Continuation and Graduation Requirements

The majority of the programmes of study in NUS uses the Grade Point Average (GPA) as a criterion for continuation and graduation. For these programmes, the University sets the minimum standards and specific programmes may implement stricter or additional requirements. Students should refer to their specific programme guidelines for their programmes' requirements.

Students who have fulfilled their degree requirements will be required to proceed with graduation and will not be allowed to stay on for an additional semester or more.

  1. GPA for Continuation and Graduation  
    2. Master’s degree by research PhD degree
    Continuation Requirements To continue in a Master’s programme, a student may not have:
    • GPA below 3.00 (but ≥2.50) for three consecutive semesters; or
    • GPA below 2.50 for two consecutive semesters.
    		 To continue in a PhD programme, a student may not have:
    • GPA below 3.50 (but ≥3.00) for three consecutive semesters; or
    • GPA below 3.00 for two consecutive semesters.
    Graduation Requirements Minimum GPA of 3.00 for all required courses. Pass the Master’s Thesis Final approved thesis must have been uploaded electronically Minimum GPA of 3.50 for all required courses. Pass the PhD qualifying examination, the PhD thesis and the oral examination Final approved thesis must have been uploaded electronically
    Examples of students with poor academic standing:
    First semester Second consecutive semester Third consecutive semester
    Master’s Student A GPA below 3.00 (but ≥2.50) Academic Warning GPA below 3.00 Academic Probation GPA below 3.00 Academic Dismissal
    Master’s Student B GPA below 2.50 Academic Probation GPA below 2.50 Academic Dismissal
    PhD Student C GPA below 3.50 (but ≥3.00) Academic Warning GPA below 3.50 Academic Probation GPA below 3.00 Academic Dismissal
    PhD Student D GPA below 3.00 Academic Probation GPA below 3.00 Academic Dismissal

    Such a student may appeal against the dismissal if there are extenuating circumstances. The appeal must be submitted to the relevant Faculty/Department within two calendar weeks of the last day of the release of each semester's examination results. Generally, a student is allowed to appeal only once per candidature. If the appeal is rejected, the student will not be readmitted, however, if it is approved, the student will be given one semester to achieve the minimum GPA required for continuation and graduation.

    Appeals that are submitted after the two calendar week period, due to extenuating reasons, will be considered on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. In such cases an administrative fee of S$250 will be charged for each successful appeal for readmission.

    In addition to poor GPA, a research student may also be issued a warning, placed on probation or issued a letter of termination for poor performance in the PhD qualifying examination (PhD students), research progress, research thesis, or other programme requirements.

  2. Research Progress Reports

    3. Students in research-based graduate programmes are required to submit a research progress report bi-annually.

  3. Graduate Programmes Residency Requirement

    4. The University has established a minimum residency requirement and maximum candidature for all NUS degrees, including joint and double degrees with foreign universities. Faculties can set their own stricter requirements. Residency, implies the following:

    1. Payment of fees;
    2. Satisfaction of all curricular requirements of the programme of study; and
    3. Satisfaction of other department requirements such as teaching assistance.

    Students in research-based graduate programmes must meet the minimum residency requirements as follows:

    Type of Programme Minimum Residency
    Master's degree by research 6 months of residence in NUS(i), (ii)
    Doctoral degree by research 18 months of residence in NUS(i), (ii)

    (i) Refers to all local NUS campuses, as well as NUS entities overseas (e.g., NUS Research Institute (Suzhou)).
    (ii) Includes research carried out in the establishments of approved NUS industry partners.

    The periods of study leave and overseas fieldwork do not count toward residency. In addition, students must be resident in Singapore during the semester in which they submit their thesis for examination, as well as throughout the tenure of the NUS research scholarship, if awarded, unless approval is granted otherwise.

  4. Graduate Programmes Maximum Candidature
    5. The maximum candidature for the various types of graduate programmes are:
    Type of Programme Maximum Candidature
    Master's degree by research 36 months*
    Doctoral degree by research 60 months*

    * The maximum candidature for research programmes is the same for full-time and part-time programmes

    Students are required to submit their thesis (approved by thesis advisor(s)) for examination by the maximum period of their candidature; failing which, their candidature will lapse automatically.

