Program Overview

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Master of Science in Human Potential and Performance (MSc HPP)

The Master of Science in Human Potential and Performance (MSc HPP) at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine is a postgraduate programme available full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years). The MSc HPP is distinguished by its integration of applied neuroscience, performance psychology, and applied physiology to address the growing demand for strategies to maximise human potential in the workforce. It is aligned with the RIE2025 priorities under the Human Potential domain, focusing on enhancing learning capacity and productivity in adulthood.

Overview

The programme offers a unique curriculum that combines theoretical foundations with practical, real-world applications. It emphasises practical strategies to maximise human potential, including learning more effectively through neuroscience, enhancing health and fitness while adapting to challenging environments through physiology, and achieving peak performance through psychology for working professionals. The interdisciplinary nature of the programme bridges the gap between cognitive function, physical performance, and overall well-being, providing graduates with a comprehensive understanding of how these areas interact.

• Build knowledge and skills to maximise human potential and performance through the application of physiological, psychological, and neuroscientific principles.
• Apply physiological, psychological, and neuroscientific principles in diverse settings such as education, human resource, clinical environments, military, sports, and wellness.
• Understand the science behind performance to design and implement evidence-based strategies that improve both mental and physical capabilities.
• Develop the expertise to support high-performing individuals, such as professionals, leaders, military personnel, and elite athletes, in enhancing their learning, adaptation, and performance in today’s fast-changing world.

Programme Details

• Intake: August 2026
• Duration:
  • 1 Year (Full-time)
  • 2 Years (Part-time)
• Application Start Date: 1 November 2025
• Application Deadline: 28 February 2026
• Outcome of Applications: 15 April 2026

Ideal Candidates

• Graduates in sports science, life sciences, psychology, medicine, or healthcare who want to deepen their expertise in human performance.
• Coaches, trainers, and consultants in high-performance industries looking to apply neuroscience, psychology, and physiology in practice.
• Military, tactical, or emergency service professionals seeking to enhance physical and cognitive performance under pressure.
• Educators and technologists interested in applying science-backed strategies to improve learning, recovery, or performance.
• Aspiring researchers and academics in fields related to human potential and performance.

Career Opportunities

Graduates can pursue careers in roles such as:

• Administrators and Policy Makers Related to Human Development
• Athletic Coaches and Trainers
• Consultants, Trainers, Facilitators Related to Human Development
• Key Personnels in Healthcare, Wellness and Performance Industry
• Military Performance Coaches and Consultants
• Performance Coaches, Life Coaches and Consultants
• Sport Scientists
• Sports Technologists
• Teachers, Educators, Researchers, Academics

Programme Faculty

• Prof John Wang Chee Keng, Programme Director
• A/Prof Jason Kai Wei Lee, Co-Programme Director
• Dr Ivan Low Cherh Chiet, Specialisation Lead (Applied Physiology)
• A/Prof Ajay Sriram Mathuru, Specialisation Lead (Applied Neuroscience)
• A/Prof Yap Suen Mei, Celestial Therese, Specialisation Lead (Performance Psychology)

Curriculum

The MSc HPP is available as a 1-year (full-time) or a 2-year (part-time) degree programme. Students can choose to specialise in Applied Neuroscience, Performance Psychology, or Applied Physiology.

Graduation Requirements

Total Units Required: 40 Units

To graduate, students have to:

• Complete 5 core courses (20 Units)
  1. HPP5001 Applied Neuroscience and Brain Health
  2. HPP5002 Biopsychosocial Strategies for Mental Health and Performance
  3. HPP5003 Sleep for Human Performance
  4. HPP5004 Nutritional Physiology for Health and Performance
  5. HPP5005 Quantitative Methods in Human Potential and Performance Research
• Complete 5 elective courses to graduate with a specialisation (20 Units)
  • Complete 2 compulsory elective courses from your chosen specialisation (8 Units)
  • Complete 1 Master’s Project from your chosen specialisation (4 Units)
  • Choose and complete 2 elective courses from other specialisations (8 Units)
• Obtain a Cumulative Average Point (CAP) of 3.00 or above

Relevant Certification Programmes

A portion of our MSc programme can be taken as a Graduate Certificates (GC) and Graduate Diploma (GD), allowing you to acquire knowledge and skills pertinent to a specific topic in Human Potential and Performance.

Upon successful completion of each certificate, you will be accredited with units (previously known as Modular Credits) that can be transferred toward the full MSc degree if you choose to complete the programme.

