Charmaine Cheng NUS Medicine: Resilience Rewarded

Losing a parent at age ten could knock anyone off course—but for Charmaine Cheng, it lit a fire, pushing her toward healthcare through a nursing diploma at Nanyang Polytechnic and then into one of Asia’s most competitive medical schools. This is the story of how a top nursing graduate, armed with grit and a major award, became a first-year medical student at NUS Medicine.

NUS Medicine global rank (THE 2026): 13th in Medical & Health ·
Charmaine Cheng’s academic background: Top graduate, Diploma in Nursing, NYP Class of 2025 ·
Award received: Tay Eng Soon Health & Social Sciences Award ·
Current status: First year medical student at NUS Medicine

The key facts about Charmaine’s profile and academic journey are summarised below.

Is NUS Medicine Prestigious?

How NUS Medicine ranks globally

• NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine is consistently ranked among the top medical schools in Asia, with a 13th place globally in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings for Medical & Health subjects (Times Higher Education (global university rankings organisation)).
• It is the oldest medical school in Singapore, founded in 1905, and produces about 300 doctors annually.

NUS Medicine’s reputation in Asia

• The school is widely regarded as the premier medical institution in Singapore and a leading centre for medical education and research in the region, often cited alongside the Duke-NUS Medical School.
• Its partnerships with major healthcare clusters like the National University Health System (NUHS) provide students with extensive clinical exposure.

The implication: NUS Medicine’s global standing means that any student who enters, regardless of background, must clear a bar that few institutions worldwide can match.

Is NUS Med Hard to Get Into?

Admissions requirements and selectivity

• NUS Medicine is highly selective, with an acceptance rate typically under 5% of all applicants (NUS Medicine admissions FAQ (official medical school page)).
• Applicants must have strong academic records (A‑levels, IB, polytechnic diplomas or equivalent) and a competitive UCAT/BMAT score, plus pass a rigorous multiple-mini-interview (MMI) process.

Academic and non-academic criteria

• Beyond grades, the admissions committee looks for leadership, community service, resilience and a genuine commitment to healthcare—precisely the kind of holistic profile Charmaine Cheng displayed.
• Polytechnic graduates are eligible but must demonstrate exceptional academic performance and relevant healthcare experience.

Advice from the admissions FAQ

• The official NUS Medicine admissions page advises that “there is no fixed cut‑off” and that each application is assessed individually, with emphasis on personal qualities and motivation.

What this means: For polytechnic nursing students dreaming of medicine, Charmaine’s success is both a proof of concept and a reminder of the extraordinary academic bar required.

Is NYP Nursing Good?

NYP nursing programme overview

• The Diploma in Nursing (C97) at Nanyang Polytechnic is one of Singapore’s most established nursing programmes, with strong links to public healthcare clusters.
• The curriculum covers clinical nursing skills, anatomy, pharmacology and includes attachments in hospitals and community care settings.

EAE tips for nursing applicants

• NYP offers an Early Admissions Exercise (EAE) for nursing, allowing students with relevant aptitude and passion to secure a place before final exam results are released (NYP EAE page (polytechnic admissions site)).
• Applicants should prepare for an interview and portfolio that demonstrates genuine interest in nursing, not just grades.

Diploma in Nursing outcomes

• Graduates can register as enrolled nurses and many pursue further studies at universities, including degree programmes in nursing or—as in Charmaine’s case—medicine.

The pattern: NYP nursing provides a rigorous foundation that can open doors to advanced healthcare training, but students aiming for medical school must be prepared to go well beyond the diploma’s standard requirements.

Who Is Charmaine Cheng?

Early life and loss of father

• Charmaine Cheng Ying Charmaine was 10 years old when her father died of colon cancer. The experience shaped her determination to pursue a career in healthcare (The Straits Times (Singapore news outlet)).
• Her family worked multiple jobs to pay off debts after her father’s death, and Charmaine herself took on part‑time work during her polytechnic studies.

Journey through NYP nursing

• In 2022 she enrolled in the Diploma in Nursing at Nanyang Polytechnic, graduating in May 2025 as the top scorer of her cohort (Nanyang Polytechnic (Singapore polytechnic)).
• Her story is headlined “Rooted in resilience” on NYP’s website, reflecting her ability to balance academic excellence with personal hardship.

Award and recognition

• At graduation she received the Tay Eng Soon Health & Social Sciences Award, which recognises outstanding health and social sciences students, as well as the MOH Holdings Gold Medal for being the cohort’s top scorer (The Straits Times).

“I want to broaden my experience so I can better support patients and their families,” Charmaine said, as reported by NYP.

— Charmaine Cheng, speaking to Nanyang Polytechnic (Nanyang Polytechnic)

The trade-off: Charmaine’s academic success came at a cost of constant juggling between work, study, and family obligations—a trade-off that many low-income students in Singapore face when aiming for top‑tier universities.

How Did Charmaine Cheng Get Into NUS Medicine?

Academic excellence at NYP

• Her top‑of‑cohort performance at NYP was the cornerstone of her application. Polytechnics use a Grade Point Average (GPA) system, and Charmaine’s GPA was among the highest in her batch.

Overcoming financial and personal challenges

• After her father’s death, her mother and siblings worked multiple jobs to sustain the family. Charmaine contributed by taking on part‑time work while maintaining her studies (The Straits Times).
• Her personal statement likely highlighted how these experiences deepened her empathy and resolve to become a doctor.

Application and acceptance

• She applied to the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and was accepted, beginning her MBBS programme in August 2025 (The Straits Times).
• The acceptance is notable because medical schools in Singapore have traditionally favoured A‑level holders, making polytechnic entrants a small minority.

“She was determined to turn her grief into a purpose,” a family acquaintance told The Straits Times.

— The Straits Times (The Straits Times)

Why this matters: For every polytechnic student in Singapore who dreams of medicine but doubts the possibility, Charmaine Cheng’s acceptance is a concrete precedent—one that shows resilience and top grades can outweigh the absence of an A‑level certificate.

Timeline of key events

• Age 10 – Charmaine’s father dies of colon cancer (The Straits Times)
• 2022–2025 – Pursues Diploma in Nursing at Nanyang Polytechnic (Nanyang Polytechnic)
• May 2025 – Graduates as top student; receives Tay Eng Soon Award and MOH Holdings Gold Medal (The Straits Times)
• August 2025 – Begins first year at NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (The Straits Times)
• January 2026 – NYP publishes student story about Charmaine (Nanyang Polytechnic)

“I want to broaden my experience so I can better support patients and their families.”

— Charmaine Cheng, as reported by Nanyang Polytechnic (Nanyang Polytechnic)

“She was determined to turn her grief into a purpose,” a family acquaintance told The Straits Times.

— The Straits Times (The Straits Times)

The story of Charmaine Cheng is not yet complete—but for Singapore’s healthcare education landscape, her path from nursing diploma to medical school sends a clear signal. If more polytechnic nursing graduates follow suit, the traditional separation between the polytechnic and university tracks may continue to blur. For the many nursing students who dream of becoming doctors but believe it is out of reach, one question remains: will Charmaine be a one‑off or the start of a trend?

Related reading: Women in STEM Fields: Stats, Jobs & Pioneers · Jeffrey Siow Permanent Secretary: Singapore Career Profile