FAQ
The MScP is ideal for graduates seeking applied, specialised psychological training that integrates practice, research, and ethical professional development.
The programme is not designed as a direct substitute for a traditional Clinical Psychology master’s degree. Instead, it provides rigorous preparation for progressive career development across a range of applied psychology contexts.
- Applications for the annual August intake will open from the preceding November to the end of March. Information sessions will also be organised during this time, likely in January and February.
- You can prepare documents such as personal details, certificates, transcripts, proof of employment and letter of recommendations in advance.
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an admissions interview session, which will also take place during this period.
- Offers of admission can be expected from February to May. We regret that due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted and successful candidates will be notified.
International students can apply for graduate housing. For details, please refer to NTU Graduate Housing.
- A letter of offer will be emailed to students who have been selected for admission into the programme by May.
- Upon your acceptance, you will be required to submit a non-refundable fee deposit of S$5,000.
- You will also be required to set up your NTU email account upon accepting the offer. Please ensure that you follow the procedure closely as future correspondence will be sent through this official student email account.
- Matriculation of students will be conducted in July.
- Upon successful matriculation, you will be required to download the NTU Pass App as your Digital Student Card.
- You will have access to the Student Intranet, which is the gateway to key academic resources, important announcements, and student services.
- 5 foundational courses (3 AUs each),
- 4 track specialisation courses (3 AUs each), and
- Practicum l & ll (3 AUs each)
- Independent Practice Research Study (3 AUs)
You may refer to the table below for more information regarding the courses offered in each trimester.
| Foundational Courses | Track Specialisation Course | Graduation Course | |
| Tri 1 (9 AUs) | 1. Mental Health and Psychopathology Across the Lifespan 2. Evidence- and Policy-Informed Psychological Intervention 3. Ethical and Multidisciplinary Practice in Psychology | ||
| Tri 2 (9 AUs) | 4. Applied Psychological Research Design 5. Psychometrics and Assessment | Track Module 1 (Choose one)
| |
| Tri 3 (9 AUs) | Track Module 2 (Choose one)
Track Module 3 (Choose one)
Track Module 4 (Choose one)
| ||
| Tri 4 (3 AUs) | 1. Practicum (250 hours; 3 AUs) | ||
| Tri 5 (6 AUs) | 2. Practicum (250 hours; 3 AUs) 3. Independent Practice Research Study (3 AUs) |
A minimum final CGPA of 2.50 is required for graduation.
The MScP is an applied, specialisation-led programme focused on real-world psychological practice and the integration of research with practice. From the outset, students train within one of four defined tracks – community health, neuropsychology, thanatology, or forensic psychology – rather than following a generalist curriculum.
The programme is streamlined and intensive, designed for completion in 18 months with 36 AUs and 500 hours of supervised practicum, balancing depth of training with efficiency.
Importantly, the MScP is not equivalent to a Clinical Psychology master’s degree. Clinical programmes in Singapore are designed as professional qualifying routes leading toward clinical psychologist registration and focus on diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders in clinical settings. In contrast, the MScP prepares graduates for applied, psychology-informed roles across several roles and settings in health, education, justice, community, research, and policy contexts, and is intended to complement rather than duplicate existing clinical training pathways.Currently, there is no legal requirement in Singapore to be registered with SPS/SRP in order to work in psychology-related roles or to practise psychology. Singapore does not yet operate a government-mandated licensing or registration system for psychologists.
Applicants should also be aware that Singapore is moving toward greater regulation of mental health professions, including anticipated integration into national-level frameworks such as the Registers of Allied Health Professionals with the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC). Future requirements may include mandatory registration under national regulatory frameworks. Any such changes would be subject to formal policy decisions and transitional arrangements.The MSc in Psychology currently does not qualify graduates for professional registration with SRP.
MScP practicum hours, while an important part of professional development and applied learning, do not currently count toward the practicum hours required for registration with the SRP, and completion of the programme does not confer eligibility for professional registration.
However, NTU is closely working SPS/SRP to conduct a formal review of the MScP in Psychology as an applied psychology pathway to registration. Any future recognition by SRP would apply only if and when formal approval is granted.
Furthermore, as mentioned above, NTU is closely monitoring developments in the professional regulation of mental health professions in Singapore. Any future changes to programme recognition would be subject to formal review and approval by the relevant professional and regulatory bodies. Unless and until such recognition is granted, the MSc should not be understood as contributing to professional registration in Singapore.
Applicants seeking immediate registration as psychologists with SPS/SRP upon graduation should explore eligible postgraduate applied psychology programmes that meet prevailing registration criteria.
