Program Overview

Master of Clinical Investigation (MCI) Programme

The Master of Clinical Investigation (MCI) Programme at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine is a coursework-based programme designed to build Singapore’s clinical research capacity by equipping physicians and healthcare professionals with the skills to design and conduct impactful studies.

Overview

With rigorous training in study design, biostatistics, clinical trials, ethics, and health services research, MCI prepares clinicians to evaluate new treatments, technologies, and healthcare system research that directly improves patient outcomes. Developed in consultation with the Ministry of Health, senior clinician-researchers, and the National Medical Research Council, the programme bridges clinical practice with scientific inquiry and positions graduates to compete globally in academic medicine.

Programme Structure

The MCI programme runs part-time over two academic years and comprises two components — Coursework and Research — with the option to extend to a third year if additional time is needed for the research component.

• The Coursework Component is completed in the first year, comprising ten courses delivered across two intensive teaching blocks designed to fit around clinical schedules. This component carries 32 units.
• The Research Component runs across both years and contributes 8 units, bringing the programme to a total of 40 units.

Graduation Requirements

• Complete and pass all ten coursework courses (32 units), including Advanced Quantitative Methods
• Obtain a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0
• Achieve at least a B- grade in the Research Project (8 units)

Coursework Component

• Nine coursework courses will be offered as a core requirement for all students.
• Coursework will be conducted in two blocks, each comprising between five to seven weeks of full-time study, and held semesterly (in August-September and January-February).
• All students are expected to complete the coursework requirements in the first year as it is foundational for the research component.

Research Component

• The research component will span a period of eight months.
• The aims of this component are to enable students to apply knowledge, acquire skills to plan a project, and to integrate and sustain research within clinical practice.

Features

• Wet-lab session* (Academic Year 1 Semester 1): Gain exposure to the basic research lab environment
• Mentorship: Each student is paired with two mentors – one in biostatistics and one clinical – who will guide them throughout their research project.

Fast-track to NUS PhD

MCI graduates may be eligible for a transfer of up to 24 units towards the NUS PhD programme, waiving most of the first-year coursework.

Proposed Study Plan

Please refer to the proposed study plan for part-time students.

Important

The University does not engage external agencies for student recruitment. Candidates should apply directly to the University and not through any agents. Applications submitted through agents will not receive any added advantage and the University reserves the right to reject such application without explanation.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for enrolment, applicants must meet the following requirements. However, please note that selection of candidates is based on a competitive basis and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the programme.

• For Physicians:
  • An MBBS or equivalent degree from an internationally-recognised medical school or university
  • Physicians who have entered specialist training or residency programme
  • Aptitude for clinical research at the international level
• For Allied Health and Other Healthcare Professionals:
  • Internationally-recognised qualification in their profession
  • At least three years of professional practice experience
  • Aptitude for clinical research at the international level

Tuition Fees

Total Tuition Fees (for students enrolled in the Academic Year 2026/2027 only): S$63,750 (inclusive of 9% Goods & Services Tax (GST))

• The payment schedule is as follows (inclusive of 9% GST):
  • Part-Time Students (Non-SC/PR): S$15,937.50 per semester
  • Part-Time Students (SC/PR): S$9,562.50 per semester
  • NUS Alumni: S$12,750.00 per semester

Additional Fee

In addition to tuition fees, students will be charged miscellaneous student fees each semester.

Note

• The application fee for a successful submission is S$54.50 (including GST).
• For the AY2627 intake, all Singaporeans and Singapore PRs will receive a 40% tuition fee rebate under the NUS Enhanced Tuition Fee scheme. This rebate cannot be combined with any scholarships, study awards, grants, sponsorships, bursaries, or other financial assistance.
• For the AY2627 intake, all NUS alumni will receive a 20% tuition fee rebate. No other rebate can be used concurrently.
• Upon acceptance of the offer, an acceptance fee of S$5,450 (including GST) will be charged in the Graduate Admission System (GDA). This fee is non-refundable, non-transferable, and will be credited toward the tuition fee once the programme begins.
• Tuition fees are subject to annual review and inflation adjustments.
• Penalties apply for late or partial payment of fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are the classes carried out in the evening?
  • Coursework I (Semester 1, August – September) will require seven weeks of full-time study and Coursework II (Semester 2, January – February) will require five weeks of full-time study.
• What are the continuation and graduation requirements?
  • Continuation Requirement: For continuation of candidature, a student must obtain satisfactory progress during his/her candidature (Coursework), i.e., Student will be issued a warning for any semester in which his/her GPA falls below 2.50. If in the following semester, the student’s GPA again falls below 2.5, he/she will be placed on probation.
  • Graduation Requirement:
    • Complete and pass all nine coursework courses listed in the study plan (32 units); and
    • Obtain a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0, and
    • Achieve at least a B- grade in the Research Project (8 units)
• Can the credits earned in this programme be used for exemption to another programme/ PhD degree?
  • Yes, graduates may be eligible for a transfer of up to 24 units toward the NUS PhD programme. This typically waives most of Year-1 coursework, allowing you to fast-track into research earlier.
• Do I need to be a specialist in a certain field of healthcare to apply to MCI?
  • No, MCI is open to a broad range of healthcare professionals, not just specialists. The programme welcomes physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, TCM practitioners, and allied health professionals with experience in patient care — provided they have a relevant clinical research topic or question they wish to pursue.
• Do the projects for the research component of the programme require laboratory-based research?
  • No, MCI students could also undertake projects in areas such as Health Services Research.
• If I cannot attend Coursework in Year 1, can I take the Coursework later (in another semester)?
  • Coursework 1 must always be taken in Year 1. Both Coursework 1 and 2 are normally scheduled in Semester 1 and Semester 2 of the first year. However, if you have valid reasons — such as maternity leave, departmental scheduling conflicts, or HMDP — you may request approval to defer Coursework 2 to Year 2.
• If I could not complete MCI within the standard 2 years, could I extend my candidature, and would that affect programme fees?
  • Students could extend their candidature for a third year.
  • As tuition fees for MCI are charged on a per programme basis, not per annum, students who extend their candidature beyond the standard 2 years will not be charged additional tuition fees. However, they will still be liable for the NUS miscellaneous student fees.

Voices That Inspire

• MCI strengthens the way you think — even if you don't pursue a PhD. It equips clinicians and healthcare professionals to make sharper, evidence-based decisions and contribute meaningfully to research that improves patient care.
• MCI provided me with a strong research foundation to pursue a career as a clinician-scientist. I met many like-minded peers passionate about clinical research, which led to several long-term collaborations. The statistics and epidemiology modules remain invaluable today as I design clinical studies.