To be admitted directly into the MPST full-time programme, candidates must be holders of at least a 2nd Class Lower Honours classification (or equivalent) in one of the following degrees, or their equivalent:
TOEFL/IELTS and GRE requirements (where applicable)
^The minimum TOEFL score required is 85 for internet-based test. The minimum IELTS score required is 6 (overall). TOEFL/ IELTS scores are valid for 2 years from the test date and should not have expired at point of application. Expired scores will not be considered for the application.
^^GRE scores are only valid for 2.5 years from the test date and should not have expired at point of application. Expired scores will not be considered for the application.
Updated as of Jun 2023
Application period for August 2026 intake (early admission cycle): 16 May 2025 – 15 July 2025
Application period for August 2026 intake (regular admission cycle): 01 October 2025 – 15 March 2026
Note: The January 2025 intake will be the final full-time intake via direct admission. Moving forward, there will be only one intake per academic year, beginning in August.
Instructions for Application
Application Fee
Acceptance Fee
Supporting Documents
Application Outcome
Completed applications (with all the required documents submitted online before the respective application closing date) will be processed and applicants will be informed officially of the outcome of their application via email by the following date (may be subject to changes):
Correspondence from the University
The Department may correspond with applicants primarily via email to convey messages such as requesting for outstanding documents etc. Therefore, it is very important that applicants provide a valid and correct email address and maintain their email account regularly. The University will not be responsible for undeliverable emails and their consequences.
Important note:
The University has not engaged any external agencies to undertake graduate student recruitment on its behalf. Candidates interested in our graduate programmes are advised to apply directly to the University and not through any agents. Candidates who apply through agents will not have any added advantage in gaining admission.
Updated as of Apr 2024
The early admission cycle empowers applicants to make a choice and secure a position in the graduate programme early. On the other hand, the regular admission cycle has its important practical advantages, such as the later deadline for preparation and application. We invite candidates with consistently strong academic record and accomplishments to apply in the Early Admission Exercise.
Application period for August 2026 intake (early admission cycle): 16 May 2025 – 15 July 2025
Instructions for Application
Application Fee and Acceptance Fee
Supporting Documents
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted separately to supplement other required supporting documents (e.g. documentary evidence of financial support).
Updated as of Apr 2024
Candidates admitted into the MPST full-time programme must read and pass a total of 40 units1, comprising 16 units of core courses and 24 units of elective courses:
Core/Elective Courses in the MPST Programme Structure | Units |
MPST Full-time Programme |
Offering Semester – Please note that the courses offered may be subject to changes. The courses may not be offered every academic year or the semester indicated. |
16 Units of Core Courses |
|||
PR5211 Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis | 4 | ✓ | Semester 1 |
PR5217 Formulation Science | 4 | ✓ | Semester 1 |
PR5218 Methodologies in Product Development (CAPSTONE course) |
4 | ✓ | Semester 2 |
PR5304 Fundamental Topics in Pharmaceutical Science | 4 | ✓ | Semester 1 |
24 Units of Elective Courses (To be chosen from the following)2 |
|||
Drug Discovery Focus/Cluster | |||
PR5212 Advanced Topics in Medicinal Chemistry | 4 | ✓7 | Semester 1 |
PR5221 Molecular Targets in Drug Discovery | 4 | ✓7 | Semester 1 |
PR5222 Drug Metabolism | 4 | ✓7 | TBA |
PR5227 AI in Pharmaceutical ApplicationsNEW! | 4 | ✓7 | Launching in AY2025/2026 Semester 2 |
Pharmaceutical Process & Technology Focus/Cluster | |||
PR5213 Pharmaceutical Process Validation OR PR5203 Pharmaceutical Process Optimization and Control | 4 | ✓7, 8 | Semester 2 |
PR5214 Advances in Solid Pharmaceutical Formulations^ |
4 | ✓ | Semester 1 |
PR5216 Advances in Drug Delivery | 4 | ✓ | Semester 2 |
PR5220 Bioprocess Technology OR PR5210 Biologics: Processes and Technology | 4 | ✓7, 8 | Semester 2 |
PR5225 Preformulation Science OR PR5215 Drug Product Development: Understanding Drug Substances | 4 | ✓7, 8 | Semester 2 |
Product Development & Management Focus/Cluster | |||
PR5219 Product Development & Quality Management | 4 | ✓ | Semester 2 |
PR5224 Pharmacoepidemiology | 4 | ✓ | Semester 1 |
GMS5011 Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Regulation OR GMS5003 Fundamentals of Health Products Regulation | 4 | ✓3 | Refer to NUSMODS |
GMS5012 Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls OR GMS5004 Regulation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing | 4 | ✓3 | Refer to NUSMODS |
Innovation & Enterprise Focus/Cluster | |||
MT5912 Frugal Innovation | 4 | ✓4 | Refer to NUSMODS |
MT5913 TechLaunch | 4 | ✓4 | Refer to NUSMODS |
MT5920 Enterprise Development – Experiential InnovationNEW! | 4 | ✓4 |
|
Research & Internship Focus/Cluster | |||
PR5198 Graduate Seminar Course in Pharmacy | 4 | ✓ | Semester 2 |
PR5299 Research Project in Pharmaceutical Innovation | 8 | ✓5 | Semester 1 (2 regular semesters) |
PR5399 MPST Industry Exposure Internship | 4 | ✓6 | Special Term (spanning Special Term 1 and 2) |
1 Candidates enrolled in the MPST programme must meet the programme requirements as listed in the above table, or any other PR5XXX courses as approved by the Department, with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.00 for successful completion of the MPST.
