Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme at the Asian School of the Environment (ASE) offers a rigorous and interdisciplinary training experience that integrates multiple disciplines such as environmental science, ecology, technology, human-environment interactions, and social sciences. This four-year programme combines graduate coursework and a doctoral thesis, all under close faculty mentorship. Students develop advanced research skills through hands-on investigation and interdisciplinary collaboration, building a deep understanding of complex environmental systems. Graduate coursework enhances analytical, technical, and communication abilities, while a focus on leadership and innovative problem-solving prepares graduates to become leaders in academia, research, policy, and industries worldwide.
Should you have any programme enquiries, please contact ASE's Academic Admin Team at aseacadteam@ntu.edu.sg.
The following are minimum admission requirements. Meeting these criteria does not guarantee admission, as selection is competitive.
- A bachelor’s degree with minimum Honours (Distinction) or Second Class (Upper) Honours in a related science, engineering, or social science programme.
- A TOEFL (internet-based) score of 5.0 or more, or IELTS score of 6.5 or more, is required for international applicants for whom English is not their first language and/or graduates of universities in which English is not the medium of instruction. Test dates must be within 2 years or less from the date of your application. Special arrangements can be made for selected applicants to sit for NTU’s English Proficiency Test (EPT) in place of TOEFL/IELTS.
- Both full-time and part-time candidatures are available. Students are expected to complete the programme within a maximum candidature period of 5 years.
PhD Programme Roadmap
The PhD programme is designed to be completed within four years of study. The roadmap below highlights the major milestones that students are expected to achieve during their candidature, under the guidance of their faculty supervisor:
| Year 1, Semester 1 | ✅ Establish your Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC)
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| Year 1, Semester 2 | ✅ Continue your exploratory research project |
| Year 2, Semester 1 | ✅ Complete your exploratory research project |
| Year 2, Semester 2 | ✅ Submit Year 2 Annual Progress Report |
| Year 3 | ✅ Submit Year 3 Annual Progress Report |
| Year 4 | ✅ Continue doctoral research and develop your thesis |
| Final Semester | ✅ Continue doctoral research and develop your thesis |
Coursework Requirements (before QE)
PhD students are required to complete 18 Academic Units (AUs) of coursework to graduate, equivalent to approximately six graduate-level courses. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA (cGPA) of 3.50 out of 5.00 to meet graduation requirements. Different requirements may apply to certain scholarship holders.
Students are required to complete the following courses:
| ES7002 (3AUs) | Research Skills in Environmental Earth Systems Science |
| ES7003 (3AUs) | Communication Skills for Scientists |
All coursework must be selected in consultation with the faculty supervisor to ensure alignment with the student's research area and academic development. At least 9 AUs must be completed through courses offered by the home school. PhD students must complete at least 12 AUs (including ES7002 and ES7003) to be eligible to take the PhD Qualifying Examination (QE) in Year 2 Semester 1.
Students holding a relevant master's degree may apply for course exemptions of up to 3 AUs (equivalent to one graduate-level course) for substantially similar courses completed previously. To be eligible, the course must have been completed within five years of the exemption application.
Other Compulsory Courses
- ES8703 Postgraduate Academic Writing / HWG703 Graduate English
- ERWA01 Epigeum Research Integrity Course
- GP8000 Artificial Intelligence Literacy
- Scholarly Communication & Impact Seminar
- HWG702 University Teaching for Teaching Assistants
Thesis Advisory Committee
The TAC is typically chaired by the student’s faculty supervisor and comprises any co-supervisors together with two additional faculty members, one of whom is preferably from outside the student’s home school. Where appropriate, suitably qualified professionals from industry or research institutes may also be appointed to the committee. TAC appointments are approved by the Associate Chair (Graduate Studies) in consultation with the student’s supervisor(s).
The TAC must be established by the end of the student’s first semester of candidature. Students are responsible for convening TAC meetings at least once per semester to review progress and discuss future research plans.
Exploratory Research Project
PhD students undertake an exploratory research project under the guidance of their faculty supervisor to develop and demonstrate their research capabilities. Through this project, students learn to conduct independent scientific inquiry, position their work within the broader body of knowledge, and evaluate the significance of their findings. The project culminates in the Qualifying Examinations (QE) in Year 2 Semester 1, which assesses students' research readiness and foundational knowledge in their field of study.
