Program Overview

Master of Science (Environmental Management)

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Master of Science (Environmental Management) (MEM) is a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary graduate degree programme that taps on the deep expertise of six NUS academic units in areas pertinent to environmental and sustainability management.

Programme Overview

• The programme has attracted students from around the world, including from countries like Bangladesh, Canada, China, Finland, France, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Norway, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America (USA).
• In 2022, MEM was identified as a strategic programme and NUS flagship course in sustainability by the University Sustainability and Climate Action Council.
• The programme curriculum was revamped to provide pedagogical flexibility to students whilst providing a broad-based multidisciplinary curriculum.

Why This Programme?

• Acquire multidisciplinary competencies from professors who are specialists in their fields, as well as experts from established local and international environmental agencies and organisations.
• Dive deep into various environmental management subjects during classroom lessons, turn theoretical learning into practical experience through a Capstone Project, and gain a wider perspective (and possibly a wider network) via seminars featuring prominent practitioners and researchers from Singapore and abroad.
• Graduate with an internationally recognised Master’s Degree that opens doors to influential roles at mid- and senior-managerial levels in both the public and private sectors here and in the region.

Application for Admission

• An Academic Year (AY) at NUS consists of two semesters and a special term (which occurs during the Semester 2 Vacation, and is divided into two parts of six weeks duration each):
  • Semester 1: Aug–Dec
  • Semester 2: Jan–May
  • Special Term (Part 1): May–Jun
  • Special Term (Part 2): Jun–Jul
• For the MEM programme, there is one application period for each AY:
  • Programme: MEM
  • Intake: Semester 1 (Aug Intake)
  • Application Dates: 1 Nov of preceding year to 31 Jan of intake year

Admission Requirements

• Admission to the MEM programme is granted on a competitive basis as places in the programme are limited.
• Applicants should possess the following minimum requirements:
  • Academic: Bachelor's Degree (with Honours) from a well-recognised university; additional requirements may be stipulated for undergraduate degrees from universities whose academic standards are not widely known
  • Skill/Experience: Three to five years of working experience preferred, with or without prior experience in sustainability work; fresh graduates with outstanding academic performance but no working experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis
  • English Language: Applicants whose native tongue is not English: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) minimum score of 85 (Internet-based), or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum Academic score of 6.0
  • Other: Applicants should aspire to become leaders in environment and sustainable development

Mode of Study and Programme Candidature

• The MEM programme is offered on the following basis (with estimated time to complete the programme indicated below):
  • Full-time: 12–24 months
  • Part-time: 24–36 months
• Note: International applicants must be accepted into an approved full-time course in Singapore to apply for a Student’s Pass.

Programme Structure

• The MEM is a 40-Unit coursework-based Master’s Degree programme comprising:
  • Core/essential courses (28 Units, inclusive of a Capstone Project)
  • Elective courses (12 Units): At least 8 Units from Specialised Electives, Up to 4 Units from General Electives

Core/Essential Courses

• These courses are unique to the MEM programme.
• Each course may consist of pre-class readings, assignments, tests and/or projects, and online/face-to-face classes and seminars.
• Course details:
  • Course Code: AR5323
  • Course Title: Well & Green Built Environment
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: BL5102
  • Course Title: Environmental Science
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: LL5459X
  • Course Title: Environment and Sustainability – Law, Governance and Practice
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: MEM5101
  • Course Title: Business and Sustainable Development
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: MEM5102
  • Course Title: Applied Research Methodology
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: MEM5103
  • Course Title: Capstone Project for Environmental Management
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: MEM5104
  • Course Title: Seminars on Environmental Management
  • Units: 0
  • Course Code: PP5269M
  • Course Title: Environmental Economics and Public Policy
  • Units: 4

Elective Courses

• Students must complete 12 Units of elective courses, of which at least 8 Units must be Specialised Electives and the remaining can be General Electives.
• Elective course offerings are subject to change and may not be offered every semester.

