How to Apply - Frequently Asked Questions

Currently, the programme is not offered as a distance learning programme.

Students should enquire with the respective organisations on whether they recognise the NUS MPH.

NUS is internationally recognised. The University is among Asia’s best and currently ranks among the top 50 in World University Rankings.

Although SSHSPH was established in 2011, its history traces back to the Department of Social Medicine and Public Health, which was formed in 1948 under what was then the University of Malaya. In 1953, the programme was offered as the Diploma of Public Health and was the first postgraduate medical course in Singapore and one of the first in the region. Over the years and through rigorous iterations, it has since evolved into the Master of Public Health. Learn more about the School here.

No. Please approach Singapore Medical Council directly if you wish to practice in Singapore.

Career opportunities vary for each graduate, as it will depend on the area of interest of individual graduates. Due to the breadth of public health work, a broad variety of career opportunities are available.

The NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates provides Career Services to our graduates, including resume writing and interview preparation. More information is available here.

You may also discuss with your academic and practicum supervisors on your career opportunities.

The information is available at the websites below:

• NUS Career Opportunities
• SSHSPH Career Opportunities

Unless granted approval by our University, a candidate should not be a concurrent student for more than one degree. A candidate should also not register both as an NUS candidate and for another university/institute.

All applications are considered on their own merit. There is no quota set for medically and non-medically qualified students.

Most of the classes are typically held over the regular semesters, with some offered during special terms or as intensive courses.

A semester is typically 13 weeks long (excluding recess, exams and vacation periods). Please refer to the NUS Academic Calendar for more information.

Some classes are taught over a shorter period, such as over 1 week, or 2 days over 3 weeks. These classes usually run for the whole day from 8.30AM to 6PM. Part-time students will need to apply leave from work to attend such classes.

All students will have to complete 24 units of core courses and 24 units of elective courses to graduate from the programme. All students must complete SPH5002 Public Health Research Methods in the first semester in the year they are admitted into the programme. If students are unable to do so, they may be required to defer their studies to the following year.

Full-time students will typically complete the programme over 12 months. Part-time students will normally take 2 years to complete the programme.

Upon admission to the programme, all new students are required to attend the following prior to the start of the academic term:

1. Registration Day (1 full day)
2. SPH5001 Foundations of Public Health (5 full days)

The dates will be published on our websites during the application period as well as in your offer letters. Students who are working should plan their leave for this period.

Typically, a 4 units course will require the following commitment PER WEEK:

• At least 3 hours of contact time;
• 4 hours of readings; and
• 3 hours of preparatory work (assignments, etc)

That will be an estimated total of 10 hours per week or 130 hours over one semester. The time commitment will depend on how many units of courses you are reading for that term.

Please note that some courses are 8 units and the commitment required is doubled.

Information Pertaining to the First Semester only

Full-Time students, will read ALL core courses in the first semester and other elective courses if they can cope with the workload. Please refer to the first page of Full-Time Study Plan.

Part-Time students, will read SPH5002 Public Health Research Methods in the first semester and 1 core/ elective courses if they can cope with the workload. Please refer to the first page of Part-Time Study Plan.

All students will complete their Practicum Project and Presentation during the Special Term in July.

For the remaining semesters’ recommended study plan, please refer to pages 2 and 3 of the Study Plan.

All new students are required to complete the following activity and courses in the first semester of their study:

1. Registration Day – usually on the Friday 2 weeks before Orientation Week
2. SPH5001 Foundations for Public Health – 5 full days, usually during the week before Orientation Week
3. SPH5002 Public Health Research Methods (during the first semester)

The dates will be stated here. Please apply for the necessary leave. If you are unable to attend, you may be asked to defer your studies to the following year.

Regular classes will commence one week after the orientation week in August. Please refer to the NUS Academic Year .

Study Plans for full-time and part-time students are listed here.

This depends on your goals and objectives in pursuing a higher degree programme in public health. The 2 programmes are quite different in the learning process and outcome.

The Master of Public Health is a practice-based programme.Students gain competency in knowledge and practical skills in public health related work.

The Master of Science by Research/ Doctor of Philosophy by Research, in contrast, is an academically and research orientated degree programme. The research and thesis form the bulk of their experience in this programme.

