ASD PhD Programme

Overview

The PhD in Architecture and Sustainable Design (ASD) at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) is a programme for highly creative and motivated individuals who wish to engage in intensive research and scholarship related to the built environment. The programme covers a broad range of subjects and represents the cutting edge of design investigation. Based on a multidisciplinary approach, it covers areas such as architecture, design technology, urban design, urban planning, and environmental studies, providing rich opportunities for diverse approaches of investigation. The programme is composed of researchers and scholars whose areas of expertise and study are closely related to the various academic curricula offered at SUTD.

Once accepted to the programme, each student is assigned a faculty advisor. The advisor consults on the student’s initial plan to study and on the choice of subjects in subsequent terms. He or she assists the student in selecting an advisory committee and subsequently a thesis committee. Often, but not always, the faculty advisor becomes the thesis committee chair. At the beginning of the fifth term, the student must pass a general exam in that the advisory committee tests the student’s mastery of his or her general field of study and the ability to write a dissertation. Upon passing the general exam, the PhD student becomes a doctoral candidate and forms a thesis committee with input from his or her faculty advisor. The candidate then prepares a thesis proposal that must be presented to the committee before the end of the fifth term. The committee reviews the thesis proposal based on three important criteria: originality, contribution to the field, and feasibility. After the acceptance of the thesis proposal, the candidate advances his or her research project and writes the thesis. Doctoral candidates receive their PhD degrees from SUTD after completing their thesis and conducting their public thesis defence.

For enquires relating to application, admissions and scholarship matters, please write to Graduate Programme Office.

For other enquiries, please write to phd@asd.sutd.edu.sg.

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Areas of Research

• Architecture and sustainable design and practice
• Innovative city design and development
• Environmental policy and planning
• Computation pertaining to the description, generation, and, construction of architecture.
• Historical, theoretical, and critical approaches to architectural design

Applicants are encouraged to refer to the various research interests of the ASD faculty members for more detailed information.