Program Overview

---

PhD Program Overview

The Department of History at the National University of Singapore offers degrees by research and dissertation at both the MA and PhD levels. The scope for research is extensive and the interests and backgrounds of the supervising teaching staff are broad and cosmopolitan. Fluency in English is essential, as all work must be presented in that language, but for graduate studies the Department encourages and supports the use of research materials in other languages, especially regional languages.

Research Areas

The Department is particularly strong in Southeast Asian studies. The academic staff includes specialists working on Malaysia and Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand. However, there are other faculty members who can also supervise research in Chinese or Japanese history, as well as selected topics in European, American, and military history, history of art, business, science, and technology.

University Resources

The University's Central Library has extensive holdings on Southeast Asia written in English, Malay, Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. There is also a very large microfilm collection containing archival materials from the National Archives in the United Kingdom (previously Public Record Office) and from other European and American collections. Students at the University can also use the library of the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies, and the Singapore National Archives.

Scholarship Program

The University operates a generous, but highly competitive, scholarship program that covers tuition and living costs for students doing graduate studies in Singapore.

Admission Criteria

Applicants for the PhD programme should have the following qualifications:

• a good Master's degree in a relevant discipline; or
  • an NUS Honours degree (at least Distinction/Second Class Upper Division) or equivalent (e.g., a four-year Bachelor's degree with an average grade above B) in a relevant discipline, subject to approval by the Faculty, on a case-by-case basis; and
• TOEFL/IELTS
• GRE is optional. However, do note that evidence of strong quantitative, verbal, and experience will significantly strengthen your application.

English Language Requirements

Theses are written in English, and students entering the university are expected to have a reasonable command of the English language. Normally entering graduate students are expected to achieve the minimum TOEFL score as stated below, although students with a lower score may be admitted on a case-by-case basis. Remedial English training is available for students who need assistance.

TOEFL or IELTS Score Report

Applicants whose native tongue and medium of university instruction is not English should submit TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores as evidence of their proficiency in the English language.

• The minimum TOEFL score required is as follows:
  • Internet-based test (iBT): Minimum score of 85 (with a minimum of 22 for the writing section)
  • Computer-based test (CBT): Minimum score of 237
• A minimum IELTS score of 6.0 is required.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

GRE is optional. However, do note that evidence of strong quantitative, verbal, and experience will significantly strengthen your application.

Application Process

Applications to pursue the programmes must be submitted online. There is a non-refundable fee of SGD$50 (inclusive of GST) for each application. The application and fees must be respectively submitted and paid by the relevant deadlines.

Application Period

• Intake | Application Period | Outcome
  • Sem 1 | 16 May (in the year preceding the intake) to 1 November (in the year preceding the intake) | By late May

Fees

Please refer to the university's fee structure for more information on fees.

Graduation Requirements

Students are required to complete the following with a minimum GPA of 3.5:

• NG5001 (from Cohort 2022 onwards)
• NG5002 (from Cohort 2024 onwards)
• HY6101 Historiography: Theory & Archive
• HY6770 Graduate Research Seminar
• 4 other courses
• Pass all components of the Qualifying Exam (QE)
• A thesis of not more than 100,000 words
• Oral examination on the subject matter of the thesis after submission of the thesis

At least 75% of the total units requirements must be at level 5000 or 6000. Students are to read no more than 1 level 4000 course, subject to the approval of the department. The coursework requirements include HY6770 Graduate Research Seminar that will be graded on a “satisfactory”/”unsatisfactory” basis.

Duration of Candidature

University education at NUS is demanding, intensive, and rigorous, and thus requires a high degree of commitment. Research candidates pursuing full-time studies are expected to commit themselves to at least 40 hours per week of study.

Residency Requirement

Candidates must spend a period of residence in Singapore for a minimum of 18 months for the PhD during their candidature.

Qualifying Examination

A PhD student will, as part of our PhD programme, have to take and pass a PhD Qualifying Examination (QE) which comprises the following:

• a comprehensive examination (CE)
• the submission of a 30- to 50-page thesis proposal
• an oral defence of the student's thesis proposal before an Examination Panel/Thesis Committee

Comprehensive Examination Format

There are 2 comprehensive examinations:

1. Oral – in candidate’s main thesis research area – as distinguished from “thesis topic”
   • Duration: 2 to 3 hours
2. Written – in a research area or sub-field other than the candidate’s thesis research area, will be determined by the Department/Program in consultation with the candidate
   • Duration: normally 24 hours

The Examination Panel/Thesis Committee may set the number of questions for each examination.

Submission of a 30- to 50-Page Thesis Proposal

The student is required to submit a thesis proposal which should include a literature review and his proposed area of contribution at least 2 weeks before the examination date.

Oral Defence/Examination of the Thesis Proposal

The oral examination usually lasts 2 hours. The student is required to make an oral presentation which lasts 15 to 20 minutes but should be no longer than 30 minutes. The candidate should:

• give a brief overview of the thesis
• discuss key findings and new contributions made to the field
• justify methodology and theoretical framework used
• analyse implications of study for future research, policy, and other applications.

This is followed by an oral defence/open discussion where the student is expected to answer satisfactorily any questions on the subject matter of his/his research thesis and related subjects.