You may wish to consider the following programmes offered by the School:

• Graduate Diploma in Public Health
• Continuing Education and Training

Depending on the individual’s interest and career requirements, the School offers

• Master of Science by Research
• Doctor of Philosophy by Research

More Information is available here.

The MPH programme is offered on both a full-time and part-time basis. Please refer to our Curriculum for candidature periods here.

A full-time student is expected to complete the programme in 1 year (from August to July) including 2 main semesters and 2 special terms. The maximum candidature for a full-time student is 2 years. There will be fees implications should a student extend beyond the normal candidature period, of which the student will be expected to pay unsubsidised tuition fees for the extended semesters.

A part-time student is expected to complete the programme in 2 years, including 4 main semesters and at least 2 special terms. The maximum candidature for a part-time student is 4 years. There will be fees implications should a student extend beyond the normal candidature period, of which the student will be expected to pay unsubsidised tuition fees for the extended semesters.

For more information:

• Frequently Asked Questions on Tuition Fee beyond Normal Candidate Period
• Normal Course Duration (NCD) and Maximum Course Duration (MCD)

Full-time graduate students may apply to work on a part-time basis during the period of their candidature under the NUS Student Work Scheme (NSWS).

Full-time students cannot hold a full-time job unless explicit approval is given by the Vice-Dean (Education). Such students may wish to consider a part-time appointment or defer their studies to the following year.

If a student is on a scholarship, please check the terms and conditions of the scholarship before embarking on part-time work. Some scholarships explicitly disallow students from working as the scholarship is meant to support the student’s financial burden.

Application for LOA before and during Instructional Week 2

Students may be granted a Leave of Absence (LOA) from the University with a maximum of one year, which will be excluded from the count against their maximum duration of candidature. Students should seek approval from their academic supervisor and programme director in writing prior to applying for a leave of absence.

Application for LOA after Instructional Week 2

You will be charged the full semester fees. The semester will not be excluded from the count against their maximum duration of candidature as you would have consumed the MOE subsidy for that semester.

This will be considered on a case-by case basis. Do discuss with the programme administrators prior to your application as there will be implications on your subsidies and normal candidature.

It should be noted that satisfying minimal standards is not a guarantee of admission, since the number of qualified applicants usually exceeds the number of places available. As a result, many well-qualified applicants cannot be accommodated.

The first degree need not be in a health-related discipline if you have public health-related work experience.

We welcome both medically and non-medically qualified applicants to apply.

You may still submit your application and our admissions committee will consider various factors (such as work experience and referee reports) in deciding whether an applicant should be recommended for admission.

Two years is stated as a minimum requirement so that the candidate has the opportunity to experience Public Health/ Occupational Health functions before entering the course.

We would not recommend applicants with no prior experience in Public Health/ Occupational Health functions to apply for the programme.

While you may not fully meet the minimum 2 years of related public health experience, your application may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to approval from the University. The admissions committee will consider various factors (such as work experience and referee reports) in deciding whether an applicant should be recommended for admission.

The relevance of your work experience will depend on what your occupation entails – whether it is related to public health directly or indirectly.

Public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organised efforts and informed choices of society, organisations, public and private communities, and individuals.

— Charles-Edward Amory Winslow (1877–1957)

Public Health

• focuses on the population and prevention rather than on patients and treatment;
• deals with the prevention and management of epidemics (infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases); and
• takes a multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary approach to the prevention and management of health problems in the population

Examples of public health organisations include:

• National Ministries of Health
• Healthcare Institutions
• Public Health Laboratories
• R&D Divisions within pharmaceutical companies
• Occupational and safety departments within the petroleum and chemical industry
• Non-governmental organisations involved in medical and humanitarian work

Essential public health activities as described by CDC.gov:

• Monitor health status to identify and solve community health problems
• Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community
• Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues
• Mobilise community partnerships and action to identify and solve health problems
• Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts
• Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety
• Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable
• Assure competent public and personal health care workforce
• Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services
• Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems

International applicants must submit test scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System) and must meet the minimum scores required:

• 85 on the TOEFL Test
• 6 on the IELTS Academic Test

Test scores for the TOEFL and IELTS Academic are valid for 2 years from the test dates. TOEFL and IELTS Academic scores that are no longer valid will not be accepted. Your test scores must still be valid during the period of application. If your test scores expire before the application closes, it will not be valid.

