OVERVIEW

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Master of Science (MSc) in Applied Biomedicine (MSc-ABM) is offered by the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUSMed), Division of Graduate Studies.

The MSc-ABM, perhaps the first programme of its kind in Asia, has a critical role to play in light of the recent pandemic and future healthcare crises. The MSc-ABM equips students with skills to combat emerging infectious diseases, develop vaccines and immunotherapies, as well as design drugs. It aims to develop students in their critical and analytical thinking in the complex and evolving healthcare landscape; training them to be resourceful and adaptable independent learners and leaders in the biomedical workforce. The programme also aims to impart the following skill sets and knowledge to students:

  • In-depth and up-to-date specialist knowledge and technologies in biomedicine
  • Ability to apply biomedical knowledge to practice
  • Ability to formulate a hypothesis and design a scientifically sound project

Students in the programme can choose to generalise or pursue one of three specialisations:

  • Vaccinology and Immunotherapy
  • Infectious Diseases Management
  • Drug Discovery and Development

By arming students with the necessary skills and knowledge, the MSc-ABM will provide a steady supply of skilled professionals to the healthcare and biopharmaceutical industries—in particular research institutes, ministries and hospitals where the disciplines of infectious diseases management, vaccine development/immunotherapy and drug discovery/development are critical.

Why this Programme?

  • Get more from an integrated Master’s Degree programme focused on biomedical topics critical to the post-pandemic scientific community.

  • Prepare to be an agile and enterprising healthcare talent with good management potential, through the programme's bio innovation and leadership courses.

  • Leverage on Singapore's lessons and successes in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, which add new and unique perspectives to the programme.

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

Application Period
An Academic Year (AY) at NUS consists of two semesters and a special term (which occurs during the Semester 2 Vacation, and is divided into two parts of six weeks duration each):

  • Semester 1: Aug–Dec
  • Semester 2: Jan–May
  • Special Term (Part 1): May–Jun
  • Special Term (Part 2): Jun–Jul

For the MSc-ABM programme, there is one application period for each AY:

Programme Intake Application Dates
MSc-ABM Semester 2
(Jan Intake)
1 Jul to 30 Sep of year preceding the intake year

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission to the NUS MSc-ABM programme is granted on a competitive basis as places in the programme are limited. Applicants should possess the following minimum requirements:

Academic 

M.B.,B.S degree or a relevant Bachelor’s Degree (with Honours) in Life Sciences (e.g. Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology), Bioengineering, Biotechnology or Health-Sciences-related discipline

Note: Alternatively, candidates with other qualifications and relevant industry experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to approval by the Programme Committee

Skill/Experience

Not applicable

English Language
Applicants whose native tongue and medium of university instruction is not completely in English:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) minimum score of 85 (Internet-based), or
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum Academic score 6.0

Note: TOEFL / IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date and should not have expired at point of application. Expired scores will not be considered for the application.

Other

Not applicable

MODE OF STUDY AND PROGRAMME CANDIDATURE

The NUS MSc-ABM programme is offered on the following basis (with estimated time to complete the programme indicated below):

 Full-time  12 months 
 Part-time  24 months 

Note: International applicants must be accepted into an approved full-time course in Singapore to apply for a Student’s Pass. For more information, refer to the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

The MSc-ABM is a 40-Unit coursework-based Master’s Degree programme comprising:

  • Core/essential courses (12 Units),
  • Capstone Project (8 Units), and
  • Elective courses (20 Units)
Core/Essential Courses

Students must complete the Capstone Project (8 Units), as well as four other Core/Essential Courses (12 Units) as listed below.

View Courses

Course Code Course Title Units
ABM5001 Leadership in Biomedicine 2
ABM5002
Advanced Biostatistics for Research 2
ABM5003
Biomedical Innovation & Enterprise 4
ABM5004
Capstone Project 8
BMI5101
Advanced Biomedical Informatics 4

Elective Courses

Students must complete 20 Units of Elective Courses; taking either i) five courses within one of the tracks below, if intending to achieve a specialisation, or ii) five courses across two or three different tracks, if no specialisation is intended.

View Courses

Vaccinology and Immunotherapy Specialisation
Course Code Course Title Units
ABM5101 Applied Immunology 4
ABM5102
Vaccine Development and Its Modern Applications 4
ABM5103
Advanced Technologies in Immune Therapeutic Development 4
ABM5104
Microbiome-Aging-Immunity Crosstalk 4
MDG5207
Clinical Immunology and Immunotherapeutics 4
Drug Discovery and Development Specialisation
Course Code Course Title Units
ABM5105 Drugs Used in Infectious Diseases 4
ABM5106
Anticancer Therapeutics 4
MDG5204
Advanced Topics in Pharmacology 4
MDG5232
Current Practices in Biotechnology 4
MDG5233
Current Topics in Drug Design and Development 4
Infectious Diseases Management Specialisation
Course Code Course Title Units
ABM5102 Vaccine Development and Its Modern Applications 4
ABM5105
Drugs Used in Infectious Diseases 4
ABM5107
One World, One Health: Ecosystems, Animals and Us 4
MDG5246
Infectious Diseases: Principles & Research Methods 4
SPH5201
Control of Communicable Diseases* 4
SPH5205 Urban Outbreak Management* 4
SPH5206
Urban Field Epidemiology* 4
* Students can register for only one of these three courses

Note: For more information about the courses listed above (as well as other courses offered in the current academic year), please visit NUSMODS.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

To graduate from the NUS MSc-ABM programme, students must meet the following requirements:

Programme and/or Specialisation

Read and pass a total of 40 Units, comprising:

  • 20 Units of Core/Essential Courses (including the Capstone Project), and
  • 20 Units of Elective Courses (all from one track for specialisation, or across two or more tracks without specialisation) 
Course and/or Qualification

Not applicable

Grade Point Average (GPA) 

Minimum 3.0 (out of maximum 5.0)

Please see also the University’s minimum standards for Continuation and Graduation Requirements specific programmes may implement stricter or additional requirements.

Other 

Not applicable


FEES AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Kindly note that all fees for the NUS MSc-ABM programme quoted on this page are exclusive of prevailing GST, unless otherwise stated (GST rate will be increased from 8% to 9% with effect from 1 Jan 2024). The University reserves all rights to review fees as necessary and adjust accordingly without prior notice.

Tuition

S$48,000.00 (excluding GST) /
S$52,320.00 (including 9% GST)

Financial Assistance

Starting AY2024, tuition fee rebates will be provided for this programme as an NUS Master's Degree by Coursework programme not subsidised by the government:
• All Singaporeans and Singapore PRs (non-NUS alumni) will receive a 10% tuition fee rebate
• All NUS alumni will receive a 15% tuition fee rebate

For more about loans and other financial assistance, please refer to the NUS Office of Admissions.

Application

S$50.00 (including GST)

  • Non-refundable and non-transferable
Acceptance

To be advised in letter of offer

  • Payable upon acceptance of offer
  • Non-refundable and non-transferable
  • Will be credited towards tuition fees
Miscellaneous Student Fees

As published by NUS Registrar’s Office

  • Payable every regular semester


Programme at a Glance*

Upcoming Event(s):

Watch this space for updates!

Next Intake:
Application Period:
1 Jul 2023–30 Sep 2023

Updating soon!

* For full details, please refer to main write-up.

For enquiries, contact us.


For enquiries, contact us.

We will guide you through the next steps of your transformative journey.

 
24 May 2023