3 Best Medical Schools in Singapore

Singapore’s strong economy and close attention to research, as well as its investment in education, make it an excellent place to study medicine. They espouse innovative teaching techniques and value medicine as a top university degree. Therefore, much of Singapore’s education resources are allocated to the medical field.

Singapore is a world leader in medical research – ranked first in IMD’s 2019 World Competitiveness Rankings, second in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report for 2018, and fifth in the Global Innovation Index 2018.

Finally, studying in Singapore means you’ll experience the great quality of life that the small nation is famous for. The many religions and cultures that come together in Singapore make it an exciting place to live and study, as well. In this article, we will be going over the most prestigious medical schools in Singapore.

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How much does it cost to study medicine in Singapore?

Compared to many top medicine universities around the world, Singapore is relatively affordable. It can cost only about $10,000 per year for a Singapore citizen to attend.

How long does medical schools take in Singapore?

Singapore offers an undergraduate degree in medicine called Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). This takes five years to study for, on a full-time basis.

Top Medical Schools in Singapore

1. National University of Singapore – Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

Established in 1905, the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine was the first institution within the National University of Singapore and is therefore the first establishment of higher education in the country. Its medical program is famous throughout Asia Pacific as well as internationally. The school is named after philanthropist and doctor Yong Loo Lin – it was renamed in 2005. National University of Singapore – Yoo Loo Lin School of Medicine is considered the best medical school in Singapore.

The School of Medicine has a mission to develop doctors and nurses as well as researchers. They do so within 18 departments ranging from nursing studies to ophthalmology, surgery, biomedical ethics and more. They are also partnered with a number of international medical organizations and networks of schools and research centers.

The MBBS curriculum is split into phases, each lasting one year. It includes core courses, electives, project work. You also have a semester of study abroad at one of 20 partner schools, during two elective periods. During Phase V, students work in healthcare teams in hospitals and clinics to make the transition between university and practical work.

2. Nanyang Technological University – Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine

Nanyang Technological University open the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in 2013, making this the third medical school in Singapore after the National University of Singapore and the Duke-NUS Medical School. This is a collaboration with Imperial College London.

Located next to their partner hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine offers both undergraduate and graduate programs and is named after local philanthropist Tan Sri Dato Lee Kong Chian. The aim of the five-year program is to give undergraduates a strong understanding of the scientific basis of medicine, prioritizing technology, data science and the humanities.

The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine has established ties with a number of healthcare providers in order to ensure there are ample opportunities for students to carry out medical practical training. Their medical library is very impressive and they benefit from a dual campus, too.

3. Duke-NUS Medical School

We end our list of top medical schools in Singapore with Duke-NUS Medical School. This is a graduate-only medical school, set up in April 2005 in partnership between the National University of Singapore and Duke University. It follows the model of American post-baccalaureate medical education, where you would need to have first obtained an undergraduate bachelor’s degree before enrolling in this medical school.

The advantage of completing your studies at Duke-NUS is the international nature of the degree: students are awarded a medical diploma from each institution. The MD program runs for four years and follows the Duke University of Medicine curriculum. There is also the opportunity to study for a joint MD/PhD program.

To gain admission at Duke-NUS, you have to go through the American style of application, where you would take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) as part of the requirements, and your GPA for the Bachelor’s degree is also taken in consideration.

A majority of students at Duke-NUS are citizens or permanent residents of Singapore, but this is also a popular university for international students, with one third coming from over 20 other countries.

 

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