NUS Singapore Ph.D. Program Guide

Question

I am starting the Ph.D. guide series to get you everything about Ph.D. programs at one place. As a matter of accuracy and authenticity, I will use only the school’s official website for any kind of information. This thread will help members at GMAT Club in getting unified information, instead of juggling multiple websites online.

Table of Content

1. Introduction
2. What NUS Singapore can offer?
3. The Nus Singapore Ph.D. Experience
4. Dean’s Message
5. NUS Rankings
6. Research Departments
7. Programme Structure & Timeline
8. Admission Requirements
9. Online Application
10. Financial Support
11. When You Come In
12. Choosing Your Advisor
13. Resources & Facilities
14. NUS Ph.D. FAQs

Introduction

NUS Business School offers a rigorous Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programme in selected areas of business disciplines. The programme is designed for local and international students who are keen to become management scholars and pursue an academic career. NUS Singapore aims to develop scholars who will not only become outstanding researchers, excellent teachers and effective collaborators, but who will also be able to address the needs of industry. In particular, this programme provides research training in a subject area through independent investigation, study and experiment, culminating in the preparation of a thesis. Students are also required to complete appropriate courses in the first two years that will arm them with essential knowledge and methodological skills.

What NUS Singapore can offer?

Full tuition subsidy for 4 years 
 Monthly stipend of up to  S$2,700  
 Overseas experiences and conference support 
 Annual IT and book allowance 
 Mentored by world-class professors 
 Career placement support 
 GMAT fee waiver for selected applicants

The Nus Singapore Ph.D. Experience

The research support NUS provides for its PhD students is on par with the best in the world. The NUS students are encouraged to reflect on the principles and tools that they are taught, and ask why something works the way it does. Nus also provides numerous opportunities for students to develop their communication skills, as knowledge dissemination is critical to knowledge development in business. Nus has close connections with many internationally-renowned researchers around the world. You will be able to access the extensive resources of the National University of Singapore, as well as participate in research networks both within and outside of the University. So why wait?

Business schools prepare future captains of the industry on the one hand, and knowledge creators and teachers, on the other. Research-based programmes such as the PhD aim at preparing the students to understand the world of business and organisations at a more fundamental level; and to generate ideas for the future and impart this body of knowledge. Doctoral students need to reflect on the principles and tools that they were taught, and ask why something works the way it does. Investigating this question methodically and reaching a tentative conclusion constitutes research. In answering these questions, researchers generate new knowledge that ultimately benefits practicing managers in one form or the other. A well-trained PhD not only generates new knowledge but also effectively communicates this knowledge to the students.

Dean’s Message

At NUS Business School we focus on research that is rigorous, relevant and impactful. We are ranked  No. 3 in Asia  and  36th in the world  by the University of Texas, Dallas Top 100 Business School Research RankingsTM. Our research has also gained the attention of top industry leaders, policy makers as well as international media. Asia is not the future; it’s the present. We are proud that much of the work we do uses local data to examine and explain the phenomena and concepts that impact the region. Reflecting our mission of  “Leading from Asia”,  we are eager to be a pioneer in this important and growing stream of research.

As a PhD student at NUS Business School, you will be part of an intellectually intense environment with over  130 faculty members  from leading universities all over the world. Together, you will collaborate to rethink and solve today’s most pressing and intriguing business challenges.

To support your endeavors, the extensive resources of Asia’s premier university are at your fingertips. In addition, NUS Business School offers its network of internationally renowned researchers and organizations to provide you with expert guidance and opportunities.

I encourage you to immerse yourself in our research community and develop insights that excite both the academic and business world in Asia and beyond.

Andrew K. Rose  
 Distinguished Professor and Dean 
 NUS Business School

NUS Rankings

#38:  IN THE WORLD
 #4:  Based on University of Texas Dallas 2017 Ranking of Business Schools’ Research Productivity

Research Departments

The Business School has the following  seven departments :

Accounting 
 Analytics & Operations 
 Finance 
 Management & Organisation 
 Marketing 
 Real Estate 
 Strategy & Policy

Students take their courses and conduct their research according to their departmental requirements and research orientation. Prospective students must indicate the preferred department of affiliation at the time of entry in line with their research interests. PhD students should try to identify and attach to a thesis supervisor during the first year of the programme. Students need to constitute a PhD thesis committee of one supervisor and two committee members within two years.

