Concurrent Degree Programme

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Concurrent Degree Programme in Social Work and Public Health

Overview

Concurrent Degree Programme (CDP) in Social Work and Public Health:
Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Social Work and Master of Public Health (MPH)

Jointly offered by the Department of Social Work (FASS) and Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH)

Empowering Future Leaders for the Care Economy

The Department of Social Work (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) and the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH) are proud to offer a new Concurrent Degree Programme (CDP) that integrates the disciplines of Social Work and Public Health. Launching in Academic Year 2026/27 (August 2026), this full-time, MOE-subsidised programme leads to two degrees — the Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Social Work and the Master of Public Health — within an accelerated 4.5 academic years.

This pioneering CDP unites the Department of Social Work’s expertise in critical thinking, ethics, and community engagement with SSHSPH’s multidisciplinary training in population health, disease prevention, and health systems. Together, the two institutions will equip students with a dual lens to address the complex and interconnected challenges of health and social wellbeing in Singapore and beyond.

In alignment with national initiatives such as Healthier SG and Forward Singapore, this programme responds directly to the growing need for professionals who can integrate social care and healthcare in policy planning, service delivery, and community development. Graduates will emerge as versatile leaders who bridge systems and sectors—ready to contribute to the Care Economy with compassion, innovation, and evidence-based insight.

Through SSHSPH’s exposure to national and regional public health issues and Department of Social Work’s emphasis on applied practice and social justice, students will gain advanced competencies in:

  • Research and data-driven decision-making
  • Policy design and implementation
  • Cross-sector collaboration
  • Community and systems-level interventions

Graduates of the programme will be well-positioned for meaningful careers across the Public Health and Social Service sectors, equipped with the knowledge and interdisciplinary skills to shape policies, strengthen communities, and improve population wellbeing.

Programme Structure

Students in the Concurrent Degree Programme (CDP) will complete a total of 186 units over 4.5 years.

These units are distributed as follows:

  • 136 units counting towards the Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Social Work
  • 24 units double-counted towards both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees
  • 26 units counting towards the Master of Public Health (MPH)

Please refer to sample study plan: here

Admission Requirements

Admission and Selection Process

Admission to the Concurrent Degree Programme (CDP) is highly competitive and selective. Applicants should demonstrate:

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Intellectual maturity and curiosity
  • Strong critical and analytical thinking abilities

Additional Requirements

Students accepted into the CDP will have to:

  • Complete their first field placement in a health-related setting by end of second year of their undergraduate studies.
  • Maintain the required academic and professional standards throughout the programme.

Selection Process

Shortlisted candidates will undergo a rigorous selection process that includes:

  • Outstanding academic results
  • Interview session (to be conducted after completion of first field placement)
  • Profiling test
Application Instructions and Timelines

Application Period

Applications open in September for three weeks and will be announced to students.

Eligibility to Apply

Completion of First Year as Social Work Primary Major, with Minimum GPA of 4.0

Application Submission

Application is online and the application link will be shared during the announcement. Please upload the following documents together with the online submission:

  • Unofficial transcript
  • CV up to maximum of four pages with photo
    (Please indicate the organization name where the field placement is completed)
  • Personal Statement

Application Outcome

  • Outcome of application will be released in Semester 1 of Year 3.
  • Successful applicants will join the MPH cohort from Year 4 Semester 1 onwards.
Programme Requirements

Staying in the Programme

To stay in the Concurrent Degree Programme (CDP), you will need to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.50 for both your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
(This requirement applies once GPA results are available, starting from your fifth semester.)

If your GPA falls below 3.50:

  • You will receive a warning if it happens for one semester.
  • If it happens for two semesters in a row, you will need to leave the CDP and continue with the Bachelor’s degree only.

Once you are within 20 units of completing the total CDP requirements, this GPA rule will no longer apply.

If you decide to withdraw

You can choose to withdraw from the CDP at any time. If so, you will continue as a regular FASS (Social Work) student, following FASS’s usual rules and requirements.

If you plan to withdraw, please write to both FASS (Social Work) at (CDP_SWK@nus.edu.sg) and SSHSPH (GDC_SPH@nus.edu.sg) to let them know your decision and reasons.

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