Graduate Certificate

Banner 1

Graduate Certificates

Stacks towards
Graduate Diploma in Geopolitics of South Asia
Master of Social Sciences in Geopolitics of South Asia

Discover our new Graduate Certificates to support professionals who want to remain relevant and updated with current skills and knowledge. This programme is designed for professionals seeking to deepen their knowledge about the region, and for individuals passionate about South Asia.

Students can gain relevant skills to keep themselves up-to-date on the most recent advancements in skills and knowledge. With dedicated faculty and a carefully crafted syllabus and assessments, students will have the opportunity to stack credits towards a Graduate Diploma and progress to a Master’s at a pace that fits their goals and schedule.

Graduates of our Graduate Certificate programs can leverage their earned credits to progress toward a Graduate Diploma and ultimately a Master of Social Sciences Degree.

To earn these higher qualifications, candidates must complete additional coursework and meet the following unit requirements:

Illustrative Pathways: One of Many Routes

  • Stacking from the Graduate Certificate to the Graduate Diploma
    • If you have completed the Graduate Certificate in Geopolitics of South Asia, you can progress to a Graduate Diploma by completing two additional electives
    • These courses can be taken individually via the L3 Course Finder.

  • Stacking from the Graduate Diploma to the Master of Social Sciences
    • Once you have completed your Graduate Diploma and wish to pursue a Master of Social Sciences, you must formally apply and enroll in the Master's programme to complete the remaining 16 units.

      *Electives must meet coursework requirements. View full details [here].

Important Notes:

  • Eligibility: Grades and course units earned may be transferred and are subject to Faculty approval.

  • GPA: Candidates seeking to transfer units from a Graduate Certificate must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 for entry into the Graduate Diploma and 3.00 for the Master's Degree.

  • Validity Period: To be eligible for transfer, courses must have been completed within the last 10 years.

  • Curriculum Relevance: Transfer requests may be declined if the original course content is no longer deemed relevant or equivalent to current programme standards.

  • Application Timeline: Candidates are strongly advised to submit transfer applications within the first month of their new candidature.

The Graduate Certificate in Geopolitics of South Asia offers a rigorous and focused exploration of the political, strategic, and diplomatic forces shaping one of the world's most consequential regions. Offered through the South Asian Studies Programme (SASP) at the National University of Singapore's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, this certificate is designed for working professionals, policymakers, researchers, and graduate students seeking to deepen their analytical understanding of South Asia's complex geopolitical landscape.

The programme examines the region through multiple lenses including interstate rivalry, nuclear deterrence, maritime competition, great power contestation, and the interplay between domestic politics and foreign policy. Students engage with contemporary issues such as India-Pakistan relations, China's strategic footprint in South Asia, the evolving security architecture of the Indian Ocean Region, and the foreign policy orientations of smaller South Asian states.

Combining rigorous academic frameworks with policy-relevant perspectives, the curriculum draws on NUS's position as a leading Asian university and Singapore's unique vantage point as a global hub at the intersection of South and Southeast Asia.

Admission Requirements

Academic
  1. A good 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 or equivalent) in related disciplines such as the humanities, social sciences, area studies, and other inter-disciplinary studies with evidence of having read subjects related to South Asia or Asia; or
  2. A good Bachelor's degree (at least an average grade of B or equivalent) in related disciplines such as the humanities, social sciences, area studies, and other inter-disciplinary studies with evidence of having read subjects related to South Asia or Asia and successful completion of a placement test; or exceptionally,
  3. Other relevant qualifications and experience, and successful completion of a placement test; however, admission is subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Division of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Relevant cases will be routed to the Board of Graduate Studies for information.
English Language Proficiency
  • Candidates whose native tongue and medium of undergraduate instruction is not English must 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
  • A minimum TOEFL score of 85 (with a minimum of 22 for the writing section) is required for the internet-based test
  • A minimum IELTS score of 6.0 in all sections and overall score is required
  • TOEFL or IELTS scores are only valid for two years from the test date and the validity should not expire before the beginning of the application period for the programme

Programme Requirements

The programme will offer a package of core and elective courses. The core courses will be offered every academic year. The other courses may not necessarily be offered in the same academic year.

Type of Courses Number of Courses Total Units
  • Two (2) core courses:
    • SNG5101 The Making of Modern South Asia (4 units)
    • SNG5102 Introduction to the Geopolitics of South Asia (4 units)
  • Two (2) other SNG courses (4 units each)
 4 16

Candidature/Duration

The programme will be offered on both full-time and part-time basis.

Candidature Minimum Duration Maximum Duration
Full-time 6 months 12 months
Part-time 12 months 24 months

This certificate is well-suited for diplomats, civil servants, journalists, business professionals, and academics with an interest in South Asian affairs, as well as graduate students looking to complement their existing coursework with a specialised credential in regional geopolitics.

There is one application cycle in each Academic Year.

Intake (AY2026/27) Application Period Outcome
Sem 1 (10 Aug 2026) 4 May to 1 Jun End Jul

To apply, please submit your application via the Online Applications Portal.

Please refer to the University’s Academic Calendar for details on the semester and examination period.

Programmes Fees

The fee for the Graduate Certificate in Geopolitics of South Asia for AY2026-27 is SGD$15,260 (Inclusive of prevailing GST)

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

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

The University reserves the right to review and adjust the course fees and make changes to the programme structure and requirements as necessary and accordingly without prior notice.

  • 3-hour seminar-style class
  • Classes are conducted in the day or evening (Monday to Friday)
  • Classes for each course are held once a week over a period of 13 weeks (excluding final examinations, if applicable)

To be awarded the graduate certificate, the candidate must complete the required number of courses and obtain at least a GPA of 2.50.

Where applicable, candidates must also obtain satisfactory grades (at least grade C) in the Graduate English Course conducted by the Centre for English Language Communication at intermediate level.

Scroll to Top