Clinician Scientist Residency FAQs

The total duration of training for CS Residents will be one year more than the Clinical pathway, so as to include the year of research training.

CS training is generally structured into two-stages: the junior Residency years and senior Residency years. The objective of the CS training in the junior Residency years is to build a strong foundation in clinical research. In the senior Residency years, there is greater commitment to research projects.

CS Residents can apply for research grants (e.g. the NHG-NUS Clinician Leadership in Research programme, SingHealth Foundation Research Grants, NUHS Junior Pitch-for-funds Research etc.) and other grants available in the SIs. CS Residents who intend to take up scholarships e.g. for the PhD, may apply for the NRF-MOH Research Training Scholarships.

For successful exit, you would need to have had (a) achieved at least the Master of Clinical Investigations (MCI) or equivalent, and (b) at least a first-author publication in a reputable peer-reviewed journal.

MCI is a two-year part-time programme. All Residents from all specialties are allowed to pursue/embark on the MCI at any Residency year as long as the Residency training requirements are met. Interested applicants are required to obtain the Programme Director's (PD's) endorsement as well as the Residency Advisory Committee's (RAC's) approval, to be submitted together with the applications for NMRC MCI Fellowships. An example of CS Residency is shown in the table below. 

CS Residents who have already obtained research qualifications, e.g. PhD, may be exempted from the Master of Clinical Investigations (MCI), but will need to seek prior clearance and approval from the Specialists Accreditation Board Research Committee (SRC).

Preventive Medicine (PM) CS Residents are exempted from the MCI programme but would need to achieve the Masters in Public Health (MPH) and all other requirements for the first three years of Residency similar to other PM Residents.

CS Residents who have gained SRC exemption to pursue the MCI programme are encouraged to apply for their Sponsoring Institution's internal grants to support their research projects. During their final research year prior to exit from CS Residency, 80% of work time (based on a minimum of 42 work hours per week) is protected for research activities, and the remaining 20% for clinical work. They will be allowed to extend beyond the 80% cap with the approval of the PD and their CS mentor. All other requirements will remain similar to that of CS Residents who have done the MCI programme.

For Preventive Medicine (PM) Residents, they are encouraged to work towards entry into a recognised PhD programme in their senior Residency years and apply for NRF-MOH Research Training scholarship. Residents who are unsuccessful in securing a PhD position will still be required to complete the additional year of research (i.e. one year longer than the standard PM pathway).

Specialty-specific requirements should be discussed with your Research Mentor and Programme Director.

The MMI assesses an applicant’s suitability to commence Residency training and the focus of these interviews is on identifying qualities deemed essential for any doctor embarking on clinical Residency training. The CS interviews, on the other hand, are designed to eva​luate an applicant specifically for Clinician Scientist Residency training. The interviews are research focused and assess candidates for the research career.

Each applicant will be interviewed by a panel of three to four doctors who are from the Specialists Accreditation Board (SAB) Research Committee or are Clinician Scientist mentors.

The interviewers may inquire about your research experiences and skills. Each CS applicant will be allotted 15 minutes of interview time with the interview panel. The interview can cover aptitude for research, analytical skills, and scientific curiosity besides other qualities.

Candidates are required to bring their identification documents (NRIC, driving licence, or passport) for the initial identification. Your submitted portfolio, including academic scores, will be provided to the interview panel. You may present additional information relevant to your CS application that you have not submitted online.

Each panel interviewer will independently score the interview on a standard rating scale. The combined scores from all the interviewers will be taken into consideration.

CS programmes are not offered for all specialties or by all SIs. All applicants must check whether a CS programme is available in the SI of their choice. For information on the CS programmes offered by the different SIs, please check their websites.

You will be able join the clinical Residency pathway if you are successfully matched into the programme by the SI.

Candidates who are unable to turn up on the day of the interview must contact the programme coordinators via email early.

The venue will be stated in the email sent to all applicants.

Switching from a clinical pathway to a CS pathway is only allowed if it is in the same specialty and in the same Sponsoring Institution with endorsement by the Designated Institutional Official (DIO) and Programme Director (PD). Current Residents who wish to switch from the clinical to the CS pathway have to obtain a letter of endorsement from your DIO and PD and send a copy to MOHH. MOHH will then create an account for you to login to the online application portal to apply for that CS specialty. In addition, a one-page write up of your research interest and a copy of the letter of endorsement from your DIO and PD in support of your application should be uploaded in your online submission.

Switching from the clinical to the CS pathway is allowed for Residents during their Residency years. However, you are encouraged to apply to switch during junior Residency years (R1-R3). The selection criteria and conditions imposed will depend on the training year level you opt to switch to the CS pathway.

Such candidates need not undergo the national residency interview (i.e. MMI) but will be subjected to the same annual CS interview to assess their suitability for the switch in pathway. They will be assessed and scored in a similar manner as other CS interviewees. The applicant need not go through the matching process. Successful switching will mean that the overall duration of training is extended by one year.

In addition to the documents you brought for your CS interview, you are required to bring along original copies of your Designated Institutional Official’s (DIO) letter of endorsement in support of your application for the switch in pathways. This document must be submitted to the MOH Officer-In-Charge before the interview begins.