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 courses will help to hone graduates’ cross-cultural empathies and tolerance for difference, enabling them to thrive in different cultural settings.

For candidates with a Graduate Certificate/ Graduate Diploma in Applied and Public History/ Asian and Global History wishing to pursue the MA coursework programme, or who wish to pursue a the programme as a second MA, please see below for more information on graduation requirements and transferring courses.

Admission Criteria

Applicants for the MA coursework programme should have the following qualifications:

  • NUS honours degree (Merit/Second Class and above) or equivalent (e.g. a four-year bachelor’s degree with at least an average grade of B) in relevant disciplines such as history and area studies, and disciplinary or interdisciplinary academic programmes in the humanities and social sciences that give the major a measure of competence in historical subject matters; or Bachelor’s degree with a relevant Graduate Diploma with a minimum GPA of 3.00; or Bachelor’s degree with a relevant Graduate Certificate with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
  • Bachelor’s degree in relevant disciplines such as history and area studies, and disciplinary or interdisciplinary academic programmes in the humanities and social sciences that give the major a measure of competence in historical subject matters with at least two years of relevant work experience.
  • Candidates with other qualifications and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to approval by the BGS.
  • Applicants whose native tongue and medium of University instruction is not English must complete the TOEFL or IELTS and obtain the results set by the particular programme. Exceptions may be allowed on an individual basis. CELC’s Diagnostic English Test and the taking of English Proficiency courses remain as a provision to help establish a student’s level of English and improve his/her language ability.


TOEFL or IELTS Score Report

Applicants whose native tongue and medium of university instruction is not English should submit TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores as evidence of their proficiency in the English language

The min TOEFL score required is as follows:

  • Internet-based test (iBT): Minimum score of 85 (with minimum of 22 for the writing section)
  • Computer-based test (CBT): Minimum score of 237

A min IELTS score of 6.0 is required.

Applications

Applications to pursue the programmes must be submitted online.  There is a non-refundable fees of SGD$100 (inclusive of GST) for each application. The application and fees must be respectively submitted and paid by the relevant deadlines. Refer to the application period below:

Programmes Intake Application Period Outcome
MA & Grad Dip Sem 1 1 November (year preceding the intake ) to 15 Jan (same year as intake) By late May

For more information on the application process and the supporting documents required for MA programmes, please check here.

Fees

The tuition fee for AY2024-25 is SGD$38,200 (inclusive of GST) for those pursuing the MA programme full time and part time irrespective of nationality. Candidates shall pay a SGD$3,900 (inclusive of GST) non-refundable deposit upon acceptance of the offer of admission.

Students are also required to pay other miscellaneous student fees as decided by the University.  Additional courses read in excess of 40 units MAY be charged on a per course basis.

Singaporean/PR/
International Students		 Non-refundable upon Acceptance Year 1 Year 2 Total
Sem 1 Sem 2 Sem 1
Full-Time SGD3,900 SGD17,150 SGD17,150 SGD38,200
Part-Time SGD3,900 SGD11,434 SGD11,433 SGD11,433 SGD38,200

* GST is charged at a prevailing rate of 9% from year 2024.

Candidature

Candidates can complete the program in 2 semesters if they study full-time, but it may be demanding and excessive. We recommend adopting a more realistic approach by considering the option of spreading the courses over 3 semesters. Those pursuing it part-time are likely to complete the programme in 4 to 6 semesters. International students on student visa must be enrolled in the programme full-time. Students residing in Singapore may enrol for part-time study.

The maximum candidature periods are as follows:

 MA (full-time) 36 mths
 MA (part-time) 48 mths
 Graduate Diploma 36 mths
 Graduate Certificate 36 mths

Continuation and Graduation Requirements

Students need to pass at least 40 units

  1. Pass core courses HY5305 and HY6101
  2. Pass at least 16 units, subject to a max of 28 units from the primary field.
  3. Read a max of 16 units from the electives
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

Candidates pursuing the MA degree by coursework must complete and earn 40 units, and obtain a minimum GPA of 3.00 to be eligible for graduation.  Please note that reading in excess of 40 units may incur additional fees.

To continue in the MA programme, candidates may not obtain:

  1. GPA below 3.00 (but ≥ 2.50) for 3 consecutive semesters; or
  2. GPA below 2.50 for 2 consecutive semesters.

Furthering Education

Grades and units earned by candidates in the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma programmes or while reading individual graduate courses may be transferred towards fulfilling the requirements of a MA Coursework programme, subject to approval by the Faculty.

  • Each course to be transferred should have been read and completed within the last 10 years. The application for such transfers may be rejected if it is deemed that the contents of the course(s) in question are no longer relevant or not of comparable content and level. Candidates are advised to apply for the transfers within the first month of candidature.
  • The average GPA of all courses allowed for grade and units transfer to a MA Coursework programme must be at least 3.00.

Courses

The course descriptions can be found here, and the timetable can be found here.

Course Code Course Title
Core Courses
HY6101 Historiography: Theory and Archive
HY5305 Approaches to World History
Primary Field Courses
HY5210 Approaches to Modern Southeast Asian History
HY5211 Approaches to Modern East Asian History
HY5303 Problems in Cultural History
HY5304 Imperialism and Empires: Historical Approaches
HY5401 Historiography on China
HY5402 Reconsidering the Cold War
HY5403 Interpreters of Southeast Asian Pasts
HY5412 Studying Singaporean History
HY5413 Special Topics in Asian and Global History
HY5416 The United States and Asia
HY5418 Comparative Business History
Elective Courses
HY5207 Approaches to American History
HY5208 Approaches to Modern European History
HY5301 Internship in History
HY5302 Approaches to Military History
HY5405 Applied and Public History: Theory, Method and Practice
HY5406 Archives and Knowledge of the Past
HY5407 Theory and Practice of Oral History
HY5408 History and Memory
HY5409 Museums and Museology: Critical Perspectives
HY5410 Historical Reasoning: The Past and Decision-making
HY5411 Special Topics in Applied and Public History
HY5415 Theatres of Memory: Performing Public History
HY5417 Contested Sites: Built Heritage and Historical Memory
HY5419 Digital History: Theory and Practice
HY5420 Rethinking Cold War Asia
HY5660 Independent Study
Thesis
HY5414 Master's Thesis (Coursework Program)