There are two intakes each year, August and January.
Ph.D. candidates may be admitted as full-time or part-time students.
Research scholarships or financial top-ups (for selected industrial projects only) are available to outstanding candidates.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Pursue research work under the supervision of an appointed staff member of the school and submit a thesis based on the research work done for examination.
Passing examinations in 6 courses (equivalent to 18 AUs)
Attend and pass any other additional courses required by the School/University
Qualifying Examination exercise
Passing an oral examination relating to thesis
Applicants may visit the Research Centres to view the faculty members affiliated to the respective research centre and their research interest.
Alternatively, applicant may visit the Faculty directory to view the faculty information.
The areas for graduate studies, by research include:
3D Packaging, System on Package and Printable Electronics
Autonomous Robots and Intelligent Systems
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Big Data and Video Analytic
Biomedical Devices
Biophotonics/Nanophotonics
Bio-inspired Integrated Circuits and Systems
Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing
Control Systems Technologies
Clean and Renewable Energy Systems
Cyber-security
Compound Semiconductor/ Opto Electronic Devices
Display and Solid-State Lightings
Digital Media Processing and Applications
Efficient Energy Conversion and Utilisation
Energy Storage Systems
Energy Harvesting and Green Integrated Circuits and Systems
High-Speed Signal Integrity Electromagnetic Compatibility and Reliability
Intelligent Computing and Information Security
Intelligent Energy Distribution
Internet of Things
Integrated Photonics
Lightwave Communication and Photonics
Machine Vision and Computational Intelligence
Mm-wave and Terahertz CMOS IC
MEMS, Smart Sensors and Advanced Sensing
Microwave Circuits, Radar, Antennas and Propagation
Modulation, Coding and Signal Processing
Pervasive Media and Interface
Power Systems and Power Electronics
Process Instrumentation
Secure Communication and Networks
Space Technology
Silicon/Carbon/Oxide Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology
Specialty Optical Fibres
Smart Railway Systems
Vehicular Communication Networks
Wireless Networks, Positioning and RFID
Applicants from Local Universities
Applicants must have a relevant Bachelor’s Degree with at least 2nd class Honours upper or Honours (Distinction)* and the ability to pursue research in the candidate’s proposed field of advanced study.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are not required for graduates of the Autonomous Universities in Singapore.
*All NTU first degree students graduating from January 2018 onwards will be awarded degrees according to the new classification nomenclature, regardless of their intake year.
Applicants from Overseas Universities (based on the first degree)
Applicants from overseas universities must have a relevant Bachelor’s degree with at least 2nd class Honours upper or equivalent.
All applicants from overseas universities must provide GRE. Applicants from India may use Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) in place of GRE.
For applicants whose native language is not English, a good TOEFL score is required. IELTS may be submitted in place of TOEFL.
GRE requirements (Test date must be within 5 years or less from the date of application):
Minimum GRE Verbal Reasoning (V) and Quantitative Reasoning (Q) scores must be at least 149 for each category with a total GRE scores (V + Q) equivalent to or more than 319. In addition, GRE Analytical writing score (AW) must be at least 3.5.
GATE requirements (Test date must be within 3 years or less from the date of application):
Minimum GATE score must be at least 90th percentile.
TOEFL requirements (Test dates must be within 2 years or less from the date of application):
Minimum TOEFL score must be at least:
600 for paper-based test
250 for computer-based test
100 for internet-based test
IELTS requirements (Test date must be within 2 years or less from the date of application):
Minimum IELTS score must be at least 6.5.
Waiver of TOEFL/IELTS requirements for applicants from overseas universities:
The TOEFL/IELTS requirement may be waived if the applicant can submit documentation that English was used as the medium of instruction during tertiary studies. The documentary proof is usually in a form of a letter or certificate.
Note: It is mandatory for successful candidate to complete online verification exercise after he/she receives the offer of admission. Click here for more information.
Interested candidates may click here for information on application process.
Candidates enrolled for a graduate programme by research pursue an independent but supervised research in an approved topic based on which a thesis must be submitted for examination.
Candidates are also required to attend classes and pass the examinations to earn at least 18 Academic Units (for e.g. six 3-AU courses) in Ph.D. study. Candidates have to undergo a Qualifying Examination/Confirmation Exercise within a period stipulated by the school.
Upon the completion of the research, the candidate is required to submit a thesis on his/her research for examination. For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, there is also an oral examination on the subject matter on his/her thesis and other related subjects.
The minimum and maximum periods of candidature for both full-time and part-time:
| Full Time | Part-Time | ||
| Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum |
Ph.D. | 2 years | 5 years | 3 years | 5 years |