Why pursue graduate study in History?
The Department of History offers degrees by research and dissertation at both the MA and PhD levels. The Department is especially distinguished for its concentration in Asian history, notably East Asian and Southeast Asian history. Faculty members also supervise cutting-edge research in American, European, and South Asian history, as well as in such thematic fields as art, business, international, and military history, and the history of science & technology.
Students will be trained to think critically, investigating and employing a diverse range of sources and perspectives to comprehend the past, make sense of the present, and produce a study that will make original and meaningful contributions to knowledge. The graduate programme prepares students for academic and research careers in history. It likewise prepares them for careers in business, government, heritage, journalism, publishing, risk analysis, and writing. It further equips students with the skills to be future-ready professionals.
The Department of History also admits students to three MA coursework programmes. The first is the Applied and Public History programme, which trains students to appropriately use history and its methods in the arts, business, government, heritage, and private enterprise. The Asian and Global History programme is designed for those who seek to comprehend the history of diverse cultures and societies across Asia and the world. They will also acquire in-depth knowledge of Singaporean history and understand the dynamic narratives that shape the nation-state's national identity. Finally, the LSE-NUS double MA degree in history programme offers students the opportunity to pursue graduate studies in the first year at NUS and the second at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Successful candidates will earn two MA degrees awarded by the two distinguished institutions.
Graduate Studies Coordinator's Message
Graduate Coordinator
Associate Professor Lee Seung-joon is a historian and the author of Gourmets in the Land of Famine (2011) and a number of research articles including, “The Patriot’s Scientific Diet: Nutrition Science and Dietary Reform Campaigns in China, 1910s-1950s” (2015) and “Airborne Prawn and Decayed Rice: Food Politics in Wartime Chongqing” (2019). He is currently working on the history of labour and management, the politics of the working-class diet and dietary energy in twentieth-century China.
Programmes & Curriculum
Graduate Certificate in Applied and Public History
The Department of History seeks to promote the appropriate use of history in the arts, business, government, and other sectors of society. We seek to train candidates to appropriately use history to anticipate and exploit trends, craft policies, make decisions, and pursue their endeavours.
Course Structure
To obtain a Graduate Certificate in Applied and Public History, students must
- Pass 12 units comprising
- HY5405, and
- 2 primary field units
- Obtain a minimum GPA of 2.50
Graduate Certificate in Asian and Global History
Candidates pursuing the programme will study the history of diverse cultures and societies across Asia and the world. They will also acquire in-depth knowledge of Singaporean history and understand the dynamic narratives that shape the nation-state’s national identity. The broad mix of modules will help to hone graduates’ cross-cultural empathies and tolerance for difference, enabling them to thrive in different cultural settings.
Course Structure
To obtain a Graduate Certificate in Asian and Global History, students must
- Pass 12 units comprising
- HY5305, and
- 2 primary field courses
- Obtain a minimum GPA of 2.50
Graduate Diploma in Applied and Public History
The Department of History seeks to promote the appropriate use of history in the arts, business, government, and other sectors of society. We seek to train candidates to appropriately use history to anticipate and exploit trends, craft policies, make decisions, and pursue their endeavours.
Course Structure
To obtain a Graduate Diploma in Applied and Public History, students must
- Pass 24 units comprising
- HY5405, and
- 5 primary field courses
- Obtain a minimum GPA of 2.75
Graduate Diploma in Asian and Global History
Candidates pursuing the programme will study the history of diverse cultures and societies across Asia and the world. They will also acquire in-depth knowledge of Singaporean history and understand the dynamic narratives that shape the nation-state’s national identity. The broad mix of modules will help to hone graduates’ cross-cultural empathies and tolerance for difference, enabling them to thrive in different cultural settings.
Course Structure
To obtain a Graduate Diploma in Asian and Global History, students must
- Pass 24 units comprising
- HY5305, and
- 5 primary field courses
- Obtain a minimum GPA of 2.75
MA (Coursework) Double Degree in History with London School of Economics and Political Science
The Department of History is offering the Master of Arts (MA) in History, NUS, and Master of Arts (MA) in Asian and International History, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Students reading modules at NUS and the LSE will study the grand historical processes that had made and are remaking the world. They will examine the history of diverse cultures and societies across the globe. Foreign students will also acquire in-depth knowledge of Singaporean history and understand the dynamic narratives that shape the nation-state’s national identity. The broad mix of modules will help to hone the graduates’ cross-cultural empathies and appreciation of difference, enabling them to thrive in different cultural settings.
