NUS Bulletin AY2023/24

Faculty of Law

Research Programmes

Close and regular supervision will be provided by members of the academic staff of the Faculty of Law, whose research interests vary across many fields of law. In particular, the Faculty’s research strength lies in the areas of international and commercial law.

The Faculty offers the following research degree:

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

As Asia’s Global Law School, the Faculty of Law is committed to fostering excellence in research by building a strong core of doctoral research students.

The NUS PhD comprises: (i) coursework (up to 6 graduate courses, taken in the first year), followed by (ii) a thesis of not more than 80,000 words. Successful applicants will commence their candidature as probationary PhD students and will work under the supervision of a Faculty member at NUS Law. Within 12-18 months of their candidature, probationary PhD students must orally defend an outline of the proposed PhD thesis at the Doctoral Candidate Qualifying Examination. Candidates who succeed at the DCQE will have their PhD candidature confirmed and may proceed to write the thesis.

The PhD is awarded on the submission of a thesis of not more than 80,000 words that is a substantial piece of original research in a particular field of law, or a critical interpretation worthy of publication, written under supervision by a Faculty academic member.

Most PhD candidates complete their thesis within three to four years. The minimum period of candidature is two years, and the maximum five years.

For more information, please visit: http://law.nus.edu.sg/admissions/research_prog.html