Duke-NUS Medical School Scholarship and Bursary: 2026 Profile
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)03 Oct 2025, 21:05 Z
TL;DR\ Duke-NUS funds its graduate-entry MD cohorts through a mix of tuition fee loans, need-based bursaries covering 14–71% of tuition, and named merit scholarships from philanthropic partners such as the Goh Foundation, Shaw Foundation, Ngee Ann Kongsi, and Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple. Submit the Duke-NUS financial aid form within 28 days of Applicant Day to be considered; awards are bond-free but require sustained performance and disclosure of other aid.
Scholarship Snapshot
- Status: Application Cycle Closed (last verified 2025-10-03)
- Official Listing: Financial Aid & Scholarships — Duke-NUS Medical School
- Who It Targets: Domestic and international MD students at Duke-NUS who need tuition financing, require means-tested bursary aid, or demonstrate exceptional academic and service track records for merit scholarships
- Eligibility: Tuition Fee Loan is need-based; bursaries hinge on household finances and student conduct; merit scholarships reward academic excellence plus leadership and service contributions, with some awards prioritising Singapore Citizens/PRs or applicants with demonstrated financial need
- Tenable Programmes: Doctor of Medicine (MD) at Duke-NUS Medical School; Tuition Fee Loan is co-administered with the NUS Graduate School
- Bond: No service bond attached to Duke-NUS bursaries or merit scholarships; tuition fee loans operate on standard repayment terms
Award Components
- Tuition Fee Loan (TFL): Need-based financing administered with NUS that can cover up to 90% of tuition fees; students are expected to take up the TFL before requesting additional Duke-NUS aid. Repayment commences after graduation based on NUS loan terms.
- Duke-NUS Bursaries: Means-tested grants covering roughly 14–71% of annual tuition (excluding miscellaneous fees) for eligible MD students. Awards run for the full four-year programme with annual reviews; applicants must notify Duke-NUS of any external funding changes.
- SMA Medical Students' Assistance Fund: Supplements living expenses for needy Singapore Citizen and Permanent Resident medical students via the Singapore Medical Association Charity Fund.
- Merit Scholarships (4-year tenure unless specified):
- Goh Foundation Scholarship — S$20,000 per year for outstanding local or international MD students, with preference for those demonstrating financial need.
- Shaw Foundation Scholarship — S$10,000–S$50,000 annually for high-achieving students with leadership and community service records.
- Ngee Ann Kongsi Distinguished Scholars Programme — S$10,000–S$50,000 per year for Singaporean or PR students with excellent academic standing.
- Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Scholarship — S$10,000–S$50,000 annually, typically awarded from the second year onward; prioritises Singapore Citizens and may consider financial need.
Eligibility Highlights
- Financial assessment: Bursary decisions factor in household income, assets, spouse income (where applicable), and any external scholarships. Updates must be submitted promptly if circumstances change.
- Academic performance: Merit scholarship candidates must maintain strong grades and fulfil leadership/service expectations. Bursary renewals require satisfactory academic progress and conduct each year.
- Citizenship considerations: While most merit awards are open to all full-time MD students, certain scholarships prefer or require Singapore Citizens/PRs.
- Loan obligations: Students who secure external sponsorships are expected to declare them; Duke-NUS may adjust bursary allocations accordingly.
Application Roadmap
- Accept your Applicant Day interview invitation and gather financial statements, academic transcripts, and supporting documents before the session.
- Submit the Duke-NUS financial aid application via the secure online portal within 28 calendar days of Applicant Day to be considered for tuition fee loans, bursaries, and scholarships.
- Opt in to the Tuition Fee Loan if you require tuition coverage; review NUS Graduate School documentation to understand repayment terms and guarantor requirements.
- Complete the bursary section with detailed household income data and upload evidence of need; use the Bursary Eligibility Calculator for indicative estimates before applying.
- Highlight academic achievements, service commitments, and leadership impact in the merit scholarship portion; prepare to discuss these during follow-up interviews between March and June.
- Monitor your email for award notifications and respond promptly; bursary and scholarship recipients must confirm acceptance, acknowledge annual reviews, and notify Duke-NUS of any external aid.
Preparation Playbook
- Run the Duke-NUS bursary calculator ahead of time to benchmark your eligibility and pre-empt document requests.
- Engage referees and supervisors early so they can endorse your leadership and service records for merit scholarship consideration.
- Map out a personal financing plan that combines the Tuition Fee Loan, bursaries, personal savings, and external awards to cover tuition plus living costs.
- Track financial aid deadlines alongside admissions milestones; missing the 28-day window after Applicant Day removes you from consideration for that intake.
- Set reminders for annual bursary renewal check-ins and prepare updated financial documentation each year.
