Graduates

PhD Programmes

PhD students can look forward to a rewarding and exciting experience at the Faculty of Science (FoS), National University of Singapore (NUS). Join our premier faculty and a leading research university with a tradition in transformative education and multidisciplinary research where you can seek new ideas and make an impact on the scientific frontier.

The FoS PhD programmes provide training in a particular subject area through independent investigation, study and experimental work, culminating in the submission of a thesis on the research undertaken. A supervisor or supervisors will be appointed for each candidate. Students are required to attend appropriate lectures and sit for written examinations.

Our PhD students will have the opportunity to partner closely with world-class faculty members on a wide variety of rigorous academic programme as well as exciting research projects in any of our seven departments.

We offer PhD programmes in the following fields:

Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Food Science and Technology
Mathematics
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Physics
Statistics and Data Science

A Bachelor’s (Honours) degree or a 4-year Bachelor’s degree

  • Candidates applying for Research Scholarships must have obtained a bachelor’s degree with at least a 2nd Class Upper Honours, or its equivalent.
  • A candidate whose medium of undergraduate instruction is not English is required to submit TOEFL (with the minimum score 85 for the internet-based test) or IELTS (with the minimum score 6.0).
  • Candidates are strongly encouraged to take the GRE test and submit their results. 
    For more information, please refer here.

    • For Tuition Fees, please refer here.
    • For Miscellaneous Student Fees, please refer here.
    • Best Graduate Researcher Award
      • To recognize and promote research excellence of PhD students in the Faculty of Science, one Best Graduate Researcher Award is given each year in each Department. Please refer here for recipients of Best Graduate Researcher Award 2022.
    • Top Graduate Researcher in Science Award
      • One Top Graduate Researcher in Science Award will be given in the Faculty of Science each year. The recipient of Top Graduate Researcher in Science Award 2023 is Glenn Quek from Department of Chemistry.
    • FoS PhD Conference Award (FPCA) 
      • From AY2022, the FoS PhD Conference Award (FPCA) is offered to encourage PhD candidates to present their research work at international conferences and to gain international exposure. 
      • To date, more than 60 candidates have received this award, each of whom can claim up to $3,500 during their PhD candidature.
      • All PhD Candidates who have passed the Qualifying Examination are eligible to apply for the FPCA.
      • A student will be issued a warning if
        • His/Her GPA falls below 3.50 but above 3.00 for the first time
      • A student will be placed on probation if
        • His/Her GPA falls below 3.00 for the first time
        • His/Her GPA falls below 3.50 but above 3.00 for two consecutive semesters
      • A student will be dismissed if
        • His/Her GPA falls below 3.00 for two consecutive semesters
        • His/Her GPA falls below 3.50 for three consecutive semesters
      • Suspension or termination of scholarship may be imposed on research scholars who
        • do not meet the coursework continuation requirements
        • obtain unsatisfactory research progress grading
      The recipient of the President’s Graduate Fellowship needs to meet the following criteria for renewal of the Fellowship:
      • Minimum GAP (coursework component) of 4.00;
      • Pass the PhD Qualifying Examination within the period stipulated by the faculty/school; and
      • Minimum research progress rating of ‘Very Good’ in each semester.
      • (Note: If the rating is ‘Good’ for any semester, the student will be issued a warning; and if the rating is ‘Good’ for 2 consecutive semesters, the Fellowship will then be terminated immediately without notice. Additionally, if the student receives a rating below ‘Good’ for any semester, the Fellowship will be terminated immediately without notice.)
      • Students are required to pass at least 24 Units (20 Units from level 5000 courses and above + 4 Units compulsory seminar course) with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.50. The number of required courses may vary from department to department. Please check with the relevant department for more information.
      • Obtain at least a C grade in the graduate English courses conducted by the Centre for English Language Communication at advanced level (if applicable).
      • Pass the PhD Qualifying Examination within 24 months.
      • Pass the PhD Thesis, including Oral Defence.
      For more information, please refer here.
      For more information, please refer here.