FAQ for PhD and MSc by Research Programmes
Application Matters
The research-based graduate programmes provide training in a particular subject through independent investigation, study and experimental work, culminating in the submission of a thesis on the research undertaken. A supervisor or supervisors will be appointed for each candidate. Candidates are also required to attend appropriate lectures and sit for written examinations.
Coursework-based graduate programmes involves attendance of formal classes. Degrees are awarded once the candidate pass the relevant examinations and achieve the required level of proficiency in the examinations.
The Faculty offers research programmes in the following departments:
For graduate research programmes, the admission requirements are as follows:
· A good NUS Honors degree (Distinction and above) or equivalent (e.g. a four-year Bachelor degree with at least an average grade of B or equivalent) in a relevant discipline
· TOEFL/ IELTS, where applicable
· GRE (compulsory for application to PhD programme)
Applicant may communicate with the organisations conducting the respective tests. For TOEFL and GRE tests, please refer to http://www.ets.org. For IELTS, please refer to http://www.ielts.org .
For TOEFL, please quote our University code 9087 and the specific department codes.
· Biological Sciences: 35
· Chemistry: 62
· Mathematics: 72
· Pharmacy: 47
· Physics: 76
It is strongly encouraged for PhD applicants applying for disciplines in the Faculty of Science to take the GRE and submit the scores as part of the application.
Please quote our University code of 0677 and the specific department codes.
· Biological Sciences: 0299
· Chemistry: 0301
· Food Science & Technology: 0107
· Mathematics: 0703
· Pharmacy: 0613
· Physics: 0808
All application forms and supporting documents must reach our University by the following deadlines:
· Semester 1 (August) intake – 15 November of the previous year
· Semester 2 (January) intake – 15 May of the previous year
Applicants should submit one of the following documents:
· A bank statement of their finance or
· A letter of confirmation from a sponsor and the sponsor’s bank statement or
· Documentary evidence of scholarship or other award that they have obtained.
All full-time graduate students, including research scholars (local and international) and international self-financing students, must subscribe to a medical insurance policy which helps students to pay (in part or full) medical expenses incurred as a result of hospitalisation/ accident/ mental health treatment.
For research scholars, the premium will be deducted from the stipend on a semestral basis. Self-financing local students who have similar coverage (for hospitalisation and personal accident) bought elsewhere and do not wish to subscribe to our scheme may choose to opt out. However, students must submit documentary proof and sign an undertaking that they have the essential coverage. Details on the insurance scheme are available here.
Immigration Matters
Please refer to NUS Office of the University Registrar website for information on immigration matters, such as Student Pass and medical check-up.
Financial Matters
The Research Scholarship is awarded to outstanding candidates to pursue a full-time graduate research degree at NUS.
Applicants should be university graduates with at least second class honors (upper division) degree or equivalent and at the time of the award of the Research Scholarship, must have applied for, and been assured of admission as a candidate for a graduate research degree programme at this University. There is no restriction on the nationality of applicants.
A limited amount of funds is available each academic year. They are therefore awarded on a very competitive basis.
The PhD top-up will expire at the earliest of the following dates:
· Two years from the date of award of the top-up; or
· At the end of the fourth year of the graduate candidature; or
Contact Details
The relevant email addresses are indicated below:
· Department of Biological Sciences: dbsbox6@nus.edu.sg
· Department of Chemistry: chmadmin@nus.edu.sg
· Department of Food Science and Technology: food@nus.edu.sg
· Department of Mathematics: askmath-res@nus.edu.sg
· Department of Pharmacy: phabox7@nus.edu.sg
· Department of Physics: phygrad@nus.edu.sg
· Department of Statistics and Data Science: stabox10@nus.edu.sg