Residency Requirements

Residency is defined as payment of fees and the ability to meet all requirements of the programme of study.

Candidature Periods

The maximum candidature periods for the various types of graduate programmes are:

Students are required to submit their thesis (approved by supervisor(s)) for examination by the maximum period of their candidature; failing which, their candidature will lapse automatically.

Extension of Candidature

Students who are unable to submit their thesis for examination by the maximum period of their candidature will have to apply for an extension of their candidature. This has to be done at least 3 months before the expiry of the maximum candidature.

Students to apply using the prescribed application form through supervisor(s), Head of Department to Vice-Dean of Faculty.

If the application is submitted within 6 months after the expiry of the maximum candidature, an administrative fee of S$250/- is payable to re-instate the candidature. Applications submitted 6 months after the expiry of the maximum candidature will not be considered.

Upgrading/Downgrading of Candidature

a)

Upgrading of Candidature from Master’s to PhD

Student has to pass the PhD Qualifying Examination (PQE) and meet any other criteria set forth by the Faculty before the candidature can be upgraded. Please refer to the Faculty’s guidelines in this aspect. Application to upgrade the candidature should be made using the prescribed application form through supervisor(s), Head of Department and Vice-Dean of Faculty.

As a result of the upgrading, the maximum candidature will be 5 years from the date of registration. Credit will be given for the work done towards the Master’s degree.

For research scholarship holders, the scholarship period will be extended to correspond to the period given to PhD students in the respective Faculty. The terms and conditions of the research scholarship award remain unchanged. In addition to the scholarship stipend, an additional stipend of S$500/- will be given from the PQE pass date up to such date as decided by the Faculty.

b)

Downgrading of Candidature from PhD to Master’s

Written request for downgrading of candidature can either be made by the student (through supervisor(s) and Head of Department to Vice-Dean of Faculty) or by the supervisor(s) to Vice-Dean of Faculty. There is no prescribed application form.

As a result of the downgrading, the maximum period of candidature will be reduced to 3 years from the date of registration.

For research scholarship holders, if there is an over-consumption of leave, scholars will be asked to refund the appropriate amount arising from that.

Conversion of Candidature

a)

From Full-Time to Part-Time

Student to apply using the prescribed application form (if available at the Faculty) or to submit a written request through supervisor(s), Head of Department to Vice-Dean of Faculty.

Generally, students should have already submitted a satisfactory first draft of the thesis to the supervisor before the request for conversion to part-time candidature can be approved.

Fees are still payable until such time the thesis has been submitted for examination. For foreign students, the student pass will be cancelled once the application to convert to part-time candidature has been approved.

For research scholarship holders, the scholarship stipend will be terminated effective from the approved date of conversion. If excess payment has already been made, students will be informed to make the necessary refund. If there is an over-consumption of leave, the appropriate amount arising from that will be added to the refund.

In addition, for foreign students whose spouse are here on a social visit pass sponsored by the University, the pass will also be cancelled once the application for conversion to part-time candidature has been approved.

b)

From Part-Time to Full-Time

There is no prescribed application form. Student to submit a written request through the supervisor(s) and Head of Department to Vice-Dean of Faculty.

Concurrent Enrolment in Another Course

Research students who wish to enrol concurrently in another course have to seek approval in writing from the Vice-Dean of Faculty through the supervisor(s) and the Head of Department. Please note that for such requests to be considered, students should at least have submitted their thesis (approved by the supervisor(s)) for examination.

A research student who wishes to combine a research degree and a coursework graduate degree should file for graduation from the coursework degree first as he/she can then seek exemption for up to 50% of the coursework component of the research programme subsequently. If the student were to file for graduation from the research degree first, he/she cannot use any of the modules for the coursework degree.

Withdrawal of Candidature

Students are required to write in to notify their decision to withdraw their candidature. The letter has to be copied to supervisor(s), Head of Department and Vice-Dean of Faculty.

Computer account will be closed in 1 week’s time (or 2 weeks’ time if the student is overseas). The registration card has to be returned to Registrar’s Office. For foreign students, the student pass and spouse social visit pass sponsored by the University (if any) will be cancelled.

Students who withdraw from the University after the fee payment deadline will be liable to pay fees for the entire semester. However, if the date of withdrawal is within the first half of the semester, half of the fees paid for the semester will be refunded to such students. Those who default on the payment after 2 reminders will have their records blacklisted by the University.

Termination of Candidature

The candidature of a student can be terminated when:

- performance in coursework and/or research is unsatisfactory; or
- a disciplinary case is brought before the Board of Discipline.

When any of the above occurs, student will be notified officially in writing.

Computer account will be closed in 1 week’s time (or 2 weeks’ time if the student is overseas). The registration card has to be returned to Registrar’s Office. For foreign students, the student pass and spouse social visit pass sponsored by the University (if any) will be cancelled.

Students whose candidature are terminated after the fee payment deadline will be liable to pay fees for the entire semester. However, if the date of termination is within the first half of the semester, half of the fees paid for the semester will be refunded to such students. Those who default on the payment after 2 reminders will have their records blacklisted by the University.