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Joint PhD (NUS-King's College London (Communications and New Media))
Joint PhD
Language and Communication
Media
  1. Three schools at King’s College London (KCL) – School of Arts & Humanities, School of Social Science & Public Policy, and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience – and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) invite applications to the Joint Ph.D. programme (JDP) for every Semester I (August) intake. This JDP represents a good mix of strengths from both universities to enhance the training and research work of PhD candidates from both institutions. The programme allows students to pursue work in a wide range of humanities and social science disciplines as well as in topics that invite interdisciplinary approaches. The Schools and Faculty complement each other in terms of areas of strength and geographical location. You will be registered in one home university, but guided in your work by faculty from both, and examined to the standards of both. You will graduate with a joint qualification, earning a certificate which bears the crests of both universities.
  2. Your application should be submitted to the university you will be based at. This means that if you wish to apply for admission to NUS and our scholarship schemes, you have to submit your application directly to NUS. You are not required to submit a separate application to KCL and vice-versa.
  3. If you wish to be based at KCL, you should apply directly to KCL. Please refer to KCL’s website for the application instructions.
  4. The department offers a PhD programme in Communications and New Media, on a full-time and part-time basis. International students on a student’s pass can pursue their studies on a full-time basis only.
  5. All graduate students are required to take the following research modules:
    1. NM6101 – Advanced Theories in Communications and New Media
    2. NM6103 – Quantitative Research Methods in Communications and New Media
    3. NM6104 – Qualitative Research Methods in Communications and New Media
    4. NM6770 – Graduate Research Seminar
  6. In addition, students will need to read:
    (a) four elective courses (if enrolled from Aug 2019)
    (b) NG5001 Academic Communication for Graduate Researchers (if enrolled from Aug 2022)
    (c) NG5002 Research Ethics for Graduate Researchers (if enrolled from Aug 2024)
Faculty
faculty-iconArts and Social Sciences
department-iconCommunications and New Media
 email-iconcnm.graduate@nus.edu.sglocation-iconFaculty of Arts & Social Sciences National University of Singapore Blk AS6, #03-41 11 Computing Drive Singapore 117416

Welcome to the Department of Communications and New Media (NUS)

  1. CNM educates future media professionals using an integrated and multidisciplinary approach that reflects today’s converged media environment. Students majoring in CNM can take courses in journalism and public relations (traditionally offered in communication programmes), visual design (traditionally offered in arts programmes), game design, and human computer interaction (traditionally offered in computer sciences) within one academic department. Students can also take courses in new media regulation and policy, social psychology, and the culture industries as well as sociology, political science, history, philosophy, computer sciences, and business.
  2. In this regard, Communications and New Media (CNM) at the National University of Singapore is the only department in Southeast Asia that offers media studies, interactive media design, cultural studies, and communication management with a focus on new media. Our multidisciplinary approach offers students opportunities in experiential learning through international and local competitions, exhibitions, service-based projects collaborating with external clients, internships, student exchanges, and interactions with industry practitioners. With faculty members hailing from top communications schools from around the world, bringing with them innovative methods of teaching, students benefit from an understanding of trends coupled with an eye on the evolving industry.
  3. With this multi-faceted understanding of new media and communications, CNM graduates will be able to work in a wide spectrum of private corporations, public agencies, non-profit organizations, and media-related industries in policy formulation, public relations, corporate communication, media relations, media design, games design, journalism, research, and information management positions, among others.
Scholarships
NUS Research ScholarshipPresident's Graduate FellowshipCommonwealth ScholarshipDean's PhD FellowshipFASS Scholarship in Buddhist StudiesFoo Hai Ch'an Monastery Scholarship in Buddhist Studies
Commitment and Candidature
CommitmentAverage CandidatureMaximum Candidature
Full Time4.5 Years5 Years
Target Audience

Master’s students with a relevant background with a keen interest in becoming a communications and new media professional.

General Admission Criteria
CriteriaMinimum Score
GPAIn general, the University requires normally a good Master's degree in a relevant discipline; or an NUS Honours degree (at least Distinction/Second Class Upper Division) or equivalent (e.g., a four-year Bachelor's degree with an average grade above B) in a relevant discipline, subject to approval by the Faculty, on a case-by-case basis.
English Proficiency TestsTOEFL
Internet-based		85 / 120
IELTS6 / 9

GRE is optional. However, evidence of strong quantitative, verbal, and analytical skills through GRE scores, as well as indicators of research skills and experience will significantly strengthen your application.

Either TOEFL or IELTS is required for students whose main language of undergraduate university instruction is not English. Waivers may be granted to students who are native English speakers or proficient in English but are currently enrolled in a non-English medium university. Contact programme administrator to inquire. Test scores for the TOEFL and IELTS are valid for 2 years from the test dates. TOEFL and IELTS Academic scores that have expired by the time the application period closes will not be accepted. For more information about the TOEFL or IELTS, please visit www.toefl.org (for TOEFL) and www.ielts.org (for IELTS).


  1. Applicants should submit a completed graduate application form along with their undergraduate and graduate (if any) transcript(s) & degree scroll(s), TOEFL report or IELTS report (native English speakers can apply for a waiver), and two recommendation letters.

  2. A well-written research proposal of approximately 1000 words is very important for the review process. It should indicate the proposed area and topic of research, indicating knowledge of work done in that field, the intended methodology, and a brief bibliography. More information on how to write a research proposal can be obtained from: Research Proposal Guidelines for Applicants and How to Write a Research Proposal.

  3. JDP application form


Please refer to the Faculty’s website here for the complete admission requirements and here for a list of supporting documents required.


Application Periods and Intakes
CategoryApplication WindowApplication Result Released

Semester 1 Intake

(August)

All students of any nationalities16 May to 1 November in the year preceding the intakeEnd of May
How to Apply?
Please visit GradApp to apply online. Click here for the GradApp Applicant Guide.
https://fass.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/JointPhDKCL_Applnform.docx