Programme Structure & Timeline

What is required for a Doctoral Degree? 
A doctorate is awarded for original contribution to the field of study. The contribution can be in the theoretical or methodological domain but should significantly add to the existing body of knowledge. A doctorate implies that you are an expert in the field of specialization.

Successful pursuit of a PhD degree requires complete commitment for the period of study. Doctoral students are expected to be independent thinkers and careful researchers who learn and sharpen their skills as they progress through the programme. The student also needs a structure to the study in order to cope with the knowledge explosion that has taken place over the decades. For these reasons, the PhD programme at the NUS Business School is designed with an extensive coursework component followed by a preliminary examination, proposal defence and dissertation.

The courses and seminars are intended to help the students with acquiring the requisite skills and fundamental knowledge. At the same time, students are expected to develop the intellectual independence necessary to be an effective scholar. The seminars and courses are conducted at a higher conceptual level and require active participation by the students as aspiring scholars. Good language skills and strong analytical skills are essential in the research-based professions. Students are expected to develop and sharpen these attributes by the time they successfully finish the programme.

The time taken for completing doctoral studies varies from student to student. On the average,  it can take up to four (4) to five (5) years.  Students with a strong academic background, research capabilities and a clear focus can finish the degree sooner than this.

Programme Curriculum 
Student needs a structure to the study in order to cope with the knowledge explosion that has taken place over the decades. The PhD programme at the NUS Business School is designed to meet these demands and prepare the students for a successful career. The programme consists of a  summer paper , an extensive  coursework  component followed by a  qualifying examination ,  proposal defence  and  dissertation . The courses and seminars help the students acquire the requisite skills and fundamental knowledge, and develop the intellectual independence necessary to be an effective researcher. 
 
 Year 1 and 2: Coursework, Summer Paper and Qualifying Examination 
 Coursework:  PhD students take a total of  10-12 doctoral level courses.  Each Departmental PhD coordinator sets the number of required courses for their respective programs i.e. 10-12 approved courses with a minimum total of 40 units. Some of these courses are core courses conducted by the department. The remaining courses are electives conducted in other departments or faculties. For instance, students frequently take their electives in statistics, economics, sociology, psychology, computer science, and industrial engineering.

Summer Paper:  To help the PhD students kick-start their research early, a summer paper requirement will be introduced into the programme. All first-year students (starting from the AY06/07 cohort) will be required to submit a summer paper at the end of their study in Year 1.

Qualifying Examination:  After finishing their coursework, the students appear for a qualifying examination, usually at the  end of the second year . A qualifying examination is a comprehensive test of the student’s knowledge of the field and is made up of paper(s) set by the department. Passing the qualifying examination is the signal for the student to embark on the dissertation.

Year 3: Proposal Defense: 
After clearing the qualifying examination, the doctoral student begins to put together a proposal for the thesis. The proposal is an original idea for investigation put forth by the candidate, after an extensive study of the topic. The student is expected to detail the research question and also provide an outline of the study design. The proposal needs to be defended before the thesis committee and other examiners.

Year 4: The Dissertation: 
The doctoral candidate begins the final leg of the dissertation following the successful proposal defense. The dissertation is finally evaluated by internal and external examiners. Following this examination, there is an oral defense of the thesis before final submission. The PhD is awarded when the candidate meets all the requirements of the programme and the dissertation is certified for passing by the examiners.

* These requirements may change from time to time.
     Requirement  
 
   To Meet the Requirement  
 
   Remarks

Departmental Affiliation & Thesis Committee 
 To facilitate systematic approach to research with guidance 
 
 Student attached to the Department. Advisor and two committee members needed.   
 Need to constitute committee before completing coursework. 
 
    Coursework 
 For acquiring fundamental and essential knowledge in several domains 
 
 10-12 approved courses. (4-6) core courses and rest approved electives. Typically takes 2 years.   
  1.  Electives can be from other faculties / departments.
  2.  Minimum 3 and Maximum 4 courses per semester 
 
    Summer Paper  
 
 To help the PhD students kick-start their research early, a summer paper requirement will be introduced into the programme. All first-year students (starting from the AY06/07 cohort) will be required to submit a summer paper at the end of their study in Year 1. 
 Student will also be required to present the summer paper to the department. 
 
    Qualifying Examination 
 To ensure that the student is ready to embark on independent research 
 
 Following coursework completion. Pass departmental requirements of written and/or oral examination   
 Prerequisite to proceed to candidacy and proposal stage. 
 
