules that have been credited towards another degree at NUS, on a case-by-case basis and subject to approval, more than 50% of the MCs required in the coursework component of the NUS graduate research programme may be allowed credit and grade transfer.
• Only graduate modules at Level-5000 and above which are relevant to the degree programme to which the candidate seeks admission at NUS can be considered for credit transfer or exemption. In addition, only modules that have substantially the same learning objectives, content, and level of sophistication as the corresponding NUS module can be considered for credit transfer/exemption.
• Credit transfer and exemption is allowed only for modules that are taken less than five years before the date of admission.
• Applications for credit transfer or exemptions must be submitted within two weeks from the date of admission

Curriculum Structure and Requirements

Candidates admitted to the graduate programme will undertake research under the supervision of staff members from the School for their period of candidature, at the end of which, they submit a thesis that is examined by a Board of Examiners. In addition, they are required to fulfil a coursework component comprising the following, to graduate either with a M.Sc. or a Ph.D. degree:

To be confirmed a Ph.D. candidate, a student is required to pass a Ph.D. qualifying examination within two years from the date of admission. 

Candidates deemed weak in English by the School would also have to sit for the Diagnostic English Test and take additional English Language courses conducted by the Centre for English Language Communication.

Students from Universities where the medium of undergraduate instruction is not in English are required to take ES5001B (Intermediate Listening & Speaking) regardless of their performance in the Diagnostic English Test. In addition to ES5001B (Intermediate Listening & Speaking), Ph.D. candidates are also required to take ES5002 (Advanced Level Writing) regardless of their performance in the Diagnostic English Test.

Residency Requirements and Candidature

Residency requirements

All candidates must spend a minimum period of residence inSingapore as follows:

M.Sc.  :  6 months (one semester)

Ph.D.  :  18 months (three semesters)

Residency Requires:

• a)    Payment of fees
• b)    Satisfying all curricular requirements of the programme of study
• c)     Satisfying other departmental requirements such as teaching assistance

Periods of study leave and overseas fieldwork do not count toward residency. In addition, M.Sc. and Ph.D. candidates must be resident during the semester in which they submit their thesis for examination.

Candidature

The following maximum candidature periods are inclusive of periods of approved study leave and leave of absence.

Continuation and graduation requirements

Continuation

For continuation of candidature, candidates have to meet the following CAP set for coursework:

Termination of candidature would result if a student fails to maintain the minimum CAP as stipulated above.

For any semester in which the M.Sc. candidate’s CAP falls below 3.0 (but ≥ 2.5), he/she will be issued an academic warning. If, in the following semester, the candidate’s CAP again falls below 3.0, he/she will be placed on probation. If the candidate’s CAP remains below 3.0 for the third consecutive semester, the candidate will be issued a letter of dismissal by the Registrar and denied re-admission.

For M.Sc. candidates, if the CAP falls below 2.5 for two consecutive semesters, they will be placed on probation for the first semester, followed by dismissal in the second semester.

For any semester in which the Ph.D. CAP falls below 3.5 (but ≥ 3.0), he/she will be issued an academic warning. If, in the following semester, the candidate’s CAP again falls below 3.5, he/she will be placed on probation. If the student’s CAP remains below 3.5 for the third consecutive semester, the student will be issued a letter of dismissal by the Registrar and denied re-admission.

For Ph.D. candidates, if the CAP falls below 3.0 for two consecutive semesters, they will be placed on probation for the first semester, followed by dismissal in the second semester.

A student may also be issued a warning or placed on probation or be issued a letter of termination for poor performance in the Ph.D. qualifying examination, research thesis, or other programme requirements.

Graduation Requirements

M.Sc.

• •      Pass all prescribed core and elective modules with a minimum CAP of 3.0 (B-) for the prescribed modules
• •      Pass the Master’s Thesis
• •      A minimum grade of C+ for all levels of English course(s), where applicable

Ph.D.

• •      Pass all prescribed core and elective modules with a minimum CAP of 3.5 (B) for the prescribed modules
• •      Pass the Qualifying Examination
• •      Pass the Ph.D. Thesis and Oral Examination
• •      A minimum grade of C+ for all levels of English course(s), where applicable

Leave of absence

• The University policies on leave of absence shall apply.

