Degree Requirements


Juris Doctor (JD) Programme

Juris Doctor Programme (JD) students must complete a total minimum of 120-124 units in the 3-Year JD and a total minimum of 91-96 units in the 2-Year JD (for Cohort AY2021/2022) and a total minimum of 84-86 units in the 2-Year JD (for Cohort AY2022/2023 onwards).

Please refer to the JD Curriculum below.

Courses 3-Year JD 2-Year JD
Compulsory Courses 84 units (Core*)

+ 4-5 units (Civil Law)
76 units (Core*)

Common Law:
Exempt case-by-case

Civil Law:
Exempt case-by-case
Elective Courses 32-35 units Varies depending on exemptions
Total unitss 120-124 units 84-86 units


* All JD students must complete 20 hours of mandatory pro bono work for the compulsory course, LCJ5009 Pro Bono Service as a graduation requirement.

For the 3-Year JD, the total units of 120-124 units will have to be completed.

For the 3-Year JD, students will read the same compulsory courses as the LLB students except for Legal Systems of Asia (LSA) which will be optional. They will have 32-35 units of electives (which is between 6-7 courses) that they can choose from specialisation clusters (e.g. Asian Legal Studies, Corporate & Financial Services Law, Intellectual Property & Technology Law, International & Comparative Law, International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution and Maritime Law and Private Law).

Typical Schedule of 3-Year JD Programme


For the 2-Year JD, the total units of 84-86 units will have to be completed.


For the 2-Year JD, students with a law degree from a common law jurisdiction can apply for exemptions from compulsory courses on a case-by-case basis. They should email to lawgrad@nus.edu.sg after they have completed Registration (Part One).

Typical Schedule of 2-Year JD Programme (with Common Law LLB)
Typical Schedule of 2-Year JD Programme (with Civil Law LLB)


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