Cultural Studies in Asia

Cultural Studies in Asia is a field of teaching and research which challenges conventional disciplinary boundaries to rethink received knowledge on existing issues and to address emergent concerns thrown up by the rapid changes and impact on cultural practices, brought on by new technologies and the new phase of global capitalism. Adopting a multidisciplinary methodology, the Programme will provide teaching and research skills in the analysis of the flows and exchanges of popular cultural practices in contemporary Asia, across fluid and porous national and cultural boundaries.

The aims of this graduate programme are to promote specialist and expert study and research of contemporary cultural practices in Asia, and provide the necessary intellectual training that equips individuals for a variety of careers in the creative industry, in both the private and public sectors.

Curricular Requirements

Candidates admitted must pursue in the University a course of advanced study comprising no fewer than 8 modules and research approved by the Faculty under the supervision of one or more academic staff of the Faculty.

Three core modules are compulsory for all candidates, so as to provide a common grounding in the field. All elective modules will be drawn from existing relevant postgraduate modules on offer from the different departments in FASS. In addition, one special topic module will be conducted each academic year by a visiting scholar. For a complete listing of modules applicable to the programme, please click here.

For PhD students, at least 50% of the total MC requirements must be at level 6000. Up to 25% of the total MC requirements may be at level 4000. The remaining MCs must be at level 5000 or 6000.

Qualifying Examination

All PhD candidates are required to pass the Qualifying Examination (QE) within the first two years of their candidature. They must satisfy the conditions set by the Faculty before proceeding to the PhD QE which comprises:

• Comprehensive Examinations (CEs) as determined by the Programme;
• An oral defence of the PhD thesis propsoal (for which a 30- to 50-page thesis proposal is expected);
• Additional Programme requirements, where applicable.

Theses and Oral Examination

Other than completing the required coursework and Qualifying Examination, a candidate is also required to complete and submit a thesis for examination within the maximum period of his/her candidature after completing the course of advance study and research.

A thesis should not exceed 80,000 words (including footnotes but excluding appendices, bibliography, maps, charts, statistical tables, graphs, illustrations, etc.). All theses must be written in English.

Program Requirements

• a good Masters degree in a relevant discipline or an NUS Honours degree (at least a Second Class Upper division) or equivalent (e.g. a four-year Bachelors degre with an average grade above B) in a relevant discipline, subject to approval by the Faculty on a case-by-case basis;
• a deep interest in the Cultural Studies in Asia;
• an original research thesis proposal;
• good GRE scores (Graduate Record Examination). The Programme has not instituted any minimum requirements but the General Test has to be taken. Submission of the GRE is compulsory for all applicants, except for graduates from local universities NUS, NTU and SMU.

Please note that admission is highly competitive -- meeting the minimum criteria for admission does not imply automatic acceptance into any of the programmes hosted by the Department. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified for interviews (face-to-face or via telephone).

English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose native tongue and medium of university instruction is not in English should submit the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score as evidence of their proficiency in the English language. As such, only if the applicant meets both criteria, i.e. native tongue is not in English AND medium of university instruction is not in English, must they submit the TOEFL/IELTS. 

The following minimum TOEFL score is required:

• 85 for the internet-based test (with a minimum score of 22 for the writing section); or
• 580 for the paper-based test; or
• 237 for the computer-based test.

Alternatively, an IELTS result of 6.0 is required.

Goh Keng Swee Scholarship

Students who are currently at the 4th year are encouraged to apply for this scholarship.  This scholarship (valued at $40,000) will be awarded to the top PhD student who have completed four years of the PhD program and who intends to spend a fifth year in the PhD programme.  The Scholarship will be disbursed in the fifth year and it will pay for tuition fees for the 5th year and the balance will be disbursed in two equal lump sums of that academic year.

Kr Chou Scholarship

One scholarship (valued at $40,000) will be awarded concurrently with a University Research Scholarship (RS) to the most promising PhD students at admission annually.  The award will support the recipient in their first year of study, whilst the RS will provide support for the maximum of the next four years, thus bringing the total support to five years.  The KR Chou scholarship will be disbursed in the first year and it will pay for tuition fees and the balance will be disbursed in two equal lump sums of that academic year.  The RS will be disbursed to the recipient in the second year onwards provided they have achieved satisfactory progress in the course of studies.  

Tuition Grant

The substantial tuition subsidy from the Government of Singapore comes in the form of a tuition grant which is administered by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and offered to all admitted students. Students who apply and are approved for the tuition grants need only pay subsidised fees. While the tuition grant is not repayable, and Singapore citizens in receipt of it will not be required to undertake a service bond, the following accountability measures will apply:

All Singapore Permanent Residents and international students (except those already in receipt of a service bond from the PSC or the Ministry of Health) will be required to undertake a service bond under the terms of the tuition grant to work for a Singapore-registered company for three years upon completion of their degrees so as to discharge some of their obligations to the Singapore public for the high subsidy to their university education.

Candidates must spend a period of residence in Singapore for a minimum of 18 months for the PhD degree during their candidature. Period of study leave and overseas fieldwork do not count towards residency. Please note that candidates who are awarded NUS scholarships must reside in Singapore throughout the duration of the scholarship award.