Overview
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme aims to develop practice-oriented thought leaders
for the industry or society. It caters to those who wish to conduct applied research
work that addresses issues and challenges pertinent to society, industry or professional
practice. While students may choose to specialise in a specific discipline, researches
that adopt an interdisciplinary approach are encouraged in view of the complexity
of many contemporary issues and challenges.
Unique Features of the Programme
- Focus on applied research topics that are of relevance to contemporary society, industry and professional practice.
- Encourage a multidisciplinary approach.
- The Liem Yok Bien Scholarship and the NFTT (Nurturing Future, Transform Talent) Scholarship are available exclusively for the July 2025 intake.
Career Prospects
As the PhD programme focuses on the applied research addressing issues and challenges pertinent to society, industry or professional practice, apart from joining institutes of higher learning as faculty, graduates from this programme may also join applied research institutions, government agencies or private sectors organisations such as research firms and consultancy firms.
Programme Structure
Students are expected to complete 40 cu of research methodology courses and discipline-specific courses before passing the Qualifying Examination. Upon successfully completing the Qualifying Examination, the student will embark on the completion of the Dissertation. The final stage of the PhD study will be the examination of the dissertation and the Oral Defence.
For more information on the course requirement and programme structure, please refer to the diagram below:
Curriculum
Admission Requirements
Refer to general admission criteria for graduate programmes.
In addition, applicants will need to meet these minimum requirements:
- A master's degree from a reputable university.
Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be considered on a case-by-case discretionary basis. Due to the applied nature of this PhD, alternative criteria such as portfolio, patents, industry and professional achievements may be referenced to support admission.
While it is not compulsory to do so, applicants are encouraged to connect with a potential supervisor prior to applying. You may browse through the Faculty Listing to identity suitable faculty members who may complement your proposed area of research.
As part of the application process, interested applicants are also required to submit the following:
- A latest CV;
- A personal statement stating your motivation for pursuing a PhD, reason for selecting SUSS and your post PhD career aspirations;
- Two academic reference letters. Referees are required to submit the reference letters directly to the Graduate Studies department at [email protected];
- A proposed topic or area of research stating the following:
- Proposed topic or area of research;
- Identified potential supervisor (if any);
- Motivation for the proposed topic or area of research, and
- Relevance of the proposed topic or area of research in addressing contemporary issues/challenges in the profession/industry/society.
You may adopt the research proposal template, or design your own research proposal template for submission.