Please retake the test to attain the minimum requirement and apply for the next admission.

If your undergraduate or graduate degrees are from Singapore autonomous universities or taught and issued from English-medium institutions located in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, you may be exempted.

Otherwise, you MUST submit valid test scores for the TOEFL or IELTS Academic.

Please select ‘IELTS Academic‘.

Currently, the University only accepts TOEFL or IELTS Academic test scores.

No, it is not a requirement for the Master of Public Health programme.

The list of scholarships is available under the ‘Scholarships & Financial Aid’ section here.

At the point of application, prospective candidates should indicate if they wish to be considered for these scholarships. You can do so by indicating at the questionnaire section in the online application.

Please note that the act of application does not imply a guarantee of an award of the scholarship.

There is no age limit. Scholarships are offered on competitive basis.

You may apply for financial assistance from the various foundations and international agencies in your country. We would be pleased to confirm your MPH application status if requested. Local banks also offer a tuition loan to full-time students under the NUS Tuition Loan Scheme.

International students who are admitted into the course as a full-time student may apply for the TFL. The maximum loan quantum is 90% of the tuition fees payable by Singapore Citizens for the same course. Please ensure you apply by the application deadline.

Instructions are available here.

Applicants may apply for the programme via online only.

Applicants are advised to apply directly to the University and not through any agents. The University reserves the right to reject applications via agents without providing a reason.

After submitting your application online, please inform the admission administrators of the issue immediately to arrange for a postponement of the dateline. If the required documents are not provided by the agreed postponed date, the application will be deemed void.

You can submit your transcript to World Education Service for verification. Please check their website here for the application process.

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of S$50.00. Any application without the application fee payment or with insufficient application fee amount will not be processed.

We regret that we are unable to process late applications. Please visit the application page for information on the next application period here.

No, please complete the current application and provide the required documents.

August/ September

• Application Opens
• Please use an email address that you check frequently

December

• Application Closes
• Applicants to send the required documents to reach the admissions team no later by the date indicated

January

• Processing of applications
• Applicants may be contacted for incomplete documentation or clarifications
• If the required documents are not provided by the given date, the application is deemed void.

January/ February

• Applicants to complete online tests

1. Numeracy Test; and
2. Academic Writing Proficiency Test

March/ April

• Applicants may be scheduled for interviews

April/ May

• Staggered release of the application outcome via email

May

• Applicants to complete online acceptance of offer

June

• Pre-admission medical check-ups

July

• Registration Day: Two Fridays before NUS Orientation Week
• SPH5001 Foundations of Public Health: 1 week before NUS Orientation Week
• Attendance for both are COMPULSORY

August

• Classes Commence

The outcome will be sent via email. Please refer to the application timeline given.

It may be possible to meet up. However, the answers to your questions may be found on our website or in this FAQ. Please email us with a list of your questions and suggested date/ times for the meet up. Do note that we can only arrange meetings between 9am to 5pm (except 11.30am to 1.30pm) during Mondays to Fridays (excluding public holidays). We may not be able to meet you in person if you did not make an appointment.

A student should set aside at least S$18,000 per year of study in Singapore, on top of NUS tuition and student miscellaneous fees.

Below is a list of estimated expenditure a student may likely incur during his or her stay in Singapore. These amounts may vary according to personal needs and lifestyle patterns. This example excludes non-essentials and major items such as shopping, entertainment, computers, electronic/ communication devices, travel plans, etc.

Estimated Costs (per month)	On-campus	Off-campus
Accommodation	S$480 – S$850*	S$600 – S$1,300#
Food (3 meals a day)	S$250 – S$500	S$400 – S$800
Public Transport	S$100 – S$150	S$200 – S$300
Personal expenses	S$300 – S$500	S$300 – S$500
Total	S$1,130 – S$2,000	S$1,500 – S$2,900

Notes:

* Actual cost depends on type of residence and type of room. For hostel fees, please refer to the Office of Student Affairs’ Residential Services site.

^# Actual rental depends on whether there is room sharing and whether utilities are included in the rent.

Information extracted from: http://www.nus.edu.sg/gro/global-programmes/student-exchange