Annual Progress Report
PhD students are required to submit an annual progress report during the first three years of their candidature. The report provides an overview of the student's research activities and project progress, coursework completed, publications, seminars and conferences attended, assessments by the supervisors and TAC, as well as a record of TAC meetings held during the reporting period.
As part of the annual progress report, PhD students are expected to attend at least 10 seminars per academic year.
Qualifying Examinations
As part of the Qualifying Examinations (QE), students are required to submit a report and deliver a 15-minute presentation to the PhD QE Committee, outlining the objectives, methodology, key findings, conclusions, and significance of their exploratory research project. This is followed by a question-and-answer session with the committee. Satisfactory completion of the QE confirms the student's PhD candidacy and marks the transition to thesis research, which is often built upon the exploratory research project.
Coursework Requirements (after QE)
PhD students are required to complete a total of 18 Academic Units (AUs) of coursework, equivalent to approximately six graduate-level courses, and maintain a minimum cGPA of 3.50 out of 5.00 to meet graduation requirements. Different requirements may apply to certain scholarship holders.
After completing at least 12 AUs (including ES7002 and ES7003) and successfully passing the Qualifying Examinations (QE) in Year 2 Semester 1, students will have 6 AUs of remaining coursework to complete during the subsequent years of candidature while conducting their doctoral research.
CoS Research Integrity Workshop
PhD students are required to complete the CoS Research Integrity Workshop by the end of their second year. More information can be found here.
Annual Progress Report
PhD students are required to submit an annual progress report during the first three years of their candidature. The report provides an overview of the student's research activities and project progress, coursework completed, publications, seminars and conferences attended, assessments by the supervisors and TAC, as well as a record of TAC meetings held during the reporting period.
As part of the annual progress report, PhD students are expected to attend at least 10 seminars per academic year.
Thesis Development
After successfully passing the Qualifying Examinations (QE) in Year 2 Semester 1, PhD students may focus on developing their thesis in preparation for the Oral Defense in their final semester, typically Year 4 Semester 2.
Coursework Requirements (after QE)
PhD students are required to complete a total of 18 Academic Units (AUs) of coursework, equivalent to approximately six graduate-level courses, and maintain a minimum cGPA of 3.50 out of 5.00 to meet graduation requirements. Different requirements may apply to certain scholarship holders.
After completing at least 12 AUs (including ES7002 and ES7003) and successfully passing the Qualifying Examinations (QE) in Year 2 Semester 1, students will have 6 AUs of remaining coursework to complete during the subsequent years of candidature while conducting their doctoral research.
Annual Progress Report
PhD students are required to submit an annual progress report during the first three years of their candidature. The report provides an overview of the student's research activities and project progress, coursework completed, publications, seminars and conferences attended, assessments by the supervisors and TAC, as well as a record of TAC meetings held during the reporting period.
As part of the annual progress report, PhD students are expected to attend at least 10 seminars per academic year.
Thesis Development
After successfully passing the Qualifying Examinations (QE) in Year 2 Semester 1, PhD students may focus on developing their thesis in preparation for the Oral Defense in their final semester, typically Year 4 Semester 2.
3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Symposium
The 3MT Symposium challenges students to deliver their research in a clear and engaging manner to a non-specialist adience within three minutes using one presentation slide. You may find more information here and here.
CoS Career Preparation Workshop
Students enrolled in the AY2022 intake and earlier are required to attend the workshop. More information can be found here.
Epigeum Research Integrity Course - Concise (ERIC-CONCISE)
PhD students are required to complete ERIC-CONCISE by the end of their third year. More information can be found here.
Coursework Requirements (after QE)
PhD students are required to complete a total of 18 Academic Units (AUs) of coursework, equivalent to approximately six graduate-level courses, and maintain a minimum cGPA of 3.50 out of 5.00 to meet graduation requirements. Different requirements may apply to certain scholarship holders.
