Preparing Doctors to be Future Healthcare Leaders
The SMU-Duke-NUS Medicine Pathway develops future clinicians who will bring with them a solid understanding and appreciation of the operations of a hospital or healthcare eco-system. This enables them to operate as doctors who can navigate the system effectively, provide the best analyses and decision-making behind complex operations, and implement patient-centric processes for more efficient and ideal patient outcomes. The pathway will also prepare future clinicians who aspire towards key leadership or management roles within a hospital or healthcare system.
Successful students will graduate with one of the following degrees at SMU followed by a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree at Duke-NUS Medical School.
- Bachelor of Accountancy (BAcc)
- Bachelor of Business Management (BBM)
- Bachelor of Science in Economics (BSc (Econs))
- Bachelor of Science in Information Systems (BSc (IS))
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSc (CS))
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
- Bachelor of Social Science (BSocSc)
- Bachelor of Science in Computing & Law (BSc (Computing & Law)
Programme Highlights
At SMU, students in the pathway will take the SMU Core Curriculum, which has been designed to develop the social intelligence, ethical compass, disciplinary knowledge and technical skills of all SMU students.
They will expand their intellectual knowledge by taking a guaranteed 2nd major from any of SMU’s six schools. This 2nd major could be SMU’s new Health Economics and Management major, where students learn about health systems and policies as well as healthcare management, critical for their preparation as a future clinician or healthcare leader.
While at SMU, students also have the chance to experience global exposure at least once, to broaden their worldview and encounter different perspectives. Students will be assigned a careers advisor, complete a required 10-week internship, and participate in community service. These experiences are part of SMU’s commitment to nurturing graduates who can think deeply and broadly, create value, and have an independent mind yet are dependable in deeds.
Students can expect to stay engaged with Duke-NUS through periodic meetings with Duke-NUS faculty on campus and invitations to activities designed to provide insights into the medical school experience and a career in medicine. A general overview of the coursework requirements and mentorship and enrichment activities is below.
Coursework Requirements:
- Students are encouraged to take the second major in Health Economics and Management (HEM). Alternatively, they are strongly encouraged to take the following two courses within the HEM major:
- Health Systems and Policy (co-taught by SingHealth faculty)
- Healthcare Management (co-taught by SingHealth faculty)
- 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
Admission to the SMU-Duke-NUS Medicine Pathway 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. SMU will be responsible for the entire period that the students are in their course of study at SMU, while Duke-NUS will engage with students prior to their graduation from SMU, and for subsequent admissions into the MD programme.
- Applicants must indicate an interest in applying for the “SMU-Duke-NUS Medicine Pathway” in their Undergraduate Application Form during the online SMU Application Exercise.
- For “SMU-Duke-NUS Medicine Pathway” applicants only: Applicants who have indicated their interest should also complete the online Duke-NUS Conditional Admissions application from 1 February to 19 March for the 2022 Intake. Fill in the Duke-NUS Conditional Admissions application at https://admissions.duke-nus.edu.sg/apply/
- Completed applications will be screened after the 1st Common Acceptance deadline in mid-May and only selected applicants will be invited for interviews from mid-July onwards.
- To be offered a place in “SMU-Duke-NUS Medicine Pathway”, applicants will first need to be accepted into their undergraduate programme and also be offered conditional admission into the Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme at Duke-NUS.
For “SMU-Duke-NUS Medicine Pathway” applicants only: The Duke-NUS Conditional Admissions application for the 2022 Intake will open from 1 February to 19 March 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 SMU