Master of Science (MSc) in Robotics
Robotics is one of the growing sectors internationally, requiring an open-minded technological expertise across disciplines. The Master of Science (MSc) (Robotics) programme equips students with the fundamentals of robotics, providing them with the depth and breadth necessary to succeed in the future robotics sector, in the Industry 4.0 landscape and beyond. The field of robotics is vast and finds applications in diverse range of industrial sectors. However, there are three fundamental pillars on which any robotics system is built on. These are:
- Sensing/perception: systems and techniques that allow a robot to perceive and comprehend its surroundings.
- Reasoning/cognition: systems that provide the robots with the ability to plan their actions, as well as anticipate and learn from the outcome of their actions.
- Actuation/action: systems and components of the robot that make it move and manipulate external objects.
The curriculum is based on a set of core courses that build up the fundamentals of these pillars in the students. The students are then given the option to select specific areas of robotics from a number of electives courses, going in depth into horizontal robotic technologies or vertical robot applications.
The admission to the M.Sc. (Robotics) programme is highly competitive and exclusive to ensure high quality course content and delivery, resulting in well trained and future ready graduates for the following professional industries and sectors:
- Robotics Engineers / Technical Officers, designing, adopting, or maintaining robots
- Technology & Innovation Management & Assessment
- Technical Sales & Service
- Professional users of robots, in diverse sectors, from healthcare to cleaning and media production.
A candidate is expected to pass at least 11 courses (a total of 40 Units) and achieve a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 (out of 5) in order to graduate. A course in the programme typically carries 4 Units unless otherwise stated.
Student may take a maximum of 8 units of relevant courses outside the basket of MSc (Robotics) courses, subject to department approval. Note that some departments may charge additional fee for their programme courses.
Not all listed graduate courses will be offered in every semester or academic year as it is subject to programme curriculum changes, and schedules of teaching staff. Candidates should note this in planning their study programme.
It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that they meet the pre-requisite requirements (if any) for the courses concerned.
Degree Requirements
A student is to:
| For cohorts AY2024/2025 and earlier | complete all the core courses listed (16 units) and choose any 6 courses from the elective course list |
| For cohorts AY2025/2026 onwards | complete all the core courses listed (8 units) and choose 8 courses (7 courses if including ME5400) from the elective course list |
- achieve a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 (out of 5) to graduate, and
- fulfil required e-courses as and when imposed at University level.
Click here for list of MSc Robotics courses
The student will be required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in each semester and is subject to the general MSc programme rules on continuation/graduation/dismissal of candidature.
A student is expected to graduate after obtaining 40 Units and achieved a GPA of ≥ 3.00 within the maximum candidature.
Upon successful completion of the degree requirement, student will be awarded the degree in Master of Science (Robotics).
The maximum period of candidature is two (2) years for full-time students and four (4) years for part-time students.
Typically, the academic study workload in a semester is as shown below:
| Recommended Workload per Semester | Part-Time | Full-Time |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Workload | 12 Units | 20 Units |
| Normal Workload | 8 Units | 16 Units |
| Minimum Workload | 4 Units | 12 Units |
MSc Project Course (ME5400 / ME5400A) (optional)
Student may opt to work on a MSc project which can be taken in lieu of courses and have it count towards the degree requirement.
This is an optional project course. Note that this is NOT a thesis nor dissertation component.
Students may choose either ME5400 (2 semesters, 8 units) or ME5400A (1 semester, 4 units), depending on their study schedules and/or plans to undergo industrial internship.
ME5400/ME5400A is an optional project course whereby a student works on a project supervised by a professor over one/two semesters. The topic of the project is related to robotics, either within the scope of the core fundamental courses of the MSc in Robotics, or in a specific topic of the elective courses.
A student is allowed to take only a maximum of 8 Units on projects and internship courses. This includes the following courses: ME5400 (8 Units), ME5400A (4 Units) and ME5888R (4 Units).
MSc Projects Information for Current Students
Internship Course
- Students will have the opportunity to undertake an optional local industrial internship# via the course [ME5888R Robotics Internship] during the special terms or regular semester. This enables students to learn from both the university and industry to enhance employability. Click here for more details on the ME5888R Robotics Internship course (current students only).
- A student is allowed to take a maximum of only 8 Units on industrial internship and/or project course, e.g. you cannot take ME5888R if you have taken ME5400 (8 units); student can take ME5400A (4 units) + ME5888R (4 units).
- # For the purposes of this internship course, students are required to undertake their internship at a local industrial company in Singapore. Academic institutions - including universities, colleges, schools, and their associated subunits such as research centres, departments, and affiliated entities - do not meet this requirement and are not considered industrial companies.
Courses are usually taught on weekday evenings from 6-9 pm. Exams may be held during working hours on weekdays.
| Academic Year 2025/2026 | |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| Class timetable | Class timetable |
| Exam Timetable | |
Admission Criteria
| Eligibility | 1) A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or Computer Science with at least NUS Second Class honours or equivalent from a renowned University
2) Applicants without an honours degree will be considered under “Discretionary Intake”, subject to the scores during the course of study, proof of strong technical background and having at least 2 years of working experience (preferably in mechanical engineering and/or Robotic Engineering sectors). The above mentioned is a minimum requirement, which does not guarantee admission; selection is on a competitive basis. For more information on admission requirements, please refer to the CDE (Admission Requirements) website. |
|---|---|
| English Requirement | TOEFL (Internet-based test): 85 and above, or IELTS (Academic): 6.0 and above
For more details, refer to CDE (Admission Requirements) website. |
| Application Instruction | Please refer to the CDE (Application) website for detailed instruction and documents that needed to be submitted upon application.
