Duke-NUS Medical PhD admission requirements and pre-requisites

In alignment with our education mission, we review all applicants holistically. We also consider evidence of scholarly work such as research favourably. While we do not set pre-determined cut-offs for GPA and GRE scores, they should reflect an academic background that is able to withstand the rigours at Duke-NUS.

The Admissions Committee reviews all application material, reference letters, and interviewer comments carefully to better understand each applicant. We seek to identify those with the traits and skills that will help them succeed as scientists. The Admissions Committee seeks applicants who are academically capable team players and who have demonstrated a strong interest in research.

There is no restriction on re-application.

Pre-requisites for PhD Programmes

(I) PhD in Integrated Biology and Medicine

• All applicants must have completed, or be in the final year of, a bachelor or honours degree
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test results**
• 3 – 5 references, typically from professors, mentors and/or employers
• Relevant research experience is looked upon favourably
• Applicants are also required to meet the "Other Requirements" below

**With effect from August 2024, all PhD (IBM) applicants will be required to submit their GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores. However, students with excellent academic track record from renowned universities may request for a waiver of this requirement.

To inquire about your eligibility for a GRE waiver, please:

1. Register an account for PhD (IBM) application at https://admissions.duke-nus.edu.sg/apply/
2. Contact the Admissions Office at admissions@duke-nus.edu.sg. Kindly include a copy of your CV and transcripts to support the assessment of the waiver.

(II) PhD in Quantitative Biology and Medicine

• Depending on your intended concentration area,
  • Biostatistics and Health Data Science: a master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in a quantitative discipline (Statistics/Biostatistics/Math/Computer Science/Epidemiology).
  • Computational Biology: a bachelor’s degree in biological, computational, or quantitative discipline.
• All applicants must have completed, or be in the final year of, a bachelor or honours degree
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test results (Optional)**
• 3 – 5 references, typically from professors, mentors and/or employers
• Applicants are also required to meet the "Other Requirements" below

** With effect from 2025 Intake, standardized test scores such as the GRE are optional for PhD (QBM) application. Do note that evidence of strong quantitative, verbal, and analytical skills through GRE scores, will significantly strengthen your application.

Submission of GRE Test results

If a self-reported GRE test score is submitted to support your PhD application, an official test score will become a required component of your application. The GRE General Test results must be received by Duke-NUS before the application deadline. Submitted scores should not be more than 4 years old at the time of admission. When you take the exam, please have your scores sent directly to Duke-NUS with the Designated Institution (DI) code of 4915. Information on the GRE can be found on the ETS website.

Other Requirements

Please note that all information provided by the Admissions Department is for information purposes only and does not constitute a legal contract between Duke-NUS and any other person or entity unless otherwise specified. The terms of admission (e.g. tuition fees and the service commitment agreement) and these admissions documents are subject to change without prior notice with input from Duke-NUS stakeholders including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and NUS. Although every reasonable effort is made to present accurate information at the time of publication, Duke-NUS gives no warranties and accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided.