In response to rising healthcare demands, Singapore’s Health Ministry (MOH) and the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) have announced that nine additional overseas medical schools from Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom will be recognized starting January 1, 2025. With these additions, the total number of internationally recognized medical schools in Singapore will rise to 112.

The MOH stated that the decision aligns with SMC’s ongoing efforts to ensure foreign-trained medical professionals possess qualifications comparable to those of local graduates. “The additions will help Singapore better meet the growing demand for doctors as our population ages, even as we have increased the annual intake at local medical schools from around 400 students in 2013 to over 500 in 2023,” the ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Selection Criteria and Supervision Framework

The newly recognized schools were selected based on various factors, including their international rankings, alignment of language with local practice, and the performance of their graduates. MOH emphasized that the expansion is part of a rigorous review process to maintain high standards within Singapore’s healthcare system.

“Graduates from these medical schools, regardless of nationality, including those who have graduated before 2025, may also apply to SMC to practise in Singapore, subject to the fulfilment of SMC’s prevailing requirements,” the ministry added.

To ensure consistent standards, SMC will continue to assess foreign-trained medical doctors in their initial years through a structured supervisory framework. This will help maintain the quality of medical care provided in Singapore.

Newly Recognized Medical Schools

The nine newly recognized institutions will be added to the Second Schedule of the Medical Registration Act, and they include:

Australia:

University of Newcastle, School of Medicine and Public Health

Ireland:

University College Cork — National University of Ireland, School of Medicine

University College Dublin — National University of Ireland, School of Medicine

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland — National University of Ireland, School of Medicine

United Kingdom:

The Queen’s University of Belfast, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences

University of Aberdeen, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition

University of Leeds, School of Medicine

University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Faculty of Medical Sciences

University of Warwick, Warwick Medical School

The addition of these schools marks another step by Singapore to attract qualified international medical professionals and support the country’s evolving healthcare needs. The newly recognized medical schools will help diversify and strengthen Singapore’s healthcare workforce, ensuring that the nation remains prepared to meet future healthcare challenges.