  1. GPA for Continuation and Graduation
    Graduate Diploma Master's Degree by Coursework
    Continuation Requirements   To continue in a Master's programme, a student may not have:
    • GPA below 3.00 (but ≥2.50) for three consecutive semesters; or
    • GPA below 2.50 for two consecutive semesters.
    Graduation Requirements  Minimum GPA of 2.50  Minimum GPA of 3.00

    Examples of students with poor academic standing:

       First semester  Second consecutive semester   Third consecutive semester 
    Master's Student A

    GPA below 3.00 (but ≥2.50)

    Academic Warning

    GPA below 3.00 

    Academic Probation

    GPA below 3.00 

    Academic Dismissal
    Master's Student B

    GPA below 2.50

    Academic Probation

     GPA below 2.50

    Academic Dismissal

    Such a student may appeal against the dismissal if there are extenuating circumstances. The appeal must be submitted to the relevant Faculty/Department within two calendar weeks of the last day of the release of each semester's examination results. Generally, a student is allowed to appeal only once per candidature. If the appeal is rejected, the student will not be readmitted, however, if it is approved, the student will be given one semester to achieve the minimum GPA required for continuation and graduation.

    Appeals that are submitted after the two calendar week period, due to extenuating reasons, will be considered on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed. In such cases an administrative fee of S$250 will be charged for each successful appeal for readmission.

  2. Workload for Graduate Diploma/Master’s Coursework Programmes

    The following are guidelines for Graduate Diploma and Master's coursework programmes:

     Type of Programmes  Workload per semester
     Part-Time  Full-Time
    Graduate Diploma/Master's degree by coursework  Maximum load: 12 units  Maximum load: 20-24* units
     Normal load: 8 units  Normal load: 16-20* units
     Minimum load: 4 units  Minimum load: 12 units
     

    *The maximum and normal load for full-time students is 20 units and 16 units respectively for majority of the programmes. Please refer to your Faculty/Department for guidelines on workload specific to your programme.

    Exceptions:

    • Programmes with specific semester-by-semester schedule;
    • Instances of certain essential courses not being available every semester;
    • The semester in which the students are undergoing internship/industrial attachment/clinical placement or doing their project/dissertation;
    • The final semester before completion of all graduation requirements for the degree; and
    • Other exceptions which may be approved by Vice Deans or their designate for individual students on a case-by-case basis.
  3. Graduate Programmes Residency Requirement

    The University has established a minimum residency requirement and maximum candidature for all NUS degrees, including joint and double degrees with foreign universities. Faculties can set their own stricter requirements. Residency, implies the following:

    1. Payment of fees;
    2. Satisfaction of all curricular requirements of the programme of study; and
    3. Satisfaction of other department requirements such as teaching assistance.

    Students in coursework-based graduate programmes must meet the minimum residency requirements as follows:

    Type of Programme
    		 Minimum Residency
    • Graduate Diplomas / Graduate Coursework Programmes
    • NUS portion of Double Degree Programmes with other universities
    • 100% of programme units must be NUS courses, which are defined as courses taught, co-taught, supervised or co-supervised by one or more NUS faculty members, regardless of location.
    • At least 20% of programme units must be earned in physical residence at NUS, which are defined as NUS campuses in Singapore and NUS entities overseas (e.g., NUS Research Institutes).
    • Graduate Diplomas / Graduate Coursework Programmes which are joint programmes with other universities
    • Graduate Diplomas / Graduate Coursework Programmes that have exchange agreements with other universities
    • At least 50% of programme units must be NUS courses, regardless of location.
    • At least 20% of programme units must be earned in physical residence at NUS.
  4. Graduate Programmes Normal Candidature

    The normal candidature period refers to the normal duration that students are expected to take to complete a programme of study.

    The range of normal candidature periods for the various types of graduate coursework degree programmes are indicated in the table below:

    Type of Programme  Normal Candidature
    Graduate Diploma  12 months 
    Master's degree by coursework  12 - 36 months* 

    *The maximum and normal load for full-time students is 20units and 16units respectively for majority of the programmes. Please refer to your Faculty/Department for guidelines on workload specific to your programme.

    Graduate students (both research and coursework) who apply for Leave of Absence (LOA) within the first two instructional weeks of the semester, may have the approved leave period excluded from the count against their normal and/or maximum candidature.

    Please refer to here for possible implications of tuition fees beyond normal candidature period.

  5. Graduate Programmes Maximum Candidature

    The maximum candidature period refers to the maximum duration that students can be given to complete a programme of study, excluding approved Leave of Absence (LOA) period. The range of maximum candidature periods for the various types of graduate programmes are indicated in the table below:

    Type of Programme Maximum Candidature
    Graduate Diploma 36 months
    Master's degree by coursework 24 – 48 months*

    *The maximum candidature for coursework programmes depends on, among other things, whether the programme is on a full-time or part-time basis.