The RSIS Doctor of Philosophy Programme
The RSIS PhD Programme is a rigorous research-led programme of study that allows students to explore their subject of interest in detail under the guidance of reputable faculty staff. Research areas may range from Strategic Studies, International Relations, Defence and Security Management to International Political Economy. This programme is suited for professionals who are looking to advance their level of expertise for further career development.Objectives
The RSIS PhD programme commenced in 2003 and around 25 candidates are presently undergoing doctoral research. The objectives are threefold:- Provision of high level quantitative and qualitative skills to enable students to undertake advanced PhD programmes
- Application of these skills to support policy-oriented research of practical relevance
- Creation of opportunities for students to make an original contribution to knowledge in International Political Economy, International Relations and Strategic Studies disciplines, facilitating their pursuit of academic or professional careers
Relevance
Doctoral students are directed to develop research proposals that address real-world policy problems and challenges. These include, for example, Maritime Security in the Asia-Pacific region, Counter-Terrorism in Indonesia, the performance of Spanish defence offsets and ASEAN Multilateralism.Benefits
PhD degrees from RSIS are held in high esteem nationally, regionally and globally. Students benefit from the programme's acclaim derived by its association with the School's highlyregarded Think Tank research activities and its well-received Masters programmes.Content
The duration of the PhD programme is 3-4 years, determined by the candidate's ability to complete all aspects of the programme. RSIS MSc graduates will be required to successfully complete three courses prior to the PhD confirmation exercise, whilst other candidates will be required to take six courses. Two of the courses are mandatory, namely research methods and quantitative skills. A Primary Supervisor will be appointed to offer guidance to the candidate throughout the period of study. The Primary Supervisor will act as the Chair of the student's PhD committee, comprising other academics who have specialist knowledge in the subject area.Admission Requirements
Applicants for the RSIS PhD programme should possess the following:- A good Bachelors and Masters degree in a related discipline
- The ability to pursue research in the candidate's proposed field of advanced study
- Demonstrated competency in English and the ability to undertake independent research
- For international students, a good TOEFL score (600 for paper-based or 240 for computerbased) is required for applicants whose mother tongue is not English. Test dates must be within two years or of the date of application
Presently, the University admits all students as probationary research students. At the end of the first year, students must demonstrate that their research proposals are worthy of PhD confirmation.
For more details about the RSIS PhD programme, please click here.Career Advancement
RSIS doctoral graduates will be attractive to a wide array of professional and academic employers in the government and diplomatic fields, as well as in business and consultancy organisations, international agencies, such as the World Bank, UN, the Asian Development Bank, and Universities, both in a research and teaching capacity.