Students can expect to graduate within the minimum degree duration of 1.5 years (18 months).
In rare circumstances where students must take a leave of absence (subject to approval from NTU), they may take up to 3 years (36 months) years to complete the programme.In Trimesters 1 - 3, students will take 3 courses (9 AUs) per trimester. In Trimester 4 and 5, students will complete their practicum and the integrated Independent Practice Research Study.
Each 3-AU course will be taught once a week for a duration of 3 hours for 13 weeks (i.e. one trimester). These courses may take place either on weekday evenings (7pm to 10pm) at NTU@one-north or on Saturday mornings (9am to 12pm) at our main NTU campus in Jurong.The programme runs on a trimester basis. Each academic year is made up of 3 trimesters.
For details on academic calendar, please refer to NTU Academic Calendar.Learning assessment in the courses will be based on continuous assessment (CA) . The CA component may include, but is not limited to, individual and group essays/projects, class participation, presentations, and in-class quizzes,
To pass a course, students must earn a final course grade of at least C+. To be awarded the MScP degree, all courses need to be passed. and the student must have a minimum final CGPA of 2.5.Leave of absence is generally not encouraged due to the structure and sequential nature of the programme. However, we recognise that exceptional circumstances may arise.
Students who take a leave of absence and miss a trimester will be required to complete the trimester’s courses when they are next offered, which will be not until at least the following academic year.
Please note that there is an administrative fee charged per trimester for leave of absence application. This period of leave, if granted, will be counted towards the maximum candidature period permitted for you to complete your studies.
Students who anticipate they may need a leave of absence before they apply are therefore strongly encouraged to apply in a later admissions cycle, when they can fully commit to the 18-month programme.The MScP practicum is a structured and supervised applied training component designed to support students’ professional development while maintaining flexibility and strong alignment with the field.
Students will complete two supervised practica, each comprising 250 hours:
- Practicum I focuses on foundational exposure to applied psychological work.
- Practicum II provides opportunities for increased responsibility and autonomy appropriate to the student’s level of training.
Practicum placements are aligned with students’ specialisation tracks (Community Health Psychology, Neuropsychology, Thanatology, or Forensic Psychology) and may include a combination of:
- Direct practice and service delivery
- Psychological assessment or intervention-related activities
- Programme development or evaluation
- Applied research
Placements and partnerships will continue to evolve as the programme develops. The programme will actively support students in identifying appropriate practicum settings and supervisors that meet training and professional standards.
Practicum placements will be based entirely in Singapore. Overseas placements are not currently supported. As practicum sites, staff, and activities are reviewed for standards of rigour and quality assurance, previous or ongoing work experience outside of the MScP practicum cannot not count toward MScP practicum hours.
Graduates of the MScP may pursue a wide range of applied roles across sectors, rather than a single, narrow job title. Master’s-level psychology training is valued in settings such as healthcare, community services, education, justice, policy, research, and the non-profit sector.
Common entry- and early-career roles include, but are certainly not limited to:
- Community Mental Health Officer
- Behaviour Change Specialist
- Rehabilitation Programme Coordinator
- Health Promotion or Population Health Executive
- Neuropsychology Associate
- Cognitive Assessment Specialist
- Research Coordinator in Neuroscience or Learning Sciences
- Educational or School-Based Psychology Associate
- Bereavement Support Specialist
- Grief Support Practitioner
- Palliative Care Programme Executive
- Hospice or End-of-Life Care Coordinator
- Forensic Psychology Associate
- Offender Rehabilitation Programme Officer
- Case Assessment or Risk Management Officer; Research or Policy Analyst in Justice or Security
- …and many more
Importantly, postgraduate psychology careers are cumulative. The MScP is designed to position graduates for progression over time, providing a strong foundation for advancing into more specialised, senior, or regulated roles, rather than guaranteeing immediate professional registration or a single job outcome.
Labour market trends are favourable: roles requiring psychological expertise continue to grow in relevance and demand across multiple sectors.
At the current time, there are currently no scholarships available for the MScP. However, all NTU alumni are eligible for a 10% tuition fee subsidy. All Singapore Citizens (SC) and Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR) are also eligible for a S$5,000 tuition fee subsidy, with those in need of financial aid eligible to receive up to S$15,000. We welcome candidates with external scholarships to apply.
The tuition fees will be payable in equal instalments over five trimesters, regardless of how long you take to complete the programme. The minimum/standard duration of the programme is 18 months. In cases of unanticipated leave of absence, the maximum duration is 36 months.
NTU miscellaneous fess will be billed annually, at every start of an academic year.