After completing at least 12 AUs (including ES7002 and ES7003) and successfully passing the Qualifying Examinations (QE) in Year 2 Semester 1, students will have 6 AUs of remaining coursework to complete during the subsequent years of candidature while conducting their doctoral research.
Thesis Development
After successfully passing the Qualifying Examinations (QE) in Year 2 Semester 1, PhD students may focus on developing their thesis in preparation for the Oral Defense in their final semester, typically Year 4 Semester 2.
Oral Defense
The student must submit their thesis to the thesis committee at least one month in advance of the thesis defense. The oral defense consists of a public presentation (45-50 minutes), with questions from the audience. Following the public presentation, the student will meet for private discussion with the thesis committee. In exceptional circumstances, an external committee chair may be appointed by the Associate Chair (Graduates).Revisions requested by the committee must be completed and submitted to the committee chair for final approval. If the student fails the thesis examination, subject to the recommendation of the thesis committee and the Academic Committee and the approval of the Associate Chair (Graduates), the student may undergo another examination within six months.
PhD students are required to complete 18 Academic Units (AUs) of coursework to graduate, equivalent to approximately six graduate-level courses. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA (cGPA) of 3.50 out of 5.00 to meet graduation requirements. Different requirements may apply to certain scholarship holders.
Students are required to complete the following courses:
| ES7002 (3AUs) | Research Skills in Environmental Earth Systems Science |
| ES7003 (3AUs) | Communication Skills for Scientists |
All coursework should be selected in consultation with the faculty supervisor to ensure alignment with the student’s research interests and academic development. Students are required to complete at least 9 AUs through courses offered by their home school. They may also register for eligible courses outside their home school through cross-programme enrolment. To be eligible for the PhD Qualifying Examination (QE) in Year 2 Semester 1, PhD students must complete a minimum of 12 AUs, including ES7002 and ES7003.
Students holding a relevant master's degree may apply for course exemptions of up to 3 AUs (equivalent to one graduate-level course) for substantially similar courses completed previously. To be eligible, the course must have been completed within five years of the exemption application.
All courses are worth 3 Academic Units (3 AUs) unless otherwise indicated.
| Course Code | Course Coordinator | Course Description |
ES7001: Natural Hazards and Society | Prof Lai Voon Hui | At the end of this course, the students will be able to describe natural hazards and explain why they occur when and where they do, describe the effects of natural hazards on human lives, property and livelihoods, and demonstrate a basic comprehension of how risks from natural hazards are assessed and managed and how our attitudes and actions can influence the impact of natural hazards. |
ES7002: Research Skills for Scientists | Prof Benoit Taisne | This course aims to encourage students to critically evaluate seminar speakers and develop their skills as presenters and researchers. |
ES7005: Environmental Earth Systems Science | Prof Euan Mutch | This course is designed to be a comprehensive introduction to the Earth and its systems, including the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and solid Earth. The course will focus on the linkages and feedbacks between these systems, and the role of humans in the Earth system. |
| ES7010: Geochemistry | Prof Wang Xianfeng | This course is designed to introduce students the principles of chemistry related to geology (therefore, geochemistry) and their applications to understand processes taking place on and within the earth. By the end of the course, students should become familiar with the basic geochemical tools, and be able to use these tools to solve, in a quantitative manner, some geological and environmental problems, for example, measuring geological time, unraveling the continental and oceanic evolutions, and understanding the current climate change. |
ES7021: Space Geodesy | Prof Feng Lujia | The aim of the course is to give students a broad overview of the types of geodetic data available, how they are used for studying natural hazards and climate change, and their strengths and limitations. We will not go into depth on processing techniques for any individual data type, but instead aim to give a general background for each so that if students are working with geodetic data for their own projects they understand the strengths and limitations, and have at least some idea of what goes into the processing. |
| ES7024: Global Change Ecology | Prof Zeng Yiwen | This course aims to let you apply knowledge from your undergraduate training to appreciate the effects of various global change phenomena on real ecosystems, communities and organisms. It also aims to improve your ability to synthesise and present scientific information on short notice, formulating stable arguments based on this information and draw conclusions built on the consideration of different perspectives. The course aims to improve your skills and confidence through repeated exercises and continuous feedback. |