Examination rules

• The University policies on examination rules shall apply.

4.1.3   Financial Assistance and Awards

Financial support in the form of scholarships is available for qualified candidates. These range from S$1,500 - S$3,300 per month for M.Sc. and Ph.D. candidates respectively.

Some additional support for projects in certain strategic research areas is also available. There may also be opportunities for earning additional income as part-time tutors and demonstrators.

To be eligible for the research scholarship, applicants must possess at least a second upper class Honours degree.

4.2       Graduate Coursework Programme in Clinical Research

The Master of Clinical Investigation (MCI) is a new programme which commenced in August 2008. The programme, which is completed in 2 years, aims to equip clinicians with basic methodological and practical skills to design and conduct clinical investigations that are relevant to patient care. The MCI programme will also provide a good foundation for those aiming to pursue advanced clinical research training, including training programmes leading to a Ph.D. degree.

Degree Requirements

• •      An M.B.,B.S. or equivalent degree from a recognised university
• •      Candidates have entered specialist training or residency programme
• •      At least two years of post-registration clinical experience

Curriculum Structure

The MCI programme caters only for part-time students with a candidature period of two years, open to extension to a maximum of three years if more time is required for the research component. The 40-modular credit (MC) programme structure would comprise 8 modules (32 MCs) for coursework (80%) and a research component (20%) of 8 MCs.  For the research component, students would work under the supervision of a group of mentors (established clinical investigators/researchers).

4.3    Research Programmes in Nursing

Current challenges facing the health care system offer opportunities for nursing research to make a substantial impact on the health of the population and to improve approaches to patient care. There is a shift in emphasis from treatment to prevention of illness and from acute illness to chronic conditions as well as an urgent need to translate successful research findings into clinical practice. The research training agenda in the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (ALCNS) aims to position nursing research at the forefront of the health care sciences. Teaching processes in the graduate research programmes aim to develop a dynamic, vital, and productive community of investigators who conduct rigorous research to establish the scientific and evidence base for patient care.

Objectives:

The M.Sc. (Nursing) and Ph.D. programmes aim to develop graduates characterised by their:

• •          ability to identify, formulate, and address problems through research;
• •          drive for evidence based nursing research and practice;
• •          creative and strategic approach to lead the nursing  profession nationally and internationally.
• •          entrepreneurial spirit to lead innovation which will impact on the profession and the health care industry.

4.3.1 Degrees Offered

The following degrees will be offered:

• •          Master of Science (Nursing) [M.Sc. (Nursing)]
• •          Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D.]

The M.Sc. (Nursing) degree is designed to provide research training specifically for nurses who have a Bachelor’s Degree without an Honours component. It will provide both stand alone postgraduate research training as well as a pathway into the Ph.D. programme for nurses without an Honours degree.

The Ph.D. will be offered with two flexible options:

4.3.2    Admission Requirements

M.Sc. (Nursing) Programme

• •      A Bachelor’s degree with Honours 1^st to 2^nd Class Lower; or
• •      Coursework Master’s degree with a CAP of 3.5 or above; or
• •      Bachelor’s degree and evidence of outcomes from a research project equivalent to 25% of one year’s full-time study

Ph.D. Programme

• •      Obtain at least a Bachelor’s degree with Honours (at least 2^nd Class Upper); or
• •      Coursework Master’s degree with a CAP of 3.5 or above.
• •      Candidates are also expected to have the ability to pursue research in their proposed field of advanced study.

Other Requirements

TOEFL/IELTS

As the medium of instruction is English, applicants whose native tongue and medium of university undergraduate instruction is not English must submit TOEFL scores as evidence of their proficiency in the English Language. The minimum TOEFL score required is 580/237/85 for the paper-based, computer-based and internet-based tests respectively. Exemptions will be given to applicants with distinctions in the Cambridge GCE ‘O’ level examination English Language Paper 1119

For IELTS, the minimum score required is 6.

The TOEFL/IELTS scores are valid for 2 years from the test date.

GRE

Applicants (except NUS, NTU and SMU graduates from relevant disciplines) should also submit GRE scores to support their application. The minimum total GRE score of 320 for both Verbal and Quantitative sections and a minimum of 3.5 for the Analytical section are required.

