Dai Xiaoyu
Intake Year: 2020
Research Interests: Intimate Relationships, Emotions, Cultural Differences
Research Advisor:
- Angela Leung
Co-Research Advisor:
Tan Pok Ping, Edison
Intake Year: 2020
Research Interests: Evolutionary Psychology, Individual Differences, Conspiracy Beliefs, Misinformation, Superstitions, Worldviews
Research Advisor:
- Angela Leung
Quek Yi Xuan, Frosch
Intake Year: 2021
Research Interests: Ageing, Prosocial Behaviors, Cybersocial Behaviors
Research Advisor:
Co-Research Advisor:
Ng Shu Tian
Intake Year: 2021
Research Interests: Environmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Connection to Nature
Research Advisor:
- Angela Leung
Jonathan Louis Chia Jie Sheng
Intake Year: 2021
Research Interests: Gerontology, Geriatrics
Research Advisor:
Co-Research Advisor:
Tan Tee Hng
Clement Lau Yong Hao
Intake Year: 2020
Research Interests: Self-distancing, Self Regulation, Well-being
Research Advisor:
Davelle Lee Jing Yi
Intake Year: 2022
Research Interests: National Identity in Multicultural Societies , Dual Self-Construal Integration
Research Advisor:
Yang YingJia
Intake Year: 2022
Research Interests: Close Relationships, Self and Relationship, Attachment Styles
Research Advisor:
Nicole Fellice Ko
Intake Year: 2022
Research Interests: Evolution and Mismatch, Religion, Mate Preferences and Selection, Social Inclusion and/or Exclusion, Intergroup Relations, Social Status and Hierarchy
Research Advisor:
- Norman Li
Simon Sebastian Groome
Intake Year: 2023
Research Interests: Evolutionary Psychology, Biodemography (Reproduction), Life History, Physical Attractiveness, Psychometrics, Behavioural Genetics
Research Advisor:
- Norman Li
Nicole Chen Ruiying
Intake Year: 2023
Research Interests: Singlehood, Pick-up Tactics, Evolutionary Mismatch, Positive Psychology, Human-Animal Interaction
Research Advisor:
Ho Zongyou, Daniel
Intake Year: 2023
Research Interests: Evolutionary Psychology, Close Relationships, Mate Preferences, Mating Strategies
Research Advisor:
Co-Research Advisor:
Tracy Chen Xi
Intake Year: 2023
Research Interests: Positive and Well-Being Psychology, Self-Compassion & Fear of Losing Out
Research Advisor:
Co-Research Advisor:
Koh Hui Ying, Ivy
Intake Year: 2023
Research Interests: Evolutionary Psychology, Mate Value, Mating Strategies
Research Advisor:
Tan Yan Fen
Intake Year: 2023
Research Interests: Sleep, Psychophysiology, Well-being
Research Advisor:
Tennakoon Appuhamillage Sandeeshwara Kasturiratna
Intake Year: 2023
Research Interests: Digital Media, Well-being, Positive Psychology
Research Advisor:
Chang Lynne, Christel
Intake Year: 2024
Research Interests: Well-being, Personality, Lifespan Development, Interpersonal Relationships
Research Advisor:
Ho Qi Hui, Jerlyn
Intake Year: 2024
Research Interests: Artificial Intelligence, Executive Functions
Research Advisor:
Co-Research Advisor:
Hu Meilan
Intake Year: 2024
Research Interests: Cyberpsychology, Well-being
Research Advisor:
- Andree Hartano
Jennifer Nguyen Ngoc Sao Chi
Intake Year: 2024
Research Interests: Relationship Science, Forensic Psychology
Research Advisor:
- Kenneth Tan
Syasya D/O Sayed Rajak
Intake Year: 2024
Research Interests: Psychology of Religion, Industrial-Organisational Psychology, Prosocial behaviours
Research Advisor:
Contact Us
Enquiries may be directed to:
School of Social Sciences
Singapore Management University
School of Social Sciences
10 Canning Rise, #05-01
Singapore 179873
Tel: +(65) 6828 0835
Email: phd_psy@smu.edu.sg
Programme Coordinator
Associate Professor Yang Hwajin
hjyang@smu.edu.sg
Programme Manager
Ms Chermin Ho
cherminho@smu.edu.sg
Application
| Intake | Opening Date for Application | Closing Date for Application |
|---|---|---|
| August | 1 August (of prior year) | 31 December (of prior year) |
*A successful candidate who applies early may be provided with an early offer.
The application period is from 1 August to 31 December of each academic year. Applicants will be notified of their application outcome before April.
Those interested in applying for the Psychology PhD programme are encouraged to identify and correspond with faculty members whose research interests closely match their own. Information on the research interests of Psychology faculty members can be obtained from here.
