Admissions FAQs

1. Who can apply to LKCMedicine? 

We welcome applicants who have taken the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT), with any of the following qualifications:

    (a) Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘A’ Level 
    (b) International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
    (c) NUS High School Diploma
    (d) Local Polytechnic Diploma

    (e) Relevant international qualifications

View  here for detailed information of the accepted qualifications.


2. What are the selection criteria for admission to LKCMedicine?
Applicants will be assessed on the following:
(a) Academic results
(b) UCAT results
(c) Personal Statement
(d) Referee Reports
(e) Multiple Mini-Interviews (MMI)
View  here for detailed information of the selection criteria.

3. Would it be necessary as an entry requirement to have medical work experience?
No, it is not required. Applicants are shortlisted based on their academic results, UCAT results, personal statement, and referee reports. However, such experience might be personally beneficial in your development and in helping you understand what a career in medicine involves.

4. I am currently pursuing an undergraduate programme at a university. Can I apply to the MBBS programme at LKCMedicine? 
Our MBBS programme has very limited places and entry is highly competitive. We therefore accord priority to applicants who have not previously pursued undergraduate studies. Applicants who have started, are pursuing, or have completed an undergraduate programme at any university are generally not considered.


1. When does the application window for LKCMedicine open? 
Applications can be made from October the year before admission to typically mid-March in the year of admission. 

View here for the exact application dates that correspond to your high school qualifications.


2. Can I apply with predictive assessment scores and before my final examination results are released?
All applicants must apply with their final results for admissions. Predictive assessment scores are not accepted. If you are a graduating student at one of the local polytechnics, you may apply with your cumulative first five (5) semester results. If you are offered a place later, you will be required to submit your final semester results as proof that you have graduated from the diploma course. 

3. If I am unsuccessful in my application, can I reapply in future admission exercises?
Applicants who have previously attended the MMI will be allowed one chance of reapplication under the ABA scheme. Valid UCAT results would have to be presented as required by the School’s entry requirements. 

4. What is the Aptitude-Based Admissions (ABA) scheme? 

Aptitude-based Admissions (ABA) take into account students' passions, interests and strengths. Applicants with exceptional talents and/or outstanding achievements beyond schools’ co-curricular activities can be considered, subject to a minimum level of academic competence, for admissions under ABA.

All applicants to LKCMedicine must achieve the minimum entry requirements. Applicants who are nevertheless concerned about the competitiveness of their academic scores, and have other exceptional talents, passions, interests, and strengths to highlight, should also complete the ABA portion of the online application form. This should be supported by an essay of achievements (not more than 500 words; different from the Personal Statement) and at least one (maximum two) appraisal online.

5. What are the screening and vaccination requirements for admission to LKCMedicine? 
Applicants offered admission to LKCMedicine must fulfil the standardised set of screening and vaccination requirements stipulated by the Ministry of Health, Singapore. The health requirements can be found here. These requirements are subject to changes by the Ministry of Health Singapore.  


1. How many students does LKCMedicine accept each year? 
The School has an annual intake of around 150 students. As the School is set up to train doctors for Singapore and Singaporeans, priority for admission will be given to Singaporeans. 

2. How does the School select applicants? 

First-time applicants (i.e., those who have not previously attended the MMI) who have specified LKCMedicine as their first choice, will first be considered under the standard admissions route.

    • If the relevant cut-off scores (i.e., UCAT and academic results) are met, the applicant would be shortlisted and invited for the MMI without being considered under the ABA scheme. Note that the cut-off scores for UCAT differ yearly as they will depend on the strength of the application cohort. The 10th and 90th percentile UCAT scores of students admitted in AY2024-25 will be published in due course.

    • If the relevant cut-off scores are not met, the applicant will be considered under the ABA scheme.

    • Shortlisted applicants under the ABA scheme will be invited to attend the MMI together with applicants shortlisted via the normal route. All applicants would be assessed together.

Thereafter, all candidates would be ranked and considered for offer based on their MMI performance.

3. How important is the UCAT compared to my academic results? 
Applicants are shortlisted for the MMI based on their academic and UCAT results, hence both components and all five subtests in the UCAT are equally important. In addition, applicants’ personal statement and referee reports are also considered. 

4. When will I be informed of my application outcome? 

Applicants shortlisted for the Multiple Mini-Interviews (MMI) will be informed to attend the MMI by the end of March. For applicants not shortlisted for the MMI and have indicated in their online applications other choices for a programme of study at NTU, their applications will be forwarded to the respective NTU colleges/schools for consideration.

