Admission Requirements

For admission into any of our graduate programmes, candidates must fulfill the academic qualifications relating to the chosen programme, as laid out below.

 

  

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Research Programme
Programme Admission Requirements Period of Study
PhD
- A good Bachelor’s or first degree in Law (LLB/BA/JD); OR a good Master’s degree in Law (LLM/BCL/MJur/MPhil) with a relevant Bachelor’s Degree; OR relevant equivalent qualifications.
- Minimum TOEFL iBT Total score of 100 (old system) or 5 (new system). Candidates who have obtained a minimum IELTS (Academic) overall band score of 7.0 may also apply.
- With effect from AY2025/2026, GRE (Graduate Record Examination) test scores will be optional. However, do note that evidence of strong quantitative, verbal, and analytical skills will significantly strengthen your application.

There is no need to contact any faculty members of NUS Law to ask them for their interest in advising you. Also, contacting multiple faculty members will not improve your chances of being selected.

Applicants who have used generative AI tools to assist in drafting their research proposals or personal statements must include, within the respective sections, a clear explanation of how the tools were used.

Even though IELTS/TOEFL scores and reports are stated as optional in the NUS application portal (GDA3), if your undergraduate degree is not from a Singapore Autonomous University or an institution from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, you must either:
  • Indicate an IELTS or TOEFL test score and upload the test report; or
  • Submit a waiver request letter together with supporting documents:
    1. A letter from your university confirming the same; or
    2. The official transcript for your degree stating that English was the mode of instruction.

Your request will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that failure to submit an IELTS or TOEFL test score or a waiver request will render your application as incomplete if your undergraduate degree is not from a Singapore Autonomous University or an institution from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The application will not be processed further.

Full-time
Minimum: 2 years
Maximum: 5 years

 

Juris Doctor (JD) Programme
Programme Admission Requirements Period of Study
For the 3-year JD programme



 
- A university degree in any non-law discipline with at least a Cum Laude or Second Class Upper Honours degree or its equivalent.
- A minimum TOEFL iBT Total score of 100 (old system) or 5 (new system), or a minimum IELTS overall band score of 7.5 for IELTS (Academic).
- All shortlisted applicants must undergo an interview and a written test.
Full-time, 3 years
For the 2-year JD programme


 
(Those completing their first degree by early July of the year of admission (August intake) may also apply.)
- Law graduates from a civil law country or a non-gazetted common law university with at least a Cum Laude or Second Class Upper Honours degree or its equivalent.
- A minimum TOEFL iBT Total score of 100 (old system) or 5 (new system), or a minimum IELTS overall band score of 7.5 for IELTS (Academic).
- All shortlisted applicants must undergo an interview and a written test.
Full-time, 2 years

 

Master of Laws (LLM) Programme
Programme Admission Requirements Period of Study

LLM, with or without specialization in:

Asian Legal Studies
 
Corporate & Financial Services Law

International & Comparative Law (proposed to be discontinued with effect from AY2027/2028, subject to the receipt of requisite approvals.)


Intellectual Property & Technology Law

International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution

Maritime Law

International Business Law
(Semester 1 conducted in Singapore and Semester 2 conducted in Shanghai)  
- A good Bachelor’s degree in Law
- A minimum TOEFL iBT Total score of 100 (old system) or 5 (new system), or a minimum IELTS overall band score of 7.0 for IELTS (Academic).
Full-time, 1 year


For Maritime Law only,
Part-time, 2 years
(Classes may be conducted on weekdays during office hours.)

 

 

Graduate Diploma Programme
Programme Admission Requirements Period of Study

Graduate Diploma in Maritime Law & Arbitration

 
- Qualified master mariner , chief engineer and/or tertiary degree in another discipline
- A minimum TOEFL iBT Total score of 100 (old system) or 5 (new system). Candidates who have obtained a minimum IELTS (Academic) overall band score of 7.0 may also apply.
- Relevant working experience in the maritime sector
Full-time, 1 year


Part-time, 2 years
(Classes may be conducted on weekdays during office hours.)
 

All other Graduate Diploma programmes

 

A minimum TOEFL iBT Total score of 100 (old system) or 5 (new system). Candidates who have obtained a minimum IELTS (Academic) overall band score of 7.0 may also apply.

Part-time, 1 semester to 2 years.

 

To NUS may change the admission requirements from time to time. Please check this website regularly for the most up-to-date requirements.

 

Degree Requirements
Please click HERE for degree requirements.

 

English Proficiency

The English Proficiency requirement is required for all applicants except those from English-medium institutions in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. For countries not listed, please submit an official document from your university (transcript, degree certificate, or letter) stating that the medium of instruction for the law degree is English.

The English test score report is valid for two years from the test date and should be valid at the beginning of the NUS application period. For example, for application period 1 September 2026 to 15 October 2026 (i.e. for matriculation in August 2027), the acceptable English test score report will be dated between 1 September 2024 and 15 October 2026. Please schedule a test date early enough to ensure that the scores are uploaded in the NUS application online system by the application deadline.
 
NUS only accepts TOEFL iBT scores (including iBT Home Edition) from a single test date and does not accept MyBest scores. NUS does not accept IELTS One Skills Retake.

Please refer to the Educational Testing Service (ETS) website or the IELTS (Academic) Tests for more information.

NUS only accepts TOEFL iBT scores (including iBT Home Edition) from a single test date and does not accept MyBest scores.

 

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