    Thesis Proposal 
 To help the candidate refine the research ideas 
 
 Written proposal and oral examination. Typically, during the 3rd year of the programme   
 Pre-requisite for finishing dissertation 
 
    Teaching Development  
 
 Students may be required to assume teaching duties as part of their training after proposal defence.   
 Departments can choose to appoint. 
 
    Doctoral Dissertation  
 
 An original piece of research that makes a significant theoretical contribution to a body of knowledge. Written dissertation evaluated by internal and external examiners, followed by oral defense before the committee. The final step in obtaining the PhD degree.   
 Time frame from proposal to dissertation defense varies between one to two years.

Admission Requirements:

An outstanding bachelor’s degree (in relevant discipline). 
 Ability to pursue research in the candidate’s proposed field of advanced study.

Applicants who obtained their degrees from this University can submit certified copies of the official transcripts of academic records. Applicants who obtained their degrees from universities other than NUS should submit original official transcripts after they are offered a place in the NUS PhD programme. All documents must be in English or accompanied by certified copies of the English translated version.

Submission of Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) OR Graduate Records Examination (GRE) scores are optional for admissions August 2026 onwards. Tests must have been taken within 5 years before the proposed date of admission. GATE results from India and similar tests are generally NOT accepted for admission to the school of business.

Applicants who obtained their degrees from universities where English was not the main medium of communication MUST submit certified Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score sheets. TSE and TWE scores are required as part of TOEFL. Applicants who do not have TSE and TWE scores will be assessed on spoken and written English by a faculty member, and this may delay processing of their applications. IELTS is also acceptable. Applicants either submit TOEFL or IELTS. Please arrange to have your report sent to the program, at the appropriate address indicated at the testing organization’s website:

GMAT code:  DRT-MK-13
 GRE code:  7219
 TOEFL:  9082 and select “99 – Other department not listed”
 IELTS:  0677

Recommendations from 2 academic referees should be submitted by using the referees report forms.

Applicants will typically be interviewed either in Singapore or overseas by the faculty arranged through the PhD Office. The interviewers will assess the conceptual and analytical abilities, and English language proficiency through written essays and conversation.

Department       Additional Information    
    Department of Accounting   
 Candidates with the following attributes are invited to apply for admission into the PhD programme in accounting:

Intellectual Curiosity 
 Those who have taken GMAT/GRE may submit it for consideration. Note that GRE/GMAT is optional for admissions from August 2026 onwards. 
 Proficiency in spoken and written English 
 Excellent presentation skills 
 Excellent grades in undergraduate studies 
 Experience in computer programming would be a plus    
    Department of Analytics & Operations     
 NUS considers students with very strong academic records and are highly ranked within their cohorts. Their bachelor’s/master’s degrees should be from technical fields such as mathematics, statistics, and engineering. 
 Those who have taken GMAT/GRE may submit it for consideration. Note that GRE/GMAT is optional for admissions from August 2026 onwards. 
 Shortlisted candidates should have a reasonably good command of the English language as indicated by their TOEFL scores and ad-hoc interview performance.

Department of Finance     
 Applicants to the PhD programme in Finance need a solid grounding in quantitative methods in mathematics and/or statistics. 
 Background in finance and/or economics would be additionally useful, but not necessary. Both undergraduate and Masters students will be considered. 
 Research experience (either arising from a thesis at the undergraduate or master’s degree programme) will be a strong plus. 
 Applicants who have successfully obtained admission in the past have had undergraduate or graduate degrees in diverse disciplines such as engineering, mathematics, statistics, financial engineering, real estate as well as business. 
 Those who have taken GMAT/GRE may submit it for consideration. Note that GRE/GMAT is optional for admissions from August 2026 onwards. 
 Evaluation of the research statement written by the applicant will form an important part of the admission process. 
 Applicants are expected to have spent significant effort in preparing this statement, both in terms of content as well as writing. 
 A candidate’s proficiency and depth of understanding of his or her research statement will be tested during a phone interview (for shortlisted candidates).

