Harnessing the Confluence of Design Innovations and Technology to Medicine
In today’s world, the use of technology and the design of the built environment play an increasingly significant role in improving the way we live and our quality of life. One area where this convergence of technology and design is making a huge impact is the practice of medicine.
The SUTD-Duke-NUS Special Track nurtures future clinicians with a foundation in engineering or architecture who can think creatively and work across disciplines. With the technology and design focused curriculum at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), graduates will possess the versatility to analyse healthcare issues and come up with innovative solutions in areas such as healthcare product design (medical devices/equipment), biomaterials, drug delivery, hospital bed allocation systems, patient monitoring, and hospital design.
With the ability to treat patients and design medical innovations, graduates will have an edge in the industry, quickly becoming the new benchmark and future leaders in healthcare.
Successful students will graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree at SUTD, followed by a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree at Duke-NUS Medical School.
Further details can also be found at the SUTD webpageOpen in new tab.
Programme Highlights
This track builds on SUTD’s existing offerings and capabilities in healthcare across the pillars, and advances their mission of bettering the world through design. Students in the special track will expand both their engineering/architecture and clinical knowledge in an interdisciplinary learning environment, and learning will take place at three campuses – SUTD, Duke-NUS Medical School and Singapore General Hospital’s Outram Campus.
Through a number of coursework requirements, including the Healthcare Engineering Design Track in SUTD, a summer internship in a healthcare environment, and a healthcare-related Capstone project in the final two semesters, students will gain the knowledge and skills needed to overcome real-world design challenges and design medical technology for healthcare needs.
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:
- Healthcare Engineering Design Track
- Summer Internship in a Healthcare Environment
- Healthcare-related Capstone Project
Mentorship and Enrichment Activities
- Advising Sessions with Duke-NUS Medical School Faculty
- Duke-NUS Medical Specialties Workshops
- Duke-NUS Alumni Clinical Observership
- Community Projects
Application is opened to Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents only. All applicants must fulfil the following requirements to be considered for an invitation to apply to the pathway:
- Attained highly competitive scores for any of the following certifications/examinations
- Singapore Cambridge General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE A-Level)
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
- NUS High Diploma
- Diploma for any Polytechnic in Singapore (Final GPA score)
- Holds records of leadership experience and community services
- Indicated an interest in the "SUTD-Duke-NUS Special Track" in their Undergraduate Application Form during the SUTD Application Exercise
- Accepted admissions into a degree programme at SUTD
Step 1: Indicate Interest
Applicants should indicate their interest in the "SUTD-Duke-NUS Special Track" in their Undergraduate Application Form during the SUTD Application Exercise
Step 2: Apply Online (by invitation only)
*Eligible applicants will receive an email invitation sent by the Duke-NUS Admissions Office to apply for the pathway through the Duke-NUS Online Application System (please indicate Conditional Admissions” as the programme of interest). A completed application will include letters of recommendation and a personal statement. This should be completed within the stipulated timeline.
Step 3: Interviews (by invitation only)
Completed applications will be reviewed and applicants selected for interviews will be contacted by Duke NUS Admissions Office.
Step 4: Application Outcome
Application outcome will be revealed through the Duke-NUS Online Application System. An email will be sent to applicants to check on the outcome of their application.
*Eligibility is determined by the outcomes of the preliminary screening conducted by Duke-NUS
Note: The admissions process for each school is independent of each other. Admissions into the undergraduate programme.
Students on the Conditional Admissions Track are not guaranteed direct admissions into the MD programme. Students are expected to maintain a stipulated academic performance and fulfil the final acceptance criteria stated below for successful admissions into the Doctor of Medicine (MD).
Final Acceptance Criteria
- Achieve a comparable Cumulative Average Point (CAP) or Grade Point Average (GPA) relative to incoming MD class of that year of entry
- Achieve a comparable MCAT score relative to the incoming MD class of that year of entry and to submit the scores by September of the year prior to entry
- Complete meaningful clinical/medical and service experience throughout their undergraduate years
- Expected to conduct themselves professionally. If concerns should arise at any time regarding a student’s academic performance or professional/personal development, the student may be reviewed by the Admissions Committee resulting in action up to and including withdrawal from the offer
- Submit the Duke-NUS MD application form and supporting documents to Duke-NUS Admissions Department by specific deadlines:
- Submissions of complete undergraduate transcript;
- Production of original degree scroll during the student’s first term at Duke-NUS;
- Attend Applicant Day for MD and undergo interviews for final evaluation.
- Complete all other assessments that may be required by Duke-NUS or NUS