| ES7025: Biogeochemistry | Prof Thomas Blattmann | The course aims to teach students broadly how biological communities shape the chemistry of their environment, and how environmental chemistry in turn shapes biological communities. The course will examine in particular how human activities are altering biogeochemistry at both local and global scales, such as through eutrophication, ocean acidifi cation, and rising temperatures. |
| ES7028: Experimental Design & Analysis for Ecology | Prof Eleanor Slade | This course introduces you to the basic principles of experimental design and analysis of ecological experiments. It introduces you to methods and key concepts for designing and implementing experiments in both the fi eld and laboratory. You will learn how to plan and execute an experiment, key concepts in designing experiments, and how to analyse and present your results. This course builds on the statistical skills you should have learned in undergraduate programmes and you will learn how to apply these statistical methods to real-life fi eld and lab experiments. This courses uses R, and assumes some introductory knowledge of statistics. |
ES7029: GIS and the Earth System | Prof Perrine Hamel | In this course, you will become familiar with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Earth sciences. You will use an open-source GIS software to perform common tasks required in the study of Earth systems, including importing and exporting datasets, producing scientific-grade maps, and performing basic to advanced geospatial analyses. Given the rapid progress in GIS science and technology, you will also learn how to find online resources to perform tasks required in diverse industries (urban planning, landscape architecture, scientific research). The course is primarily targeted at Environmental Sciences graduate students, with applications to Earth science, ecology, and society. |
ES7030: Nature-based Solutions for Urban System | Prof Perrine Hamel | The urban population is growing globally, creating or exacerbating major global environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss. To understand the role that cities can play in mitigating these issues, this course aims to equip students with the basic knowledge and tools to analyse urban landscapes using the frameworks of resilience and ecosystem services. We will cover the major challenges that cities face in the 21st century and the role that nature-based solutions –promoting forests, parks, trees, green roofs– can play in addressing these challenges. Through a group project, students will apply this knowledge in practice by articulating the potential for nature-based solutions and presenting an urban ecosystem services assessment for a case study of their choice. |
ES7031: Population Genetic Theory & Its Application *Offered in alternate years | Prof Kim Hie Lim | By the end of the course, students will be able to:
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ES7033: Biodiversity and Natural History of Southeast Asia | Prof Lam Weng Ngai | Southeast Asia is one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, harbouring extraordinary species richness across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. However, the region is also experiencing rapid environmental change due to land-use transformation, urbanization, and climate pressures. Understanding Southeast Asian biodiversity therefore requires both strong knowledge of regional ecological patterns and familiarity with the methods used to document, monitor, and manage biodiversity. Singapore provides an unusually well-studied entry point into this broader regional context. Despite its small size and urbanized landscape, Singapore retains a diverse range of habitats and approximately 40,000 recorded species. Its biodiversity has been intensively documented through taxonomic, ecological, and conservation research, making it an ideal case study through which to explore biodiversity science in Southeast Asia. This course introduces the biodiversity of Southeast Asia using Singapore as a focal system. Students will gain an overview of major taxonomic groups and ecosystems found in the region, examine the ecological and evolutionary processes that structure biodiversity patterns, and explore how biodiversity data are collected, interpreted, and applied in environmental management and conservation. By the end of the course, students will be able to situate Singapore’s biodiversity within broader Southeast Asian ecological and biogeographical contexts, critically engage with biodiversity datasets and literature, and evaluate how biodiversity knowledge informs conservation and environmental policy in tropical regions. This course is made up of 13 three-hour lectures which are taught alongside the undergraduate course ES5008 The biodiversity and natural history of Singapore, and four additional two-hour seminars which are exclusive to this course and taken only by postgraduate students. |
ES8703: Postgraduate Academic Writing (0 AU) | Prof Pavel Adamek | *Students not exempted from HWG703 may opt to take either HWG703/ES8703. The course will develop graduate students’ written communication skills, with the express focus on preparing students to write for publication during their PhD programmes. |
Updated course listing as of 26 June 2026.