Course Structure
At NUS, students need to pass at least 40 units
- Pass core course HY6101
- Pass at least 28 units of elective courses and thesis (8 units) or 36 units of elective courses
- A max of 4 units of HY-recognised courses
- The 10,000-word thesis accounts for 2 courses (8 units). Only full-time candidates with a GPA of 4.0 and above at the end of the first semester and part-time candidates with a GPA of 4.0 and above at the end of the second semester are permitted to write the thesis. The rest are expected to read graduate modules.
- Candidates with a GPA of 4.0 and above who choose to write the thesis at NUS will ultimately write two theses to earn the double degree. At the LSE, the thesis is mandatory.
- Candidates with an average 4.0 and above GPA may elect not to write the 10,000-word thesis at NUS. They may have plans to craft the long research paper at the LSE. If they choose this option, they will read 9 elective courses at NUS.
- To fulfil the requirements and earn the MA degree at NUS, candidates will read a combination of core and elective courses, and/or write the 10,000-word thesis to earn a total of at least 40 units.
At LSE, students need to complete the following:
- Pass 3 modules/unit
- Dissertation Workshop
- 10,000-word dissertation
MA (Coursework) in Applied and Public History
The Department of History seeks to promote the appropriate use of history in the arts, business, government, and other sectors of society. We seek to train candidates to appropriately use history to anticipate and exploit trends, craft policies, make decisions, and pursue their endeavours.
Course Structure
Students need to pass at least 40 units
- Pass core course HY5405
- Pass at least 16 units, subject to a max of 28 units from the primary field.
- Read a max of 16 MCs from the electives
- A max of 4 units of HY-recognised courses
- The 10,000-word thesis accounts for 2 courses or 8 units. Only full-time candidates with a GPA of 4.0 and above at the end of the first semester and part-time candidates with a GPA of 4.0 and above at the end of the second semester are permitted to write the thesis. The rest are expected to read graduate courses.
- To earn the MA degree, candidates will read a combination of core, primary, and elective courses, and/or the 10,000-word thesis to earn a total of at least 40 units.
MA (Coursework) in Asian and Global History
Candidates pursuing the programme will study the history of diverse cultures and societies across Asia and the world. They will also acquire in-depth knowledge of Singaporean history and understand the dynamic narratives that shape the nation-state’s national identity. The broad mix of modules will help to hone graduates’ cross-cultural empathies and tolerance for difference, enabling them to thrive in different cultural settings.
Course Structure
Students need to pass at least 40 units
- Pass core modules HY5305
- Pass at least 16 units, subject to a max of 28 units from the primary field.
- Read a max of 16 units from the electives
- A max of 4 units of HY-recognised course
- The 10,000-word thesis accounts for 2 courses or 8 units. Only full-time candidates with a GPA of 4.0 and above at the end of the first semester and part-time candidates with a GPA of 4.0 and above at the end of the second semester are permitted to write the thesis. The rest are expected to read graduate modules.
- To earn the MA degree, candidates will read a combination of core, primary, and elective courses, and/or the 10,000-word thesis to earn a total of at least 40 units.
The maximum period of candidature for students is 36 months for MA and students must spend a minimum of six (6) months in Singapore.
Course Structure
Students are required to complete the following:
• HY6101 Historiography: Theory & Archive;
• HY6770 Graduate Research Seminar; and
• 2 other courses
At least 75% of the total units requirements must be at level 5000 or 6000. Up to 25% of the total units requirements may be at level 4000, subject to the approval of the department. The coursework requirements includes HY6770 Graduate Research Seminar that will be graded on a “satisfactory”/”unsatisfactory” basis.
About the Course
The Department of History at the National University of Singapore offers degrees by research and dissertation at both the MA and PhD levels. The scope for research is extensive and the interests and backgrounds of the supervising teaching staff are broad and cosmopolitan. Fluency in English is essential, as all work must be presented in that language, but for graduate studies the Department encourages and supports the use of research materials in other languages, especially regional languages.
The Department is particularly strong in Southeast Asian studies. The academic staff includes specialists working on Malaysia and Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. However there are other faculty members who can also supervise research in Chinese or Japanese history, as well as selected topics in European, American and military history, history of art, business, science and technology. An idea of the scope of the Department may be gained from this list of the department's faculty members and their specialities. You can also take a look at the topics our graduate students engage in.
