Graduate Programme in Planetary Health and Wellbeing

Introduction

Rethinking Health on a Changing Planet

The Graduate Programme in Planetary Health and Wellbeing emphasises the interconnection between human well-being and the state of the earth’s ecosystem. It is an interdisciplinary programme that seeks to inculcate in students, a holistic and well-rounded approach to understanding health and healthcare.

Students can choose from a range of courses offered by the Department of Geography and other partner departments and schools (e.g. Centre for Sustainable Medicine and Saw Swee Hock School of Public Policy amongst others). The stackable programme offers maximum flexibility and choice for students who can curate their learning by choosing from a wide range of core and elective courses. Students can also choose to build up towards a Master by first completing a Graduate Certificate and/or Graduate Diploma.

Whether Master, Diploma or Certificate, the Planetary Health and Wellbeing programme will provide individuals with the knowledge and skills to better understand and predict wider global, national and regional trends in health and healthcare within the wider context of global environmental change.

Programme Objectives

The Planetary Health and Wellbeing graduate programme provides students with:

Interdisciplinary training in planetary health, developing an understanding of trends and interventions at the interface between health, wellbeing and the environment.
Robust conceptual frameworks and analytical skills to examine relationships between health and wellbeing in the context of pressing environmental, socio-cultural, political and economic challenges, and to make informed judgements about policies and their implementation.
An understanding of the interconnected physical, ecological, social, cultural, political-economic and institutional drivers of health and wellbeing, to inform effective action.
Multi-scalar and cross-sectoral insights into key strategies, policies and practices for health and healthcare systems across diverse geographical contexts.
The skills to develop sustainable and future-ready health policies and practices that support resilient lives and planetary flourishing.

Programme Options

We provide a flexible range of programme options, including the possibility to stack qualifications towards the Master of Social Sciences in Planetary Health and Wellbeing.

Students may pursue the Graduate Certificate (12 Units), Graduate Diploma (24 Units), or full MSocSci (40 Units). The stackable pathway allows students to begin with the Graduate Certificate, complete a further 12 Units to attain the Graduate Diploma, and subsequently complete the remaining requirements for the MSocSci.

The MSocSci also offers two pathways: a coursework pathway, or a pathway incorporating an 8-Unit capstone research project.

Explore the tabs above to learn more about the structure and requirements of each programme.

Market Relevance

Planetary health challenges increasingly cut across traditional boundaries between health, environment, policy, planning and society, creating demand for professionals who can understand these connections and respond to them holistically.

The programme develops interdisciplinary knowledge and skills relevant across the public, private and non-profit sectors, including government and international agencies, health and social services, urban planning, environmental health, community organisations, banking and private equity, property development, insurance and data analytics. Potential areas of work include environmental health consultancy, environmental risk management, regional health advisory, agri-food strategy and nature-based solutions.

By approaching health and wellbeing through a geographical and planetary lens, the programme equips graduates to understand how health challenges are shaped by environmental and more-than-human processes alongside social, cultural and economic conditions. This provides a distinctive complement to more conventionally biomedical approaches to health and healthcare.

How to Apply

The Planetary Health and Wellbeing programme is planned for its first intake in AY2027/2028, Semester 1.

Applications to the MSocSci and Graduate Diploma programme:
Application Management Portal (nus.edu.sg)

Please make sure that you select the programme that you wish to be considered for (MSocSci or Graduate Diploma) and check and review your uploaded materials carefully before submitting your application.

Please ensure that you have also uploaded the following:

Official or up-to-date academic transcripts,
Degree scroll (if applicable),
TOEFL/IELTS result (if any - for international applicants); &
Only one reference is required for this programme. The referee could be from a university advisor (in the case of recent graduates) or an employer (in the case of those who graduated from university several years ago). Referee will upload the report, having been assigned by the applicant. Applicants to refer to the online user guide for applicants (found in application system) for instructions on how to add a referee.

Applications to the Graduate Certificate programme:
Online Application Portal (nus.edu.sg)

Please ensure that you upload the following:

Official or up-to-date academic transcripts;
Degree scroll (if applicable); &
TOEFL/IELTS result (if any - for international applicants).

Master of Social Science

Master of Social Science in Planetary Health and Wellbeing

The Master of Social Science in Planetary Health and Wellbeing (MSocSci PHW) is an interdisciplinary coursework programme based in the Department of Geography at NUS.

Students may complete the programme through either a coursework pathway or a pathway incorporating an independent capstone research project. The full programme comprises 40 Units and can be completed in one year full-time or two years part-time.

Who Should Apply?

