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The NUS Faculty of Dentistry offers a comprehensive research programme which leads to the Master of Science (MSc) degree. Please refer here for the various research groups which you may be interested in namely Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Microbiology and Immunology, Populational and Clinical.

Research students may be admitted as full-time or part-time students. However, international students on student pass must pursue their studies on a full-time basis. The minimum period of candidature is 1 year and the maximum period is 3 years for both full-time and part-time options.

Important: Research candidature does not involve any clinical work in Singapore. Research students are also not permitted to perform clinical work during their time in Singapore.

MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

The minimum entry qualifications for admission to the Master of Science research programme are:

At least Second Class Lower/GPA 3.5 to 3.99 or equivalent in a relevant discipline.

In relevant discipline with at least two years of relevant work experience.

ADDITIONAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

All except applicants from universities in Singapore, the USA, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines are to submit evidence of English language proficiency.

  • TOEFL - Minimum of 580 (paper-based score), 237 (computer-based score), and 85 (internet-based score)
  • IELTS - Minimum of 6.5 (overall score) and 6.5 (writing component score)

Note: TOEFL and IELTS are only valid for two years after the test and the validity should not expire before the beginning of the application period for the research programme.

At the discretion of the Faculty.

 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Online Application

Interested applicants may apply for admission to our graduate research programmes online.

Application Fee
There is a non-refundable application fee of S$50 per application (inclusive of prevailing GST).

Submission of Application
Please note that even though an application is submitted online, relevant supporting documents must be sent via post before the application closing date to be considered for admission. Please mail the documents directly to:

Dean's Office (Attn: Research Office)
Faculty of Dentistry
9 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Level 10
National University Centre for Oral Health, Singapore
Singapore 119085

All supporting documents, which are not in English, must be accompanied by an official certified English translation. Supporting documents submitted are not returnable. Enclosures via e-mails will not be opened and will be deleted.

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Click here for the checklist of supporting documents required.

An official transcript of academic records is required from each university you have attended. You are responsible for requesting the transcript(s) from the relevant University. Please use the prescribed form for such request.

Transcripts must be enclosed in an official SEALED with its flap bearing the security seal of the university and the signature of the Registrar or representative.

All except applicants from universities in Singapore, the USA, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines are to submit evidence of English language proficiency.

  • TOEFL - Minimum of 580 (paper-based score), 237 (computer-based score), and 85 (internet-based score)
  • IELTS - Minimum of 6.5 (overall score) and 6.5 (writing component score)
Note: TOEFL and IELTS are only valid for two years after the test and the validity should not expire before the beginning of the application period for the research programme.

Recommendations from 2 academic referees are to be submitted via the online admission system. You should check with your referees and obtain their institutional e-mail address.

E-mail addresses from domains other than ".edu" may be subject to additional screening and filtering. Once your online application is submitted, an automated e-mail will be sent to your referees.

Please submit a copy of each of your publication(s), if any. The journal’s “Impact Factor” field (which allows input of up to one decimal point) is essentially a measure of scientific impact that is based on citation rates for an article or other citable item. It also takes into account the significance of the journals in which result has been published. Please leave it blank if you are unsure.

International applicants who are not applying for our Research Scholarship or have indicated their wish to be considered for admission in the event that their Research Scholarship application is unsuccessful, must submit documentary evidence of their ability to support their study (e.g. a bank statement). Applicant must show documentary proof that they are able to support their study for at least 2 years [estimated cost of living (S$36,000) plus Tuition Fees]. Click on Fees to see Other Expenditure.

Applicants who are sponsored by an individual or organization will need to submit a letter from the sponsor with details/documentary proof of the sponsorship.

Those who are working in Singapore and applying for admission to our part-time programme may submit a copy of their recent pay slip.

*Important Note: It is important that you inform us if there are any changes/updates to your application details after your submission.

 

APPLICATION STATUS

Application Closing Dates and Outcomes

You can check your application status via the online admission system if you have submitted the completed application (with all the required documents) before the following dates:

Intake Closing Date Application Outcome

Semester 1

15 November

31 May

Semester 2

15 May

31 October

 

Rejection of Application

Inaccurate or false information or omission of material information or no application fee payment will render your application invalid. The University reserves the right to reject applications that are incomplete or inaccurate. Persons admitted on the basis of inaccurate or false information may be expelled.

