Research Focus
Cross-cutting areas of Earth environmental science, climate change and data-driven environmental research include:
- Global carbon cycle and ecosystem carbon flux studies;
- Monitoring and quantification of greenhouse gas emissions;
- Atmospheric chemistry processes and air quality studies;
- Analysis of environmental remote sensing and integration of multi-source data;
- Development of environmental monitoring techniques and modelling methods;
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in environmental science.
Programme Structure and Funding
The project is a full-time Ph.D. programme, with only 1-2 students enrolled in 4 years.
The programme is fully funded. Eligible students are entitled to a tuition grant and a corresponding subsistence allowance, which is based on the results of the final school review and the admission notice.
President’s Graduate Fellowship
Scholarships are awarded for an initial period of one year, renewable on the basis of academic performance, up to a maximum of 4 years, including:
- Monthly allowance: Singapore citizen - SGD 4,800; permanent resident in Singapore - SGD 4,400; international student - SGD 3,900;
- Full school fees;
- One-time air travel allowance for one-way tickets up to SGD 750 (for overseas students only);
- One-time settlement allowance of SGD 1000 (for students abroad only);
- In addition, the Graduate School may provide additional monthly allowances (for a period of four years) and one-time research allowances (after passing the doctoral qualification examination), as appropriate.
The amount is based on the final decision of the Graduate School. - Note: Scholarship recipients are required to ensure that they are new during the grant period (in addition to the period of authorized leave) Singapore.
The recipient may require the head of the department/head of the project to request assistance in teaching or sector work. Dean’s PhD Scholarship: An additional grant for the year 1 after the completion of the regular doctoral scholarship.
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Funding: School fees and maintenance for the final year 1. - Granted places: Up to 3 per year, only for new entrants enrolled in the month 8.
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Note:
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The recipients are required to complete their Ph.D. studies within 5 years, so the papers should be submitted within 12 months after the start of the scholarship.
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Only full-time Ph.D. students who have received a National University of Singapore scholarship and are admitted to doctoral programmes are eligible for the award.
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The scholarship is nominated by the department and is awarded in conjunction with other scholarships.
NUS Research Scholarship
- Full tuition deduction
- Subsistence allowance
Singapore citizen - 3800/ month, permanent resident of Singapore - 3400/ month, international student < 3,000/ month.
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Doctoral qualification allowance: Upon passing the doctoral qualification examination, an additional allowance of 500 SGD month is payable for the duration and renewal of the allowance in accordance with the school regulations.
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Maximum funding period: Ph.D. students up to 4 years.
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Scholarships are renewed: for the first time 1 years, they are renewed on the basis of the student ’ s previous academic performance and the recommendations of the Institute.
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Note:
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Scholarship recipients must reside in Singapore for the duration of the grant, except for the period of authorized leave;
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The head of the relevant department or project may request the assistance of the scholarship recipient in carrying out a certain teaching or faculty function;
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NUS does not provide additional support for travel or other related costs;
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NUS does not guarantee that scholarship recipients will be able to obtain a school job upon completion of their degree. At the same time, the project receives self-financing applications. However, both scholarships and self-financing are subject to the same application and interview process, on a merit basis.
Suitable Academic Backgrounds
Atmospheric sciences, meteorology, environmental sciences, Earth sciences, geography, remote sensing science, computer science, artificial intelligence, data science, chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics
Entry Requirements
- Academic background: A bachelor’s or master’s degree in atmospheric science, computer science, meteorology, environmental science, chemistry, physics, Earth science or a related quantitative field.
- Academic performance: GPA of at least 3.5/4.0. The GPA requirement may be relaxed for applicants with extensive research experience.
- Language requirements: TOEFL 100 with writing at least 22; TOEFL iBT Home Edition is accepted. Alternatively, IELTS 7.0. Applicants who have earned a degree taught in English in an English-speaking country may apply for an exemption.
- References: Two academic recommendation letters.
- Preferred qualifications: Experience with Earth-system models such as WRF or GEOS-Chem; programming skills in Python, Fortran or R; familiarity with a Linux-based HPC environment; a publication in a JCR Q1 journal; and preferably two research experiences lasting at least six months each that involved intellectual contribution rather than task execution alone.
Application Materials
- Diploma;
- Purpose statement (up to 1900, with background and motivation 400; research programme 1500, including reference material);
- GRE reports (if available, enhance competitiveness and accept GRE General Test at Home);
- Other relevant materials (e.g. publications, participation in seminars, workshops, conferences, relevant work experience, etc.);
- Report card;
- English report card;
- 2An academic letter of recommendation.
Application Period
Enrolment time is 8 month or 1 month, application time:
- 8Monthly enrolment: previous year11Month1Date-end application, year of admission5Later in the month, the results were issued;
- 1Monthly enrolment: previous year5Month15The deadline for applications,10Later in the month, the results were issued.
Application Process
From now until the end of August, applicants submit an English CV and related materials for an initial assessment. In September, applicants who pass the initial screening will be invited to interview with a potential supervisor. In October, successful interviewees must submit a formal application through the university website. From November to February, shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the faculty admissions committee. Offers are issued in May. The timeline above uses August entry as an example.
August entry: 1 November; January entry: 15 May.
Tuition and Living Costs
Tuition fees (slight annual increase)
- 2026 / 27 school year - Self-financed 41,800 N/year, equivalent to approximately 220,000/year.
- Students who have obtained a master’s degree have the opportunity to apply for a MOE tuition subsidy if they have not previously benefited from the Singapore Government ’ s tuition subsidy/government grant - the fee is about 21,900 N/Y (approximately RMB)
115,000 yuan/year, based on school review results.
Living costs
100,000–200,000 RMB/year (depending on individual circumstances).
Career Prospects
The Department of Geography at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has consistently ranked first in Asia and among the global top ten. Its PhD graduates are highly competitive in the global job market because of their rigorous research training and critical thinking skills. Overall, career paths are diverse, and more than 73% of PhD graduates secure full-time employment or a postdoctoral position within 6 months of graduation.
Graduates mainly pursue careers in the following areas:
- Universities and research institutes: This is the traditional route. Many graduates take academic or postdoctoral positions at leading universities worldwide, including Yale University, the University of Hong Kong and Sun Yat-sen University.
Local universities such as NUS and Nanyang Technological University, as well as research institutes such as the Earth Observatory of Singapore, are also important destinations. An NUS PhD is highly recognised in Asia-Pacific academia and is valued by international organisations such as the World Bank and UN-Habitat.
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Public-sector and government bodies: Spatial analysis and policy assessment skills developed through geography training are valuable in public governance. Graduates work in Singapore government agencies and statutory boards, including the Singapore Land Authority, Urban Redevelopment Authority and Land Transport Authority, in areas such as urban planning, resource management and policymaking.
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Private-sector organisations: As geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing and big-data technologies become more widely used, demand for geography PhD graduates continues to grow in technology and business. Graduates work in multinational R&D centres, environmental consultancies, sustainability teams and internet companies such as Shopee, undertaking spatial-data analysis, environmental consulting and market research.
The department’s recent focus on GeoAI and geographic information science has further expanded opportunities in high-technology fields.
