OVERVIEW
The National University of Singapore (NUS) Master of Science (MSc) in Precision Health and Medicine (MScPHM) is offered by the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUSMed), Department of Biochemistry.
Precision medicine is a fast-emerging field in the medical landscape that is hailed to transform healthcare in the coming decades. With advancements in technology (e.g. big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence) and genetic insights, precision medicine offers a deeper understanding of human physiology by accounting for individual variations in genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors, facilitating accurate prediction of effective treatment and prevention strategies tailored for different groups of people.
The MScPHM is an inter-disciplinary graduate degree programme with courses that are co-led by academics, clinical practitioners, subject matter experts and industry leaders. It has been designed to equip students from medical and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) backgrounds with the pertinent knowledge and skills to harness the power of precision medicine to transform healthcare.
The MScPHM curriculum is unique as it spans many different disciplines, comprising courses co-led by not only by the Department of Biochemistry but also other NUSMed departments including Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medicine, Pathology/Laboratory Medicine, Biomedical Ethics and Pharmacology, as well as other NUS faculties including Science (Statistics), Business, Engineering (Biomedical) and Duke-NUS. Many are leaders in Centres of Excellence (e.g. Cancer Science Institute, iHealthTech, HealthTEC, Institute of Operations Research and Analytics, Duke-NUS Centre of Regulatory Excellence, etc.) as well as other key Institutes/Hospitals in Singapore (e.g. National Supercomputing Centre Singapore (NSCC), A*STAR institutes including Bioinformatics Institute (BII) Singapore, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), SingHealth Duke-NUS Genomic Medicine Centre, National University Hospital (NUH), KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), etc).
Why this Programme?
-
Join one of the first inter-disciplinary Precision Medicine graduate degree programmes in Asia, with three different study routes to cater to individual needs: one-year MScPHM, two-year MScPHM with Capstone Project, or stackable Executive Certificates or Graduate Certificates with the option to transfer Units towards the MScPHM within five years.
-
Be equipped with core skills and advanced knowledge in key Precision Medicine disciplines, and gain hands-on experience to solve real-world problems through group projects, case studies and/or internships/Capstone Projects.
-
Develop the skillsets required to transform healthcare and make informed decisions about when and how to apply Precision Medicine.
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 MScPHM programme, there is one application period for each AY:
| Programme |
Intake |
Application Dates |
| MScPHM |
Semester 2
(Jan Intake) |
May to Sep of preceding year (international applicants) / May to Nov of preceding year (Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents) |
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Admission to the NUS MScPHM 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 (preferably with Honours) in any Science, Technology, Engineering Mathematics and Medicine or related discipline
Note: Alternatively, candidates with other qualifications (e.g. those with significant experience and demonstrable professional accomplishments in Precision Medicine-related fields, or those who have completed relevant Executive Certificates or Graduate Certificates in Precision Health and Medicine with a minimum GPA of 3.5 that are stackable towards the MScPHM) may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to approval by the Programme Committee
|
| Skill/Experience |
For candidates with non-quantitative (i.e., non-Mathematics, Engineering/Computing) undergraduate majors, aptitude in quantitative sciences is desirable. These candidates are encouraged to take bridging courses in R (e.g. from Coursera/EdX) before commencing the Masters.
Relevant work experience in biology- or data-science-related industry would be an advantage.
|
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
Applicants are welcome to submit additional test reports (i.e. GRE, GMAT) that they may have
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
|
Note: Candidates may be required to sit for other tests as prescribed by the School.
Applications must be accompanied by:
- a Curriculum Vitae (CV) that provides an overview of the applicant's relevant experience, skills and qualifications and accomplishments
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application information and all supporting documents are truthful and correct. NUS reserves the right to verify information provided as part of an application. False or misleading information in an application (including but not limited to test scores, resumes, certificates, transcripts, etc.) is grounds for admission rejection, revocation and/or dismissal from the University.
MODE OF STUDY AND PROGRAMME CANDIDATURE
The NUS MScPHM programme is offered on the following basis (with estimated time to complete the programme indicated below):
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.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
To graduate from the NUS MScPHM programme, students must meet the following requirements:
| Programme and/or Specialisation |
Read and pass a total of 40 Units.
One-year MScPHM study route:
- 24 Units of core/essential courses, and
- 16 Units of elective courses from the respective specialisation
Two-year MScPHM with Capstone Project study route:
- 32 Units of core/essential courses, and
- 8 Units of elective courses from the respective 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 MScPHM 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$60,000.00 (excluding GST) /
S$65,400.00 (including 9% GST)
Note: For the inaugural MScPHM intake (Jan 2024), applicants who accept within one week of receiving the offer letter from NUS will be eligible for the early acceptance rate of S$60,000.00 (including 9% GST).
|
| Financial Assistance |
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
Students can apply for tuition fee subsidy and/or scholarship supported by Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE).
For more about loans and other financial assistance, please refer to the NUS Office of Admissions.
|
| Application |
S$50.47 (including 8% GST, with effect from 1 Jan 2023);
S$50.93 (including 9% GST, with effect from 1 Jan 2024)
- Non-refundable and non-transferable
|
| Acceptance |
S$5,000.00 (excluding GST)
- 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
|