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PhD Scholarships for Clinician Researchers

This newly launched PhD Scholarship aims to recognise and develop clinician researchers of SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC), to support the growth of research capabilities in priority areas of our AMC and contribute to ground-breaking discoveries.


Open to all clinician staff of SingHealth (doctors, nurses and allied health professionals) who are planning to apply for a research-related PhD programme in a local university in 2023.


Application is closed for 2023.

Applicants applying for PhD programme in 2024

REGISTER your interest with us and we will send you more updates!

We will assist in linking you up with Duke-NUS Centre for Clinician-Scientist Development (CCSD) for Individual Development Plan (IDP) enrolment one year before your PhD application, and discussion on project career advice about your PhD programme.

Fill up the form here or scan QR code below.


Funding Period & Details

  • The PhD Scholarship will fund tuition fees of the clinician’s formal PhD programme at a local university, over a 4-year duration. Local universities providing research-related PhD programmes include the following:
    • Duke-NUS Medical School PhD Programmes
    • National University of Singapore (Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, etc)
    • Nanyang Technological University (Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine)

  • In-Principle Approval of Scholarships will be announced prior to the release of PhD admission results and scholarship funding will be awarded contingent on two rounds of NMRC Research Training Fellowship (RTF) applications
  • Applicants and awardees have to apply for two rounds of NMRC RTF prior to funding award of PhD Scholarships

    The NMRC Research Training Fellowship (RTF) January 2023 grant call has commenced. For clinicians who are planning to apply for a research-related PhD programme this year (2023), kindly proceed with your application for NMRC RTF here (internet accessible link) prior to the application for SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC PhD Scholarships for Clinician Researchers.

  • Manpower FTE support will be provided by the clinician’s primary institution for a 4-year duration (standard bond terms apply for each PhD Scholarship awardee)


Eligibility & Evaluation Criteria

The PhD Scholarships for Clinician Researchers are open to:

  • Medical doctors / dental specialists employed to perform clinical duties in any SingHealth institutions
  • Nursing and Allied Health Professionals, who aspire to advance in a research career working on human clinical research or research related to biomedical sciences, may apply as well


Applicants are required to apply for a formal PhD programme (at any local universities stated above) concurrently with NMRC Research Training Fellowship (RTF) and SingHealth Duke-NUS PhD Scholarships.


Each application must be applied using:

  1. Application Form (to be completed by applicant)
  2. Research Write-Up and Applicant CV (to be completed by applicant and discussed with Research Supervisor and Mentor)
  3. Supervisor and Mentor template (to be completed by Research Supervisor and Mentor)
  4. Nomination Form (to be completed and endorsed by Clinical HOD, ACP Chair and SDDC Head (where applicable))

Applications that fail to comply with requirements in any of the templates and / or incomplete applications will be disqualified and will not be reviewed.


Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:

  • Suitability of applicant (aptitude, skill sets, public service ethos, publications and research track record, developmental and career plans)
  • Research proposal (clearly defined research topic, quality of science and potential outcomes in the respective research areas, focus on national research priority areas & areas of strategic importance to SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC)
  • Training environment (proposed PhD programme, Supervisor / Mentor and mentorship plans)
  • Applicant’s research and practice environment (support from primary institution and ACP)


Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend a short interview with the review panel. Details concerning the interview will be disseminated once it is finalised.


For successful applicants, progress of the research project will be monitored during and after the Scholarship funding period. Applicant is expected to submit the reports periodically during and upon completion of the funding period. 


Click to Download the Info Sheet and Forms

    1. PhD Scholarships for Clinician Researchers Info Sheet 2023
    2. PhD Scholarships for Clinician Researchers Application Form
    3. PhD Scholarships for Clinician Researchers Research Write-Up and Applicant CV
    4. PhD Scholarships for Clinician Researchers Supervisor and Mentor
    5. PhD Scholarships for Clinician Researchers Nomination Form


      Get in touch

      For enquiries, please contact: academic-medicine@duke-nus.edu.sg