The University has not engaged any external agencies to undertake graduate student recruitment on its behalf and it reserves the right to reject without giving reasons applications submitted through any external agencies.

 

FEES

Tuition Fees

 

The tuition fees per annum for new students (full-time & part-time) admitted in Academic Year 2023/24 are as follows:

 

Tuition Fee Payable Per Annum (S$) for Regular Semesters by:

Fees payable by students in receipt of MOE Subsidy

Fees payable by students NOT in receipt of MOE Subsidy 1a, 4, 5 (Inclusive of GST)
Singapore Citizens2, 6 Singapore Permanent Residents2 International Students with Service Obligation3, 7/ Graduate Assistantship Programme
(Inclusive of GST)

Singapore Citizens Singapore Permanent Residents and International Students
15,050 22,800 35,274 68,762 71,207

 

Notes for New Students:

  1. The cohort-based fee system is introduced for the new graduate intake of all College/Faculties/Schools from AY2022/23. Under this fee system, tuition fees for an intake cohort of students will be based on the fees for that cohort throughout the student’s entire candidature. While fees continue to be reviewed annually and adjustments made as and when necessary with each new cohort of students, each new cohort will know the exact amount of tuition fees they have to pay per year throughout their entire candidature. This enables students to plan better for the financing of their graduate studies.

    1. With effect from AY2019/2020, graduate coursework students who exceeded their normal candidature will have to pay full, non-subsidised fees (i.e. fees for students not in receipt of MOE subsidy), during their extended semesters. (Note: All students, including graduate research students, to refer to this link for residency requirement, normal and maximum candidature; and this link on MOE subsidy.)

  2. For students who are Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents, the tuition fees quoted here are subsidised by the Singapore government (through the Ministry of Education, MOE) and are exclusive of prevailing GST. The applicable GST for these students is subsidised by MOE. The prevailing GST is 9% with effect from 1st January 2024. The figures displayed in the tables above are effective from 1st January 2024.

  3. The prevailing GST (9%, effective from 1st January 2024) on the fees payable will be borne by International Students. The tuition fees quoted here are inclusive of the prevailing GST.

  4. Students who are not in receipt of MOE Subsidy will have to pay the non-subsidised fee amounts as quoted here (which are inclusive of the prevailing GST). The prevailing GST is 9% with effect from 1st January 2024.

  5. Students who have previously enjoyed government subsidy or sponsorship by a Singapore government agency (such as scholarships offered by the Ministries, Public Service Commission and Statutory Boards) in a graduate programme should refer to the Eligibility Guidelines for MOE Subsidy. Students who are not eligible for MOE subsidy are also not eligible for most scholarships. For more details, please refer to Scholarships/Awards.

  6. SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy
    Students who are Singapore Citizens, aged 40 and above (based on the year which the student turns 40 years old) and enrolled in MOE-subsidised coursework programmes may be eligible for higher subsidy under the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy. The fees payable will be 60% lower than the standard subsidised fees payable by other Singaporean students. The amount of fees payable will be reflected in their individual student bill. Students who are not eligible for MOE subsidy are also not eligible for the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy.
    For more information regarding Skills Future Credits, please refer to http://www.myskillsfuture.gov.sg.

  7. Service Obligation Scheme
    The University may deem it feasible, based on industry demand, to implement a Service Obligation (in some MOE-subsidised programmes) for International Students. For more information on Service Obligation scheme, please refer to here.

    1. Students, who are required to pay Liquidated Damages (LD) to MOE for breaking the bond, would have to pay the total amount of MOE Subsidy under Service Obligation (reflected in their individual student bill) plus 10% interest rate compounded at the end of each academic year.

For more information, please refer here.

 

Other Expenditures

 

Types of Expenses Cost Estimates Remarks
Living Expenses $2,500 per month Figure may vary depending on students' personal needs and lifestyle patterns.
Accommodation Please refer here For more information on types of accommodation, click here.
Pre-enrolment Medical Examination $43 For more information, click here.
Miscellaneous Student Fees $271.15 per semester For more information, click here.

