From grief to justice: New psychology Master’s goes beyond the clinic

NTU Singapore is launching a new Master of Science in Psychology programme to meet the growing emphasis on mental health in Singapore and extend the reach of psychologists beyond traditional clinical settings.

Offered by NTU’s School of Social Sciences, the programme aims to strengthen capabilities across the entire spectrum of psychological and psychosocial care. It will start in August 2026 and includes several specialisations that are the first of their kinds in Singapore and South-East Asia, or in Asia.

By providing multiple pathways of training and expertise, graduates will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively address the diverse mental health needs of the Singaporean population and beyond.

NTU College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Dean Professor Jon Wilson said: “We face a pressing need for professionals to support mental health through society, not just in clinical contexts. The new Master of Science in Psychology programme fills this gap by training qualified professionals to support enhance mental wellbeing and community resilience. The programme draws on the strengths of NTU Psychology in fields which include community mental health, thanatology, neuroscience and forensic psychology, its cutting-edge research capabilities, and strong partnerships within the field of psychology and ancillary sectors.”

NTU Provost’s Chair in Psychology Professor Andy Ho said: “As Singapore steps up its mental health services to strengthen capabilities across the entire spectrum of psychological and psychosocial care, there is an urgent need to train practitioners to work across non-traditional settings such as schools, workplaces and the community to provide timely support to those in need. NTU’s Master of Science in Psychology provides graduates with both the research and practical skillsets necessary to develop and provide evidence-based psychological interventions to individuals, families, and communities beyond clinical care boundaries.”

Regional firsts in psychological specialisations

Students in the Master’s programme will have a choice of four distinct specialisation tracks: Community Health Psychology, Neuropsychology, Thanatology, and Forensic Psychology.

NTU Master of Science in Psychology Programme Director Dr Rebecca M. Nichols said: “The new Master of Science in Psychology programme contains pioneering specialisations not available elsewhere in the region, reinforcing NTU’s leadership in psychology education. It is aligned with Singapore’s evolving mental health strategy, which aims to strengthen capacity across prevention, early supportive care, assessment and intervention, equipping professionals to meet diverse needs and support wellbeing in various community and social service settings.”

The programme is the first in Asia to offer a Master’s-level specialisation in Thanatology, the study of dying, death and bereavement. Students will learn how to provide bereavement support, grief intervention and psycho-socio-spiritual care to individuals, families and communities facing mortality and loss across the lifespan.

Graduates from this track will be able to work in hospices, hospitals, and palliative care settings. They can also join services offering bereavement care or crisis counselling or enter into private practice.

The specialisations in Neuropsychology and Community Health Psychology are firsts in Singapore and the region. Students in the neuropsychology track will explore the cognitive and neurological underpinnings of human development and mental health. They will focus on neuropsychological assessment, intervention and programming for augmenting educational neuroscience and the science of learning.

The course also offers a new area of study, School Neuropsychology – concerned with identifying and supporting neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and learning needs in school-aged children – which addresses a gap in educational psychology. Students who graduate from this track may go on to work in educational organisations, research institutions, hospitals, and rehabilitation centres, as well as support neuropsychological assessment and intervention in public and private care settings.

Those who choose to specialise in Community Health Psychology will study the socioecological and behavioural determinants of mental health, focusing on prevention, advocacy, and empowerment within diverse communities.

This track equips students to develop and implement interventions and programmes that address systemic issues to promote wellbeing at the community level, with a unique emphasis on disability and rehabilitation supported by integrative therapeutic approaches and digital technologies.

Graduates will be well-positioned to work in community mental health centres, hospitals, non-profit organisations, rehabilitation centres, and public health agencies, or pursue roles in programme development and policy advocacy.

Lastly, students in the Forensic Psychology track will study the application of psychological principles to legal and criminal justice settings, law enforcement, public safety, and cyber-security industries.

Students who graduate from this track may go on to work in correctional facilities, law enforcement agencies, courts, forensic mental health centres, government security agencies, or private consulting.

MSc in Psychology offers 500 practicum hours

The Master of Science in Psychology programme is a full-time programme. Students can expect to graduate in 1.5 years after completing 5 trimesters.

It includes 500 practicum hours, which can be counted towards the 1,000 hours required for psychologists to register with the Singapore Psychological Society or for mental health practitioners to register with the Singapore Counselling Association.

NTU undergraduates pursuing an honours degree in the Bachelor of Social Sciences in Psychology programme will be offered direct entry to the Master of Science in Psychology programme.

Programme graduates can also apply for the traditional Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme offered by NTU Psychology with preferential placement.

The Master of Science in Psychology complements the Master of Arts (Applied Psychology) programme currently offered by the National Institute of Education (NIE).

The NIE programme is targeted towards existing practitioners who aspire to be leaders in the field of psychological service.

It is designed to provide theoretical knowledge, research insights and practical skills for individuals who have the pre-requisite qualifications to train as an Educational Psychologist or a Counselling Psychologist. It also provides graduates with training towards becoming Registered Psychologists in Singapore.