SINGAPORE — Beginning 1 February 2026, Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) will recognize basic medical degrees from eight more overseas medical schools, enabling graduates from these institutions to apply for medical registration in Singapore. This revision increases the total number of foreign programmes recognized for medical practice from 112 to 120.
The decision responds to a sustained need to support healthcare services amid demographic changes and evolving workforce requirements.
The eight newly recognized institutions are located in Australia, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Pakistan, China, and the United Kingdom. These are:
Adelaide University, College of Health (Australia)
Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal (India)
University of Galway, School of Medicine (Ireland)
Universiti Sains Malaysia, School of Medical Sciences (Malaysia)
The Aga Khan University Medical College (Pakistan)
Tsinghua University, School of Medicine (China)
City St George’s, University of London, School of Health & Medical Sciences (UK)
University of Exeter, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (UK).
Graduates of these schools, regardless of nationality and whether they completed their studies before or after 2026, may seek medical registration with SMC provided they satisfy all regulatory prerequisites.
The SMC regularly evaluates overseas medical qualifications listed under the Second Schedule of the Medical Registration Act 1997 to ensure that training is comparable to Singapore’s standards. Evaluations consider factors such as international rankings, medium of instruction in English, and performance outcomes of graduates practicing in Singapore.
The authorities have explicitly connected this policy update with efforts to increase the available physician workforce as Singapore’s population ages. Between 2014 and 2025, Singapore raised the intake of local medical students from about 440 to 555 annually to help address physician shortfalls, even as additional foreign qualifications are recognized.
Recognition of overseas medical degrees allows qualified individuals to apply for full or conditional registration with Singapore’s medical regulator. Applicants must comply with SMC’s registration requirements, which include standard verification of credentials and supervised practice during their initial period of clinical work in Singapore.
Conditional registration allows an overseas-trained doctor to work only in an SMC-approved healthcare institution under the supervision of a fully registered practitioner, while full registration allows independent practice without such supervision.
This framework ensures that foreign-trained doctors meet professional and patient-care competencies consistent with local expectations.
For students considering international medical education, the expanded list broadens pathways to licensure in Singapore after graduation. Inclusion of recognized degrees from globally distributed schools supports cross-border mobility of medical professionals and aligns Singapore with international practices in credential recognition.
Systematic review and adjustment of recognized qualifications ensure that Singapore maintains oversight of clinical training quality while enabling a globalized approach to medical workforce development.
1. Ministry of Health (Singapore), “Eight More Overseas Medical Schools Recognised,” press release, January 27, 2026, MOH.gov.sg, https://www.moh.gov.sg/newsroom/eight-more-overseas-medical-schools-recognised/
(Rh/SS/MSM)
