Graduate Admissions

Admission criteria for our graduate programmes

Students may apply to the following programmes. Click on each programme below for more information about its curriculum and requirements, or view our admission requirements by clicking on the button below.

Admission Requirements

Our Graduate Programmes

English Language & Linguistics (EL)

The English Language and Linguistics programmes provide a range of courses that offer expertise at an advanced level in foundational areas of language study, including formal linguistics, sociolinguistics, discourse studies, psycholinguistics, and applied linguistics.

Literary Studies (EN)

The Literary Studies graduate programmes cover a variety of historical periods and interdisciplinary fields, with experienced faculty members fluent in British and American literatures, in South Asian, Southeast Asian and other emerging anglophone literatures, in film and visual culture, and in critical and cultural theory.

Theatre & Performance Studies (TPS)

Theatre and Performance Studies fosters and supports rigorous scholarly exchange and innovative theatrical experimentation located in Asia. Our programmes are reputed for their cutting-edge and quality scholarship in theatre and performance, concerned with the aesthetic expressions, cultural dynamics and social forces of a diverse and fast-changing contemporary Asia.

Admission Requirements

Masters by Coursework

The department offers three Masters by Coursework programmes:

MA (English Language and Linguistics)
MA (Literary Studies)
MA (Theatre and Performance Studies)

The admission requirements for these programmes are as follows:

An NUS Honours degree or equivalent (e.g. a four-year Bachelors degree with at least an average grade of B or equivalent in the subject or related field); or
A good Bachelors degree (at least an average of B or equivalent) in the subject or related field; or
In exceptional cases, other qualifications and experience subject to approval by the Board of Graduate Studies; and
TOEFL (85 for the internet test or 580 for the paper test or 237 for the computer test) or IELTS,(6.0) for students who have not studied in a university where the medium of instruction is English.

Masters by Research

For any of our Masters by Research programmes, the department requires:

Normally an NUS Honours degree or equivalent (e.g., a four-year Bachelors degree with at least an average grade of B) in a relevant discipline; or
In exceptional circumstances and case by case, a Bachelors degree in a relevant discipline with at least two years of relevant work experience, subject to approval by the Board of Graduate Studies; and
TOEFL (85 for the internet test or 580 for the paper test or 237 for the computer test) or IELTS,(6.0) for students who have not studied in a university where the medium of instruction is English.

PhD

For any of our PhD programmes, the department requires:

Normally a good Masters degree in a relevant discipline; or
In exceptional circumstances and case by case, an NUS Honours degree (at least Second Class Upper Division) or equivalent (e.g., a four-year Bachelors degree with an average grade above B) in a relevant discipline, subject to approval by the Faculty; and
TOEFL (85 for the internet test or 580 for the paper test or 237 for the computer test) or IELTS,(6.0) for students who have not studied in a university where the medium of instruction is English.

Additional Application Requirements

A writing sample related to the area of study (EL, EN or TS) to be submitted for all applications to its graduate programmes.
Masters by Research and PhD students are requested to provide a preliminary research proposal of 2-4 pages. Although this document should be as focused as possible, it is exploratory and admitted students are not required to work on the exact area proposed. However, the capacities to develop an interesting research question and approach are important indicators of a student’s ability and seriousness.

Admission Deadlines

Unless there are special circumstances, we prefer that students begin their studies in the first semester in August each year.

Masters by Research and PhD programmes:
Students hoping to begin in the first semester in August must have completed their application by 1 November of the previous year.
Masters by Coursework programmes:
Students planning to begin in August must have submitted their application between 1 November of the previous year and 15 January of the current year.

Application Info

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Need help?

Feel free to get in touch with us! Click on the relevant button below to email the department directly.

Graduate (Coursework)

Graduate (Research)