Admissions Requirements

Master’s by Research
Master of Arts (Industrial Design)
PhD by Research
Doctor of Philosophy (Industrial Design)
Prospective student should have a relevant Bachelor's degree with honours at least Second Class Lower or its equivalent.


Candidates applying for University's Scholarships (NUS Research Scholarships or President Graduate Fellowships) or PhD programmes are expected to have a Bachelor degree with honours at least Second Class Upper.


Note that possession of these qualifications does not guarantee admission. Admission decisions are based on multiple
considerations, including the number and quality of applicants and the capacity of the programme applied to.

English Language Requirements

Master’s by Research
Master of Arts (Industrial Design)		 PhD by Research
Doctor of Philosophy (Industrial Design)

Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL)

or

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test scores

Applicants whose first language is not English are required to demonstrate their English proficiency by means of Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test scores.

 The official TOEFL/IELTS score sheets must be provided during the online application periods, otherwise your application will not be considered.

To meet the English requirement, the minimum score expected is:

  • TOFEL (Internet-based test): 85 or
  • IELTS (Academic): 6.0
     

Applicants may be waived from this requirement if they completed their degree programme taught entirely in English, situated in an English-speaking country, for example (non exhaustive list) Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, United Kingdom, USA.

Other tests (including the TOEFL Institutional Test) and those that claim to be predictions, estimations, equivalents, simulations, etc. (e.g. MyBestscores), of the TOEFL or IELTS are unacceptable.


Applicants can either:

  • upload a copy online and produce the original TOEFL/IELTS/GRE scoresheets during matriculation; or
  • upload a copy online and request Educational Testing Services (ETS) or testing institutes to send original TOEFL /IELTS/ GRE scores to NUS. (Scores should be sent to the Department in which the applicant is interested in pursuing his/her research. Institution code of NUS is 0677 (for GRE) and 9084 (for TOEFL) and with specific department code).

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

 Not Applicable

From AY2023/2024 onwards, all applicants of the Doctor of Philosophy are required to submit their GRE test scores, as part of the application. Candidates are to obtain the following minimum scores for GRE:

  • GRE score of 320 (Verbal & Quantitative Total) and 3.5 (Analytical)

*For a small number of exceptional cases who are very strong candidates with excellent academic track record from renowned universities, applicant may request for a waiver of GRE requirements. The admissions committee will evaluate these exceptions on a case-by-case basis. With limited numbers for exceptions to be considered, we encourage all applicants to submit GRE scores with their applications.

Tests score submission validity period
  • GRE Validity: 5 years (after test date)
  • TOEFL Validity: 2 years (from date of test)
  • IELTS Validity: 2 years (from date of score issued)

 

Application Period

A candidate is normally admitted at the beginning of each semester of the academic year i.e. at either August or January.

August 2024 Intake and closing dates*

1 January 2024 For International candidates (with or without application for scholarship);
For Applicants residing in Singapore applying for scholarships (Round 1)
1 April 2024 For Applicants residing in Singapore and

  • applying for scholarships (Round 2)
  • applying for admission only (without scholarship)

January 2024 Intake and closing dates*

1 July 2023 For International candidates (with or without application for scholarship);
For Applicants residing in Singapore applying for scholarships (Round 1)
1 September 2023 For Applicants residing in Singapore and

  • applying for scholarships (Round 2)
  • applying for admission only (without scholarship)

Applications received after the deadlines will not be considered.
*There would be two evaluation rounds of scholarship applications.  Priority would be given to Round 1 scholarship applications.  Consideration of Round 2 applications would be subject to availability of scholarships.

Important: The University has not engaged any external agencies to undertake graduate student recruitment on its behalf. Candidates interested in our graduate programmes are advised to apply directly to the University and not through any agents. Candidates who apply through agents will not have any added advantage in gaining admission and the University reserves the right to reject such applications without giving reasons.

Fees

Tuition Fees payable is dependent on the type of programme, nationality, and whether candidates had previously enjoyed a Ministry of Education (MOE)/Singapore government subsidy or sponsorship by a government agency.

The tuition fees are published on Registrar’s Office website. Tuition fees are reviewed yearly and thus, subjected to revisions. 

Scholarship Opportunities

Master’s by Research
Master of Arts (Industrial Design)		 PhD by Research
Doctor of Philosophy (Industrial Design)

NUS Research Scholarship

(The main focus of the College is the PhD programme. Priority for the competitive NUS Research Scholarship will be given to the applicants for the full-time PhD programme.) 
  President’s Graduate Fellowships
Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA)

Contact

Division of Industrial Design
askid.postgraduate@nus.edu.sg 

College of Design & Engineering, Postgraduate Research
cdepgresearch@nus.edu.sg