All courses are worth 3 Academic Units (3 AUs) unless otherwise indicated.
| Course Code | Course Coordinator | Course Description |
ES7003: Communication Skills for Scientists | Prof Pavel Adamek | When you pursue a career in science, being a great researcher is not enough. A critical part of having a successful and impactful career is to effectively communicate your research to members of your or other scientific communities at conferences, workshops, seminars, during grant application presentations, and while teaching. This course will give you an opportunity to hone your presentation and communication skills and discuss concepts such as:
The course will focus around developing a short talk and a poster about your research, building throughout the course the different elements of a presentation, from identifying key points to developing the graphics, and finally delivering the presentation. At the end of the course, you should have more tools in your toolbox to select from depending on the type of audience you are presenting to (e.g., conference, qualifying examination, grant committee). |
ES7011: Oceanography | Prof Patrick Martin | The oceans cover 75% of our planet’s surface area, and consequently play a major role in the Earth System. They also present a fascinating environment that is physically, chemically, and biologically different from the land environment we humans are used to. The objectives of this course are to provide a strong foundation in the principles of oceanography, with a primary focus on physical and chemical oceanography at a global scale, and throughout the full depth of the ocean. The course will begin by considering physical ocean circulation, including interactions between the ocean and climate. We will then examine ocean chemistry and its interactions with ocean biology, especially nutrient cycling, biological production and decomposition, and ocean carbon uptake. As part of that, we will consider how chemical tracers can shed light on oceanographic processes. This course is aimed at postgraduate students: if you are doing research work relating to physical, chemical, or biological oceanography then this course will provide foundational knowledge and analysis skills to help you with your research. If you are an MSc by Coursework student, then this course will deepen your expertise in ocean sciences to set you up for a possible career path in environmental science-related work that may involve ocean-related issues. |
ES7012: Structural Geology and Tectonics | Prof Aron Meltzner / Prof Euan Mutch | This course is designed to give students an understanding of the deformation of Earth materials, including mountain building and plate tectonics, faulting and earthquakes, folding, and ductile deformation. |
ES7013: Climate and Climate Change | Prof Wang Xianfeng | This course is designed to provide you a comprehensive and interdisciplinary introduction to climate science. It covers the scientific concepts and physical principles of climate science, the history of Earth’s climate, evidence for climate change, the interactions between the climate system and human society, the mitigation and adaptation of climate change, and the ethical and political dimensions of climate change. Through this course, you are expected to become familiar with analytical and mathematical tools to study the climatic state, and finally, to be able to link theories to the observation data in the real world. |
ES7020: Introduction to Geophysics | Prof Luca Dal Zilio | The aim of this course is to introduce the fundamental concepts of the solid Earth, providing students with a theoretical foundation and exercises that incorporate basic computational methods to quantitatively explore subsurface Earth structures. Building on this background, the course will then focus on near-surface geophysical imaging, covering a range of techniques including active and passive source seismology, gravity, magnetic, geoelectric, and electromagnetic surveys. Students will learn the physical principles behind these techniques, practice how they are applied, and review and interpret results through a mixture of lectures, computational exercises, and practical examples. Whenever possible, fi eld-based data collection within Singapore will be included to offer direct, hands-on experience; where this is not feasible, real-world datasets will be used for classroom exercises and labs. Throughout the course, students will develop an understanding of the complementary perspectives each method offers and how, when combined, they provide a coherent view of the subsurface, with an emphasis on precision, interpretation, and the distinction between results and their implications. |
ES7023: Fundamentals of Data Science for Earth and Environmental Earth Systems Science | Prof Luca Dal Zilio | The goal of this class is to develop a working knowledge of data science and its use in earth systems research and practice. The course is split evenly between key concepts / theory and practical experience writing code and analysing outputs. Some introductory knowledge of statistics is assumed, and some familiarity with programming is helpful but not required. |
