Online Application

The online application for the August 2025 intake is open..

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

Admission Process

Please click here on General Instructions for completing your application.

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	For Existing User (Created before 16 December 2024)
You need to first register for an account with SMU before you can submit an online application form. Click on "Register New Account" below to proceed.	If you have already created an account with SMU, please go directly to the Login page to proceed with your application.	SMU has launched a new application portal on 16 December 2024. If you have already created an account with SMU, please go directly to the Login page to proceed with your application.
Register New Account	Login Now	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): Singapore Citizen: A copy of NRIC Singapore Permanent Resident: A copy of NRIC, passport and re-entry permit Foreigner: A copy of your passport personal particulars page	Two Recommendation Forms (Please Download Template: PDF) (Important Note: other testimonials/letters of recommendation are not accepted in lieu of the Recommendation Form Template) The use of the recommendation form template given is compulsory. Recommendation forms should NOT be more than 6 months old from the date of application. All recommendation forms are confidential. Applicants should not have seen the content written. Referees can email the signed copy of the recommendation form/referrals directly to lawphd@smu.edu.sg without copying the applicant. Where possible, at least one of the references should be from someone who has taught you or supervised your work in university studies. If applicants have left school for some years and are unable to submit academic references, please provide 2 references from your employers, clients, colleagues etc. Referees should submit the form before the application deadline. the form will not be considered if it was submitted after the deadline. The subject header should indicate 'Referral for ...".
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: Your reasons and goals for applying to the SMU PhD programme; List faculty members that you are most interested in working with SMU YPHSL faculty list can be found here. No need to contact possible supervisor in advance.	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.

OTHER Application Guides

For Applicant's Self Service Guide, click here.
For Applicant's Guide to Admissions, click here.
For Applicant's Guide to Forgot Retrieving Your User ID and/or Password, click here.