2 For the elective requirements (i.e. to complete 24 units of level 5000 elective courses taken from the list of courses in the above table), a maximum of 8 units (2 elective courses) may be counted from GMS5XXX and/or MT5XXX, subject to approval from the Department.
3 GMS5003/GMS5011 and GMS5004/GMS5012 are offered by Centre of Regulatory Excellence (CoRE), Duke-NUS Medical School.
4 MT5912, MT5913 and MT5920 are offered by Institute for Engineering Leadership (IEL), College of Design and Engineering.
5 For PR5299, it is an 8-unit elective course over two regular semesters with students actively engaged in daily activities in research labs and facilities during the day, working under the supervision of selected faculty members.
6 PR5399 is a 4-unit elective course which will be offered in the Special Term (spanning Special Term 1 and 2) w.e.f AY2022/2023. This elective course offers MPST full-time students the opportunity to engage in experiential learning beyond the classroom and to gain transferable skills to be career-ready in the workplace.
7 PR5221 elective course is added to the curriculum w.e.f. AY2023/2024 Semester 1.
PR5203, PR5210, PR5212, PR5215, PR5222 and PR5227 are elective courses newly added to the curriculum w.e.f. AY2024/2025 Semester 1.
MT5920 elective course is added to the curriculum w.e.f. AY2025/2026 Semester 1.
8 Students who have taken PR5213, PR5220 and PR5225 before AY2024-25 Semester 2 are precluded from taking PR5203, PR5210 and PR5215, respectively.
Click here for the course descriptions.
As the programme progresses, the Department will introduce new courses to suit the changing needs of the pharmaceutical industry.
Updated as of May 2025
A summary of the tuition fee payable for the MPST full-time programme is shown below, for Academic Year 2025/2026 cohort and onwards. An acceptance fee1 is applicable upon acceptance of admission offer and will be applied to offset the programme fee. Besides the full programme fee, students are liable to pay Miscellaneous Student Fees (MSF)2 as well.
The full programme fee is payable in 2 instalments over 2 regular semesters. The acceptance fee will be applied to offset Semester 1 fee.
For students admitted in AY2026/2027:
August Intakes (Early & Regular Admission Cycles) |
Tuition Fee (after GST) |
|
Full Programme Fee | S$57,061.50 | |
Acceptance Fee | S$5,450 | |
Semester 1 | S$23,080.75 | |
Semester 2 | S$28,530.75 |
For students admitted in AY2025/2026:
August Intakes (Early & Regular Admission Cycles) |
Tuition Fee (after GST) |
|
Full Programme Fee | S$53,791.50 | |
Acceptance Fee | S$5,450 | |
Semester 1 | S$21,445.75 | |
Semester 2 | S$26,895.75 |
NUS Master’s by Coursework Enhanced Tuition Fee Rebate
Full-time Singaporean and Singapore Permanent Resident students may enjoy a 40% tuition fee rebate upon successful enrollment in the AY2026-27, AY2025-26 and AY2024-25 intakes for the MPST programme.
Terms and conditions apply and are subject to change.
For more information, please refer to the details here.
Additional Course Fees (if applicable)
For students who need to repeat or take additional course(s) to meet graduation requirements, they will be charged additional fees for each repeat or additional course taken, subject to prevailing GST. For example:
1 The acceptance fee is non-refundable.
2 MSF is payable for every regular semester, subject to prevailing rates. For updates on MSF for matriculated students, please refer to Registrar’s Office website at http://nus.edu.sg/registrar/docs/info/administrative-policies-procedures/gd-msf.pdf.
All fees shown here are in Singapore dollars and may be subject to minor rounding variances.
All fees shown here are inclusive of prevailing 9% GST, unless otherwise stated.
All fees are payable every regular semester, unless specified otherwise.
The University reserves all rights to review and adjust fees and make changes to the programme structure and requirements as necessary and accordingly without prior notice.
Updated as of Apr 2025
NUS GRTII Master’s Scholarship (NUS Guangzhou Research Translation and Innovation Institute)
This merit scholarship, sponsored by the Huangpu District Government of Guangzhou, China, aims to develop talent for the Greater Bay Area of China. Scholarship recipients are required to sign a Service Bond Agreement, with an obligation to work for at least two years in the Huangpu District of Guangzhou after graduation. One award of S$45,000 toward tuition will be granted to each scholarship recipient. Students interested in being considered for this scholarship for AY2025-26 August intake should write to uprbox34@nus.edu.sg.
May I know when classes are conducted?
Ans: Typically, classes are conducted on weekday evenings and/or Saturdays. The classes for most of the PR5XXX courses under MPST curriculum are generally held once a week, which are conducted either on weekday evenings (e.g. 6-8pm, 6.30-8.30pm) or on Saturday mornings and/or afternoons.
May I know what is the required Grade Point Average (GPA) for continuation and graduation?
Ans: A student pursuing a Master’s degree by coursework must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.00 to be eligible for graduation. To continue in a Master’s programme, a student may not have:
• GPA below 3.00 (but ≥ 2.50) for three consecutive semesters; or
• GPA below 2.50 for two consecutive semesters.
For more details, click here.
Upon graduating from the MPST programme, can I be a registered pharmacist with the Singapore Pharmacy Council (SPC)?
Ans: This is a Master’s degree programme in Pharmaceutical Science and Technology and is not a recognized degree for registration as a pharmacist in Singapore.
Updated as of Jun 2023