Apply
- Please click here on General Instructions for completing your Application.
*Please submit follow-up supporting documents via softcopy to phd_psy@smu.edu.sg - For Applicant's Self Service Guide, click here.
- For Applicant's Guide to Admissions, click here.
- For Applicant's Guide to Resetting Password, click here.
Online Application
For New User
You need to first register for an account with SMU before you can submit an online application form. Click on "Create New Account" below to proceed.
For Existing User
If you have already created an account with SMU, please go directly to the Login page to continue with your application.
Programme Structure and Curriculum
It is a four-year full-time programme.
No, the programme can only be taken on a full-time basis.
No, there is only one admission intake in August each year.
Students are required to complete 52 course units to meet the graduation requirement.
Students will complete most of the foundation and elective courses in Years One and Two of the programme. They are also expected to complete and defend their Master's Thesis by the end of Year Two. The programme will then focus more on research projects, and contributions to academic publications and presentations as students advance progressively in their training.
For more details, please refer to Programme Structure and Curriculum.
Admissions and Eligibility
Please click here for more information on the admission requirements.
Work experience is not required.
The GRE General is required for all applicants except those graduating with a bachelor degree (in any discipline) from SMU, NUS, NTU, SUTD, SIT, and SUSS (i.e., Singapore autonomous universities). Applicants from these universities will be considered without GRE scores (however, they are encouraged to submit their scores if available).
GRE Psychology Subject test is not required. However, applicants without a bachelor degree in psychology are strongly encouraged to take it and submit their result so that their knowledge in basic psychology can be taken into consideration when we review their application.
GRE General and Psychology Subject tests must be taken within five years prior to applying to the programme.
The GRE test score is valid for 5 years from the date of the examination. TOEFL / IELTS results are valid for 2 years.
More information can be obtained from the GRE website which provides information on preparing and registering for the GRE tests. SMU’s GRE institution code is 2861.
Applications
Applications must be submitted online. Click here to start. Please read the General Instructions carefully before submitting your application.
Yes, there is a non-refundable application fee of S$15. Applications received without the application fee will not be processed.
Full scholarships are available on a competitive basis. For more information on scholarships, please click here.
Applicants may send application without the GRE test scores. However, applications cannot be processed until the GRE scores are received before the closing date for application. Applicants should fax or email us the unofficial scores as soon as possible and arrange with the test centre for the official score report to be sent to SMU.
Applicants may send application without the TOEFL/IELTS scores. However, applications cannot be processed until the TOEFL/IELTS scores are received before the closing date for application. Applicants should fax or email us the unofficial scores as soon as possible and arrange with the test centre for the official score report to be sent to SMU.
An official copy of the full transcript is acceptable in lieu of a Bachelor's degree certificate if the latter is not available during the application period. However, applicants must ensure that they will be able to commence lessons in the intake that they are applying for.
Others
The Psychology PhD programme does not offer a terminal master degree. That is, the MSc degree in Psychology is awarded as part of the progression towards the PhD degree. A student who did not complete all the PhD degree requirements is not automatically awarded the MSc degree, although in exceptional circumstances he/she may be awarded the MSc degree if the student successfully completes all the MSc degree requirements and is deemed by the School to be in good standing and of satisfactory performance.
In most cases, students with a Master's degree will still need to take the required courses and complete the Master's thesis for meeting the Ph.D. graduation requirement of 52 course units. However, applicants with a Master's degree can also submit information regarding their previously earned Master's degree (e.g., official transcript, Master's thesis) along with their application. If the applicant is admitted to the programme, we will review on a case-by-case basis on possible exemptions from certain courses and/or Master's thesis.
As the programme is designed to equip our students with the necessary skills to evaluate, conduct and publish research, we expect our graduates will be qualified to work in academic settings. There should also be good opportunities for Psychology PhD holders trained in research psychology in the public and private sectors.
Generally, one information session is conducted each year between September and November. You may wish to refer to here for the latest updates.
PhD in Psychology Information Session
The Information Session will be announced once date has been confirmed. For further enquiries, please email phd_psy@smu.edu.sg.
Faculty members that are involved in the PhD in Psychology Programme include:
David CHAN
CHENG Chi-Ying
Andree HARTANTO
Ivy LAU
Angela LEUNG
Norman LI
Jacinth TAN
Kenneth TAN
William TOV
TSAI Ming-Hong
YANG Hwajin
Lester SIM
Admission Requirements
- An undergraduate bachelor's degree in psychology or a closely related field1 is preferred.
- Applicants who graduated with a bachelor's degree from SMU, NUS, NTU, SUTD, SIT, and SUSS (i.e., Singapore Autonomous Universities) are exempted from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). GRE taken within five years prior to the application.
