Coursework Requirement for Graduate by Research

Coursework Requirement for MSc/PhD by Research Programme

Masters

• Candidates are required to attend and pass examinations in a minimum of 3 courses (2 FST courses from level 5000 and above + 1 compulsory seminar course). Candidates may read up to one graduate-level course from other departments (subject to approval).
• Candidates must pass a minimum of three courses from among the prescribed courses with an average grade of at least B-, which is a GPA of 3.00 in order to graduate.
• A student will be issued warning for any semester in which his/her GPA falls below 3.00. If, in the following semester, the student’s GPA again falls below 3.00 but above 2.50, he/she will be placed on probation.
• For continuation in the Master’s programme, a student’s GPA should not fall below 2.5 or equivalent for two consecutive semesters, or 3.0 for three consecutive semesters.
• Termination of candidature would result if a student fails to maintain the minimum GPA.

PhD

• Candidates are required to attend and pass examinations in a minimum of 6 courses (5 FST elective courses from level 5000 and above + 1 compulsory seminar course). Candidates may read up to two graduate-level courses from other departments (subject to approval).
• Candidates must pass a minimum of six courses from among the prescribed courses with an average grade of at least B, which is a GPA of 3.50 in order to graduate.
• For candidates admitted from AY2022/23, they have to read NG5001 (Academic Communication for Graduate Researchers) on top of the 6 courses. Students from the earlier cohorts who have yet to take ES5002 will take NG5001 instead. 
• For candidates admitted from AY2024/25, they also have to read NG5002 (Research Ethics for Graduate Researchers), on top of the 6 courses + NG5001.
• A student will be issued a warning for any semester in which his/her GPA falls below 3.50. If in the following semester, the student’s GPA again falls below 3.5 but above 3.0, he/she will be placed on probation.
• For continuation in the PhD programme, a student’s GPA should not fall below 3.0 or equivalent for two consecutive semesters, or 3.5 for three consecutive semesters.
• Termination of candidature would result if a student fails to maintain the minimum GPA.
• These courses are to be selected in consultation with their thesis supervisor(s) and/or department(s).

English Language Requirement

• All international students are required to take an Diagnostic English Test (DET) unless exemption has been granted. This test will determine whether candidate is required to read additional the Graduate English course.
• Masters – Achieve an intermediate level of proficiency in the Graduate English course.
• Ph.D. – Achieve an advanced level of proficiency in the Graduate English course.
• To fulfil the English Language requirement, students must obtain a Grade C and above. Starting from AY2012 Semester 2 intake, students will be charged a course fee of S$2,000 if they are required to repeat the English course.

Ph.D. Qualifying Examination (QE):

The Ph.D. Qualifying Examination comprises:

• A comprehensive examination (For students admitted before August 2022 only)
• An oral defence of the Ph.D. thesis proposal.
• Before sitting for the Qualifying Examination, Ph.D. candidates must satisfy the following:
• Obtain satisfactory grades (at least grade C) in the Centre for English Language Communication graduate English courses at intermediate level (if applicable).
• Satisfy the coursework requirements for Ph.D..
• Other departmental requirements.
• The comprehensive examination (CE) tests the general competence of the candidate in his/her discipline(s) or field(s), whereas the oral defence of the Ph.D. thesis proposal ensures that the candidate is prepared to embark on his/her thesis research.
• The QE should be taken before the end of the fourth semester of their Graduate Programme. A second attempt may be taken no later than six months after the first, failed attempt. This applies to both full-time and part-time Ph.D. candidates. Candidates who fail their Ph.D. QE will graduate with a Master of Science degree.

Graduation Requirement

Masters

• Achieve a minimum GPA of 3.0 for all courses.
• Obtain at least a grade C in the graduate English courses conducted by the Centre for English Language Communication at intermediate level (if applicable).
• Pass the Masters Thesis.

Ph.D.

• Achieve a minimum GPA of 3.5 for all courses.
• Obtain at least a grade C in the graduate English courses conducted by the Centre for English Language Communication at advanced level (if applicable).
• Pass the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination.
• Pass the Ph.D. Thesis.
• Pass the Ph.D. Oral Examination.

Duration of Candidature

Research candidates may be admitted as full-time or part-time students. However, foreign students on student’s pass must pursue their studies on a full-time basis.

The maximum period of candidature for Graduate Programme students (leading to): Masters (3 years max.), Ph.D. (5 years max.)

The maximum periods of candidature for full time or part-time students are the same.

Residency Requirement

Applicants who are not residing in Singapore or would like to do their research in overseas institutions, must spend a period of residence in Singapore for a minimum of 6 months for Masters degree or 18 months for Doctoral degree during his/her candidature.

Applicants who are awarded Research Scholarship must reside in Singapore during the duration of the scholarship award.

For more information, please refer to the registrar’s office.

Courses offered by FST

^From AY2021/2022 Semester 1 onwards, courses will the suffix ‘A’ (i.e. FST5202A) will be offered in place of the corresponding courses without the suffix ‘A’ (i.e. FST5202)

For course description and workload, click here or visit NUSmods.