Why pursue graduate study in Geography?
The Department of Geography at NUS is ranked among the top ten Geography departments in the world, and the number one in Asia. Geography faculty and graduate students collaborate on a wide-range of research projects that advance knowledge and its application, have high impact and are internationally respected for their quality.
The Graduate Student programme in Geography aims to enable the Department to continue to be at the forefront of education and research internationally and to enhance the experiences and professional development of graduate students. Research in the Department is clustered into three groups: Politics, Economies And Space (PEAS); Social and Cultural Geographies (SCG); and Tropical Environmental Change (TEC).
Current Ph.D. and Masters students in the Department research a wide range of topics. But life in Geography at NUS is not all about work and rankings. Our graduate students enjoy a rich and varied social life in one of the most diverse, culturally, and advanced, technologically, cities in the world, at the centre of an extremely dynamic and exciting region. Our graduate students also receive support to enable their participation in international conferences and research networks.
Graduate Studies Coordinator's Message
Assoc Prof Tracey Skelton
Department Graduate Studies Coordinator
Programmes & Curriculum
About the Course
The MSc in Applied GIS is designed to reflect the cutting-edge technologies and latest developments in GIS and its applications with NUS. This innovative programme provides an exciting opportunity as a pathway to a PhD or further practical career in applied GIS or related disciplines.
We offer two tracks of training (Thesis Track and Project Track). The Thesis Track aims to attract students with interests in applied GIS research and developing their research skills. The Project Track aims to attract students who require practical GIS skills or an upgrade to their existing GIS expertise to progress their careers.
Course Structure
A candidate for the MSc in Applied GIS must complete 40 MCs before graduation, including a combination of core modules and elective modules, and a minimum CAP of 3.0.
Essential Modules
Thesis and Project Track
- GE5223 Introduction to Applied GIS
- GE5219 Spatial Programming
- GE5226 GIS Applications
- GE6211 Spatial Data Handling
Thesis Track
- GE5225 Thesis Planning and Implementation
- GE6225 GIS Research Thesis
Project Track
- GE6226 GIS Research Project
Elective Modules
- For the full list of elective modules, please see here.
For more information, please visit here.
About the Course
The Masters of Arts (Geography) programme is offered in both human and physical geography, with a particular focus on Asia and the tropical world.
Research in the Department is clustered into three groups:
Politics, Economies And Space (PEAS)
- Financialisation in Asia
- Global production networks
- Nature and society
- Politics of economic development
- Transnational corporations from Asia
- Technologies and innovations
Social and Cultural Geographies (SCG)
- Children and young people's geographies
- Cultural/heritage landscapes
- Development geographies
- Geographies of urban life
- Migration and transnationalism
- Tourism geographies
- Dynamic environmental processes, including climate change, biogeochemical cycling, land cover transformations, extreme hydrological events
- Environmental consequences of rapid economic development and high levels of consumption, including pollution
- Human-environment interactions, including hazards, natural resource exploitation, conservation
For the full list of modules, please see here.
For more information, please visit here.
About the Course
Graduate research students follow a semi-structured programme, which involves a taught component in the first two years. The programme allows a PhD student to acquire and develop to a high standard both subject-specific and transferable skills, enabling a student to access a broad range of future employment opportunities.
Candidates must have excellent performance in bachelor’s and master’s degrees in relevant subjects and be interested in pursuing research relating to the three groups: Politics, Economies And Space (PEAS); Social and Cultural Geographies (SCG); and Tropical Environmental Change (TEC). Research scholarships are available. Applicants are advised to consult with faculty members whose research interests most closely match their own.
Course Structure
To successfully graduate with a PhD, students are expected to achieve the following:
- Obtain a minimum Cumulative Average Point (CAP) of 3.50
- Where applicable, obtain a satisfactory grade in the graduate English course at advanced level
- Pass a PhD Qualifying Examination
- Pass an Oral Examination
- Submit and pass a Thesis
For more information, please visit here.
Job Ready
Our graduates are equipped with technical skills in GIS, and knowledge about sustainability, climate science, place and the environment. Many have gone on to become corporate leaders, politicians, university president, planners and researchers who have effected change in education, climate action, sustainability policy, and urban planning in Singapore.
Testimonials
Rachel Koh
Masters in Social Science (Geography)
My job involves working together with other WWF offices to co-develop and manage conservation programmes that support forest conservation in Southeast Asia. I also foster partnerships with key conservation staff in the WWF-Network and with other conservation NGO partners, government agencies and academic institutions to coordinate programmes and stay abreast of emerging conservation priorities and opportunities. The cross-disciplinary nature of the NUS Geography programme has equipped me with a deep understanding of the interactions between human and natural systems and has helped me to achieve good alignment in the strategies and goals of a conservation organisation - balancing Human and Nature needs.
Radhika Bhargava
PhD Student in Geography
My educational journey has taken me from India to the US where I got a BS at the University of Cincinnati and an MS at the University of San Francisco, then to Turks and Caicos Islands where I studied marine ecology, and finally to Singapore. My personal and professional goals led me to the NUS Department of Geography which offered me a terrific opportunity to not only widen my skill set but also grow in the company and under the mentorship of an extraordinary group.
I am currently a fourth-year PhD student but due to the pandemic, I have been away for almost two years now. A lot has happened - multiple fieldwork cancellations expired and renewed fieldwork permits, sudden cancellations of travel plans, evacuation from the field site, changes to fieldwork and research questions, expiring scholarships and grants, getting infected with covid-19, and losing near and dear ones to the disease all while staying in India, one of the countries that were affected the most due to the pandemic. Having overcome all these difficulties, today I stand confident and determined for the personal and professional goals with which I joined the department. Building resilience to face and plan for uncertain scenarios was key during this time. This was only possible because of the support, motivation, training, and guidance from everyone at NUS and my family. I am looking forward to the coming year of working hard on my thesis as ad NUS student and 2021 National Geographic Explorer.
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore (NUS) is committed to environmental sustainability.
This e-brochure is part of our sustained effort to reduce waste and foster a culture of care for the environment among the NUS and broader community.