Students are required to pursue independent but supervised research on an approved topic based on which a thesis must be submitted for examination. Students are also required to attend classes and pass the examinations.
#1 in Asia and #4 in the world for Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing, according to the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject.
- Mechanical Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
1TOEFL/IELTS test dates must be within 2 years or less from the date of your application.
2GRE/GMAT test dates must be within 5 years or less from the date of your application.
3Applicants from India may use the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) score of at least 90th percentile in place of GRE. Test date must be within 3 years or less from the date of your application.
School of MAE has 2 intakes per Academic Year, one in August and another in January.
| Admission Intake | Opening of Application Portal | Last day for submission of online application with supporting documents |
| August Semester | 1 October | 31 January |
| January Semester | 1 June | 31 July |
Course exemptions are case-by-case basis subjected to review and approval. Please contact us at: AsC-MAE-RES-PG@ntu.edu.sg
General Eligibility Criteria:
- Must have done at least 1 semester coursework in NTU (under PhD programme)
- Must have attained at least CGPA 3.50 (PhD).
Documents to prepare:
- A copy of the transcript of course(s) taken before.
- Course syllabus of previous course and current course syllabus to apply exemption for.
- Highlight the similar syllabus/topics that you have taken before
Candidates pursue independent yet supervised research in an approved field of advanced study, culminating in the submission of a thesis. In addition, candidates are required to attend coursework and pass the relevant examinations, earning a minimum of 18 AUs (six 3-AU courses) during their PhD studies. They are also required to undergo a Qualifying Examination/Confirmation Exercise.
• PhD oral examination
| Full-Time | Part-Time | |||
| Programme | Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum |
| Doctor of Philosophy | 2 Years | 5 Years | 3 Years | 5 Years |
Candidature and Graduation Requirements
To be eligible for the award of a PhD, a student must fulfil the following conditions:
- Obtain the total AU required for the completion of the programme within a period between the minimum and maximum candidature period stipulated for the programme.
- Fulfil the course requirements for the degree programme.
- Fulfil the minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) for graduation.
- Complete thesis examination and oral defence for the PhD programme, and thesis examination for Master’s by Research programme.
- Fulfil 50% of the total AU required with courses from their Academic College (for research programmes except Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme).
- Fulfil the residential requirements (i.e. minimum years of study at NTU) for joint degree programmes.
- Fulfil the minimum AU requirement for letter-graded courses from NTU (for research programmes).
- Satisfy all other requirements prescribed by the programme of study or School.
Curricular and Academic Unit (AU) Requirement
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
To graduate with a PhD, students must complete a total of 20 Academic Units (AUs).
| Requirement Type | AUs Required | Grading |
| Prescribed Electives (PE) (inclusive of any exemptions) | 12 AUs | Graded (Included in CGPA) |
| Critical Literacy Modules | 8 AUs | Pass / Fail |
| Total | 20 AUs |
Important Note on Additional AUs: Any AUs taken beyond the required amount should be taken after your Qualifying Examination (QE) so they are graded as Pass/Fail. If taken before the QE, they will be graded and included in your CGPA computation.
PhD Critical Literacy Modules (8 AUs)
These modules are mandatory and graded on a Pass/Fail basis. They will be reflected on your official transcript (e.g., "Seminars 3 AUs Pass").
| Module | AUs | When to Take |
| GP8001 Artificial Intelligence Literacy | 1.0 AU | Year 1, Semester 1 |
*GP8002 Fostering a Community of Respect and Support (FCRS) | 0.5AU | Year 1, Semester 1 |
| GP8003 Epigeum Research Integrity Course | 1.5 AUs | Year 1 (Refresh at end of Year 3) |
| *Communications Course(s) | 2.0 AUs | Flexible (Choices available) |
| Seminars | 3.0 AUs | Attend 40 seminars (Across entire candidature) |
*FCRS Components (0.5 AU):
- Part 1: Fostering a Respectful Workplace (Online anti-harassment content).
- Part 2: Fostering a Community of Support through Psychological First Aid (Via the UWO PFA mobile app). Successful completion awards a certificate from the Singapore Red Cross.
*Communications / Writing Training for PhD students
The courses will be Pass/Fail courses. Students can take any one of these courses to fulfil this requirement: Communications / Writing Training Programme | Graduate College | NTU Singapore. Students are encouraged to register for the Communication course early to secure a place, as class capacity is very limited.Optional: Should students need one-on-one tutoring/mentoring, they can schedule appointments with special tutors at LCC Communications Cube or NIE Grad Centre for individualised feedback on their writing and oral communication skills.
Graduate English Requirement:
While not required for QE eligibility, Graduate English should be taken in Year 1, Semester 1. Clearing this early ensures you have the proficiency needed to read research literature, communicate effectively with your team, and draft high-quality papers.
English courses for postgraduate students – HWG703 (Graduate English)
Postgraduate students will be required to take and pass HWG703, unless exempted.
The School will inform new intake students to submit the HWG703 exemption form at the start of the semester.
Students who are not eligible for an exemption are required to register for HWG703 via GSLINK - Graduate Course Registration System during the Registration Period.
PhD Qualifying Examination (QE)
| Coursework requirement | + | Oral presentation | = | Qualifying examination (QE) |
To be eligible for the QE, you must first complete 15 AUs of coursework.
| QE Eligibility Requirements | AUs |
| Prescribed Electives (PE) (inclusive of any exemptions) | 12.0 AUs |
| GP8001 Artificial Intelligence Literacy | 1.0 AU |
GP8002 Fostering a Community of Respect and Support (FCRS) | 0.5 AU |
| GP8003 Epigeum Research Integrity Course | 1.5 AUs |
| Total Required for QE | 15.0 AUs |
QE Timeline:
- Standard: Between the 12th and 18th month of candidature.