We regret to inform that your application may be deemed invalid if you did not upload all the required documents upon submission. |
Admission Intake
There are two (2) intakes per Academic Year. Candidates will be admitted at the beginning of each semester of the academic year, in either August or January, depending on the application submitted.
For more details on each specific application period, please refer to the CDE Application Period website.
The full tuition fee for the programme is shown in the tables below.
Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents and International Students (NUS Alumni ONLY) (from AY2024/2025 intake onwards) will enjoy a 40% fee rebate.
Click here for Scholarships and Financial Aid for Graduate Coursework Programmes.
The payment schedule (nett of ‘fee rebate’), due on the first week of every semester, is as follows:
For students admitted in Academic Years AY2024/2025, AY2025/2026, AY2026/2027 (*Fees are subject to change)
| Full Programme Fees (inclusive of GST and fee rebate) | Acceptance Fees (inclusive of 9% GST) | Fee Rebate | 1st Semester (inclusive of 9% GST) | 2nd Semester (inclusive of 9% GST) | 3rd Semester (inclusive of 9% GST) | 4th Semester (inclusive of 9% GST) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - Singapore Citizen - Singapore Permanent Resident - International Student (NUS Alumni ONLY) |
Full Time | $35,970.00 | $5,450.00 | 40% | $14,170 (inclusive of rebate for acceptance fee) |
$16,350.00 | N.A | N.A |
| Part Time | $35,970.00 | $5,450.00 | 40% | $5,995 (inclusive of rebate for acceptance fee) |
$8,175.00 | $8,175.00 | $8,175.00 | |
| International Student | Full Time | $59,950.00 | $5,450.00 | N.A | $27,250.00 | $27,250.00 | N.A | N.A |
| Part Time | $59,950.00 | $5,450.00 | N.A | $13,625.00 | $13,625.00 | $13,625.00 | $13,625.00 | |
For students admitted in Academic Year (AY) 2023/2024
| Full Programme Fees (inclusive of GST and nett of fee rebate) | Acceptance Fees (inclusive of 8% GST) | Fee Rebate | 1st Semester (inclusive of 8% GST) | 2nd Semester (inclusive of 9% GST) | 3rd Semester (inclusive of 9% GST) | 4th Semester (inclusive of 9% GST) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Citizen | Full Time | $47,730.00 | $2,160.00 | $11,000.00 | $22,680.00 | $22,890.00 | N.A | N.A |
| Part Time | $47,835.00 | $2,160.00 | $11,000.00 | $11,340.00 | $11,445.00 | $11,445.00 | $11,445.00 | |
| Singapore Permanent Resident | Full Time | $49,221.88 | $2,160.00 | $9,625.00 | $23,422.50 | $23,639.38 | N.A | N.A |
| Part Time | $49,330.31 | $2,160.00 | $9,625.00 | $11,711.25 | $11,819.69 | $11,819.69 | $11,819.69 | |
| International Student (NUS Alumni ONLY) | Full Time | $50,713.75 | $2,160.00 | $8,250.00 | $24,165.00 | $24,388.75 | N.A | N.A |
| Part Time | $50,825.63 | $2,160.00 | $8,250.00 | $12,082.50 | $12,194.38 | $12,194.38 | $12,194.38 | |
| International Student | Full Time | $59,665.00 | $2,160.00 | N.A | $28,620.00 | $28,885.00 | N.A | N.A |
| Part Time | $59,797.50 | $2,160.00 | N.A | $14,310.00 | $14,442.50 | $14,442.50 | $14,442.50 | |
- The fees listed are in Singapore Dollars (S$) and inclusive of 8% of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2023 and inclusive of 9% of GST from 2024 onwards.
- A non-refundable application fee of S$100 ( exclusive of GST) must accompany your online application.
Application submitted 1 October - 31 December 2023 (inclusive of 8% GST) 1 January - 31 March 2024 (inclusive of 9% GST) Application Fee S$108 S$109 - Acceptance fee of S$5,000 (exclusive of GST), which will be credited towards your programme fees, is payable upon acceptance into the programme. Fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Application submitted 1 October - 31 December 2023 (inclusive of 8% GST) 1 January - 31 March 2024 (inclusive of 9% GST) Acceptance Fee S$5,400 S$5,450 - Payment of fees will be on an instalment basis, paid over 2 semesters for full-time students and 4 semesters for part-time students. Full fee must be paid before a student can graduate from the programme.
- Students need to separately pay for the Miscellaneous Student Fee (MSF) directly to the University on a semester basis. If a student has fully paid for his/her tuition fee but has yet to graduate, he/she will still need to pay for MSF for the extended semester(s). For the latest Miscellaneous Student Fees, please refer to Registrar’s Office website here.
- Programme fees do not include the cost of recommended textbooks and readings.
- The cost of travel, accommodation and miscellaneous expenses are not included and are to be borne by the student.
- Tuition fees are reviewed yearly and thus subject to revisions.
If you have any questions or require more information about the M.Sc. in Robotics programme, please email to me_pg@nus.edu.sg.