Joint PhD (NUS-King's College London (Sociology/Anthropology))
Arts and Social Sciences 
Sociology and Anthropology 
socbox1@nus.edu.sg
Department of Sociology and Anthropology Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences National University of Singapore AS1 #03-06, 11 Arts Link Singapore 117573
Joint PhD
Sociology
Anthropology
- 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.
- 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.
- If you wish to be based at KCL, you should apply directly to KCL. Please refer to KCL’s website for the application instructions.
- The Sociology PhD programme aims to train students in rigorous critical thinking and equip them to conduct in-depth research using multiple methods to advance their knowledge about society and culture. Graduates of the programme are expected to embark on a lifelong learning journey to keep up to date with sociological theory and knowledge, to continuously apply themselves to practise sociology in their professional or academic lives. Graduates of the programme will abide by the code to produce knowledge for the advancement of human civilization and the greater good of society.
Faculty
Arts and Social SciencesSociology and Anthropologysocbox1@nus.edu.sgDepartment of Sociology and Anthropology Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences National University of Singapore AS1 #03-06, 11 Arts Link Singapore 117573Welcome to Graduate Studies at the NUS Department of Sociology and Anthropology !
- Our graduate programme is designed to prepare you for scholarly research, teaching, or applied work. We consistently rank among the top Sociology and Anthropology departments in Asia and the world. With over 35 faculty members, our curriculum covers major areas of sociological and anthropological inquiry.
- Teaching in the Department began in 1966 with just three staff members: Professor Murray Groves, an Australian social anthropologist who was appointed the first Chair of Sociology, Mrs Daisy Seah as secretary and a peon.
- The next 10 years was one of expansion for the Department including its move to larger quarters at House Number Eleven in the Bukit Timah campus. The Department began to build an indigenous research base and to focus the teaching on Singapore and Southeast Asia. The Working Paper Series was set up as a means to encourage members of the Department to write and present their research findings. it was also regarded as a means to establish the academic standing of the Department by providing the intellectual stimulation needed to take advantage of the multiracial environment of a growing metropolis. Urban sociology and ethnic relations became central themes of both teaching and research in the Department.
Scholarships
NUS Research ScholarshipCommonwealth ScholarshipPresident's Graduate FellowshipDean's PhD FellowshipFASS Scholarship in Buddhist StudiesFoo Hai Ch'an Monastery Scholarship in Buddhist Studies
Commitment and Candidature
| Commitment | Average Candidature | Maximum Candidature |
|---|---|---|
| Full Time | 4.5 Years | 5 Years |
Target Audience
Bachelor’s or master’s degree students who seek to be trained in rigorous critical thinking and learn how to conduct in-depth research using multiple methods to advance their knowledge about society and culture.
General Admission Criteria
| Criteria | Minimum Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GPA | A good NUS Honours degree, such as a Bachelor degree earned from a four-year programme. For PhD applicants, a Masters degree from a relevant discipline would be an added bonus. | ||
| English Proficiency Tests | TOEFL Internet-based | 85 / 120 | |
| IELTS | 6 / 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).
- A deep interest in the discipline. Applicants are to submit relevant official documentation proving that they have adequate training and/or ability to undertake the proposed course.
- An original research thesis proposal. Masters by Research and PhD students are requested to provide a preliminary research proposal of 2-4 pages. Although this document should be as focused as possible, it is exploratory, and admitted students are not required to work on the exact area proposed. However, the capacity to develop an interesting research question and approach are important indicators of a student’s ability and seriousness.
- 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.
- 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
| Category | Application Window | Application Result Released | |
|---|---|---|---|
Semester 1 Intake (August) | All students of any nationalities | 16 May to 1 November in the year preceding the intake | End of May |
How to Apply?