Program Overview

Graduate Coursework Programme

The Graduate Coursework Programme is designed to equip students with advanced training in Sociological and Anthropological theories and methods. The programme addresses the critical challenges and opportunities brought by globalization, especially in the context of Asia.

Master of Arts (Global Sociology and Anthropology)

Programme Overview

The Master of Arts (Global Sociology and Anthropology) is a graduate coursework-based programme offered by the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at NUS. The programme is tailored for both recent graduates and working professionals who want to grow their careers in areas like policy-making, business planning, research, government, media, or human resources, and more.

Programme Details

• The programme offers three specialized tracks:
  • Global Asia
  • Population, Aging, and Health
  • Culture, Society, and Economy
• The programme is designed to provide interdisciplinary skills in information gathering, critical analysis, and policy evaluation, empowering students to take on leadership roles in diverse sectors across the globe.
• The programme builds on the Department’s longstanding commitment to applied, practice-oriented graduate education and builds on its legacy of successful professional training initiatives from the late 1990s to early 2000s.

Admission Requirements

• An NUS Honours degree (Merit/Second Class and above) or equivalent (e.g., a four-year Bachelor’s degree with at least an average grade of B or equivalent) in the subject or related field; or
• A good Bachelor’s degree (at least an average grade of B or equivalent) in the subject or related field and successful completion of a placement test; or
• A Bachelor’s degree with a relevant Graduate Diploma with a minimum GPA of 3.00; or
• A Bachelor’s degree with a relevant Graduate Certificate with a minimum GPA of 3.00; or
• Other qualifications and experience subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Division, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
• Applicants who do not have a degree from an English-speaking university must present evidence that they have attained the basic level of English language proficiency either with TOEFL score or IELTS score report submitted during application.

MA Programme Fee Structure

• Full programme fee: $45,000 (without 9% GST)
• Full programme fee: $49,050 (inclusive of 9% GST)
• Programme Fee – Payment Schedule for AY2026/2027 Intake (Inclusive of 9% GST)
  • Candidature | Acceptance fee | First semester | Second semester | Third semester | Fourth semester
    • Full-time | $5,450 | $19,075 | $24,525 | N.A. | N.A.
    • Part-time | $5,450 | $6,812.50 | $12,262.50 | $12,262.50 | $12,262.50
• For AY2026/2027 intake, successful applicants from the following categories will be eligible to enjoy one of the fee rebates offset from the programme fee:
  • Category | Fee rebate
    • Singapore Citizen / Singapore Permanent Resident (NUS alumni and non-alumni) | 40%
    • International (NUS alumni only) | 20%
    • International (non-NUS alumni only) | 5%

MA Application Information

• Intake | Application start date | Application closing date
  • August 2026 | 1 November 2025 | 31 January 2026
• All applicants are required to apply online via the NUS Graduate Admission System.
• A non-refundable application fee of S$54.50 (inclusive of GST) is payable for each application.

MA Programme Curriculum

• Graduation Requirements: 40 units
• Degree Programme: Self-funded, Full-time / Part-time
• Two Major Curricular Components: 5 core + 5 elective courses
• Core Curriculum:
  • GSA5101 Graduate Research Methods (Coursework)
  • GSA5102 Sociological Theory (Coursework)
  • GSA5103 Anthropological Theory (Coursework)
  • GSA5104 Quantitative Data Analysis (Coursework)
  • GSA5105 Qualitative Data Analysis (Coursework)
• Three Specialisation Tracks:
  • Global Asia
  • Population, Aging, and Health
  • Culture, Society, and Economy

FAQs

General

• What is the candidature period for the programme?
  • The candidature period for full-time students is from 1 year to 3 years. The candidature period for part-time students is from 2 years to 4 years.
• Is the programme available full-time, part-time, or both?
  • Both full-time and part-time options are available for the programme.
• How many intakes are there in a year?
  • There is one intake per year starting August.

Application

• What is the application period for the programme?
  • Application for August 2026 intake opens from 1 November 2025 to 31 January 2026.
• Will there be an interview for applicants?
  • Applicants who are shortlisted for admission will be contacted for an interview.
• When will I be informed of the application outcome?
  • All applicants will be informed of the application outcome by 31 May 2026 (for August 2026 intake).

Course Registration

• Where can I find the information on registration of courses?
  • Students will be required to register for courses via the CourseReg@EduRec system in accordance with the university’s course registration procedure and schedule.
• What is the maximum number of courses I can register as a full-time / part-time student?
  • A full-time student may read up to 5 courses per regular semester, whereas a part-time student may read up to 3 courses per regular semester.

Others

• What are the continuation and graduation requirements?
  • The programme uses the Grade Point Average (GPA) as a criterion for continuation and graduation.
  • To continue in the programme, a student must not have:
    • GPA below 3.00 (but ≥2.50) for three consecutive semesters; or
    • GPA below 2.50 for two consecutive semesters.
  • To fulfil the graduation requirements, a student must:
    • read and pass 5 core courses (20 units) and 5 elective courses (20 units);
    • obtained a minimum GPA of 3.00.