ES7026: Coupled Human and Natural Systems | Prof Janice Lee | The course will introduce the study of coupled human and natural systems drawing primarily from land systems science research, which is the study of past, current, and projected state and dynamics of land use. The course will focus on identifying social and ecological components and processes in coupled human and natural systems (used interchangeably with socioecological systems) and apply established frameworks to the study of connections and linkages across social and ecological realms. The aims of this course are to apply established socioecological frameworks, develop a working knowledge of social science research methods and spatial analyses when studying coupled human and natural systems. Graduate students interested to make their research more applied and policy-relevant can consider taking this course. |
ES7032: Environmental Sustainability | Prof Kyle Morgan | In this inter-disciplinary introduction to environmental science, we will look at 1) the interconnections between biological, geological, and chemical processes, 2) how human behavior responds to and shapes these processes, and 3) how interdisciplinary communication, through scientifi c research, governmental policy, economics, and education, is essential for identifying, managing, and solving for human impacts on the natural world. This course will provide opportunities for you to learn the basics of the environmental system (i.e., biogeochemical, energy and biological cycles), understand more about natural resource and waste management, share insights you have gained from the coursework with students from other programs, and identify, evaluate, and propose solutions to relevant sustainability issues. This course is suitable for students from all disciplines, and it does not require you to have a science background. We have had students from across the different schools and we do not require you to have any ‘A’ Level background in biology. The content related to the basics of the environmental system will be catered to students with no prior background in the sciences. You should take up this course because it concerns you! As we are faced with more and more news about environmental issues, it is imperative for you to understand what is reported, whether these issues are supported by scientific evidence, and what can you do about environmental issues through your lifestyle choices, your political action, or your career. |
Updated course listing as of 26 June 2026.
All courses are worth 3 Academic Units (3 AUs) unless otherwise indicated.
| Course Code | Course Coordinator | Course Description |
ES7015: Supervised Independent Study I | Prof Steve Yim | The Supervised Independent Study aims to:
|
ES7018: Supervised Independent Study II | Prof Steve Yim |
Updated course listing as of 26 June 2026.
Before applying, please contact individual ASE faculty members to discuss potential PhD opportunities and identify a suitable faculty supervisor. You may explore our research areas and learn more about our faculty members through the ASE website. Once you have identified a potential faculty supervisor and obtained their support, please work with both the faculty member and the ASE Academic Admin Team to submit your application.
There are two PhD admission intakes each year, in August and January, with application deadlines on 31 January and 31 July respectively. To apply, please visit NTU's Research Programmes Admission Guide for more information.
When completing your application, please ensure that you select the correct programme:
- ASE PhD Programme: Under Programme Applied For > Programme Applied, choose "Asian School of the Environment: Programme Code [221] Doctor of Philosophy (ASoE)".
- iGP-EoS PhD Programme: Under Programme Applied For, choose "Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme (IGP): IGPA".
The projects listed below represent some of the opportunities currently available. Interested prospective students should contact the respective faculty member directly to learn more.
As additional opportunities may not be advertised here, students are encouraged to proactively reach out to faculty members whose research aligns with their interests.
Project Title | Supervisor | Application Deadline | Duration | Remarks | |
Constraining the thermal and temporal evolution of basaltic magmatic systems | 31 Jan 2026 | 4 years | |||
AI-Enhanced Physics-Based Simulations for Earthquake Modelling | 31 Jan 2026 | 4 years | |||
AI-Enhanced Earth System Modeling for Nature-Based Climate Solutions | 31 Jan 2026 | 4 years | |||
Carbon dynamics of peatlands / Fire hazard forecasting in peatlands | 31 Jan 2026 | 4 years | |||
31 Jan 2026 | 4 years | ||||
Environmental and Geohazard Monitoring using Fibre-optic sensing | 31 Jul 2026 | 4 years |
1) Where can I learn more about the tuition fees, scholarships, and financial aid available for the PhD programme at ASE?
You may find out more here and here.
2) Are there internship opportunities for PhD students at ASE?
The University offers a Postgraduate Internship Programme open to all Year 3 and Year 4 Ph.D. students. Both full-time and part-time PhD students may apply. You may find more information here.
3) Are there student exchange opportunities for PhD students at ASE?
The University offers a Local Student Exchange Programme, enabling PhD students to take graduate-level courses that are offered in local host universities. Upon successful completion of the courses, credits will be transferred to the home university. The grades of the courses taken at the host university will not be included in students' GPA computations. You may find more information here.
4) I am not an ASE PhD student but I am interested in taking courses at ASE. How can I register for them?