Graduate Certificates (Any 8 Units from below):

1. HPP5001 Applied Neuroscience and Brain Health (4 Units)
2. HPP5002 Biopsychosocial Strategies for Mental Health and Performance (4 Units)
3. HPP5003 Sleep for Human Performance (4 Units)
4. HPP5004 Nutritional Physiology for Health and Performance (4 Units)
5. HPP5005 Quantitative Methods in Human Potential and Performance Research (4 Units)

Graduate Diploma (Any 24 Units from below):

1. HPP5001 Applied Neuroscience and Brain Health (4 Units)
2. HPP5002 Biopsychosocial Strategies for Mental Health and Performance (4 Units)
3. HPP5003 Sleep for Human Performance (4 Units)
4. HPP5004 Nutritional Physiology for Health and Performance (4 Units)
5. HPP5005 Quantitative Methods in Human Potential and Performance Research (4 Units)
6. HPP5123 Human Motivation (4 Units)

Study Period

• Full-time students are expected to complete the programme within 12 – 24 months. The maximum candidature is 24 months; excluding Leave of Absence (LOA).
• Part-time students are expected to complete the programme within 24 – 48 months. The maximum candidature is 48 months; excluding Leave of Absence (LOA).

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for enrolment, applicants must meet the following requirements. However, please note that selection of candidates is based on a competitive basis and candidates with relevant industry experience will be considered favourably. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the programme.

• Hold a relevant Bachelor’s degree (preferably a four-year programme with Honours) in any field with subjects related to either psychology, physiology, or neuroscience.
• At least one year working experience if holding a three-year Bachelor’s degree (without Honours).
• Pass an entry interview by the core programme faculty.
• International applicants from non-English speaking universities must demonstrate English proficiency with a minimum TOEFL score of 85 (Internet-based) or a minimum IELTS Academic score of 6.0. All IELTS / TOEFL tests must have been taken not earlier than 3 years before the proposed date of admission.

Tuition Fees

Total Tuition Fees (for students enrolled in the Academic Year 2026/2027 only): S$58,860 (inclusive of Goods & Services Tax (GST))

The payment schedule is as follows (inclusive of 9% GST):

• Year 1 Semester 1:
  • Full-Time Students: S$29,430.00
  • Part-Time Students: S$14,715.00
• Year 1 Semester 2:
  • Full-Time Students: S$29,430.00
  • Part-Time Students: S$14,715.00
• Year 2 Semester 1:
  • Full-Time Students: –
  • Part-Time Students: S$14,715.00
• Year 2 Semester 2:
  • Full-Time Students: –
  • Part-Time Students: S$14,715.00

Acceptance Fee (Including GST): S$5,000

Additional Fee

In addition to tuition fees, students will be charged miscellaneous student fees each semester.

Miscellaneous student fees help meet costs incurred by the University in providing services to the student community that are either not covered or only partially covered by the tuition fees. These services include healthcare for students; facilitating student cultural, social and recreational programmes; and maintaining the shuttle bus service, IT network and other essential campus infrastructure and services.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does the documentary proof of financial support refer to? You may submit a bank statement (original, certified true copy or electronically generated statements will be accepted) OR a certificate of deposit in English issued by the bank as a proof that you (or your parent) have the stated amount in the bank account.
• What is the maximum candidature?
  • Full-time students are expected to complete the programme within 12 – 24 months. The maximum candidature is 24 months; excluding Leave of Absence (LOA).
  • Part-time students are expected to complete the programme within 24- 48 months. The maximum candidature is 48 months; excluding Leave of Absence (LOA).
• What are the continuation and graduation requirements? Graduate continuation requirements will follow NUS regular Master’s degree by coursework. To graduate with the degree of MSc HPP, candidates must complete all assignments and/or class participation requirements in all ten courses. There will be no marks of distinction awarded for the Master’s degree. The best-performing student will receive the Gold Medal for the examination. Students must meet minimum passing criteria for every assessment component within each module to be considered as having passed that module. Students who fail to meet the minimum passing criteria for any assessment component in the module shall re-take the failed module at the next programme intake. For continuation of candidature a student must obtain satisfactory progress during his/her candidature (Coursework), i.e., Student will be issued a warning for any semester in which his/her GPA falls below 3.00. If in the following semester, the student’s GPA again falls below 3.00 but is above 2.50, he/she will be placed on probation. Student’s candidature may be terminated and refused re-admission if he/she obtains:
  • GPA< 1.5 in the first semester of study; or
  • GPA< 2.50 for two consecutive semesters of study; or
  • GPA< 3.00 for three consecutive semesters of study
• Where can I find the list of courses? Please refer to the programme website under “Curriculum” tab for the full list of courses.
• How many courses am I allowed to take per semester? The maximum workload for full-time and part-time students is 24 Units (6 courses) and 12 Units (3 courses) respectively. The minimum workload for full-time and part-time students is 20 Units (5 courses) and 8 Units (2 courses) respectively.
• Am I allowed to change my choice of specialisation? Students are allowed to change their specialisation except in their last semester of study. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet all course requirements for their desired specialisation.