Department of Management & Organisation   
 Management & Organisation department looks for students that meets the following criteria:

With a master or bachelor degree from top schools
 (e.g., NUS, NTU, SMU, top 10 business schools in China, IIT from India and so on) 
 Those who have taken GMAT/GRE may submit it for consideration. Note that GRE/GMAT is optional for admissions from August 2026 onwards. 
 Proficiency in spoken and written English (minimum TOEFL: 660) 
 A solid statement of research that shows potential for serious research 
 Strong recommendation letters 
 Good command of written and spoken English 
 International publications are a plus

Department of
 Marketing

In general, given the importance of good presentation skills to succeed in the job market, it would be good if the candidate has good oral communication skills (in English). 
 Applicants need to have 90+ percentile on GMAT/GRE (95+ percentile in Quant/Analytical Reason and 85+ percentile in Verbal) and 90+. GMAT/GRE scores are optional for admissions from August 2026 onwards. 
 An “ideal”  Marketing Modelling  candidate must have a strong math background. If the candidate is aspiring to be an analytical modeller, it would be good if she/he also has graduate-level economics background. 
 If the candidate is aspiring to specialize in empirical/econometric modelling, it would be good if she/he has a solid statistics background. 
 If the candidate is aiming to be econometric modeller, it would be good if she/he has prior exposure to programming in C/MATLAB. 
 More specific criteria: Undergraduate Background: She/he has an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Math/Statistics from a very reputable university with good exposure to calculus, differential equation and linear algebra. 
  Graduate-level Background:  At the graduate-level, the following background would be good. 
  Profile I:  Graduate studies in Statistics/Math/Applied Math/Engineering from a very good university/institute. If the candidate lacks prior exposure to Economics and Marketing, she/he will be advised to do background readings in undergraduate Micro-Economics and Marketing before she/he arrives at NUS. 
  Profile II:  Graduate studies in Economics from a very good university/institute. Concern in this case will be lack of prior exposure to Marketing. The candidate will be advised to do background readings in Marketing before they arrive at NUS. 
  Profile III:  MBA from a very good university/institute. Concern in this case will be lack of prior exposure to Economics. The candidate will be advised to do background readings in undergraduate Micro-Economics before they arrive at NUS.
An “ideal” Marketing  Consumer Behaviour  candidate must have a strong grounding in cognitive and social psychology. Candidates with a Communications degree are also encouraged to consider this research track. Undergraduate and graduate level exposure to information processing, experimental design, behavioural decision-making courses would be good. Statistical knowledge is essential with basic command in the popular social science statistical packages like SAS, SPSS, or STATA.

Department of
 Real Estate

The preferred applicants would have sound training in Economics and Quantitative Methods. They should be enthusiastic about research in areas relating to Real Estate, Finance and Investment, Urban Planning, or Urban Development policies. 
 Domain knowledge in these areas and research experience will be a plus. 
 Applicants with either an undergraduate degree or a Master’s degree, who have strong academic records and a good command of 
 English language. Those who have taken GMAT/GRE may submit it for consideration. Note that GRE/GMAT is optional for admissions from August 2026 onwards.

Department of
 Strategy & Policy

Intellectual curiosity 
 Both Undergraduate and Masters students from top schools will be considered. (e.g., NUS, NTU, SMU, top universities in China, India, South Korea, Japan, Turkey, Iran and so on) 
 Applicants to the PhD programme in Strategy & Policy need a solid grounding in statistics. Background in Economics/Engineering/Computer Science would be useful, but not necessary. Research experience (either arising from a thesis at the Undergraduate or Master’s degree programme) will be a strong plus. 
 Those who have taken GMAT/GRE may submit it for consideration. Note that GRE/GMAT is optional for admissions from August 2026 onwards. 
 Proficiency in spoken and written English (minimum TOEFL: 660) 
 A solid statement of research that shows potential for serious research 
 Strong recommendation letters

Online Application

Application for  August 2026  intake has closed effective  15 December 2025.  Students who have submitted their applications may check their emails regularly for notifications for interview. Kindly note due to the volume of applications that only shortlisted students will be contacted. Applicants may login to the admissions portal to check their application status after  1 May 2026.

The next admissions for PhD will start from  1 May 2026 up to 15 December 2026.  This is for admissions starting  August 2027.

Please prepare the following documents prior to applying:

Your Research Proposal and Statement of Purpose 
 Undergraduate/ graduate degree scroll 
 Undergraduate/graduate degree transcripts 
 Those who have taken GMAT/GRE may submit it for consideration. Note that GRE/GMAT is optional for admissions from August 2026 onwards. 
  IELTS/TOEFL  score report (if the medium of instructions for your university studies is not in English). If you would like to ask for a waiver of the requirement, please write in to request it formally. 
 Resume 
 Singapore NRIC or International Passport 
 Passport size photograph 
 Publications (if any) 
 Two referees – Once referee has been assigned, an automated email will be sent to the referee. You could also initiate to send out the referee form to your referees before you complete the online application. The referee will have to complete a referee report form within a 14 days’ timeline. 
  Application fee of S$50  (VISA or Mastercard). Please note that application fee is non-refundable.