The GRE scores are valid for 5 years from the test date.

Credit Transfer and Exemptions

Credit transfer and exemption are allowed subject to the following conditions:

• •      There is no limit to transfer for modules that have not been used towards another degree at NUS or elsewhere.
• •      For modules that have been credited towards another degree at NUS or elsewhere, up to 50 percent of the Modular Credits (MCs) required in the coursework component of the NUS graduate research programme into which the candidate seeks admission may be exempted.
• •      Only graduate modules at Level-5000 and above which are relevant to the degree programme to which the candidate seeks admission at NUS can be considered for credit transfer or exemption. In addition, only modules that have substantially the same learning objectives, content, and level of sophistication as the corresponding NUS module can be considered for credit transfer/exemption.
• •      Credit transfer and exemption is allowed only for modules that are taken less than five years before the date of admission.
• •      Application for credit transfer and exemption should be submitted to ALCNS within the first semester of study.

4.3.3 Degree Requirements and Curriculum Structure

The M.Sc. (Nursing) is comprised of 20 module credits and a 40,000 word thesis.

The Ph.D. is comprised of 28 module credits and an 80,000 word thesis.

Students will undertake research under the supervision of staff members from the ALCNS for their period of candidature, at the end of which, they submit a thesis for examination by the Thesis Examination Panel.  In addition to the research component, students are required to fulfil a coursework component comprising of the following:

Modules taken will be at levels 5000 and 6000 and must be equivalent to at least 4 module credits. Elective modules can be chosen from those offered by ALCNS or any School or Research Institutes/Centres affiliated with the National University of Singapore (subject to the university guidelines). These are subject to the approval of the supervisors and the Head of ALCNS.

To be confirmed a Ph.D. candidate, a student is required to pass a Ph.D. Qualifying Examination (QE) to be taken between 12 to 24 months from the date of admission (12 months for full-time students and 24 months for part-time students).  The QE shall consist of a written comprehensive examination and an oral defence of the Ph.D. thesis proposal.

Students deemed weak in English by the ALCNS would also have to sit for the Diagnostic English Test and take additional English Language courses conducted by the Centre for English Language Communication.

Residency Requirements and Candidature

Residency requirements

All students must spend a minimum period of residence inSingapore as follows:

Residency requires:

• a)    Payment of fees;
• b)    Satisfying all curricular requirements of the programme of study; and
• c)     Satisfying other departmental requirements such as teaching assistance

Periods of study leave and overseas fieldwork do not count toward residency. In addition, M.Sc. (Nursing) and Ph.D. students must be resident during the semester in which they submit their thesis for examination.

Candidature

The following maximum candidature periods are inclusive of periods of approved study leave but may exclude periods of approved leave of absence subject to ALCNS approval.

Continuation and graduation requirements

Continuation

For continuation of candidature, students have to meet the following CAP set for coursework:

Termination of candidature would result if a student fails to maintain the minimum CAP as stipulated above.

For any semesters in which the student’s CAP falls below the CAP required for graduation (3.0 for M.Sc. and 3.5 for Ph.D.) he/she will be issued an academic warning. A student may also be issued an academic warning or placed on probation for poor performance in the Qualifying Examination, research, or other programme requirements.

Graduation Requirements

M.Sc. (Nursing)

• •      Pass three core and one elective modules (with 20 module credits)
• •      A CAP of at least 3.0 in the elective module
• •      A Satisfactory grade in the three core modules
• •      Pass the M.Sc. (Nursing) Thesis
• •      A minimum grade C for intermediate Graduate English course(s) where applicable

Ph.D.

• •      Pass three core and three elective modules (with 28 module credits)
• •      A CAP of at least 3.5 or above in the elective modules
• •      A Satisfactory grade in the three core modules
• •      Pass the Qualifying Examination comprising of a comprehensive written examination and oral defence of the Ph.D. Thesis proposal
• •      Satisfactory performance at the annual Ph.D Symposium (formative assessment)
• •      Pass the Ph.D. Thesis and Oral Examination
• •      A minimum grade C for advanced Graduate English course(s), where applicable

Leave of absence

• The University policies on leave of absence shall apply.

Examination rules

• The University policies on examination rules shall apply.

