12-11-2024 (SINGAPORE) Singapore has announced a significant expansion of its recognised foreign medical schools, adding nine prestigious institutions to its roster from 2025, bringing the total number to 112 as part of efforts to address the growing healthcare needs of its ageing population.
The Health Ministry and Singapore Medical Council (SMC) revealed in a joint statement that the expansion complements domestic initiatives, which have already seen local medical school intake increase from 400 students in 2013 to over 500 in 2023.
Among the newly recognised institutions is Australia’s University of Newcastle’s School of Medicine and Public Health, becoming the ninth Australian university on Singapore’s approved list. The United Kingdom contributes five new additions, including the prestigious Leeds University’s School of Medicine, bringing the total number of recognised British institutions to 24. Three Irish universities round out the new inclusions.
The selection process, part of SMC’s regular review, evaluated institutions based on rigorous criteria including international rankings, teaching language, and the track record of their graduates in medical practice. The expanded list will be officially implemented from January 1, 2025, and will be documented in the Second Schedule of the Medical Registration Act 1997.