Please Note:  The University has not engaged any external agencies to undertake graduate student recruitment on its behalf. Candidates interested in the graduate programmes are advised to apply directly to the University and not through any agents. Candidates who apply through agents will not have any added advantage in gaining admission and the University reserves the right to reject such applications without giving reasons.

Financial Support

Research Scholarships 
NUS Business PhD students may apply for the following scholarships which will provide financial aid for the  first 4 years  of candidature:

NUS Research Scholarship 
 President Graduate Fellowship 
 Commonwealth Scholarship

5th Year Financial Assistance 
5th year support is generally provided but the extent of which is based on student’s satisfactory progress in the programme.

Other Opportunities 
There are several schemes in the university for students to augment their monthly income. These schemes are not guaranteed. The availability of these opportunities depends on the individual student’s initiative, capabilities, enthusiasm to learn and willingness to work hard. These schemes are explained below.

Teaching Opportunities:  Students who have defended their thesis proposal may be appointed as part-time tutors by their respective departments. The scheme is meant to develop the pedagogical skills of Nus students. Many such opportunities are generally available at the Business School but the actual offer is subject to internal tutoring requirements.  
  Post-Qualifying Examination Top-Up:  Scholars in a PhD programme may be eligible for an additional stipend of up to  $500 per month  upon passing the PhD Qualifying Examination (QE), which is normally held 12 to 18 months after registration of candidature

When You Come In

Graduate student application for housing 
Residential Services processes student applications for housing during the course of their studies in NUS. Prospective Incoming Graduates may submit their application for housing as soon as they have submitted their application to NUS even if they have not yet received their confirmation package. Please refer to  https://osa.nus.edu.sg/accommodation/hostel-application/application-guide-graduate/  for housing information.

Newly admitted students are typically required to report around  mid-July  to the programme office. Following orientation, they will be advised by their departmental graduate coordinators about coursework and enrolment. Research students must take a  minimum of three courses  and a  maximum of five courses  per semester. The courses are mostly doctoral seminars, which involve intensive and fundamental treatment of the subject. Students in such classes are usually expected to perform significant amounts of reading, independent analysis and critique.

New students in the PhD programme are attached to a mentor. The mentor is a faculty member in the student’s department. The student is expected to work with and learn from the mentor. The mentorship is supposed to expose the students to research and teaching, and enhance their skills. As part of the scholarship, each student assists the mentor for a minimum of 6 hours per week, performing teaching and research related tasks. The mentors can also guide and instruct the students to develop new skills.

Students from institutions whose medium of instruction is not English, have to pass an English proficiency test upon registration. Those who fail this test are required to attend remedial basic and/or intermediate English classes, and eventually pass the test.

If you would like to know more about Singapore, the Singapore Infomap at  http://www.sg  is an official source of information on Singapore, and a one-stop guide to Singapore.
For information on travelling within Singapore, please visit  https://www.visitsingapore.com/en/  produced by the Singapore Tourism Board

Choosing Your Advisor

First year students will be mentored by PhD Coordinators who are faculty staff. As the student becomes more familiar over time with the field and department, he/she will be in a better position to identify a topic for dissertation. At that point, the student can request faculty members to be their thesis advisors. The thesis advisor can be any faculty member in the student’s department. Sometimes the mentor eventually becomes the thesis advisor. However, the student need not choose the mentor as the advisor. The topic of dissertation and relevant expertise are the primary considerations.

As part of the scholarship, each student assists the thesis advisor by performing teaching and research related tasks. The thesis advisor can also guide and instruct the students to develop new skills.

Resources & Facilities

All PhD students are allocated office rooms equipped with a computer and printer. In addition, there are several excellent computer laboratories within the school of business and across the campus. Students can also buy their notebook computers from the NUS Co-operative Stores. The NUS Co-op offers state-of-the-art notebook computers at discounted prices and instalments to students. The campus is wired to facilitate wireless operation of computers.

The NUS library system is among the best in the world. Students have access to six libraries around the campus. The  Hon Sui Sen Memorial Library  specialize in business and management related publications. Virtually all the major journals, periodicals and important books published in business and management are available at the library. In addition, all NUS libraries have adopted the digital mode. This means that NUS staff and students can access dozens of electronic databases and thousands of journals from their computers, search for materials on line, and download articles and data.

