Psychology_PhD

Doctor of Philosophy | Psychology

PhD

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Programme Type

Full-time, Part-time

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Integrative Research Spanning Multi-domains

Psychology offers full-time and part-time M.A. and Ph.D. by research. Students in the programme will be situated in an opportune position to explore and choose from a wide array of research areas that the school endeavors in. From infant to elderly populations, from qualitative to neurobiological techniques, we offer extensive research prospects in social, developmental, clinical, cultural and bio-psychological fields. Students will work alongside experts in their respective fields; where their academic journey will be well-supported by dedicated faculty members and research staff.

Psychology features specializations in many topics and boasts integrative research spanning across multiple research domains. For instance, research projects have been conducted by utilizing methods in neuropsychology to investigate consumer behavior and implementing mobile applications for data collection in the elderly population – juxtaposing techniques across different branches of Psychology to investigate unexplored new territories. We offer state of the art amenities such as eye-tracking and neuroimaging facilities, as well as a range of laboratories to meet different research needs (e.g., child-friendly laboratory). To extend the applicability of our research to the community, the program works closely with national stakeholders in Singapore, including governmental bodies such as the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social and Family Development, public hospitals and schools. Our faculty members are held in high regard in the global research community and have active collaboration with international partners – research institutes and universities from around the world, including University of Cambridge, the University of Trento, New York University, Columbia University, RIKEN Brain Science Institute and many more.

Students are strongly encouraged to engage in discourse with the international community during conferences and graduate exchange programmes. Such international exposure allow students to learn from some of the brightest minds, foster global networks, and gain insight into the latest developments in the students’ specialized field of research. To prepare students for a career in academia, we provide holistic training in research and other essential skills including teaching, grant-preparation and mentoring. We offer exciting opportunities to give students a head-start in a career in Psychology research in their respective fields of specialization. 

The M.A. and Ph.D. programmes in Psychology are MOE-subsidised. Please visit our website for more details.

 

Admission Requirements

Admission Criteria

  • A good first degree in Psychology from a highly ranked university, with at least Second Upper Class Honors. ​If your degree is not in psychology, you will also have to sit for the GRE (General) test.
  • GRE (General) test is required and the score report should be from an official test centre and the test date of the report is within 5 years from date of the application. Waiver of GRE test requirement is not allowed and GMAT or GATE scores are not acceptable. However GRE is not required from NTU, NUS or SMU graduates who graduated from Psychology or majored in Psychology.​
  • A good language proficiency score: IELTS score at least 7.0 (overall); TOEFL score at least 105 – Internet Based Test Score or 580 – Paper Based Test Score. IELTS is preferred.

    Applicants from Singapore universities (with at least 3 years of study) where English is the medium of instruction are exempted from IELTS/TOEFL.
  • It is strongly recommended for applicants to contact one of the faculty members whom they wish to work with. Applicants can discuss their proposal with the faculty member and ask for suggestions and feedback prior to submitting an application.​ 

IMPORTANT

  • Substitute tests due to COVID-19 safe distancing measures could be submitted. The University recognizes the TOEFL ITP PLUS (offered by ETS) and IELTS Indicator (offered by British Council). 
  • The GRE General Test at home option offered by ETS is acceptable. 

Please refer to our quick application guide here.

Application Period & Other Information

Candidates may start applying online from 1 October for consideration to the following August intake. The application deadline is on 15th December for the Nanyang Research Scholarship (RSS) (same portal for self-financing students), and the Nanyang President's Graduate Scholarship (NPGS)​. All applications received after 15 December will be processed for the next intake instead.  

Applications for the January intake will begin on 01 June and end on 15 July prior to the admission period. The application portal closes on 15 July for the Nanyang Research Scholarship (same portal for self-financing students).

Candidates who would like to be considered for Scholarship should meet the stipulated deadlines. Candidates applying for the Nanyang President's Graduate Scholarship (NPGS), need not submit an additional application for the Nanyang Research Scholarship (RSS). However, RSS candidates will not be considered for the NPGS unless application has been made directly for the NPGS.

All graduate research applicants will have to pay an application fee of S$50.00. Only the first choice of the application will be processed. Candidates who wish to be considered to more than one subject area will have to make separate applications. 

Incomplete applications will not be processed by the School. Please ensure that your referee is aware of your application and is prepared to make the referee report submission as soon as he/she receives the automated official email from NTU. Applications will only be considered upon the receipt of the referee reports.

Applicants have to ensure the accuracy of all data before submission is made as no amendments are permitted once the application is submitted.

Admission depends on the quality of the application as a whole, including the academic record, relevant experience, and research proposal​​. The research proposal is the essence of the application. Applicants need to design their proposal with clarity and sound judgement on the scope of the research in the subject area that they want to undertake. Please use this template to input your research details. 

Decisions on admission to the University are made on academic merit, the availability of an appropriate supervisor and/or availability of scholarship. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed to ascertain their holistic suitability for graduate studies. The School considers every application carefully before making recommendations for admission. Successful candidates will receive the offer from the University’s Office of Admissions. Candidates shortlisted for admission will be notified of the outcome anytime between March to May for the August intake and November to December for the January intake (if applicable).

​The Research Programmes in the School of Social Sciences are MOE-subsidised​.

For more information, please visit the Research Programmes Admission Guide page.

Enquiries can be sent to ac-sss-ge@ntu.edu.sg. 

Programme Structure & Duration

Typically, Ph.D. students must complete the coursework requirement within the first three semesters. They should maintain a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.50. Students on scholarship might have additional requirements to fulfil such as teaching and service requirements. Students are encouraged to work closely with their supervisor and the graduate co-ordinator to ensure timely completion of all the requirements. 

Ph.D. students will have to submit and defend their thesis proposal as part of the Qualifying Examination (also known as the Confirmation Exercise). The Qualifying Examination should be completed within 18 months from start of candidature. The final completed thesis will be examined by a panel of internal and external examiners, after which, an oral examination (viva) will be held. 

Thesis submission is made at the end of four years which dovetails with the expiry of the scholarship. Candidature expires at the end of five years.

Curriculum

Ph.D. students enrolled in the Psychology programme must complete and pass the following:  

  • Six core and elective courses including HP7001 Advanced Research Design and Data Analysis, HP7002 Research Seminar and HX7001 Research Methods for Social Sciences

  • Other Degree Requirements    

  • Qualifying Examination​ 

  • Thesis 

  • Oral Examination