Program Overview

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Introduction to the Doctor of Philosophy Program

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore (NUS) is designed to provide students with a strong research culture and world-class academics. The program focuses on three main research areas: Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology; Ecology, Biodiversity and Environmental Biology; and Biophysical Sciences, Computational and Structural Biology.

Admission Criteria

To be eligible for the PhD program, applicants must have a minimum requirement of a BSc degree (equivalent to four years of an undergraduate program) or three years of undergraduate study with a Master's degree. Applicants whose native tongue and medium of university instruction is not completely in the English language must provide scores from the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) (≥ 85 for internet-based test) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (≥ 6.0). Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit GRE (minimum score of 320 [Verbal+ Quantitative] and 3.5 [Analytical Writing]).

Application Information

Applications are open all year round via the Graduate Admission System (GDA3). There is a non-refundable and non-transferable application fee of S$50 (inclusive of GST). All supporting documents must be uploaded (in pdf format) by the application closing date. English translations should accompany supporting documents that are not in English.

Supporting Documents

• Singapore NRIC (for Singapore Citizens or Singapore PRs); Passport information page (for International applicants)
• Certified true copy of official Bachelor’s or Master’s transcript (with the grading scale provided)
• Certified true copy of official Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree certificate
• Other academic certificates (if applicable)
• Valid TOEFL/IELTS score
• A certified copy of GRE (Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit GRE)
• Two academic referee reports
• CV
• Personal Statement of around 2 pages
• Financial Statement or Sponsorship Letter (if you have opted for ‘Self-Finance’ at point of application)
• List of publication details
• Passport size photograph

NUS Singapore/PR Graduate Fellowship SGF

The NUS Singapore/PR Graduate Fellowship SGF is applicable to Singapore Citizen (SC) or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) only. Admitted as full-time PhD students and be appointed as part-time tutors at the same time. Required to complete a workload of 416 hours over your first eight (8) semesters of studies with a minimum requirement of 4 hours per week for 13 weeks throughout each semester. Students awarded SGF will receive $5,000 per month and CPF at prevailing rates (for SC) or $4,600 per month (for SPR) for 4 candidature years. Tuition fees subsidized for 4 years.

Early Offer Admissions

We welcome all interested applicants to submit their application online via the Graduate Admission System (GDA3), before 1 August 2025. The standard deadline for the regular application is 15 November 2025. The outcome for the Early Admission Offer will be released around September – October 2025 for August 2026 intake.

Scholarships

Please refer to the university's website for more information on available scholarships.

Information for Current PhD Students

Courses and Timetable

All doctoral students will need to complete seven graduate courses (level-5000) including the seminar course, BL5198, NG5001 (compulsory for students from AY2022/2023 Sem 1 onwards, S/U option available) and achieve a minimum GPA of 3.5 (equivalent to B average).

Laboratory Rotation Programme

The Laboratory Rotation Programme is an integral component of the graduate experience for new PhD students. You will have to select two labs and spend one month working in each lab.

Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC)

A TAC should be formed immediately after confirmation of the thesis advisor by the student and, if the faculty wishes, can be used to panel the oral QE. TAC members will be recommended by the thesis advisor and approved by the DBS Graduate Committee.

Qualifying Examinations (QE)

Written QE

The written QE will test students’ ability to read, understand, analyse, and criticise scientific literature papers, while the oral examination will test specific knowledge about their research project and the broader research field within which the project is contained.

Oral QE

After passing the written examination, the student can proceed on to the oral examination, which should be conducted before the 21th month of beginning of the candidature.

Thesis Submission

Candidates have to submit their theses for examination (after being approved by the thesis advisors and Heads of Departments) by the maximum period of candidature or such date as stipulated by the thesis advisors or the University, whichever date is earlier.

Oral Examination

PhD candidates are required to attend an oral examination after the theses have been examined. The entire oral examination usually takes about two hours. It comprises an oral presentation followed by an oral defence/open discussion.

Graduate Part-Time Teaching (PTT)

All students will need to fulfill the stipulated number of ‘Compulsory Teaching Hours or Graduate Assistantship Programme’ for their candidatures as Graduate Part-Time Teaching Assistants (PTTA).

Departmental Seminars

Attendance in the departmental colloquium is compulsory for graduate students. Our regular departmental colloquiums are scheduled on Fridays from 4 PM to 5 PM.

Graduate Congress

Our department holds an annual graduate congress, an annual tradition since 1996. This congress is run by our very own graduate students.

Financial Assistance for Attending International Conference

Our full-time PhD students may receive partial financial assistance from the department for attending international conferences depending on the availability of funds.

Awards and Recognition

The University and Faculty recognise outstanding students for their academic excellence and meritorious contribution to the scientific field. Besides the NUS Research Scholarship, students who have made sustained research achievements will have opportunities to receive prestigious awards such as the NUS President’s Fellowship, Singapore Millennium Foundation Fellowship and Lee Kong Chian Fellowship, etc.