The Department of Malay Studies at the National University of Singapore produces undergraduate and graduate students of high quality with broad knowledge of the developments and problems in the Malay world of Southeast Asia and beyond. The department also actively engages in research on a wide range of issues concerning the Malay world from a multi-disciplinary perspective, promotes exchanges with centres of Malay studies worldwide, and encourages the development of new and alternative approaches to the understanding of Malay history, economy, politics, society and culture.

The Department has always adopted a broad definition of the Malay world. This refers to the Malay-Indonesian Archipelago consisting of Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, southern Thailand and the southern Philippines. It also includes areas with Malay minorities such as Singapore, and countries to which the Malay diaspora had spread such as Sri Lanka, Madagascar and South Africa.

Our graduates have gone on to careers in a wide range of areas including the corporate sector, foreign and civil service, journalism, translation, communications and education.The Department of Malay Studies offers a broad-based multi-disciplinary undergraduate and graduate programmes leading to BA, MA and PhD.