MMI candidates will be informed of the outcome by the end of April. As competition is expected to be strong, some candidates will be offered a place at LKCMedicine, some will be placed on a waiting list, whilst others will be told that their applications are unsuccessful. For those on a waiting list, offers may be made as and when places become available. Candidates on a waiting list or not offered a place at LKCMedicine may still be offered places for other courses at NTU.

All notifications will be made online and all offers of admission will be communicated via NTU, Office of Admissions. You will not receive hardcopy notifications.


1. What is University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)?

The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is a computer-based admissions test, used by a consortium of UK Universities and non-UK associate member universities including Nanyang Technological University, Singapore to help select applicants for medical and dental degree programmes.

It is a two-hour test consisting of five separately timed subtests in multiple-choice format. It is an aptitude test focused on assessing a range of mental abilities and knowledge candidates should already have. The UCAT is developed and administered by the UCAT Consortium. 

2. What is the cut-off for UCAT total score?
The UCAT cut-off total score differs and varies yearly depending on the strength of the application cohort. As a guide, the 10th and 90th percentiles of UCAT total score of students admitted in AY2024-25 were 2719 and 3130 respectively. 

3. When should I take the UCAT? 

Only results of the UCAT taken in the twelve-month period prior to application to LKCMedicine will be considered. For example, you should take the UCAT in 2024 to apply for AY2025-26 admissions. Registration for the UCAT usually takes place between every May and September.

To find out more about the dates and deadlines for UCAT, please visit: https://www.ucat.ac.uk/about-ucat/ucat-test-dates/

4. How can I register and pay for the UCAT?

Registration for the UCAT is a two-step process of creating an account and booking a test, using the Pearson VUE registration system. 

During registration for the UCAT, you will need to indicate that you are applying to international universities that require the UCAT, and select “Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (NTU, Singapore)”. By doing that, LKCMedicine will receive your results from UCAT directly in early November.

You will receive a copy of your UCAT results before leaving the test centre. You should also take note of your UCAT ID number and include it in your online application for admissions to LKCMedicine subsequently.

A fee payable by major debit/credit cards is required during the booking of your test date.
   

    • Tests taken in the UK: £70 (approximately S$115)

    • Tests taken outside the UK:  £115 (approximately S$190)

The UCAT can be taken in Singapore and overseas. Applicants can use the test centre locator function on the UCAT website to find the nearest Pearson VUE test centre. There are currently two test centres in Singapore: 

    • Pearson Professional Centers-Singapore, 51 Cuppage Road, #05-02/03/04, Singapore 229469

    • NTUC LearningHub Pte Ltd, NTUC Trade Union House, 73 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189556

You are advised to obtain registration and bookings details from the UCAT website https://www.ucat.ac.uk/register/booking-your-test/.

   
5. How can I prepare for the UCAT?

LKCMedicine does not recommend any preparatory course for the UCAT except the free official materials developed by the UCAT Consortium. You should use those resources as they have been developed using feedback from previous high-scoring candidates to support your test preparation. 


6. Which test should I take, UCAT or UCAT ANZ? 

Most applicants to LKCMedicine will sit for the UCAT. 

You will only need to sit the UCAT ANZ if you are applying to LKCMedicine and a relevant course at one of the UCAT ANZ Consortium member universities in Australia or New Zealand. If you have taken the UCAT ANZ test, you will be required to indicate your UCAT ANZ candidate ID (e.g., in the sample format: ANZ12345678) in your application to LKCMedicine for admission. LKCMedicine will obtain your UCAT ANZ results directly from the UCAT office.

Information about UCAT ANZ can be found here https://www.ucat.edu.au/.

7. Can I sit for both the UCAT and UCAT ANZ tests? 
You may only take the test once in any test window. Instances of multiple testing in the same year is treated as candidate misconduct and all results are cancelled. You are therefore not permitted to sit both the UCAT and the UCAT ANZ in the same year. 

8. How can I apply for financial assistance to take the UCAT?

Students under the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (MOE FAS) can approach their schools for financial assistance to sit for the UCAT. Schools may support by paying through a credit/debit card or a UCAT international voucher when students book their tests.

Refer here for more information.


1. What are Multiple Mini-Interviews (MMI)? 

They are a series of interviews designed to evaluate the applicant’s aptitude and capability to successfully complete the MBBS programme. This includes one’s motivation and realistic approach to medicine as a career, capacity to deal with stress, evidence of leadership and team participation, ability to multi-task, communication skills, maturity of character, and likely contribution to medical school life.

Shortlisted applicants invited for the MMI will complete a series of eight (8) one-to-one interviews. This is conducted in eight (8) separate interview booths by faculty members, and professionals from various healthcare disciplines.

