Updated 29 May 2024
Course Registration
For all matters pertaining to Course Registrations please refer to Course Registration at Education Records System: http://www.nus.edu.sg/CourseReg/
All courses taken are graded and counted towards your GPA. In the event where a student fails a course and has to retake it, the grades for both courses will be counted towards the student’s GPA
Continuation requirement
To continue in a Master’s programme, a student may not have:
To continue in a PhD programme, a student may not have:
Students may choose to read additional courses over and above their course requirements. They may choose to take the additional courses (subject to department’s approval) on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis (S/U) or audit basis.
‘S/U’ courses will appear on the student’s transcript/result slip but will not be counted towards the student’s GPA.
Students who audit a course need not sit for final examinations and will not receive a final grade. Audited courses will not appear on the student’s transcript/result slip.
Class Timetable and Exam Timetable
For the class timetable, please refer to NUS Mods.
For the exam time table, please refer to Registrar’s Office.
It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that he/she is not registered for courses with clashes in class timetable or examination table. If you need any assistance regarding time table or course details, please refer to your department.
Problem with Online Registration
You may experience some delay during the period of online registration due to heavy server traffic. Kindly access the system again.
Forms for Research Students
All forms relevant for current research students can be found at NUS Graduate School- https://nusgs.nus.edu.sg/forms/ .
Faculty of Science- https://myportal.nus.edu.sg/studentportal/sci/gd/
Terms and Conditions for Scholarships
Please visit NUS Graduate School (NUS GS)’s Student Portal- https://myportal.nus.edu.sg/studentportal/nusgs/gd/ for terms and conditions of scholarships for current research students.
Graduation Requirements
For PhD
Students Admitted Before AY 2024/25
1. Coursework Requirements
Complete a minimum of twenty-eight (28) units in total. Four (4) units consisting of the following-
Course: NG5001 Academic Communication for Graduate Researchers (Compulsory for PhD students admitted from Semester 1, AY 2022/23 onwards)
&
Twenty-four (24) units consisting of the following-
i) 5 compulsory core courses:
ii) Any other one (1) ST-coded graduate course (5000-level or 6000-level)
Students may read up to two graduate-level courses from other departments (subject to approval). Students must obtain a satisfactory grade for the Graduate Seminar Course. In addition, the students must receive a minimum GPA of 3.50 (an average grade of at least B) for six courses from the list of prescribed courses.
2. Thesis/Dissertation
Students must submit, through the supervisor(s) and the Head of Department, his/her thesis/dissertation for examination within the maximum period of candidature. The thesis/dissertation must be on a topic approved by the respective departments and must make some contribution to knowledge and not be a mere collation of existing materials. The thesis/dissertation must contain original work or critical interpretation worthy of publication.
For PhD
Students Admitted in AY 2024/25 and after
1. Coursework Requirements
Complete a minimum of forty-two (42) units in total. Six (6) units consisting of the following-
Course: NG5001 Academic Communication for Graduate Researchers (Compulsory for PhD students admitted from Semester 1, AY 2022/23 onwards)
Course: NG5002 Research Ethics for Graduate Researchers (Compulsory for PhD students admitted from Semester 1, AY 2024/25 onwards)
&
Thirty-six (36) units consisting of the following-
i) 7 compulsory core courses:
ii) Any other two (2) ST-coded graduate course from the courses offered by the Saw Swee Hock Professors in the Department of Statistics and Data Science, or the following list of ST-coded graduate courses:
Students may read up to two graduate-level courses from other departments (subject to approval). Students must obtain a satisfactory grade for the Graduate Seminar Course. In addition, the students must receive a minimum GPA of 3.50 (an average grade of at least B) for nine courses from the list of prescribed courses.
2. Thesis/Dissertation
Students must submit, through the supervisor(s) and the Head of Department, his/her thesis/dissertation for examination within the maximum period of candidature. The thesis/dissertation must be on a topic approved by the respective departments and must make some contribution to knowledge and not be a mere collation of existing materials. The thesis/dissertation must contain original work or critical interpretation worthy of publication.
Master by Research
1. Coursework Requirements
Complete a minimum of twenty-four (24) units consisting of:
Students may read up to two graduate-level courses from other departments (subject to approval). Students must obtain a satisfactory grade for the Graduate Seminar Course. In addition, the students must receive a minimum GPA of 3.50 (an average grade of at least B) for six courses from the list of prescribed courses.
2. Thesis/Dissertation
Students must submit, through the supervisor(s) and the Head of Department, his/her thesis/dissertation for examination within the maximum period of candidature. The thesis/dissertation must be on a topic approved by the respective departments and must make some contribution to knowledge and not be a mere collation of existing materials. The thesis/dissertation must contain original work or critical interpretation worthy of publication.
PhD Qualifying Examinations (QE)
PhD candidates are required to sit for the PhD Qualifying Examination (QE) – 2 written and 1 oral examination. The QE should be taken before the end of the fourth semester from the time of admission. Each PhD candidate has two opportunities in taking the PhD QE. If the student failed to pass the PhD QE in two attempts, the student’s candidature will be downgraded to a Master degree. 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 PhD candidates.
(Cohorts matriculated in AY2011/2012 and after)
Written Exam – Based on 4 courses: (i) ST5214 Advanced Probability Theory, (ii) ST5215 Advanced Statistical Theory & ST5224 Advanced Statistical Theory II and (iii) ST5222 Advanced Topics in Applied Statistics. Students may choose 2 out of the 3 papers.
The student can choose to take all 3 papers or 2 out of the 3 papers; but to pass the written exam, the student must pass at least 2 papers at one go. This means that if the student only passed one paper in his/her first attempt, that attempt will not be counted as ‘PASSED’, and the only pass paper will not be counted in his/her second attempt. In his/her second attempt, to pass the written exam, s/he must pass at least 2 papers in that attempt.
Oral Exam – Students are required to present their research proposal to an oral panel committee. Note: Students can only take the oral exam after they have taken and passed the written examinations.
The QE is held twice a year – week 0 of each semester i.e. in January and August. Students who wish to take the QE must email to Ms Yang Qijun at least 1 month before the semester. The student must be prepared to sit for the QE in the same semester that he/she has informed the department.
As a new PhD student – we allow you to register for PQE Written Exam upon your enrolment (in the first semester of your candidature). If you fail to pass the PQE upon your enrolment, we will not count it towards your usual two attempts in total. You will still have two more chances to pass the PQE. If you pass the PQE upon enrolment, you will still be required to read the relevant courses. You will also need to meet all coursework requirements during your following candidature.
Guidelines about Master Student taking PhD QE
1) Students in our Master by Research program are allowed to take the PhD written QE. The thesis advisors of the students must provide a written endorsement on the justification for taking the QE.
2) Passing the written QE guarantees admission to self-financed PhD program without NUS Research Scholarship.
Guidelines on Application for Financial Assistance to attend Conference
For more information, please contact Ms Yang Qijun at qijun.y@nus.edu.sg
For all Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), please check here.
For other relevant links, please check here.