The graduate programme at CNM is truly multidisciplinary. The breadth of the research interests of the academic faculty is really wide, including game design, user experience research, cultural studies, political communication, health communication, public relations, e-learning and big data analysis. The wide range of research interests and expertise in the department allowed me to propose a research project that does not fit neatly into the confines of a traditional discipline as I can tap on the expertise of faculty from vastly different backgrounds in the same department.

Aaron Ng Yi Kai, Class of 2021
PhD in Communications and New Media

My time in the PhD programme was both rigorous and profoundly rewarding. I gained robust research training across both qualitative and quantitative methods—skills that have become indispensable in my current work. I also benefited from valuable opportunities to publish academic papers and present at conferences, which played a crucial role in my professional and scholarly growth.

Annabiel Ngien, Class of 2025
PhD in Communications and New Media

NUS’s strong international standing and vibrant research culture provided a stimulating backdrop for this intellectual journey. While CNM’s diverse and open-minded academic community allowed me to engage in debates on pressing issues from an Asian positionality, the university’s broader strengths gave me the freedom to explore ideas beyond my own discipline. I attended courses and seminars in other areas of the arts and social sciences, which exposed me to different ways of thinking and approaching research. These experiences broadened my methodological range—combining qualitative approaches and historical archive studies—and deepened my capacity to connect theoretical insight with real-world issues.

Chen Changwen, Class of 2024
PhD, Communications and New Media

CNM is a vibrant, inclusive, and intellectually nurturing academic community. Our faculty members, hailing from top communication schools worldwide, bring a rich blend of cultural perspectives, disciplinary expertise, and research strengths. The department also offers generous research and travel grants, as well as ample opportunities for academic collaboration. With these resources and strong mentoring support, I have been empowered to explore topics that genuinely excite me and to pursue my research ideas with confidence and ambition.

Wu Qiaofei, Class of 2025
PhD in Communications and New Media

One thing that stood out to me throughout my time in the programme was how it brought people from different paths together. In our small seminar classes, often fewer than ten people, we came with different gears and goals: some focused on feminist theory, others on human-computer interaction. But we learned to move together by sharing perspectives and ideas along the way. And as someone juggling life as a full-time teaching assistant and part-time research student, I found those sessions invaluable, not just for the academic exchange but also for the camaraderie. I also grew to be more confident not just in my writing, but in presenting, teaching, and articulating ideas clearly.

Cindy Ho, Class of 2025
Master of Arts in Communications and New Media

My time in the CNM MA programme was both challenging and deeply enriching. Apart from the lively and insightful in-class discussions (especially during graduate research seminars), a key highlight was the dissertation component. This allowed me to conduct an independent study on a topic closely aligned with my research interests in social networks, digital labour, and technology adoption. The process of formulating a research question, engaging extensively with academic literature, and designing a methodologically rigorous study significantly sharpened my critical thinking skills (not to mention the perseverance required to work through multiple revisions of a 20,000-word thesis, and defend it in front of your professors and peers!).

Nadia Tay, Class of 2025
Master of Arts in Communications and New Media

Cultural Studies resists easy definitions and is best described as operating in the interstitial spaces between established fields. This fluidity allowed me to engage with peers whose work traversed a diverse range of disciplines and intersectional topics uniquely situated within an inter-Asian context. This epistemological richness sharpened our capacity to move between areas of study with dexterity and to engage critically beyond our primary fields. This was arguably the most rewarding part of the programme, in addition to learning from eminent Cultural Studies scholars from the region, whether they were our professors or advisors. The breadth of their research and deep expertise meant we were consistently challenged to expand our intellectual horizons. In my case, being enrolled in the joint PhD programme offered by NUS and King’s College London and learning from top academics was a defining highlight of my doctoral experience.

Baey Shi Chen, Class of 2024
PhD in Cultural Studies in Asia

The programme provided a rigorous foundation in critical cultural theory and philosophical reasoning, powerfully complemented by the unique opportunity to undertake a full year of fieldwork in Asia. This blend of deep theoretical training and immersive empirical experience enabled me to transform abstract concepts into grounded analysis, fostering significant intellectual and personal growth. It cultivated a deep sense of intellectual curiosity and emotional engagement as a scholar working within and from vernacular positions. Studying in the CSA programme has fundamentally transformed my scholarly approach. A key aspect of this was learning alongside a cohort working on vastly different topics from across Asia. The shared cultural studies framework provided a common language, allowing us to truly feel, understand, and intellectually engage with each other’s work despite our diverse specializations. This experience trained me in the invaluable skill of interdisciplinary dialogue. Beyond the formal training, this vibrant intellectual community—the lasting friendships, ongoing mentorship, and collaborative network—remains an invaluable asset that continues to support and enrich my professional trajectory.

Gao Xueying, Class of 2025
PhD in Cultural Studies in Asia