The programme is suitable for those interested in understanding and addressing the connections between health, wellbeing and the environment.

It will be particularly relevant to those currently working in or aspiring to work in health-related government and international agencies, urban planning, community organisations, and sectors such as banking, property and insurance. It is also suitable for students seeking to develop interdisciplinary, analytical and problem-solving skills relevant to contemporary health and wellbeing challenges.

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission must have obtained either:

An Honours degree (Merit/Second Class and above) or international equivalent in the subject or related fields; or
A good Bachelor’s degree (at least an average grade of B or equivalent) in the subject or related fields; or
A Bachelor’s degree with a relevant Graduate Diploma with a minimum GPA of 3.00; or
A Bachelor’s degree with a relevant Graduate Certificate with a minimum GPA of 3.00.

Candidates with other qualifications and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Division, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Applicants who do not have a degree from an English-speaking university must provide evidence of English proficiency with a TOEFL score of 100 (internet-based test) or IELTS score of 7.0. Exceptions may be considered on an individual basis.

Duration

Programme Structure

Students must complete 40 Units through one of two pathways:

1. Capstone Research Project

4 core courses (16 Units)
4 elective courses (16 Units)
Capstone Research Project (8 Units)

2. Coursework

4 core courses (16 Units)
6 elective courses (24 Units)

Core courses

PHW5101
PHW5102
PHW5103 or PHW5104
SM5003 or SM5006

Students may select electives from PHW, CCS and GE-coded Geography courses, as well as approved courses offered outside Geography. Students taking the capstone pathway may take up to two non-Geography electives, while students taking the coursework pathway may take up to three.

Assessment

Assessment will vary by course and may include class presentations, mid-semester tests, seminar participation, projects and written assignments. Students taking the capstone pathway will also complete an independent research project.

Where the required minimum grade for a course is not met, and the maximum candidature has not been exceeded, a student may repeat the same course once. A student may repeat up to one-third of the curricular requirements, capped at three courses.

Graduation Requirements

Fees and Payment

Tuition fees for AY2027/2028 (includes 9% GST)
The tuition fee for AY2027/2028 is S$50,500 (including GST)¹. Candidates shall pay a S$10,900 non-refundable acceptance fee upon acceptance of the offer of admission, which will subsequently be used to offset part of the tuition fee.

Payment should be made in equal instalments over 2 regular semesters for full-time students and 4 regular semesters for part-time students.

There will be a 40% tuition fee rebate if the student is a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident (regardless if they are NUS alumni² or non-alumni). There will also be a 20% tuition fee rebate for international students if they are NUS alumni². If there is a company sponsorship, then full fees apply. The rebate only applies if the student is self-financed.

Fees are programme-based: the full programme tuition remains payable even if completed ahead of the normal schedule (assuming the required 40 units are not exceeded).

	Full-Time Students	Part-Time Students
Acceptance Fee (upon acceptance of offer)	$10,900	$10,900
Year 1 – Semester 1	$14,350	$1,725
Year 1 – Semester 2	$25,250	$12,625
Year 2 – Semester 1	Not Applicable	$12,625
Year 2 – Semester 2	Not Applicable	$12,625
Total Tuition Fee	$50,500	$50,500

¹ The University reserves all rights to review fees as necessary and adjust accordingly without prior notice. GST is charged at a prevailing rate of 9% from year 2024.
² “NUS alumni” refers to those who obtained from NUS, a full qualification in Bachelor, Graduate Diploma, Master’s or PhD.

In addition, candidates are also required to pay other miscellaneous student fees as decided by the University.

Applicable for cohort AY2027/2028, AY2028/2029 & AY2029/2030
Only for self-financed MSc programmes (not for stackable programme). There is a 40% tuition fee rebate if the student is a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident (regardless if they are NUS alumni or non-alumni). There will also be a 20% tuition fee rebate for international students if they are NUS alumni. If there is a company sponsorship, then full fees apply. The rebate only applies if the student is self-financed.

Graduate Diploma

Graduate Diploma in Planetary Health and Wellbeing

The Graduate Diploma in Planetary Health and Wellbeing is an interdisciplinary coursework programme based in the Department of Geography at NUS.

Students complete 24 Units, with the flexibility to select from PHW, Geography and approved non-Geography courses.

Who Should Apply?

The programme is suitable for those interested in understanding and addressing the connections between health, wellbeing and the environment.

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission must have obtained either:

An Honours degree (Merit/Second Class and above) or international equivalent in the subject or related fields; or
A good Bachelor’s degree (at least an average grade of B or equivalent) in the subject or related fields; or
A Bachelor’s degree with a relevant Graduate Diploma with a minimum GPA of 3.00; or
A Bachelor’s degree with a relevant Graduate Certificate with a minimum GPA of 3.00.