 

 

COURSEWORK REQUIREMENTS

The DY5190 Graduate Seminar course is designed to promote a strong research culture among the research students and to improve their communication skills through presentations and conference attendance. It is a compulsory course for graduation. The grading is “Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory” on the basis of student’s participation and presentation at conferences/seminars and workshops.

Proposed Sessions MSc
Year 1 Year 2
Presentation to Faculty 1 1
Conference presentation (local/ overseas) - 1
Attendance at Seminars/Conferences 3 4
Total 10

It is mandatory for all research students to make a pre- or post-conference presentations to the Faculty every time they attend conferences for poster/oral presentation.

At level > 5000 and > 4 Units. Elective courses must be credit based i.e. graded.

Not exceeding 40,000 words.

Those deemed weak in English by Faculty would have to sit for the Diagnostic English Test and take additional English Language courses administered by the Centre for English Language (CELC).

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

Continuation Requirements

To continue in a Master’s programme, a student may not have:

  • GPA below 3.00 (but ≥2.50) for three consecutive semesters; or
  • GPA below 2.50 for two consecutive semesters.

Graduation Requirements

 

 

  FIRST SEMESTER SECOND CONSECUTIVE SEMESTER THIRD CONSECUTIVE SEMESTER
Master’s Student A GPA below 3.00 (but ≥2.50)
Academic Warning
GPA below 3.00
Academic Probation
GPA below 3.00
Academic Dismissal
Master’s Student B GPA below 2.50
Academic Probation
GPA below 2.50
Academic Dismissal
NA

 

Students in research-based graduate programmes are required to submit a research progress report bi-annually.

Students may upgrade from a Master's programme to the PhD upon completing specific requirements.

  1. Students may apply for upgrading after completing at least 1 year of study.

  2. The requirements for upgrading to PhD is the same as those applying directly for PhD Qualifying Examination.

  3. Students can apply for upgrading subject to fulfilment of the following requirements:
    1. Completion of mandatory coursework except for DY 5190 Graduate Seminar Module with minimum 3.5 GPA.
    2. Passed the PhD Qualifying Examination.

Commencement dates of candidature and scholarship for such upgrading cases remain the same though the duration would be changed accordingly.

Please click here for more information.

For more information and resources on student matters, click here.

 

ADMISSION MATTERS

There are two intakes per academic year: August and January.

No pre-admission examination is required, except for the language examinations which are taken at the applicant’s expense. You will be contacted if you are shortlisted for an interview.

Yes, all applicants except those who have a degree (either Bachelor's or higher) from universities in Singapore, USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines are required to sit for the TOEFL/IELTS test.

Yes. You just need to indicate the test date in your application and provide us with the test scores after your exam.

First of all, you must decide which area you have an inherent interest and potential competency. You may contact a potential Thesis Advisor for an initial discussion. Otherwise, you could just key in the research topic in the online application form. The Faculty will circulate your application among the relevant faculty members. Remember, you should not apply for a research programme just because you think it is a way of getting an additional qualification. Interest in the research topic should take priority as it will determine your success of your learning.

We only accept online applications. Applicants will need to submit physical copies of supporting documents. Click here for the checklist of supporting documents.

The outcome timelines for applications for August and January intakes are 31 May and 31 October respectively.

The University has not engaged any external agencies to undertake graduate student recruitment on its behalf. Candidates interested in our graduate programmes are advised to apply directly to the University and not through any agents. Candidates who apply through agents will not have any added advantage in gaining admission and the University reserves the right to reject such applications without giving reasons.

Yes, you can re-apply for the next intake.

IMMIGRATION MATTERS

Please refer to Immigration & Checkpoint Authority (ICA)'s website for the list of countries that require an entry visa. The Office of the University Registrar will help to apply for a single-journey visa cum in-principle student pass approval on behalf of international students. The original approval letter issued by the ICA and the valid passport must be presented to the Duty Officer at the Immigration checkpoint upon arrival in Singapore. No deposit is required by Immigration Office.

CAREER PROSPECT

To practise clinically in Singapore, your BDS degrees must be registrable with Singapore Dental Council.

Yes, subject to availability of research positions. For clinical positions, registration of your degree rest with Singapore Dental Council.

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