4.3.4 Financial Assistance and Awards

Financial support in the form of scholarships is available for qualified candidates on full-time study. These range from S$1,500 - S$3,000 per month for M.Sc. and Ph.D. candidates respectively.  Additional support for projects is also available.

To be eligible for the research scholarship, applicants must possess at least a second upper class Honours degree.

4.4    Coursework and Clinical Training Programme: Division of Graduate Medical Studies (DGMS)

Introduction

The main aims of the Division of Graduate Medical Studies (DGMS) are to promote postgraduate training and education inSingapore and to offer degree examinations leading to specialist qualifications.  Since the inception of the graduate programmes, over 4,000 doctors and other professionals have obtained the Master of Medicine (M.Med. degree) in various specialties and graduate diplomas in specific clinical skills.

Master of Medicine

The Master of Medicine offered by the Division is based on two to four years of clinical training in approved training hospitals. Assessments are based on examinations.

The Master Medicine degree is offered in the following specialties:

• •       Anaesthesiology
• •       Diagnostic Radiology
• •       Emergency Medicine
• •       Family Medicine
• •       Internal Medicine
• •       Obstetrics & Gynaecology
• •       Ophthalmology
• •       Orthopaedic Surgery
• •       Otorhinolaryngology
• •       Paediatric Medicine
• •       Psychiatry
• •       Surgery

The M.Med. is not a specialist qualification; it is an intermediate examination and the qualification is obtained within the duration of Specialist Training, also known as Residency, before a doctor becomes a specialist.

There are short one-to-two-week examination preparatory courses to specifically help candidates prepare for their examinations. These are usually held three-to-four weeks before the examinations. Any doctor may enrol although priority may be given to those taking the examinations.

Graduate Diploma Programmes

The Division offers part-time Graduate Diploma programmes in Dermatology, Family Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Mental Health and Occupational Medicine for doctors (mainly GPs practising in Singapore).  A Diploma programme in Tissue Banking, also a part-time programme, is offered, in joint collaboration with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Hospital.

The Division also offers an Introductory Course in Psychotherapy. It is a part-time course of 6 months duration.

For more information, please visit: http://www.med.nus.edu.sg/dgms

Master of Science (Speech and Language Pathology)

The Master of Science (Speech and Language Pathology) programme which started in January 2007, is a two-year full-time programme with 18 compulsory modules. It is designed for graduates from any discipline who are seeking professional practice training as a speech and language pathologist.

For more information, please visit: http://medicine.nus.edu.sg/dgms/SLP/Home.html

4.5    Graduate Coursework Programme in Nursing

Master of Nursing Programme

The 24-month Master of Nursing (MN) programme is established to meet a national need to equip nurses with advanced knowledge and skills for clinical management of patients, and to enhance the use of research findings as the basis of effective practice.

Graduates of the MN programme are eligible to apply for certification as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) with theSingapore Nurses Board (SNB).

The Curriculum

The MN programme aims to prepare graduate Registered Nurses to:

The competencies of MN graduates reflect the SNB's competences for APN practice in Singapore .

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for the programme, applicants must:

• ·   be a registered with the Singapore Nursing Board as a Registered Nurse;
• ·   possess a Bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited programme;
• ·   have a CAP of 3.5 or equivalent (for those not graduated in NUS);
• ·   have a minimum of 3 preceding years of speciality experience for the areas of studies; and
• ·   have a minimum TOEFL score of 580/237/85 for the paper-based, computer-based and internet-based respectively.

  (for applicants whose native tongue or medium of undergraduate instruction is not English)

Interviews

All shortlisted will be required to attend an interview. 

Fee

The fees is S$32 000 inclusive of GST for the 24-month programme.

Application

It is open from 1 March to 30 April every year.  Please visit our website for more information at http://medicine.nus.edu.sg/nursing/prg_postg_intro.shtml

Programme Structure

The 2 years Master of Nursing programme comprises of 80 modular credits (MCs).  It has 3 tracks: Adult Health, Mental Health, and Acute Care.  All students, regardless of track, will be required to complete and pass 19 modules.  The table below illustrates the modules to be taken under the different tracks.

How to Apply:

For more information, please visit the programme website: http://medicine.nus.edu.sg/nursing/prg_ngrp_intro.shtml