For admission as a candidate for the degree of Master of Arts (Southeast Asian Studies), a candidate must be a graduate of the National University of Singapore and its antecedent institutions or such graduate of another university as the Senate may approve, and must have obtained and/or fulfilled the following:

(i) A good NUS Honours degree (second class and above) or equivalent (e.g., a four-year Bachelors degree with at least an average grade of B or equivalent) in the subject or related field; or

(ii) A good Bachelors degree (at least an average grade of B or equivalent) in the subject or related field and successful completion of a placement test; or exceptionally,

(iii) Other qualifications and experience subject to approval by the Board of Graduate Studies.

As the medium of instruction is English, applicants whose native tongue or medium of undergraduate instruction is not English should submit TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores as evidence of their proficiency in the English Language. In general, the criteria for selection is based on intellectual distinction, professional merit and other relevant information supplied.

Degree Structure

Coursework students have a choice of undertaking part-time or full-time study. The maximum period for the completion of the Master of Arts (Southeast Asian Studies) programme is 36 months for full-time study or 48 months for part-time study. The maximum periods include periods of leave of absence subject to the Programme's and Faculty approval.

A full-time candidate must complete at least 3 modules in a semester and may complete up to a maximum of 5 modules in a semester. A part-time candidate must complete at least 1 modules in a semester and may complete up to a maximum of 3 modules in a semester. Only those locally domiciled are eligible for part-time study.

To graduate, each candidate must have read and passed 10 modules, including SE5151 Approaches to the Study of Southeast Asia (compulsory module), and obtained a minimum Cumulative Average Point of (CAP) of 3.00 based on a 5-point scale at the end of the course of study.

Each coursework module is taught and assessed over one semester and entails attending 3-hour weekly seminars for which extensive preparation, including presentations of class discussion papers and reading assignments, is expected. MA students electing the Independent Study module (ISM) attend weekly meetings with their supervisor once their topic is approved. Modules are selected from those on current offer as determined by the availability of specialist staff in each semester. If class and examination schedules permit, candidates may elect to read modules offered in other graduate coursework programs of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS).

Assessment

The assessment for each module will be based on a combination of written examination and continuous assessment (CA), which is based on class participation and presentations, written assignments and/or research projects.

For information on fees, application and application period, please visit: FASS Prospective Graduate Coursework Students.

For enquiries on the Master of Arts (Southeast Asian Studies) programme, please email to
seabox2 [at] nus.edu.sg.