- With Exemptions: Between the 6th and 12th month of candidature.
Course Exemption [For PhD students only]
Enrichment Opportunities
All Postgraduate Research (PGR) students are encouraged to enroll in optional enrichment modules to build their transferable skills. Not Required for Graduation. Students’ Choices
Popular Options Include:
- Scholarly Communication & Impact (Offered by NTU Library) – Counts as 2 seminars and can be counted in the requisite 40/26 PhD/MbR seminars.
- Transferable Skills Series (TSS) (Offered by Graduate College) – Counts as 1 seminar and can be counted in the requisite 40/26 PhD/MbR seminars.
- University Teaching for Teaching Assistants and other elective modules offered by CTLP.
- Other Communications courses (Offered by LCC or other Schools/Colleges).
- Internship
- 3-Minute Thesis* (Submit entry).
*Note: 3MT remains mandatory for PhD students in COE
Important Notes on Enrichment:
- Enrichment modules are not reflected on the official result transcript, though entities may offer certificates of participation/ completion. They will eventually be recorded in the NTU Achievements & Service Record (ASR) System when the system is ready for PGR.
- If an enrichment module is graded, it must be taken after your QE so it registers as Pass/Fail. If taken before QE, it will affect your CGPA.
- As the mandatory communication course is now 2 AUs, student can always take 3 AUs course to fulfill the 2 AU requirement.
Academic Standing
Satisfactory Academic Performance
In any term of study, a research student is deemed to be making satisfactory progress if he meets the following conditions:
- Attain a minimum TGPA and CGPA of 3.00 for Master’s programme and 3.50 for PhD programme; and
- Attain at least Grade Point 2.50 (grade C+) in every course; and
- Complete all course requirements within the confirmation period as prescribed under Qualifying Examination.
Unsatisfactory Academic Performance
A research student with unsatisfactory academic performance will be accorded the following academic standing and subjected to performance review:
| Programme Type | Academic Warning | Failed to fulfil coursework requirements |
|---|---|---|
MEng
PhD
| i. TGPA or CGPA < 3.00 in any term of study; or i. TGPA or CGPA < 3.50 in any term of study; or | i. Fail to complete all course requirements within the confirmation period as prescribed under Qualifying Examination; or ii. TGPA < 2.50 in two consecutive terms; or iii. TGPA < 3.00 in three consecutive terms. |
Failure to fulfil coursework requirements may result in termination of financial aid and/or academic termination.
Appeal against academic termination on the grounds of extenuating circumstances may be made. The appeal must be submitted to the relevant School within 2 weeks after the release of course results or before the start of the next term, whichever is earlier. Only one appeal is allowed per candidature.
Epigeum Research Integrity (GP8003) formerly ERWA01 Course [PhD and Masters (Research) students]
All research students are required to complete the Epigeum Research Integrity Course, ERWA01, in their year 1 (Refresh at end of Year 3). ERWA01 is a research integrity course with 1.5 AUs that is applicable to ALL NEW PhD and Masters (Research) students who join NTU. The ERWA01 course site will be available on NTULearn on the first day of the semester starts.
The GP8003 (formerly ERWA01) exam will be administered by RIEO for all newly registered Postgraduate by Research students.
The exam details are as follows:
| Date & Time | 10 Nov 2026 (Tue), 2:00 pm to 11 Nov 2026 (Wed), 2:00 pm. |
| Format | Online |
| Venue | Accessible via the 26S1-GP8003 course site on NTULearn from 11 Aug 2026 |
| Workflow | Click here |
Postgraduate Research Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core (PGR ICC) course (GP8001: Artificial Intelligence Literacy)
Course Information
| Course Coordinator | Prof Erik Cambria |
| Course Code | GP8001 |
| Course Title | Artificial Intelligence Literacy |
| Academic Units | 1 AU |
| Grading | Pass/Fail |
Schedule for AY26 Semester 1 | Click here |
| Target Audience | Compulsory for NEW PhD students (August 2024 intake onwards), Optional for Master by Research students (subject to vacancy availability) |
Artificial Intelligence Literacy is a 9-contact hour course consisting of:
- 5 Lectures comprising 4 Modules (hybrid mode, flipped classroom). Each module consists of recorded lecture(s) with individual assessment (MCQs)
- Independent group project (~5-6 students per project)
Group project presentation and discussion:
- Compulsory : Briefing Session in Week 3: Introduction to the group project outlines and meeting your group members.
- Optional Tutorials in Weeks 6 and 9: Two sessions for groups to collaborate on their projects and consul with tutors.
- Compulsory : Tutorials in Weeks 12 and 13 (2 x 2 hours) : Group project presentations, facilitated discussions, and peer evaluations, including assessments of individual contributions to the group work and presentation.
Course Aims
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy course aims to give an overview of AI tools, ethical issues as well as applications in both STEM and HSS. This is to equip the postgraduate students with knowledge of AI since AI is the fast becoming an integral component for all industries.
| Applicants are required to indicate their preferred supervisors in the application. Candidates are strongly encouraged to contact potential supervisors in advance before submitting their application. To explore the professors under each research area, please click here: https://www.ntu.edu.sg/mae/research/research-foc |