Candidates with other qualifications and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Division, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Duration

Programme Structure

Students must complete 24 Units (6 courses).

Students must complete:

PHW5101 and at least 2 other core courses
The additional core courses must include 1 SM-coded core course
At least 2 elective courses

Students can therefore complete either:
a. 3 core courses + 3 electives
b. 4 core courses + 2 electives

Electives may be selected from PHW, Geography and approved non-Geography courses.

Core Courses

PHW5101 Planetary Health
PHW5102 Methodologies for Planetary Health
PHW5103 Policy and Planning for a Healthy Planet
PHW5104 Global Health Futures: Eco-Health and Planetary Wellbeing

Elective Courses

PHW5201 Feeding the Planet: Regimes, Landscapes and Bodies
PHW5202 Wellbeing and Place
PHW5203 Restoring Ecosystem Processes and Functions
PHW5204 Digitalisation, Decarbonisation & Societal Health

Students may also choose from approved Geography and non-Geography electives across NUS.

Assessment

Graduation Requirements

Fees and Payment

Graduate Cert

Graduate Certificate in Planetary Health and Wellbeing

The Graduate Certificate in Planetary Health and Wellbeing provides a shorter pathway for students seeking foundational interdisciplinary knowledge of the connections between health, wellbeing and the environment.

The programme comprises 12 Units, and can also form the first stage of the stackable pathway towards the Graduate Diploma and MSocSci in Planetary Health and Wellbeing.

Who Should Apply?

The Graduate Certificate is suitable for students and working professionals who wish to develop foundational knowledge of planetary health without initially committing to the full Graduate Diploma or MSocSci.

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission must have obtained either:

An Honours degree (Merit/Second Class and above) or international equivalent in the subject or related fields; or
A good Bachelor’s degree (at least an average grade of B or equivalent) in the subject or related fields; or
A Bachelor’s degree with a relevant Graduate Diploma with a minimum GPA of 3.00; or
A Bachelor’s degree with a relevant Graduate Certificate with a minimum GPA of 3.00.

Candidates with other qualifications and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Division, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Duration

Programme Structure

Students must complete 12 Units (3 courses).

Students must complete:

PHW5101
At least 1 other core course
At least 1 elective course

Students can therefore complete either:
a. 2 core courses + 1 elective
b. 3 core courses

Electives may be selected from PHW, Geography and approved non-Geography courses.

Core Courses

PHW5101 Planetary Health
PHW5102 Methodologies for Planetary Health
PHW5103 Policy and Planning for a Healthy Planet
PHW5104 Global Health Futures: Eco-Health and Planetary Wellbeing

Elective Courses

PHW5201 Feeding the Planet: Regimes, Landscapes and Bodies
PHW5202 Wellbeing and Place
PHW5203 Restoring Ecosystem Processes and Functions
PHW5204 Digitalisation, Decarbonisation & Societal Health

Students may also choose from approved Geography and non-Geography electives across NUS.

Assessment

Graduation Requirements

Fees and Payment

Stackable MSocSci

Stackable Master of Social Science

The Master of Social Sciences in Planetary Health and Wellbeing can also be obtained in a stackable manner, allowing students to build towards the full qualification in stages. Please refer to the relevant programme link on this website for details of the structure, admission and fees of each programme. Ultimately, the MSocSci requires completion of 40 course Units.

Graduate Certificate (12 Units) + Graduate Diploma ( + 12 Units) + Master of Social Science (+16 Units) = 40 Units

For the final MSocSci stage, students ultimately complete 40 Units, either through the coursework pathway or the pathway incorporating an 8-Unit capstone research project.

Fees and Payment

For AY2027/2028
The total tuition fee for the stackable MSocSci totals the fee for the MSocSci programme, which for the AY2027/2028 intake is S$50,500 (including GST). However, you will only pay for the relevant tuition fee amounts for the component of the stackable degree you are enrolled in as detailed below.

Tuition Fee Payable

Fees for the Graduate Certificate (3 courses)	$15,150
Additional fees for the Graduate Diploma (3 courses)	$15,150
Additional fees for the MSocSci PHW (4 courses)	$20,200
Total Tuition Fee (Stackable MSocSci)	$50,500

Enquiries

MSocSci PHW Enquiry Form

For other enquiries, please contact the Graduate Administrator.

Graduate Administrator
Department of Geography
National University of Singapore
1 Arts Link, AS2, Singapore 117570

(65) 6516-3856

geobox1@nus.edu.sg