Life of an SMU PhD Student

About the Award

As a research-intensive university, SMU is committed to carrying out research that is world-leading in terms of its originality and distinctiveness, significance and rigour.

Graduate Supervisors play a significant role in fostering and steering the development of postgraduate scholars in their research pursuits, and professional and personal growth as the latter navigate their academic journeys.

The Outstanding Graduate Supervisor Award is a university-level award to formally acknowledge, inspire, and encourage excellent mentorship, and to recognise supervisors’ contributions in nurturing the next generation of future scholars, thought leaders, and game changers.

Award Entitlement

1. $5,000 Cash Award
2. Award Plaque with Name Engraving

Eligibility

• All full-time Tenure, Practice and Education track faculty members who have supervised at least two SMU doctoral (or four SMU master by research) students to completion.
• Each nominee must be active in postgraduate research supervision in the last one year from May 2023 to May 2024, i.e., have supervised at least one active doctoral or master by research student during the indicated period.

Nomination

The nominations may be submitted by the following:

1. SMU Community

1. Current Postgraduate Research Students Mentored by Nominee
2. Postgraduate Research Alumni Mentored by Nominee
3. Faculty Peers of Nominee
4. Administrative Staff

2. Self-Nomination

Evaluation Committee

Nominations will be evaluated by the University Graduate Supervision Committee (UGSC), which will comprise of the following members: 

• Professor Heli WANG, Dean, College of Graduate Research Studies (Chairperson)

• Professor ZHENG Baihua, Associate Dean (Postgraduate Research Programmes), School of Computing and Information Systems

• Associate Professor ZHANG Yichong, Programme Director, PhD/MPhil in Economics, School of Economics

The College of Graduate Research Studies (CGRS) shall provide the secretariat support as required by the UGSC during the evaluation process. 

Evaluation Criteria

Nominations will be evaluated with reference to evidence of strength, positive impact and commitment to the support and development of the students’ postgraduate journey in the following areas:

• Successful completion of degree through well-structured relationships and the willingness to invest time and effort in guiding and supporting students' personal and professional development
• Demonstrable enthusiasm and commitment for the role to help students navigate through difficulties, academic or otherwise; establish transparent and reliable communication, with adequately prompt response to requests for meetings and feedback
• Promotes good scientific practice, research, and academic integrity
• Effectiveness in preparing students to be innovative scholars and thought leaders, and helping them to make substantial contributions to their academic field
• Providing a supportive, inclusive, and conducive environment. This includes advocating for students, helping them to access resources, creating opportunities for them to succeed and demonstrating exceptional support through the planning for assessments and the PhD proposal/final defence
• Support, encourage, and provide opportunities for personal development of students beyond the scope of their degree, while ensuring balance with core work.
• Evidence of the impact and outcomes of research supervision, such as successful and timely completions and co-publication or production of other research outputs with or by their candidates
• Commitment to supporting the continued success and professional growth of students post-graduation, e.g., offering constructive employment and career advice, etc.

Submission Requirements

Timeline

Admission Cohorts in Academic Year 2024 (AY2024)

Table A below shows the AY2024 programme fees for SMU Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programmes for cohorts admitting in AY2024. 

Notes:

• The indicated programme fees are in Singapore Dollars and may subject to revision on an annual basis.
• The MPhil tuition fee is payable in four billings over two years. Students are required to pay tuition fees twice a year in each Academic Year, i.e., Term 1 (in August) and Term 2 (in December of prior year).
• The annual subsidised fee for Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents and International Students will follow a fixed fee model for the new AY2024 cohort. Tuition fees for all citizenship groups will remain unchanged for the remaining course duration during the university studies. 
• The annual subsidised fees for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents shown are without Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is separately subsidised by the Singapore Government.
• The subsidised fees for International Students and non-subsidised fees shown are inclusive of GST, which is subject to change. The fees chargeable will be based on the prevailing GST rate in the year of billing.
• With effect from the AY2019 admission cohorts, students who extend their programme candidature beyond the maximum duration, i.e., 3 years for MPhil programmes, will be required to pay the tuition fee that is equivalent to the extended candidature duration (by academic terms). The rate will be pegged to their existing citizenship and following the fee treatment in the year where the fee is payable.
  
  

Eligibility Guidelines for Ministry of Education (MOE) Subsidy 

• The substantial tuition subsidy from the Government of Singapore comes in the form of a MOE subsidy which is administered by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and is offered to all admitted students up to the maximum programme duration. Students need not apply for the MOE subsidy if they are eligible. 
  
  
• Students with a Higher Degree Qualification 
  Students who have previously enjoyed MOE subsidy in a graduate programme will not be eligible for MOE subsidy in another graduate programme at the same or lower level. Instead, such students will be liable to pay the non-subsidised fees for the graduate programme that they now wish to undertake. For example, students who had previously enjoyed MOE subsidy in a Master’s programme and had attained the Master’s degree will not be eligible for subsidy in another programme at Master’s degree or lower level. 
  
  
• Transferred or Re-admitted Students 
  Students who are transferred or re-admitted within SMU or across Autonomous Universities* will be eligible to receive MOE subsidy up to the maximum programme duration for the new programme less the number of academic terms of MOE subsidy received for the previous programme. 
  
  *Autonomous Universities refer to SMU, National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). 
  
  
• Service Obligation
  Self-financing International Students who choose to pay the subsidised fees will need to take up a three-year service obligation. As part of the service obligation, the International Students are required to work in Singapore-based companies** upon graduation. Those who choose NOT to opt for the service obligation will be liable for the non-subsidised fees. The details of this service agreement can be found on the MOE website.
  
  **Singapore-based companies refer to local companies and international companies that have a base in Singapore which is registered with the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). The duration of the service obligation is fixed at three years, regardless of the duration of study at subsidised rates.

The postgraduate research tuition fees for cohorts admitted in AY2023 will continue to apply as per the previous approved annual fee schedule.

Admission Cohorts in Academic Year 2023 (AY2023)

Table B below shows the tuition fees for SMU Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programmes for cohorts admitted in AY2023 at their year of admission.

Table C below shows the tuition fees for the remaining course duration in AY2025 and beyond for SMU Master by Philosophy (MPhil) programmes for cohorts admitted in AY2023 and AY2024.

*Fee for International Students will be adjusted based on the prevailing GST rate in the year where the tuition fee is billed, on top of any scheduled annual fee increase.

Note
If a student takes a Leave of Absence (LOA) or is temporary suspended from his/her scholarship during the candidature, the tuition fee payable upon the resumption of candidature after the LOA or scholarship duration may recomputed accordingly, following the fee treatment in the year where the fee is payable.