The school encourages students to grow intellectually and gain exposure. The school provides financial and material support to students who present papers at reputable conferences or attempt to publish in reputable journals. The school also organizes workshops and conferences from time to time, and students are encouraged to participate in these events.

NUS Ph.D. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Information about the PhD Programme

Q. How long is a PhD programme? 
 Ans:  The NUS PhD in Management is a full-time programme. On the average, it can take up to  4 to 5  years to complete.

Q. What is the overall programme structure? 
 Ans:  The  first two years  are dedicated to coursework, summer paper & qualifying examination. The  last two years  are dedicated exclusively to research and dissertation.

Q. Is there a minimum duration for finishing my PhD? 
 Ans:  You need at least 4 years to complete your PhD degree.

Q. Can I do my PhD on a part-time basis? 
 Ans:  No. PhD can only be pursued on a full-time basis.

Q. What is the maximum duration for finishing my PhD? 
 Ans:  The maximum duration allowed for finishing the PhD degree is 6 years.

Q. What are the possible areas of specialization? 
 Ans:  Seven specializations are offered: Accounting, Analytics & Operations, Finance, Management & Organization, Marketing, Real Estate and Strategy & Policy.

Q. Can I be waived off from some courses if I already hold an MBA? 
 Ans:  Yes, you can, but the waivers are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Q. Is the PhD curriculum available online? 
 Ans:  Please click  here  to see the curriculum for each department.

Q. How much is the tuition fee? 
 Ans:  Click  here  to see the tuition fee.

Q. What are the criteria for the selection of candidates? 
 Ans:  Candidates are assessed on the basis of outstanding intellectual ability, motivation, faculty recommendations and potential for an international academic career.

Application Requirements

Q. What is the minimum qualification for applying to your PhD programme? 
 Ans:  The minimum qualification for applying to the PhD programme is a Bachelor’s degree in the relevant discipline.

Q. I do not have a management background or prior work experience. Can I still apply? 
 Ans:  Yes, you can. Alongside your application, please submit a detailed essay on your area of interest, knowledge about the area and your objective from this programme to help us evaluate your application.

Questions on Online Application

Q. I realized that I have made some serious errors in my application after I have submitted my application. What should I do? 
 Ans:  Please contact us so that we can access the system to amend your application.

Q. I cannot modify the application information myself after I have submitted it. Could you tell me how to upload some supporting documents online? 
 Ans:  Documents cannot be uploaded after submission of application. Please send the documents directly to us by emailing to  phdenquiry@nus.edu.sg .

Q. I have accidentally submitted my application. How can I withdraw it? 
 Ans.  Please  contact us  so that we can access the system to update the status of your application to withdrawn.

Q. I have submitted all the necessary admission documents by post. How do I know if the faculty/school has received the documents in good order? 
 Ans:  We will inform you via email.

Q. My referee has not received the mail for the submission of online referee report. What should I do? 
 Ans:  Please  contact us  so that we can check and resend the email to your referee.

Q. My referee is unable to open the URL for the submission of the referee report. The message from the system is “The period for entering Referee Report has expired. Please contact administrator.” 
 Ans:  Please  contact us  so that we can check and resend the email to your referee with the reopening of the system for your referee to submit his/her report.

Q. Are there any interviews and/or admission tests? 
 Ans:  The concerned department will be conducting a telephonic interview to the shortlisted applicants.

Q. When is the deadline for PhD application? 
 Ans:  Application for the next intake typically begins in May and ends in December for students who are joining for the next semester.

Q. When will I know the outcome of my application? 
 Ans:  Successful applicants will be notified via email/letter of the outcome of PhD application from May onwards.
Applicants can login to  Graduate Admission System  to check their application status. Final status of all applications will be made known after  30 May  once the admissions committee has finalized their decision.

Q. Can I reapply if my file has been rejected? 
 Ans:  Yes, you can re-apply for the next intake.

Q. May I apply for two fields/departments? 
 Ans:  Yes, you can apply for multiple fields (departments). But you need to fill in separate application forms and pay application fee for each application.

Q. Can I submit IELTS scores in the place of TOEFL? 
 Ans:  IELTS is also acceptable. You can submit either TOEFL or IELTS.

Q. Is TOEFL required for graduation from certain universities? 
 Ans:  Applicants who obtained their degrees from universities where English was not the main medium of communication MUST submit certified Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score sheets. TSE and TWE scores are required as part of TOEFL. Applicants who do not have TSE and TWE scores will be assessed on spoken and written English by a faculty member, and this may delay processing of their applications. IELTS is also acceptable. Applicants either submit TOEFL or IELTS.

