Admissions, Fees & Scholarships
Admission Requirements
- Undergraduate Bachelor's degree from a reputable college or university
- GRE or GMAT
- Cover letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Statement of Purpose
Your statement of purpose should clearly describe your purpose for getting a PhD at our programme and also list faculty members you are most interested in working with. - 1-3 writing samples (such as a published paper or and undergraduate report)
- 3 referee's reports (A link will be sent to your referees' email directly; Please ensure that you have entered the official organisational email address of your referees accurately.)
TOEFL/ IELTS
Applicants must show proficiency in the English language. Applicants, whose medium of instruction at the Bachelor's/Master's level was not in English, are to sit for either TOEFL or IELTS.
PhD Programme Fees and Tuition
Please refer to SMU PhD Programme Fees page for detailed and latest breakdown of fees. SMU scholarship provides waiver of the registration fee as well as full subsidised tuition for all students admitted into the programme from August 2016 intake.
SMU Scholarship
The scholarship provides waiver of the registration fee and full subsidised tuition for all the full-time students admitted into the programme. Subject to satisfactory progress1 scholars also receive a monthly living stipend. The maximum scholarship duration is 4 years for PhD programmes. Beyond the scholarship duration, students may receive continued support through research assistantship (RA) or teaching assistantship (TA).
1At the end of each year, the School will assess the student's academic performance and recommend whether to renew the scholarship.
Monthly Living Stipend
Citizenship | PhD | |
Before Qualifying Exam *wef 1 Jan 2024 | After Qualifying Exam *wef 1 Jan 2024 | |
Singapore Citizen | S$3,200 | S$3,700 |
Singapore Pemanent Resident | S$2,800 | S$3,300 |
Foreign Student | S$2,500 | S$3,000 |
From August 2015, Singapore Citizens will be provided with 17% CPF contribution
SMU PGR Scholars are not allowed to take up any other gainful employment during the period of their scholarship without prior approval from the University.
As part of their Post-Graduate by Research training, SMU PGR Scholars are expected to work, without extra remuneration, as part-time Research Assistant/Teaching Assistant for up to seven hours per week.
Conference Funding
Students are encouraged to attend academic conferences, and to present research papers at conferences. PhD students with papers accepted for presentation at reputable conferences may apply for funding up to a maximum of S$4,000.
Presidential Doctoral Fellowship
Presidential Doctoral Fellowships are awarded to outstanding PhD students. Students awarded the fellowship receive a higher monthly stipend for one year, and additional conference support of up to S$4,000 during the award period.
Postgraduate Insurance
For more information on Postgraduate Insurance, please click here.