image: NUS Nursing celebrates their 20th Anniversary, with Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies (centre of the photo), attending as guest-of-honour. Credit: NUS Nursing.
Credit: NUS Nursing
With an ageing population, rising chronic disease burden, a global nursing shortage, and rapid medical advancements, Singapore’s increasingly complex healthcare landscape requires a highly competent nursing workforce to lead care, make critical decisions, and ensure safe, high-quality patient outcomes. In response to these evolving healthcare needs, the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Nursing), is expanding its programmes to offer nurses and healthcare professionals clearer pathways for career advancement and specialised training.
In conjunction with Nurses Day, and the Centre’s 20th anniversary celebration, it is launching Singapore’s first Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programme and three new Master’s programmes – Master of Community Health, Master of Science in Critical Care Nursing, and Master of Science in Infection Prevention and Control.
To mark its 20th anniversary, the Centre also launched its new Nursing Education Gallery showcasing the evolution, milestones, and impact of nursing education and practice in Singapore over the past 20 years. The event was graced by Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies.
Empowering Nurses to Lead Care through the DNP
The DNP is a two-year, part-time programme designed to equip experienced nurses holding a Master’s degree with advanced clinical expertise, critical thinking, and leadership capabilities. Aligned with international standards, the DNP prepares nurses to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care, lead multidisciplinary teams, and drive healthcare innovation and policy. Its introduction marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Singapore’s nursing education, underscoring the profession’s expanding role in managing complex patient needs and delivering patient-centred care. The programme also reflects strong national confidence in the capabilities of nurses and affirms the country’s commitment to lifelong learning and professional development. By establishing the DNP, Singapore strengthens its position as a regional leader in nursing education, fostering international recognition, collaboration, and new pathways for professional growth.
Nurses can continue working while pursuing the DNP, as the programme is designed to support their professional development through a work-study arrangement, allowing them to upskill in tandem with their job responsibilities. Applications for the DNP opened on 1 April 2025, with the first cohort set to begin classes in August 2025. The inaugural run of the programme will welcome 16 local and international students.
Strengthening Nursing Expertise and Leadership through Work-Study Master’s Programmes
To further strengthen professional development across the nursing and healthcare workforce, NUS Nursing has introduced three new stackable, work-study Graduate Certificate-to-Master’s pathways to meet the growing demand for highly competent nurses in community health as well as in critical care nursing and infection control.
In response to Singapore’s rapidly ageing population and in line with the national vision to support citizens in maximising their quality of life and productivity within the community, the Master of Community Health (offered via the Graduate Certificate in Integrated Health) aims to build a robust and future-ready healthcare workforce. The programme is designed to equip nurses, allied health practitioners, and healthcare administrators with both clinical expertise and the advanced knowledge needed to deliver comprehensive, patient-centred care across community settings. With a strong focus on the social determinants of health, collaborative competencies, and sustainable care practices, the programme supports healthcare professionals in taking on leadership roles in nursing homes, delivering end-of-life care, and strengthening the delivery of integrated, seamless care. By doing so, it reinforces Singapore’s national shift towards preventive and community-based care, ensuring that the health system remains responsive, resilient, and anchored in the needs of the population.
The Master of Science in Critical Care Nursing (via the Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing) trains nurses to manage complex, life-threatening patient conditions through evidence-based practice and interprofessional collaboration. The programme builds on lessons from the COVID‑19 pandemic, when Singaporean nurses rapidly upskilled to care for critically ill patients in intensive care.
The Master of Science in Infection Prevention and Control (via the Graduate Certificate in Infection Prevention and Control) equips healthcare professionals with advanced competencies in infection surveillance, outbreak management, responsible antibiotic use, and quality improvement. Covering microbiology, immunology, and infectious diseases, the programme trains students to assess emerging health threats and apply evidence-based strategies in clinical and public health settings. Developed partly in response to lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, it incorporates the best international practices and real-world crisis preparedness to prepare graduates to lead infection control efforts and protect patients and healthcare workers.
All three programmes are SkillsFuture-subsidised and structured to support work-study integration, enabling participants to pursue postgraduate qualifications while remaining active in the workforce.
Professor Liaw Sok Ying, Head, NUS Nursing, said, “Nurses, as architects of care and patient advocates, are increasingly taking on leadership roles not only in management but also in specialised clinical areas that address the needs of Singapore’s healthcare system. With the introduction of the Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master’s in Community Health, Critical Care Nursing and Infection Prevention and Control programmes, we aim to provide a platform for current nurses to upskill, lead care teams and drive better patient outcomes. This is also a means to attract and retain nurses, and further professionalise and elevate the nursing profession in Singapore.”
The launch of these new programmes marks two decades of NUS Nursing’s commitment to advancing nursing education, research, and leadership. Since the inception of NUS Nursing in 2005, it has grown from a single undergraduate cohort to a leading global institution, ranked 8th in the world in the 2025 QS World University Rankings. To date, the School has trained over 3,500 nursing professionals who are now serving across Singapore’s healthcare landscape.