Q. Can I be waived GRE / GMAT? 
 Ans:  GRE and GMAT requirements are waived in the coming admissions. Students who have taken the test may opt to submit the scores.

Q. What is the institution code for NUS Business School? 
 Ans:  Nus institution code is as follows:

GMAT code: DRT-MK-13 
 GRE code: 7219 
 TOEFL:9082 and select “99 – Other department not listed” 
 IELTS: 0677

Financial Support:

Q. What are the various scholarships offered for the PhD studies? 
 Ans:  The following scholarships are available for PhD Programme:

Commonwealth Scholarship for new, incoming outstanding graduate students from  Commonwealth countries . 
 NUS Research Scholarships for outstanding graduate students for research leading to a higher degree at the University 
 The President Graduate Fellowship (PGF) Scholarship for PhD candidates who show exceptional promise or accomplishment in research.

Q. Am I still entitled for a scholarship if I have secured external financial support as well? 
 Ans:  Yes. Please indicate in the application form the details of the other financial support that you have already secured.

Q. Do PhD students get any monthly stipend? 
 Ans:  Yes, PhD students are entitled to a monthly stipend under the various scholarship schemes described above

Q. Are there any other opportunities available to augment one’s monthly income? 
 Ans:  Yes. The following options are available for PhD Students:

Graduate Students Researchers  
 
 Part-time Tutors 
 Part-time Employment outside the campus 
 Research resources 
 Post-Qualifying examination top-up

For more details on Financial Support, visit:
 https://bschool.nus.edu.sg/phd/financial-support

Miscellaneous -   Campus Visits

Q. Is it possible to visit the campus before submitting the application? 
 Ans:  Yes. We encourage you to visit us and familiarize yourself with the campus before applying for any programme at the University.

For further enquiries on the Programme, please email to  phdenquiry@nus.edu.sg

Good Luck!

NUS Singapore Ph.D. Program Guide

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Requirement	To Meet the Requirement	Remarks
Departmental Affiliation & Thesis Committee To facilitate systematic approach to research with guidance	Student attached to the Department. Advisor and two committee members needed. [Year 1]	Need to constitute committee before completing coursework.
Coursework For acquiring fundamental and essential knowledge in several domains	10-12 approved courses. (4-6) core courses and rest approved electives. Typically takes 2 years. [Year 1 & 2]	1. Electives can be from other faculties / departments. 2. Minimum 3 and Maximum 4 courses per semester
Summer Paper	To help the PhD students kick-start their research early, a summer paper requirement will be introduced into the programme. All first-year students (starting from the AY06/07 cohort) will be required to submit a summer paper at the end of their study in Year 1.	Student will also be required to present the summer paper to the department.
Qualifying Examination To ensure that the student is ready to embark on independent research	Following coursework completion. Pass departmental requirements of written and/or oral examination [Year 2]	Prerequisite to proceed to candidacy and proposal stage.
Thesis Proposal To help the candidate refine the research ideas	Written proposal and oral examination. Typically, during the 3rd year of the programme [Year 3]	Pre-requisite for finishing dissertation
Teaching Development	Students may be required to assume teaching duties as part of their training after proposal defence. [Year 3 - Year 4]	Departments can choose to appoint.
Doctoral Dissertation	An original piece of research that makes a significant theoretical contribution to a body of knowledge. Written dissertation evaluated by internal and external examiners, followed by oral defense before the committee. The final step in obtaining the PhD degree. [Year 4]	Time frame from proposal to dissertation defense varies between one to two years.

