Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
Part-time (36 – 60 months)
Doctor of Philosophy degree under the respective academic pillar
How long is the PhD programme?
Full-time: Minimum candidature is 3 years and maximum candidature is 5 years.*
Part-time: Minimum candidature is 3 years and maximum candidature is 5 years.
*Note that scholarship for full-time students will cover up to 4 years only
When will I know the outcome of my application?
Notifications are usually sent 2–3 months after the application deadline.
Can I defer my studies after I receive the admission offer?
Yes, you may defer your application on the same Academic Year. If you wish to defer further, you are required to re-apply in the portal.
Is part-time or distance learning mode offered for the PhD / EngD programme?
We offer part-time option for our doctorate programmes. However, currently all courses are conducted in campus.
What are the key milestones in the PhD / EngD programme timeline?
Students are required to achieve specific milestones throughout their candidature.
For example:
- The PhD/EngD Qualifying Examination must be completed by the end of the second year.
- The PhD/EngD Preliminary Examination (if applicable) must be completed by the end of the third year.
- Students should consult their respective Pillar or Cluster for detailed course and milestone requirements.
What’s the difference between Engineering Doctorate (EngD) and PhD?
EngD: Develops industry-oriented engineers with PhD-level skills, focusing on solving technical problems that have a strong industrial relevance. Professional development training to equip EngD students with important skillsets such as Intellectual Property (IP), transferring IP to initial public offering (IPO), entrepreneurship, business start-up, leadership and teamwork.
PhD: Develops and trains students to be an expert in a much more focused area in the domain of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). PhD students are prepared for a career in academic research, and applied research that may or may not have immediate industrial application.
While PhD emphasises theoretical research (TRL 1–2), EngD targets higher technical readiness levels.
How much are the tuition fees for PhD and EngD?
The course fees for both PhD and EngD are on the respective programme webpages, please refer to the following for latest updates:
Are scholarships or funding available? Do I need to submit a separate application?
Yes, SUTD offers scholarships such as the SUTD PhD Fellowship, President’s Graduate Fellowship, and external scholarships. Please indicate that you wish to be considered for a scholarship in your admission application. Refer to the graduate scholarships page for more information on what’s available.
Do the scholarships have obligations?
The obligations differ depending on the type of scholarships, please refer to the respective scholarship details.
When is the start of term or when does the Academic Year start?
Please refer to our academic calendar. The start of term for each cohort will be in September or January depending on your intake.