At the Department of Ophthalmology, we are committed to developing future‑ready clinicians through comprehensive training across the undergraduate, residency, and fellowship continuum. Our educational programmes are grounded in robust clinical exposure, structured and progressive teaching, and meaningful research opportunities, within a supportive academic environment.
Through this integrated approach, we aim to cultivate ophthalmologists who are clinically competent, academically engaged, and dedicated to excellence in patient‑centred care.
Medical undergraduates from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine undergo training in various eye centres across Singapore. This programme is coordinated by the NUS Department of Ophthalmology and spans 20 weeks, comprising 10 postings conducted in the first semester of the academic year.
Since 2002, the undergraduate teaching programme has adopted a clinically orientated approach, using problem-orientated and evidence-based methods to address common ophthalmic presentations and relevant eye disorders in general medicine. This approach is continually refined and adapted to ensure optimal exposure and knowledge transfer to undergraduates.
Students are instructed in the use of the direct ophthalmoscope to detect and diagnose common medical disorders such as diabetic retinopathy and hypertensive retinopathy, and to identify more serious conditions like papilloedema (swollen optic nerves from high intracranial pressure).
During the fourth year of undergraduate training, students participate in a two-week clinical ophthalmology programme at the NUH Eye Surgery Centre. During this period, they receive instruction and supervision from a diverse and dedicated team of eye specialists. This programme includes a series of interactive tutorials and clinical sessions on problem-orientated approaches to important eye conditions. Students also gain exposure to general and subspecialty ophthalmology clinics, wards, and operating theatres to develop their clinical skills.
Student assessment comprises:
These components contribute to the overall score for the Final Professional Examination in Medicine.
The NUHS Ophthalmology Residency Programme is a comprehensive five‑year training programme designed to develop competent, compassionate, and well‑rounded Ophthalmologists. Residents receive broad exposure across general and sub‑specialty Ophthalmology, with a strong emphasis on mentored patient care, hands‑on surgical training, structured teaching, and meaningful research opportunities. Training is progressive and competency‑based, aligned with the ACGME‑International core competencies, and supported by a dedicated faculty with a strong teaching culture.
Graduates of the programme emerge as confident general Ophthalmologists with a global outlook, grounded in evidence‑based practice and committed to excellence in patient care, education, and research.
Learn more about the NUHS Ophthalmology Residency Programme.
The Ophthalmology Fellowship Programme offers advanced subspecialty training within a tertiary academic healthcare environment in Singapore. Fellows gain exposure to the Singapore healthcare system, develop regional referral networks, and acquire specialised clinical and surgical skills through structured training and close faculty mentorship
The programme provides comprehensive exposure to a tertiary‑level glaucoma and neuro‑ophthalmology service, with structured training in medical and surgical glaucoma as well as neuro‑ophthalmology.
This is an 18‑month programme, comprising equal nine-month phases of basic and advanced training, with one fellow accepted per year.
The Glaucoma Surgery Fellowship Programme offers exposure to a high‑volume tertiary glaucoma service, with access to contemporary diagnostic tools and surgical devices. Fellows gain experience across the full spectrum of glaucoma care, from fundamental principles to advanced and complex management, through a tiered and graduated training approach, ensuring a well‑rounded clinical experience and progressive development of competence in glaucoma care.
This is a 12‑month programme, accepting two fellows per year.
The Orbit and Oculofacial Surgery Fellowship Programme offers comprehensive, full‑time subspecialty training in the evaluation and management of eyelid, lacrimal, and orbital disorders. The programme is designed to provide broad‑based exposure to both common and complex oculofacial conditions within a high‑volume tertiary referral setting.
Fellows are integrated into a multidisciplinary clinical environment and receive structured, progressive training in functional, reconstructive, and disease‑specific oculofacial surgery, supported by close faculty mentorship and contemporary diagnostic and surgical resources.
This is a 12‑month fellowship programme, accepting one fellow each per year each for the NUH and Cluster programmes. Fellows under the Orbit & Oculofacial Fellowship Programme (Cluster) will rotate within the cluster, including NUH, Ng Teck Feng General Hospital (NTFGH) and Alexandra Hospital (AH).
The Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Surgery Fellowship Programme provides comprehensive subspecialty training in the evaluation and management of paediatric eye conditions and strabismus within a high‑volume tertiary academic healthcare environment. Fellows gain extensive exposure to the full spectrum of paediatric ophthalmology, develop advanced surgical skills, and benefit from close faculty mentorship in a multidisciplinary setting.
This is a 12‑month programme with an annual intake of one fellow.
Fellows will participate directly in outpatient clinics, operating theatres, and procedural training, gaining hands-on experience under expert supervision.
Fellows will be involved in educational programmes including journal clubs, grand rounds, case presentations, and CME sessions. This enhances teaching skills and broadens professional knowledge.
A significant portion of time (approximately 40%) will be dedicated to research, enabling fellows to lead or coordinate ongoing clinical research projects, draft manuscripts for publication in reputable journals, and present at academic conferences. This strengthens academic profiles and fosters skills in scientific inquiry and evidence-based practice.
Fellows will get to work closely with senior consultants and subspecialty experts, receiving personalised mentorship, constructive feedback, and professional guidance throughout the fellowship.
The NUH Fellowship Desk will assist in obtaining temporary medical registration from the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) and Training Employment Pass (TEP) from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), after SMC approval is obtained. Please note that both SMC and MOM enforce strict eligibility requirements and documentation guidelines. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the information on the SMC and MOM websites to assess their eligibility before submitting an application to NUH.
You must:
If the teaching medium in your Basic Medical Degree is not in English, an English Proficiency Test result is required, subject to a 2-year validity period based on the date of the test:
At least 7 in each of the four components (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) for the academic module.
Only TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT) will be accepted. TOEFL iBT score of at least 25 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking). The overall score must be at least 100.
At least Grade B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
You must provide:
