Master of Science (Materials Science and Engineering) Programme Overview

Admission Intake

There are two (2) intakes per Academic Year. Candidates will be admitted at the beginning of each semester of the academic year either August or January depending on the application submitted.

AY2025/2026 - January 2026 Intake

Admission Requirements

Curriculum Structure

Our department aims to provide existing and incoming candidates with a better learning experience by offering more courses and specialisation options. For candidates who are interested in hands-on laboratory experience, there is a project course whereby candidates are given opportunities to conduct supervised research in our academic staff’s research labs. Plans have also been made to improve the teaching facilities in our department with labs dedicated to the Master of Science candidates who are enrolled in the project course.

Starting from AY 2022/2023, we have launched another new specialisation in Advanced Materials for Energy and Sustainability (AME) where candidates will learn more about the impacts that Materials can bring upon Energy and Sustainability as they become increasingly more important as emerging fields in Industry and R&D.

Specialisation in Advanced Materials for Energy and Sustainability (AME) is only offered to candidates admitted from AY 2022/2023 onwards.

Specialisation in Artificial Intelligence for Functional Materials is only offered to candidates admitted from AY 2024/2025 onwards.

Specialisation in Materials Innopreneurship is only offered to candidates admitted from AY 2021/2022 onwards.

Curriculum Structure, Course Lists & Requirements for Cohorts Enrolled IN AY 2025/2026

Curriculum Structure, Course Lists & Requirements for Cohorts Enrolled IN AY 2024/2025

Curriculum Structure, Course Lists & Requirements for Cohorts Enrolled IN AY 2023/2024

Curriculum Structure, Course Lists & Requirements for Cohorts Enrolled IN AY 2022/2023

Curriculum Structure, Course Lists & Requirements for Cohorts Enrolled IN AY 2020/2021 and AY 2021/2022

Course Descriptions: https://nusmods.com/timetable/

Candidature

Full-time candidates in our MSc (Materials Science and Engineering) programme typically are able to complete their requirements in 1 year (candidature period: 2 semesters), while the part-time candidates take 2 years (candidature period: 4 semesters). The maximum period of candidature for full-time study is 2 years and that for part-time study is 4 years.

Degree Requirements

The degree requirements include obtaining a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 out of 5 (equivalent to an average Grade of B-) for the best 40 Units, inclusive of core courses where required. Of the 40 Units, at least 32 Units must be at graduate level within the subject or in a related discipline as per our course lists; the remaining Units** (max 8 Units) may be level 5000/6000 graduate courses from other Engineering departments which are not included in our course lists but subjected to approval by the home department, host department and the courses’ vacancy. Do note that additional course requirements apply if candidates decide to opt for a specialisation.

For NUS Graduates with B.Eng. in Materials Science & Engineering or related discipline which has relevant Materials Courses in their curriculum, to waive the core courses requirement, the candidate must attain an overall GPA > 4.00 or attain at least 2nd Upper-Class Honours equivalent for their Bachelor’s Degree. For candidates who are from Overseas Universities and have Materials Science and Engineering Bachelor’s Degree/background, to waive the core courses requirement, the candidate needs to score at least 85% for China Universities, and at least 70% for UK and India Universities with reference to their University’s Grading Scale for the relevant Materials Courses in their curriculum. Core courses (MLE5001 & MLE5002) that are waivered have to be replaced with 2 MLE Electives courses.

Courses under Materials Innopreneurship Basket are only available for students specialising in Materials Innopreneurship to fulfil their specialisation and electives requirements. However, interested students who do not specialise in Materials Innopreneurship can still take them as Non-Core Non-Elective courses** (See Paragraph 1).

To qualify for the Specialisation in Materials Innopreneurship, candidates must pass 20 Units of Materials Innopreneurship-related courses. Of which, MLE5004 Innovation & Translation Research Project in MSE (8Units) and MLE4213 Innovation & Product Development for Material Engineers (4 Units) are 2 compulsory courses. The remaining 8 Units can be chosen from the list of elective courses under the Materials Innopreneurship Basket (MIB) (refer to our course lists under the section ‘Curriculum Structure’). As this specialisation encompasses many project-related courses in which the classes are held during office hours and mostly on campus, part-time candidates who are interested in specialising in Materials Innopreneurship are required to provide the department with an employer approval letter that the candidate will be able to commit time during your working hours. Candidates who are approved to specialise and have declared for Specialisation in Materials Innopreneurship, please email Prof. Chen Jingsheng (msecj@nus.edu.sg) for allocation of MLE5004 and MLE4213 as these courses can only be allocated, not selected.

To qualify for the Specialisation in Advanced Materials for Energy and Sustainability (AME), candidates must pass 20 Units of AME-related courses. Of which, MLE5101 Thermodynamics for Sustainability (4 Units) is a compulsory course. The remaining 16 Units can be chosen from the list of other AME-related courses (refer to our course lists under the section ‘Curriculum Structure’).

To qualify for the Specialisation in Artificial Intelligence for Functional Materials, candidates must complete one compulsory course, MLE5217 - Foundations of Machine Learning for Materials Science, and 16 units from the Artificial Intelligence for Functional Materials basket, for a total of 20 units of specialised courses. 

Continuation and Graduation Requirements

At NUS, minimum standards are set for continuation in a programme of study and graduation. More information can be found here.

Timetable

Click here for latest timetable

Tuition Fee

The tuition fees are reviewed by the University and adjusted periodically to reflect the approximate cost of providing education to students. With effect from AY 2021/2022 (Inclusive), our new MSc The tuition fees are reviewed by the University and adjusted periodically to reflect the approximate cost of providing education to students. With effect from AY 2021/2022 (Inclusive), our new MSc coursework programme is launched as a self-funded programme.

For students matriculating in August 2025 (AY2025/2026 Sem 1)

Example of Fee Rebate (60% Rebate):

For illustration purposes, if a Singapore citizen were to receive a fee rebate of 60%, the full programme fees payable and the payment schedule are as shown below.

For students matriculating in August 2024 and January 2025 (AY 2024/2025 Sem 1 and Sem 2)

Example of Fee Rebate (60% Rebate):

For illustration purposes, if a Singapore citizen were to receive a fee rebate of 60%, the full programme fees payable and the payment schedule are as shown below.

For students matriculating in January 2024 (AY 2023/2024 Sem 2)

Example of Fee Rebate (60% Rebate):

For illustration purposes, if a Singapore citizen were to receive a fee rebate of 60%, the full programme fees payable and the payment schedule are as shown below.

Fee Rebate

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.

View Tuition Fee

Important Points to Take Note:

1. The fees listed are in Singapore Dollars and inclusive of Good and Service Tax (GST). Due to the recent announcement of an increase in GST with effect from 1 Jan 2023 (7% to 8%) and 1 Jan 2024 (8% to 9%), the tuition fees will be adjusted accordingly. The fees are inclusive of 8% GST in 2023 and 9% GST from 2024 onwards. There may be slight discrepancies of a few cents as the fees per instalment are rounded up or down to the nearest cents. For more information, refer to the payment schedule table applicable to your respective cohort.
2. A non-refundable application fee of S$100 (exclusive of GST) has to be paid for your online application in our University’s Graduate Admission System.
3. Acceptance Fee (Part of the whole programme fees) is payable upon acceptance of our offer into our programme. Acceptance fees paid are non-refundable and non-transferable.
4. Payment of fees will be on an instalment basis, paid over 2 semesters for full-time students and paid over 4 semesters for part-time students. Additional tuition fees will be charged if you exceed the maximum candidature period or the number of modular credits required for graduation.
5. Complete fees must be paid before students graduate from the programme, if not your degree scroll and official transcript will be withheld.
6. Programme fees do not include the costs of recommended textbooks and readings. The cost of living, travel, accommodation and all other forms of miscellaneous expenses are also not included in the programme fees and are to be borne by the candidates.
7. All students, whether registered on a full-time or part-time basis, are charged the Miscellaneous Student Fees (MSF) by the University. Programme fees does not include the MSF. These fees are due at the same time as the tuition fees. MSF help meet costs incurred by the University in providing services to the student community. The MSF is mandatory and the fees payable are set out here.
8. Fees are reviewed yearly and thus subject to revisions. Rebates are subject to change and with rounding difference.