Course Structure
The maximum period of candidature for students is 60 months for PhD and students must spend a minimum of eighteen (18) months in Singapore.
Students are required to complete the following:
• HY6101 Historiography: Theory & Archive;
• HY6770 Graduate Research Seminar;
• 4 other courses;
• Pass all components of Qualifying Exam (QE);
• A thesis of not more than 80,000 words; and
• Oral examination on the subject matter of the thesis after submission of thesis.
At least 75% of the total units requirements must be at level 5000 or 6000. Students are to read no more than 1 level 4000 course, subject to the approval of the department. The coursework requirements includes HY6770 Graduate Research Seminar that will be graded on a “satisfactory”/”unsatisfactory” basis.
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Job Ready
The Department of History graduate programmes equip students to think critically across a diverse range of sources and perspectives. This experience will help them go on to a variety of different careers, including fields such as teaching and heritage as well as policy and intelligence analysts, bankers, writers, artists and government administrators. This is achieved through the development of an Historical Thinking Skills in each individual student during their National University of Singapore (NUS) graduate journey.
Historical Thinking Skills are the reasoning skills that a student of history will advance in through the graduate modules at NUS. These skills are varied and interconnected. They mainly involve the identification, comparison, and evaluation of multiple perspectives in order to develop nuanced understandings and conclusions about historical developments and events. A mastery of these skills will lead to an appreciation of chronology and context, comprehension, research, analysis and interpretation in order to make decisions and develop opinions. Through a variety of exercises, spread throughout various modules, each student will explore the past while also developing these skills, which will prepare them for a variety of careers in our ever-changing world.
Testimonials
Lau Yu Ching
Masters Student in History, '16
Looking back, these two years at the NUS Department of History was when I felt most free and creative. The faculty members including my supervisor empowered and encouraged me to explore my diverse academic interests while ensuring that there was still some structure to my learning. The coursework modules were challenging but they have stretched my imagination on the range of scholarship possible.
I greatly appreciate the department's multi-disciplinary approach to studying the past, as we learnt how anthropology, architecture, literature and film spoke to historiography and vice versa. There were also regular seminars where we got the chance to hear from and interact with world-renowned scholars. Through tutoring in undergraduate modules and experiencing the inspiring pedagogies from the professors, I have also found my calling in teaching. The cherry that really topped the cake was the supportive graduate community - their diverse worldviews and personalities brought much cheer to the many late nights spent working on my thesis in the graduate room. I am grateful to have had such a rich and fulfilling time in NUS.
Su Fei
PhD Student in History, '22
As an early-career scholar looking back on my four-year PhD journey in the Department of History at NUS, I consider it the happiest and most fulfilling period of my life. I feel so lucky to have been supervised by Associate Professor Lee Seung-Joon, whose open-mindedness, depth of knowledge, and unwavering encouragement created an ideal environment for academic growth. He fully backed me in developing my own research interests and provided crucial guidance at every key milestone. I never had to worry about lacking feedback, whether during my fieldwork overseas or in the fourth year when I was buried in writing in my room.
My first impression of NUS was the diversity and freedom in academic training. PhD students could choose from a wide range of courses, such as cold war history, global history, southeast Asian history, medieval China, modern China, diasporic studies, Buddhist history, and popular culture. At the same time, we were also allowed to take courses offered by other departments within FASS, which I found incredibly beneficial—these courses enabled me to freely explore my research interests and develop an interdisciplinary perspective and theoretical foundation. Among them, the independent study module was the most helpful, since academic training often depends on one-on-one mentorship. In this course, you could choose your favorite instructor to design a syllabus tailored to your research, read important books and historical sources together, and even discuss how to unfold specific chapters of your dissertation.
The Department of History also organized a variety of academic activities, giving students plenty of opportunities to share their research and receive feedback from both faculty and peers. For example, the academic lunch seminar allowed you to present a chapter of your dissertation over lunch and gather constructive comments. Additionally, the department provided funding for every student to conduct overseas fieldwork, usually applicable after passing the QE.
Last but not least, the living environment at NUS is world-class. The UTown residential area is a self-contained community complete with two canteens, several restaurants, a supermarket, gym, swimming pool, library, and a central lawn. This comfortable setting definitely helped ease the stress of doctoral life. The campus facilitated more than four swimming pools and countless sports fields—activities in these places kept me sane from hours of reading and writing. To this day, those golden evenings with the gentle breeze on my skin as I swam remain among my fondest memories of Singapore.
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