Admission requirement

CDE Graduate Research Programmes

ADMISSION CRITERIA

We invite graduates with strong academic potential and a keen interest in research to join CDE’s research-based doctoral programmes. PhD/EngD admission criteria encompass a robust academic background, a passionate interest in a research topic, and good character. The following information will be considered for a careful evidence-based assessment:

A good GPA in a relevant bachelor's or master's degree.
A well-crafted statement of purpose detailing research interests, career aspirations, and motivations for choosing CDE’s programme.
Letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees, offering valuable insights into the applicant's qualifications and research potential.
A comprehensive CV highlighting academic accomplishments and pertinent experience.
Candidates who graduated from universities where English is not the language of instruction are required to submit at least one score of TOEFL or IELTS, as part of the application.*
Standardised test scores such as the GRE.*
Publications or involvement in research projects.

Items (1) to (5) are compulsory.
Items (6) to (7) are optional; however, please note that evidence of strong quantitative, verbal, and analytical skills through GRE scores, along with indicators of research skills and experience, will significantly strengthen an application.

*Applicants who graduated from English-medium universities and have yet to sit for the TOEFL/IELTS/GRE tests may be required, at the discretion of the Head of Department or Vice Dean (Graduate Programmes), to undergo such tests to assess their suitability for university study and to attend interviews.

APPLY HERE

Minimum Scores

TOEFL score of 85 for Internet Based Test (IBT); or
IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0.

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 will not be accepted.

Applicants can either

upload a copy online and produce the original TOEFL/IELTS/GRE score sheets 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. The institution codes of NUS are 0677 (for GRE) and 9084 (for TOEFL) respectively and with specific department code).

Tests score submission validity period:

GRE: 5 years (after the date of the test)
TOEFL: 2 years (from the date of the test)
IELTS: 2 years (from the date the score was issued)