Department	Additional Information
Department of Accounting	Candidates with the following attributes are invited to apply for admission into the PhD programme in accounting: Intellectual Curiosity Those who have taken GMAT/GRE may submit it for consideration. Note that GRE/GMAT is optional for admissions from August 2026 onwards. Proficiency in spoken and written English Excellent presentation skills Excellent grades in undergraduate studies Experience in computer programming would be a plus
Department of Analytics & Operations	NUS considers students with very strong academic records and are highly ranked within their cohorts. Their bachelor’s/master’s degrees should be from technical fields such as mathematics, statistics, and engineering. Those who have taken GMAT/GRE may submit it for consideration. Note that GRE/GMAT is optional for admissions from August 2026 onwards. Shortlisted candidates should have a reasonably good command of the English language as indicated by their TOEFL scores and ad-hoc interview performance.
Department of Finance	Applicants to the PhD programme in Finance need a solid grounding in quantitative methods in mathematics and/or statistics. Background in finance and/or economics would be additionally useful, but not necessary. Both undergraduate and Masters students will be considered. Research experience (either arising from a thesis at the undergraduate or master’s degree programme) will be a strong plus. Applicants who have successfully obtained admission in the past have had undergraduate or graduate degrees in diverse disciplines such as engineering, mathematics, statistics, financial engineering, real estate as well as business. Those who have taken GMAT/GRE may submit it for consideration. Note that GRE/GMAT is optional for admissions from August 2026 onwards. Evaluation of the research statement written by the applicant will form an important part of the admission process. Applicants are expected to have spent significant effort in preparing this statement, both in terms of content as well as writing. A candidate’s proficiency and depth of understanding of his or her research statement will be tested during a phone interview (for shortlisted candidates).
Department of Management & Organisation	Management & Organisation department looks for students that meets the following criteria: With a master or bachelor degree from top schools (e.g., NUS, NTU, SMU, top 10 business schools in China, IIT from India and so on) Those who have taken GMAT/GRE may submit it for consideration. Note that GRE/GMAT is optional for admissions from August 2026 onwards. Proficiency in spoken and written English (minimum TOEFL: 660) A solid statement of research that shows potential for serious research Strong recommendation letters Good command of written and spoken English International publications are a plus
Department of Marketing	In general, given the importance of good presentation skills to succeed in the job market, it would be good if the candidate has good oral communication skills (in English). Applicants need to have 90+ percentile on GMAT/GRE (95+ percentile in Quant/Analytical Reason and 85+ percentile in Verbal) and 90+. GMAT/GRE scores are optional for admissions from August 2026 onwards. An “ideal” Marketing Modelling candidate must have a strong math background. If the candidate is aspiring to be an analytical modeller, it would be good if she/he also has graduate-level economics background. If the candidate is aspiring to specialize in empirical/econometric modelling, it would be good if she/he has a solid statistics background. If the candidate is aiming to be econometric modeller, it would be good if she/he has prior exposure to programming in C/MATLAB. More specific criteria: Undergraduate Background: She/he has an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Math/Statistics from a very reputable university with good exposure to calculus, differential equation and linear algebra. Graduate-level Background: At the graduate-level, the following background would be good. Profile I: Graduate studies in Statistics/Math/Applied Math/Engineering from a very good university/institute. If the candidate lacks prior exposure to Economics and Marketing, she/he will be advised to do background readings in undergraduate Micro-Economics and Marketing before she/he arrives at NUS. Profile II: Graduate studies in Economics from a very good university/institute. Concern in this case will be lack of prior exposure to Marketing. The candidate will be advised to do background readings in Marketing before they arrive at NUS. Profile III: MBA from a very good university/institute. Concern in this case will be lack of prior exposure to Economics. The candidate will be advised to do background readings in undergraduate Micro-Economics before they arrive at NUS. An “ideal” Marketing Consumer Behaviour candidate must have a strong grounding in cognitive and social psychology. Candidates with a Communications degree are also encouraged to consider this research track. Undergraduate and graduate level exposure to information processing, experimental design, behavioural decision-making courses would be good. Statistical knowledge is essential with basic command in the popular social science statistical packages like SAS, SPSS, or STATA.
Department of Real Estate	The preferred applicants would have sound training in Economics and Quantitative Methods. They should be enthusiastic about research in areas relating to Real Estate, Finance and Investment, Urban Planning, or Urban Development policies. Domain knowledge in these areas and research experience will be a plus. Applicants with either an undergraduate degree or a Master’s degree, who have strong academic records and a good command of English language. Those who have taken GMAT/GRE may submit it for consideration. Note that GRE/GMAT is optional for admissions from August 2026 onwards.
Department of Strategy & Policy	Intellectual curiosity Both Undergraduate and Masters students from top schools will be considered. (e.g., NUS, NTU, SMU, top universities in China, India, South Korea, Japan, Turkey, Iran and so on) Applicants to the PhD programme in Strategy & Policy need a solid grounding in statistics. Background in Economics/Engineering/Computer Science would be useful, but not necessary. Research experience (either arising from a thesis at the Undergraduate or Master’s degree programme) will be a strong plus. Those who have taken GMAT/GRE may submit it for consideration. Note that GRE/GMAT is optional for admissions from August 2026 onwards. Proficiency in spoken and written English (minimum TOEFL: 660) A solid statement of research that shows potential for serious research Strong recommendation letters