Specialised Electives

• Course details:
  • Course Code: BL5331
  • Course Title: Sustainability Science
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: ESE5901
  • Course Title: Environmental Technology
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: LL5484X
  • Course Title: Introduction to Business Law
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: LL5485X
  • Course Title: Negotiation
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: MT5007G
  • Course Title: Management of Technological Innovation
  • Units: 4

General Electives

• Course details:
  • Course Code: BL5210
  • Course Title: Biogeography and Global Change
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: BL5218
  • Course Title: Directed Studies in Behavioural Ecology
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: BL5230
  • Course Title: Biological Invasions
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: BL5233
  • Course Title: Data Analysis for Conservation Biology with R
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: BL5234
  • Course Title: Quantitative Methods and Critical Thinking in Biology
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: BL5238
  • Course Title: Infectious Disease Modelling
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: BL5312
  • Course Title: Natural History Collections and Conservation
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: BL5322
  • Course Title: Field Techniques in Biological Conservation
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: BL5323
  • Course Title: Spatial Modelling for Environmental Sustainability
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: BL5324
  • Course Title: Ecological Perspectives on Global Change
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: BMS5125
  • Course Title: Sustainable Strategy
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: BMS5129
  • Course Title: Applied Sustainability: A Systems Perspective
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: BMS5408
  • Course Title: Special Topics in Organizational Behaviour
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: BMS5416
  • Course Title: Managing across Cultures
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: CCS5101
  • Course Title: Climate Change - The Science and the Policy
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: CCS5102
  • Course Title: Sustainability and Climate Change
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: CCS5103
  • Course Title: Political Economy of Climate Change and Sustainable Development
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: ETP5381
  • Course Title: Carbon Market & Sustainable Financing
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: IE5206
  • Course Title: Energy and Sustainability: A Systems Approach
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: MSI5005
  • Course Title: Selected Topics in AI and Innovation
  • Units: 4
  • Course Code: PP5227
  • Course Title: Principles and Policies in Sustainability and the Environment
  • Units: 4

Graduation Requirements

• To graduate from the MEM programme, students must meet the following requirements:
  • Programme and/or Specialisation: Read and pass a total of 40 Units, comprising: 28 Units of core/essential courses, and 12 Units of elective courses: At least 8 Units from Specialised Electives, Up to 4 Units from General Electives.
  • Course and/or Qualification: Successfully complete MEM5104 Seminars on Environmental Management by: Attending at least three seminars related to environmental management topics or areas, and Submitting a report
  • Grade Point Average (GPA): Minimum 3.0 (out of maximum 5.0)
  • Other: Not applicable

Fees

• The University reserves all rights to review fees as necessary and adjust accordingly without prior notice.
• Tuition: S$51,500.00 (excluding GST) / S$56,135.00 (including 9% GST)
• Application: S$150.00 (excluding GST) / S$163.50 (including 9% GST)
• Acceptance: S$5,000.00 (excluding GST) / S$5,450.00 (including 9% GST)
• Miscellaneous Student Fees: As published by Office of the University Registrar

Scholarships & Financial Assistance

• Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship: Graduate scholarship offered by the Asian Development Bank for studies in economics, business and management, science and technology, and other development-related fields
• Master of Science (Environmental Management) Enhanced Tuition Fee Rebate: Rebates that may be offered to Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents who are successfully admitted into the programme
• NUS Master's by Coursework Enhanced Tuition Fee Rebate: Enhanced rebates that may be offered to Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Residents who are successfully admitted into selected NUS Master's Degree programmes
• NUS Master's Degree by Coursework Tuition Fee Rebate: Rebates that may be offered to Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents or NUS alumni who are successfully admitted into selected NUS Master's Degree programmes
• SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme: For mid-career Singaporeans aged 40 and above to pursue a substantive skills reboot to stay relevant in a changing economy

Programme at a Glance

• Intake and Application:
  • Next Intake: Aug 2026
  • Application Period: 1 Nov 2025–31 Jan 2026