1 Applicants are encourage to consider gaining relevant research training or experience in the field before applying
TOEFL/IELTS
Applicants whose medium of instruction for the Bachelor's degree was not English, are required to submit TOEFL or IELTS test scores.
Applications must be supported by recommendations from two academic referees.
Admission to the programme is highly competitive. Applicants with strong GPA and GRE scores and a demonstrated record of research experience will have an added advantage. A Master's degree is not necessary and will neither enhance nor hinder an applicant's chances of admission. More details can be found here.
PhD Programme Fees
For more information on PhD Programme Fees, please click here.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Full scholarships are available for full-time PhD students on a competitive basis. Subject to satisfactory progress, a scholarship holder will receive waiver of registration fees and tuition fees in addition to a monthly living stipend. Students may also receive additional funding through research assistantship (RA), teaching assistantship (TA) or industry grants.
Research and Teaching Assistantships
The Research Assistantships are structured to give students exposure to and experience in all facets of research including research design, data collection, data analysis, manuscript preparation, conference presentation, and manuscript publication. All Research Assistantships are project based.
For more information on scholarships, research and teaching assistantships, please click here.
The PhD in Psychology Programme is a full-time four-year programme. The maximum registration duration of the programme is five years, unless special approval for longer duration is granted by SMU. The programme does not offer a terminal Master's degree.
The curriculum consists of course units in:
- Foundation courses (6 course units)
- Elective courses (2 course units)
- Empirical Research Project (1 course unit)
- Master Thesis (12 course units)
- Advanced Research Topics (ARTs) courses (3 course units)
- PhD Dissertation (28 course units)
Students are required to complete a total of 52 course units (cus) to meet the graduation requirements.
To receive the PhD degree in Psychology, the student needs to first complete all requirements of the Master degree in Psychology. The requirements for the MSc degree in Psychology include successful completion of the relevant 20 cus comprising the Master thesis (12 cus) and the relevant Foundation and Elective courses (total of 8 cus). These requirements are important because they also help prepare the student and equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct the PhD dissertation and other advanced courses for the PhD degree. Please note the Psychology PhD programme does not offer a terminal master degree. That is, the MSc degree in Psychology is awarded as part of the progression towards the PhD degree. A student who did not complete all the PhD degree requirements is not automatically awarded the MSc degree, although in exceptional circumstances he/she may be awarded the MSc degree if the student successfully completes all the MSc degree requirements and is deemed by the School to be in good standing and of satisfactory performance.
Students will complete most of the Foundation and Elective courses in Years One and Two of the programme. Students will focus more on research projects, and contribute to academic publications and presentations as they advance progressively in their training.
Programme Schedule (Sample)
Year | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 Foundation courses | 3 Foundation courses | 1 Empirical Research Project |
2 | 2 ART courses Submit written Master Thesis Proposal | 1 ART course | Revise and re-submit Master Thesis Report |
3 | Pass PhD Qualifying Exam | Conduct PhD Dissertation research | Conduct PhD Dissertation research |
4 | Conduct PhD Dissertation research | Conduct PhD Dissertation research Submit written report of completed PhD Dissertation research | Revise and re-submit PhD Dissertation Report Submit approved PhD Dissertation Report to PGR Office |
Years One and Two
Foundation Courses
- Research Methods in Psychology
- Psychological Measurement
- General Linear Model
- Multivariate Statistics
- Personality and Individual Differences
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Industrial and Organizational Psychology
- Cultural Psychology
- Evolutionary Psychology
Elective Courses
- Systems in Psychology
- Social Cognition
- Lifespan Development
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Psychology of Emotion
- Psychology of the Self
Students should have formed their Master Thesis Committee by the end of Year One, and completed and defended their Master's Thesis by the end of Year Two.
Year Three
Students are expected to complete all coursework requirements and pass the PhD Qualifying Examination by the end of Term One of Year Three. The PhD Dissertation Committee is also expected to be formed by the same time. Students are expected to work on their dissertation proposal, defend their dissertation proposal, and conduct the PhD dissertation research.
Year Four
Students are expected to complete their dissertation research in Year Four. Students will prepare and conduct the final defence of their dissertation research.
The PhD in Psychology is a research programme designed to equip students with doctoral-level knowledge in contents areas in psychology and research methodology, focusing on areas in cognitive, cultural, developmental, social, personality, and organizational psychology.
The goals of the programme are:
- To equip students with state-of-the-art knowledge about the psychology research literature
- To equip students with the basic and applied research skills for conducting empirical studies/projects as well as evaluating these studies/projects
- To equip students with the skills to link theory, constructs, measurement, method, data analysis and inferences in substantive areas to make recommendations and decisions that are scientifically defensible
- To train and mentor students to prepare them for psychology and psychology-related careers in academia and industry