Duke-NUS Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School is Singapore’s only graduate-entry medical programme, renowned for its innovative 'Clinician First, Clinician Plus' curriculum duke-nus.edu.sg and strong emphasis on research and leadership development. This guide provides an overview of the Duke-NUS interview process, including its format, the school’s mission and values, programme highlights, relevant healthcare policy topics, and the qualities and competencies sought in applicants. It also summarizes common themes from past interview questions and outlines key application timelines for the 2025–2026 cycle. Together, these insights will help candidates understand the unique context and expectations of the Duke-NUS admissions interview.

The Duke-NUS MD interview typically follows a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, consisting of a series of short, structured stations studentdoctor.net. Each station is designed to evaluate specific attributes or scenarios within a limited time. This format means interviewers often have little or no prior information about the candidate (a 'closed-file' approach), so they focus solely on the responses given in the moment. The MMI style allows different facets of an applicant to be observed across stations, from ethical reasoning to communication skills.

Candidates consistently report that the Duke-NUS interview experience is friendly and relatively low-pressure. On Student Doctor Network, for example, the vast majority of respondents rated their Duke-NUS interviews positively studentdoctor.net, with self-reported stress levels averaging around 3.7 out of 10 (0 = no stress, 10 = high stress) studentdoctor.net. Despite the welcoming atmosphere, admission is still highly selective – only a fraction of those interviewed will be offered a place, given that each entering class consists of roughly 60–80 students collegelearners.com.

Duke-NUS’s mission centres on advancing medical education, research, and patient care in innovative ways. The school aspires to "empower the next generation to transform the practice of medicine" – nurturing clinical innovators and leaders while upholding a culture of excellence, innovation and compassion duke-nus.edu.sg. In line with this vision, Duke-NUS champions a 'Clinician First, Clinician Plus' philosophy, meaning students are trained first to be exemplary clinicians and then further developed as scientists, educators, or healthcare leaders who can contribute beyond bedside medicine duke-nus.edu.sg. These values underscore what Duke-NUS looks for in applicants and provide context for the school’s interview questions and evaluation criteria.

The Duke-NUS Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme spans four years and is closely modelled after the Duke University School of Medicine curriculum collegelearners.com. Students spend the first year in pre-clerkship courses, the second year in clinical clerkships, a third year engaged in a required research or scholarly project, and a fourth year completing advanced clinical rotations collegelearners.com. Upon successful completion, graduates receive an MD degree jointly conferred by Duke University and the National University of Singapore collegelearners.com, reflecting the unique partnership behind Duke-NUS.

Teaching at Duke-NUS also features an innovative team-based learning pedagogy called TeamLEAD (Learn, Engage, Apply, Develop). In this model, students prepare through pre-class readings and recorded lectures, then work together in small groups during class to solve problems and apply concepts – a hallmark approach that fosters active learning and critical thinking duke-nus.edu.sg. The programme’s intimate scale further sets it apart: each cohort is relatively small (usually on the order of 60–80 students), and roughly two-thirds of students are Singaporean citizens or permanent residents while the rest hail from over 20 different countries collegelearners.com. This diversity and close-knit environment are worth noting, as they contribute to the student experience and might inform the questions applicants choose to ask on interview day.

Potential Questions to Ask at the Interview

• How does Duke-NUS’s team-based learning approach (TeamLEAD) enhance the medical education experience? duke-nus.edu.sg
• What opportunities do students have to conduct research or pursue scholarly projects during the MD programme? collegelearners.com
• In what ways does the 'Clinician First, Clinician Plus' philosophy shape student training and opportunities at Duke-NUS? duke-nus.edu.sg

Staying informed about healthcare policies and challenges in Singapore (and more broadly, Asia) is important for Duke-NUS interviewees. Singapore’s healthcare system is often cited as one of the most efficient globally and is underpinned by unique financing mechanisms – for example, mandatory medical savings accounts (MediSave) and insurance schemes (MediShield Life) that citizens use to pay for medical care en.wikipedia.org. Understanding how this system works and the issues it faces (such as an ageing population and rising chronic disease) can provide useful context if policy-related questions arise.

One contemporary issue is the national push towards preventive care under the Healthier SG initiative – a programme encouraging Singaporeans to adopt healthier lifestyles and better manage chronic conditions healthiersg.gov.sg. A candidate who can discuss how such reforms impact patients and healthcare delivery shows awareness of the local medical context. Similarly, being able to touch on regional or global health trends (for instance, how Singapore has handled COVID-19 or advances in health technology) could be valuable in demonstrating a well-rounded perspective.

Duke-NUS takes a holistic view of applicants, looking beyond grades and test scores to the person behind them. In fact, the school explicitly seeks individuals whose personal attributes and competencies align with its mission and values duke-nus.edu.sg. Qualities like strong communication and interpersonal skills, integrity, teamwork, altruism, resilience, and critical thinking are highlighted as essential in Duke-NUS candidates duke-nus.edu.sg. Likewise, a track record of leadership, community service and volunteerism, and research experience will make an application stand out – these aspects are considered favorably during admissions review duke-nus.edu.sg. Interviewers often probe these areas in candidates’ backgrounds, so applicants should be prepared to speak about experiences that demonstrate such qualities.

Notably, the attributes Duke-NUS prioritises in applicants mirror established competency frameworks in medical education. For example, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) outlines core pre-medical competencies – such as ethical responsibility, service orientation, resilience and adaptability, communication, and teamwork – that closely match the Duke-NUS selection criteria students-residents.aamc.org. Local and international accreditation standards similarly emphasize these domains. Recognising this alignment can help candidates understand why the interview may explore their integrity, empathy, or teamwork through various questions and scenarios.

Looking at reports from past candidates, the Duke-NUS interview tends to cover a broad range of topics. Common question themes include the following:

• Motivation for pursuing medicine and reasons for choosing Duke-NUS studentdoctor.net.
• Personal background, character, and achievements beyond academics (for instance, describing one’s family or friends, discussing a meaningful failure, or talking about hobbies and books) studentdoctor.net.
• Ethical or policy-based scenarios and current events – for example, addressing a healthcare issue as Singapore’s Minister for Health or commenting on a major news headline studentdoctor.net.
• Research experience and future career goals in medicine (such as plans to integrate research into one’s practice or where one sees oneself in ten years) studentdoctor.net.

Duke-NUS follows a rolling admissions process with an early acceptance round. For the 2025–2026 intake, applications open in June 2025, and the early application deadline is 1 September 2025 duke-nus.edu.sg. Candidates who apply by this date (and whose applications are competitive) may be invited to interviews starting in September, and could receive an offer as early as November if successful duke-nus.edu.sg. The final application deadline is 31 January 2026 duke-nus.edu.sg; applications submitted after that date will not be considered for that cycle.

Because of rolling admissions, spots can fill up as the cycle progresses – another reason to apply early if possible. All applicants who interview (whether in the early round or later) generally receive a final outcome by around May of the admissions cycle duke-nus.edu.sg. Those placed on the waitlist after interviews are typically notified of the final decision by June or July duke-nus.edu.sg duke-nus.edu.sg. By July, the incoming class is confirmed and preparations for matriculation (in August) begin.

In summary, preparing for the Duke-NUS interview means doing more than rehearsing answers – it requires understanding the school’s unique identity and expectations. By familiarising yourself with Duke-NUS’s mission and curriculum, reflecting on how your experiences align with its values, and staying up to date on Singapore’s healthcare landscape, you will be well-equipped to engage thoughtfully during the interview. This holistic approach to preparation allows you to confidently demonstrate your fit for the programme and your potential to thrive as a future clinician-leader.