Launched by the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUSMed) in 2023, the Master of Science in Applied Biomedicine (MSc-ABM) is perhaps the first programme of its kind in Asia, and was developed with the aim of equipping students with the skillsets needed to combat emerging infectious diseases, develop vaccines and immunotherapies, as well as design drugs—competencies that have emerged as critical in light of the recent pandemic and the global resolve to better prepare for future healthcare crises.

The MSc-ABM aims to help students develop 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.

Since the introduction of this programme, interested parties have been contacting us to learn more. In this article, we will answer some of the most commonly asked questions.

When is the application period?

The MSc-ABM currently has one intake per academic year. Applications for the Jan 2024 intake of the MSc-ABM are being accepted from 1 Jul to 30 Sep 2023. Application outcomes will be available via the online NUS Graduate Admission System by end Oct 2023.

Is there an early admission cycle?

There is no early admission cycle for this programme. All applicants are encouraged to submit their applications during the stated application period.

If I have a background in biomedicine, will I be considered for (or have an advantage in) admission into the programme?

Admission into the programme is granted on a competitive basis as places in the programme are limited. As such, applicants should possess the following minimum requirements:

A Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (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 a health sciences related discipline. A professional background in Health and Life Sciences is advantageous.

What is the minimum grade to qualify for admission into this programme?

There is no minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) requirement to apply. Applications will be reviewed in a holistic manner. Apart from academic performance, the Admission Committee will also be considering each applicant’s non-academic backgrounds. Factors such as work experience, project experience or additional certifications/qualifications, if any, will be taken into consideration when assessing individual applications.

My native language is not English, but I possess an undergraduate degree in which courses were conducted in English. Do I need to provide Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) / International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores in my application?

TOEFL/IELTS requirements are waived for applicants whose undergraduate or graduate degrees are conducted entirely in English and are conferred from English-medium institutions.

Applicants whose native tongue and medium of university instruction is not completely in English, will be required to submit results from either one of the following:

• TOEFL, a minimum score of 85 (Internet-based), or
• IELTS, a minimum Academic score 6.0

I understand that the MSc-ABM offers students the option to choose between a general track or one of three specialisations (Vaccinology and Immunotherapy, Infectious Diseases Management, Drug Discovery and Development). When will we be required to make this choice?

The different specialisations can be chosen upon admission to the programme. In addition, students also have the freedom to pursue a General Track and graduate without a specialisation.

What are the requirements for online submission of documents during application? Will hardcopies be required?

Applicants are required to submit their applications online. Supporting documents must be scanned and uploaded, in PDF format, during the application. Applicants must ensure that all scanned documents are clear, as the review committee will use these documents to assess applications.

Documents not be in English must be accompanied by an officially certified English translation.

A full set of supporting documents must be provided when an application is submitted. Any application deemed incomplete will not be processed. Examples of incomplete applications are submissions with insufficient documents or transcripts that do not contain examinations results for all semesters of study. Applications or documents which are received after the application period will not be processed.

As an international student, would I need to submit any documents with regards to financial matters?

International applicants are required to submit documentary evidence showing financial support sufficient to cover the programme tuition fee for at least one academic year. This may be a bank statement or a certificate of deposit in English, issued by the bank.

For applicants sponsored by parents, the following two documents are required:

• A letter signed by your parent(s) indicating their intention to sponsor your tuition fees, and
• The bank/financial statement from your parent(s).

Should you have any question not covered in this article, contact us at https://bit.ly/NUSPGCEnquiry and our programme consulting team will be happy to provide an answer.

MSc in Applied Biomedicine

Applications for the Jan 2024 intake of MSc-ABM programme are being accepted 1 Jul–30 Sep 2023. For more information about the programme, modules and other details, please visit our MSc in Applied Biomedicine web page.