Many top medical schools use the MMI to shortlist candidates for admission, as it is considered a fairer and less stressful system over a standard interview. 

Find out more about the MMI here.

2. Where and when are the MMI conducted?
The MMI typically takes place at the campus in Singapore during the first two weeks of April. Shortlisted applicants will complete the physical MMI on the day itself, usually within two hours.
Applicants who are unable to attend should inform the School with a valid reason to reschedule as soon as possible. Male applicants currently serving National Service should apply for permission to be released by MINDEF for the MMI. 

3. How do I prepare for the MMI? 
LKCMedicine does not recommend any preparatory course for the MMI. Like many other interviews, just be yourself. Be calm and listen carefully to the questions asked by the interviewers. 

4. Won’t I be disadvantaged if I sit for the MMI earlier?
No, you will not be disadvantaged. As part of the professional behaviour and conduct expected of medical students, all candidates are requested to observe the Code of Ethics prior to the MMI, refrain from divulging or disclosing any of the information through any means, and to keep the knowledge of the interview questions and MMI contents confidential. This is to ensure that candidates interviewed at the start of the MMI cycle will have as equal an opportunity to succeed in their responses to the interview questions as candidates interviewed later in the cycle. 


1. What are the tuition fees for the medical programme? 
All students admitted to LKCMedicine are eligible for subsidised fees, subject to service obligation. The subsidised fees information for students can be obtained here.

2. How do I apply for financial assistance (scholarships and bursaries)?

Application procedures differ for the scholarship and bursary you are applying for. 

NTU’s Financial Aid

NTU Office of Admissions and Financial Aid offers scholarships and bursaries. Refer here for more information on NTU’s financial aid.

LKCMedicine’s Scholarships and Bursaries
LKCMedicine also has in place needs-based student financial aid programmes that ensure no deserving student is denied an education because of financial constraints. Through endowed gifts from our principal donor, the Lee Foundation, as well as other donors such as the E I Parrish Trust, students who face financial hardship will be able to apply for student bursaries, travel bursaries and emergency grants, in addition to interest-free tuition fee loans. 

Refer here for more information on LKCMedicine’s scholarships and financial aid. 

For LKCMedicine’s scholarships, you must submit a scholarship application in the NTU admissions portal before the admissions closing date. 

Outstanding candidates from lower-income families and who meet the income eligibility criteria of $2,500 and below for Per Capita Income (PCI), or $10,000 and below Gross Monthly Household Income (GHI) should also apply for needs-based scholarships during the admissions period and submit their family income documents to NTU Financial Aid for verification. All scholarships are awarded based on competition amongst shortlisted candidates. 



1. Where do students attend lessons?
In the first two years of the programme, students attend lessons at both the NTU main and Novena campuses. In the next three years, students are based primarily at healthcare facilities throughout Singapore for their clinical postings, under the three healthcare clusters – NHG, SingHealth and NUHS.


2. What are the opportunities available for students to do research in curriculum? 

LKCMedicine students will receive early exposure to research through the Student-Researcher Immersion Programme (SRIP) in Year 3, and the six-week Scholarly Project in Year 4. 

Refer here for more details on research in curriculum.

Refer here for more details on the MBBS Curriculum. 

In addition, students are also encouraged and adequately supported through funding to attend/participate in relevant local, regional and international academic conferences.

3. What are the opportunities available for overseas exposure? 
LKCMedicine students may enjoy ample opportunities for overseas exposure through overseas Community Involvement Projects (CIPs), overseas exchange programme, Overseas Immersion Week in Year 2, Scholarly Project in Year 4, and overseas Electives in Year 5. 

Refer here for more details on the six-week overseas Electives and the institutions that we partner.

1. What is my service obligation?
Students admitted to the LKCMedicine are required to serve the public healthcare sector upon successful completion of the MBBS programme. Singaporeans serve a five-year service obligation and non-Singaporeans serve a six-year service obligation, excluding housemanship or first year residency training. More information on Medical undergraduate Agreement can be obtained here.

PSC scholarship recipients who are concurrently awarded the President’s Scholarship to read Medicine will also have a service obligation according to the terms of the scholarship. For more information about PSC scholarships, please visit  https://www.psc.gov.sg/Scholarships  

For other scholarship or financial assistance recipients, please refer to the terms of agreement of the respective schemes.

2. What are the medical service career pathways that I could pursue after graduation? 
There are two pathways that will allow you to pursue career goals according to your interest and competencies in the medical service: Non-specialist and specialist tracks. Refer here for more information.