PhD Programme
General Information
TLL offers an intensive PhD Program to prepare the next generation of scientists for exciting careers in the Life Sciences. In TLL, our students and staff come from over 20 countries. Combined with state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, and dedicated support staff, the graduate program provides the highest level of training possible. A key tenet is TLL’s open, collegial atmosphere that fosters productive scientific interactions between students, interns, postdoctoral fellows, and our Principal Investigators. Through the program, our students regularly publish in the most prestigious research journals and travel widely to present their work at international conferences. All successful applicants will receive a fellowship that includes a monthly living stipend.
TLL offers an intensive PhD Program to prepare the next generation of scientists for exciting careers in Life Sciences. A true international research institute, our students and staff come from over 20 countries. Combined with state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, and dedicated support staff, the graduate program provides the highest level of training possible. A key tenet is TLL’s open, collegial atmosphere that fosters productive scientific interactions between students, postdoctoral fellows, and Group Leader. Through the program, our students regularly publish in the most prestigious research journals and travel widely to present their work at international conferences. All successful applicants under the TLL PhD/Graduate Programme will receive benefits that include a monthly salary, payment of tuition fees, medical and flexible benefits. There will also be mentorship provided to the successful applicants and the opportunity to attend conferences.
Prospective and current students, please contact any of our following Graduate Committee members:
Sarojam Rajani
Senior Principal Investigator
Research Area
Agronomy, Synthetic Biology, Genetics & Genomics
Yu Fengwei
Senior Principal Investigator
Research Area
Neuronal Development, Neuronal Pruning, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Developmental Genetics
Ong Chin Tong
Senior Principal Investigator
Research Area
Developmental Biology, Neurodegenerative Disease, Genetics & Genomics
Naweed Naqvi
Temasek Senior Investigator
Research Area
Microbes-plants-environment interactions, Microbiomes, Sustainable crop improvement, Precision Agrobiology
Zhang Dan
Principal Investigator
Research Area
Cell Biology, Fungal pathogen, Yeast synthetic biology
Application and Admission
TLL anticipates accepting 10-12 students per year into the TLL PhD Program. Applications are accepted and reviewed twice a year. The deadlines for receipt of completed applications are 1 June (for January intake) and 1 December (for August intake). Applicants are requested to complete the application form (available here) and email it together with the following documents to fellowship@tll.org.sg:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Certified copies of GRE/TOFEL/IELTS score sheets
- Certified copies of all educational certificates and transcripts
(English translation required) - Three recommendation letters
(Applicants are requested to confirm with their referees that the recommendation letters are sent to fellowship@tll.org.sg from the referee’s institutional email account.) - Scientific publications (if any)
(Note: Incomplete application will not be considered.)
TOEFL/IELTS scores:
Applicants whose native language is not English, or whose medium of undergraduate instructions was not in English, must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores as evidence of their proficiency in the English Language. The minimum Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) score is ≥85 for internet-based test. The minimum International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score is ≥6.
GRE scores:
GRE test scores are required for this application. The minimum score for GRE (General Test) should be Verbal and Quantitative Abilities: Total score of 320, Analytical Writing: 3.5. Applicants without GRE test scores at the time of application may submit their application first but must clearly indicate the expected date for which the GRE test scores will be available.
Shortlisted candidates will be notified by email to attend an interview(s) within ~1 month from the closing date of each application cycle.
If you require further information, please refer to the Frequently Asked Question or email us at fellowship@tll.org.sg.
Notes on application:
- GATE scores can be accepted in place of GRE for students graduating from the universities in India;
- As part of TLL PhD Program, the successful candidate will register as a PhD candidate with National University of Singapore (“NUS”), or Nanyang Technological University (“NTU”).
NUS provides GRE exemptions to applicants with:
- NUS provides GRE exemptions to applicants with:
B.Sc. Honours (Highest distinction), GPA of at least 4.5 for NUS/NTU/Singapore University of Technology and Design (“SUTD”) - B.Sc Honours (Distinction), GPA 4.0 – 4.49 for NUS
- GPA of at least 3.8 for Singapore Management University (“SMU”) at the time of graduation or at the end of Semester 1, Final 4th year study.
NTU requires GRE score to be submitted for applicants who are not graduates of the Autonomous Universities in Singapore, unless there is specific requirement in the School’s website for the respective programme.
PhD Program Guidelines
All research and educational activities (including group meetings, course work, and seminars) are conducted exclusively in English. Hence, effective communication using written and verbal English is a prerequisite for admission.
Frequently Asked Questions
The TLL PhD Program is open to Master or Bachelor (Hons) students worldwide.
Applicants must hold a Master or Bachelor (Hons) degree in a relevant field. GRE is compulsory for all students (with some exemptions permitted – see FAQ below). (Note: GATE scores can be accepted in place of GRE for students graduating from the universities in India – See FAQ below.) TOEFL/IELTS is compulsory for those whose medium of undergraduate instruction was not English.
Graduate students join TLL as Junior Research Fellows (“JRFs”). The fellowship includes monthly salary, PhD tuition fee subsidies, medical, and flexi-benefits, etc. In addition, JRF who is Singaporean or Singapore Permanent Resident will receive Employer’s CPF.
The TLL PhD Fellowship is bond-free.
Typically, the JRFs will take 4-5 years to complete the PhD candidature (including to publish or submit at least one first-authored publication in a recognized international scientific journal).
Your PhD degree will be conferred by the university you are registered with. You can either register with National University of Singapore (“NUS”) or Nanyang Technological University (“NTU”).
Email your completed application form together with all supporting documents to fellowship@tll.org.sg
Application for TLL PhD Program is free.
There are 2 application cycles each year. The deadlines for receipt of completed applications are 1 June and 1 December.
Typically, the entire review period will take about 3-4 months from the application deadline. If you are successful in the application, you may start work in TLL around 2 January or 1 August (working day), to coincide with NUS/NTU academic intake/enrolment.
| Application deadline | Commencement of PhD candidature |
|
1 June |
2 January of the following year |
| 1 December | 1 August of the following year |
No. Only GRE General Test scores are required.
You can email certified true copies of the TOEFL & GRE test scores to fellowship@tll.org.sg.
Yes.
Shortlisted candidates will be notified by email to attend an interview(s) within ~1 month from the closing date of each application cycle.
No. Applicants must submit their application to fellowship@tll.org.sg