Juris Doctor (JD) Frequently Asked Questions

To maintain fairness and efficiency in our evaluation process, the application deadline is strictly enforced. The University does not accept late applications, and no appeals for deadline extensions or late submissions will be entertained. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their materials well in advance of the closing date to avoid last-minute technical or payment issues, as those reasons will not be grounds for an appeal.

If you face any technical difficulties, please provide us with screenshots of the error message at least 24 hours before the deadline, so that we may assist you in time.

The JD programme is conducted only on a full-time basis and on campus in Singapore. There is only one intake in August yearly.

There are no plans for a part-time programme.

Please refer to the application procedures page to see the application timeline and general requirements. For more details on the supporting documents to be submitted, please read the JD checklist carefully.

Please upload all your documents on the Graduate Admission System (GDA3) portal. Documents mailed to us via email or post will not be accepted unless specifically requested by our staff.

Please note that once you have submitted your application and/ or the application deadline has passed, no more documents can be modified or added to your application.

Yes, we can consider such applications. Each application will be assessed carefully on its own merits by the Admissions Committee. Please upload all supporting documents so that the panel may assess your application.

No, we require applicants to have a strong proficiency in English to cope with the rigorous curriculum demands. Applicants must meet our English requirement in order to apply for the programme.

Please schedule an IELTS/ TOEFL test as soon as possible so that you may submit your score by the application deadline. Please be reminded that late submissions will not be considered.

Please submit a letter from your university registrar stating that the medium of instruction for your programme was entirely in English language. You may also submit a letter from your current employer/ academic supervisor confirming your English proficiency and stating that English is the language used for your degree/ work.

Exemption from providing a TOEFL/ IELTS score is on a case- by-case basis. Candidates may be requested to take a TOEFL/ IELTS score if the panel deems that your supporting documents are not suffice to grant you an exemption from the English language requirement.

If shortlisted, you must still undergo a written test and interview.

For further details, please refer to https://law1a.nus.edu.sg/admissions/admin_requirements.html.

No, you are not required to submit GRE/ LNAT scores as we conduct our own written test and interview for selected applicants. However, you may add them as materials to showcase your abilities in your application.

It refers to a university which teaches common law, such as those in UK, Australia and New Zealand, but is not in the approved list maintained by the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE) set out at https://www.sile.edu.sg/for-overseas-graduates/qualified-person/.

Please see Point 9 of the JD supporting documents checklist. Please note that we do not accept referee reports mailed to us, nor referee reports uploaded by the applicant to GDA3.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that referees submit their reports by the deadline. Applications without the minimum of two referee reports may be deemed incomplete and automatically disqualified.

If your referees have not received an email from the portal after you have submitted their details, please remind them to check their junk/ spam folder. Thereafter, you may send additional requests on the portal to remind your referees to respond on time.

The interview will be conducted by two faculty members who will be assessing a shortlisted candidate’s analytical ability, competency in spoken English and suitability to embark on the JD programme that may qualify him or her for legal practice in Singapore. Interview questions for admission into the 2-year and 3-year JD programme will be calibrated differently to take into account the candidate's prior work experience.

For the 3-year JD programme, the written test comprises a hypothetical scenario that assumes no legal knowledge, and assesses the candidate's analytical ability and comprehension, and the standard of written English. The written test for the 2-year JD programme assesses the candidate's analytical ability and comprehension, the standard of written English and will require the candidate to draw comparisons of a legal problem with the laws of a jurisdiction that the candidate is familiar with.

It is the responsibility of shortlisted candidates to ensure a functional email at all times for communication.

The interview and test will be conducted online.

The dates of the interviews and the written test for applicants looking to start the JD programme in August 2027 are as follows:

Note: The Faculty reserves the right to make further changes. Please check our website regularly for updates.

Only shortlisted candidates will be provided with instructions for the interview and test.

Unfortunately, we do not have any alternative test or interview dates. Applicants who are unable to take the test and/ or the interview will be requested to re-apply in future cycles.

There are campus accommodation options available, but demand outstrips the supply of available accommodation on campus. Please see here for more information on campus accommodation.

Please also see the estimated cost of living in Singapore.

For the 3-year JD comprising 120-124 units to be completed in six semesters, this may be accelerated in some cases for completion within 2.5 years subject to the approval of Vice Dean (Academic Affairs), who will take into consideration the student's first year's exam grades. Under this accelerated option, the balance of the 80 units will be completed in the remaining three semesters. There is no acceleration option for the 2-year JD.

Yes. Exemptions from certain compulsory courses will be determined by Vice Dean (Academic Affairs) on a case-by-case basis taking into account considerations such as subjects previously studied in the candidate's previous law degree and the candidate's relevant work experience. The candidates will then have the opportunity to read more elective courses to make up the credits for graduation and successfully complete a total of 84-86 units for the 2-year JD degree. This means that candidates will have more elective space to read courses in our specialisation clusters such as Asian Legal Studies, Civil Law, Corporate & Financial Services Law, Intellectual Property & Technology Law, International & Comparative Law, International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution Maritime Law, and Private Law.

As far as possible, the JD cohort will be taught in one section for the seminar-style compulsory courses: for example, Criminal Law, Company Law and Equity & Trusts. For compulsory courses taught in lecture-tutorial style, the JD students will attend the same lectures as the LLB students, but will be placed in separate tutorial group(s) from the LLB students: Torts, Contract, Property, Constitutional & Administrative Law and Evidence. In some compulsory and skills-based courses, they will be mingled with the LLB Students: Singapore Law in Context, Legal Analysis, Research & Communication, Trial Advocacy/Corporate Deals, and Pro Bono Service.

For the elective courses, the JD students will be integrated into the same class with the LLB and LLM students, but will be graded separately from the LLB and LLM students.

For further details, please refer to https://law1a.nus.edu.sg/student_matters/grad_prog/jd_deg_reqm.html.

In order to practise law in Singapore, you will need to obtain at least a JD (with Merit) from NUS. After that, you must complete the requirements of practical training and exam for the Singapore bar. You must pass Part B of the Bar Examinations before you are entitled to serve the Practice Training Period (see Rule 3(1) of the Legal Profession (Practice Training Period) Rules 2009). More information is available on the SILE website at https://www.sile.edu.sg/.
 
However, other jurisdictions will have their own requirements for admission and you must enquire or refer to the local bar websites of each jurisdiction for entry requirements and details.

The JD is a full-time degree programme. While we do not require candidates to resign from their existing jobs to be enrolled, we do not grant extensions for assignments or accord special treatment to candidates who miss classes as a result of employment commitments.

Please visit https://law1a.nus.edu.sg/admissions/fees.html for our fee information. The fees will be subject to prevailing Goods & Services Tax (GST). In addition to the tuition fees, there are some mandatory miscellaneous fees payable.

The JD programme is a graduate programme and does not enjoy tuition grant from the Singapore government.

Please visit https://law1a.nus.edu.sg/admissions/sch_requirements.html to see financial assistance available.