Online Application
Key Application Date For 2025 Intake
The University's application window is listed below.
Intake | Opening Date for Application | Closing Date for Application |
---|---|---|
August (Academic Year 2025) | 1 August ( 2024 ) | 31 January ( 2025 ) |
Admission Interview / Application Result (Interview will be arranged after the application deadline, shortlisted applicants will be invited) | ||
To Be Confirmed via Email |
An application is ONLY considered complete when
- Online application is submitted before the closing date
- Application fee is paid before the closing date
- All supporting documents received before the closing date
Failure to complete the above will render the application invalid. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in an interview.
STEP 1: Online Application
For PhD online application system step-by-step guide, click here.
Important Note:
- Please save or screenshot the receipt of the application fee as one supporting document.
- After successful payment of the application fee, applicants should go back to the online application page and complete the final step. On the final step, read the declaration carefully, and click the ‘Submit’ button if 'I Agree'. Only submitted application can be received and reviewed.
- It's recommended to use the web browsers on a computer to complete the online application.
- If anything is wrong with the online application system, please email us at lawphd@smu.edu.sg with the user name, registration email, application number, and full screenshot along with the error message and website link if any.
For New User | For Existing User |
Please register an account with SMU before you can submit your application online | Please login with your User ID and Password to access your application |
Register New Account | Login Now |
STEP 2: Submission of Supporting Documents
Apart from Recommendation Forms, please email the soft copies of all supporting documents listed in the table below at lawphd@smu.edu.sg. Recommendation Forms should be emailed at lawphd@smu.edu.sg by referees directly.
An acknowledge email will be sent to applicants when soft copies of supporting documents are received by programme office.
Hard copies are not required at the applicaiton stage, they will be verified if applicants are selected after the admission interview.
How to Email Supporting Documents
Apart from Recommendation Forms which your referees are to email to lawphd@smu.edu.sg directly, please
- Label and place all supporting documents in a Google Drive folder.
- Name the Google Drive folder according to your name indicated in your identification document (NRIC or passport) and email the folder's link with editor access to lawphd22@gmail.com.
(Please do not share folder access to lawphd22@gmail.com only, as the folder may be forwarded to the admission committee as well.) - Please indicate in the email's subject header as "2025 PhD : <Name>"
- For international applicants who do not have access to Google, please email lawphd@smu.edu.sg for assistance.
Supporting Documents List
(Please pay attention to all instructions and label documents accordingly. Only the right format of documents will be reviewed.)
(Documents that are not in English should be translated and certified by the issuing institution or a Notary Public/Commissioner of Oath)
Identification Document(s):
| Two Recommendation Forms
|
Degree Certificate(s) The copy of the degree certificate(s) certified by the issuing institution or a Notary Public/Commissioner of Oath. Place all degree certificates in one PDF file. | CV A concise resume that provides chronological information about your educational background, work experiences and accomplishments. Up to two(2) A4 pages. |
Transcript(s) The copy of the official transcript(s) certified by the issuing institution or a Notary Public/Commissioner of Oath. Place all official transcript in one PDF file. | Writing Sample All applicants are required to submit 1 writing sample (such as a published paper, research article, project report or undergraduate report etc). The sample should be composed by the applicant independently, group report is not accepted. The writing sample can not exceed 10 pages (A4) excluding the cover page if any. |
Statement of Purpose All applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose, which can be up to maximum 2,000 words. The statement should address the following questions at least:
| Test Results English Proficiency Test Results (TOEFL or IELTS) are required if the medium of instruction in your university education was not English. GRE is required if applicable. Detailed requirements can be found here. |
Proof of Payment Payment for the application fee (SGD 15) must be done via debit/credit card online. All fees paid at the application stage is non-refundable. Screenshot or save the successful payment acknowledgment/receipt is required. | Other supporting documents No more than 6 pages (A4) |
STEP 3: Admission Interview
The application for SMU YPHSL PhD programme is not on a rolling basis. Once the application is closed, PhD admission committee will access the applications and supporting documents received.
Only shortlisted applicants will be invited to the admission interview via email. Please check the inbox and spam folder regularly.
The schedule of admission interview for the 2025 intake will be updated after application deadline.
The admission interview will be conducted via Zoom.