Graduation Requirements

This curriculum applies to students admitted from AY2024/2025 cohort onwards. MIA students are required to read 64 units* and achieve a Grade Point Average (GPA) of minimum 3.0 to graduate. You need to complete the following:

6 Core Courses

5 Core Courses
4 Law Specialisation Module

5 Elective Courses in a chosen Specialisaton
3 Elective Modules

3 Elective Courses   
1 Restricted Elective

Master Thesis / Capstone Project

MIA Senior Essay

*The 64 units is inclusive of the 20 units of core courses or equivalent and 4 units of a Restricted Elective, and where 8 units of electives can be at undergraduate Level 3000 or Level 4000.

You may opt to graduate without a specialisation. Student may choose one of the following areas for specialisation:

Typical MIA Academic Calendar

Semester 1 (August - December)
PP5901 | International Relations: Theory and Practice 4 units
PP5904 | Research Methods in International Affairs 4 units
PP5914 | Global Politics and the Economy 4 units
*Elective 1 4 units
Semester 2 (January - May)
PP5913 | Comparative Politics 4 units
PP5915 | International Relations of Asia 4 units
*Elective 2 4 units
*Elective 3 4 units

*Refers to specialisation electives, restricted elective, or free electives. Specialisation is not mandatory. If you choose not to specialise, you may choose any electives that are offered in the semester.

Click here to learn more about the core courses.

Please click here for the electives available at LKYSPP.

AY2024/2025 Semester 2 Course Schedule, click here.
Semester 1 (August - December)
MIA Senior Essay 8 units
*Elective 4 4 units
*Elective 5 4 units
*Elective 6 4 units
Semester 2 (January - May)
MIA Senior Essay (cont’d)
*Elective 7 4 units
*Elective 8 4 units
*Elective 9 4 units

*Refers to specialisation electives, restricted elective, or free electives. Specialisation is not mandatory. If you choose not to specialise, you may choose any electives that are offered in the semester.

Click here to learn more about the core courses.

Please click here for the electives available at LKYSPP.

  • You gain a keen working knowledge and deep understanding of issues, theories and debates in International Affairs
  • You hone a critical awareness of the strengths and limitations of each International Affairs subfield, and learn to make sense of its complexities
  • You learn to apply key theories and analytical tools to devise solutions for complex problems
  • You learn cross-cultural and decision making skills to make practical judgements that are balanced by theoretical, analytical and ethical considerations
  • You gain the confidence to provoke and effect positive transformations in the world, solving problems in ways that are constructive, imaginative, analytically sound, practically feasible and culturally sensible
  • You acquire a deep, nuanced understanding of Asia and its place in the world

A minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 for two consecutive semesters or 3.0 for three consecutive semesters is required. Students who fail to maintain the minimum GPA would have his/her candidature terminated.

Internship & Career Preparation

At the LKY School, we provide students with the tools, guidance and opportunities that will enable them to win the jobs or promotions they seek and chart their paths to career success. Discover the many career services and resources you can tap on during your course of study at the LKY School.

MIA students have access to dedicated career advisors who can help them with career planning, job search skills and strategies, CV/resume writing, mock interviews, etc. These consultations can take place remotely or in-person at the Bukit Timah Campus. MIA students also have access to Career Advisors at NUS' Centre for Future-ready Graduates by logging in to NUS Talent Connect to book an appointment at the Kent Ridge Campus.

Career Clinics is a specially curated programme exclusively for MIA students, comprising skills workshop, site visits and career talks featuring organisations working in International Affairs. Through the Career Clinics, you will have an opportunity to expand your network, gather insights from practitioners, and get to know prospective employers better.

Past Career Clinics include:

  • Asia Europe Foundation
  • European Union Centre, Singapore
  • Interpol Global Complex for Innovation
  • Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS)- Yusof Ishak Institute

Alumni give the best advice! MIA students are part of a community of more than 3000 LKY School alumni from over 90 countries. We encourage and facilitate student interactions with alumni from all programmes through events and virtual connections.

In addition, MIA students also have access to career resources that are available to all LKYSPP students and all NUS students.

Students who enrolled in the MIA programme can choose between an MIA Internship Capstone, a Master Thesis or a White Paper.

The MIA Internship Capstone is a self-sourced internship-based project that culminates in a paper on an international issue or challenge that the student worked on or observed during the internship. Students usually do these internships during the vacation period between the first and second year of the MIA programme, full-time for at least two months. Students will be allocated a faculty advisor who will guide them on their internship capstone.

Some organisations who have hired MIA interns

  • Asian Development Bank
  • China-Italy Chamber of Commerce
  • Control Risks Group
  • German Development Institute
  • Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses
  • International Cooperation Centre, National Development and Reform Commission
  • Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS),
  • Meituan-Dianping
  • Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore
  • United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)

What Can You Do
With an MIA Degree?

Are you pondering over what can you do with a Master in International Affairs? Our MIA alumni have gone on to pursue meaningful careers in a variety of roles and industries across Asia. Equipped with international perspectives and a nuanced understanding of Asia, our students go on to be leaders in their respective fields – read on to hear some of their stories.

Prior to enrolling in LKYSPP, Jessica had worked as an Associate Producer at CNBC International in Singapore. After completing the MIA programme, Jessica joined Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) as an Assistant Director, ASEAN. Her work focuses on Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Thailand. She was involved in SIIA’s report on The Sino-American Conflict & ASEAN. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies, Broadcast & Cinema Studies from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Jessica Wau
Jessica Wau

MIA (2018/2019)
Winston is an Investment Consultant at the Huafa Group, a state-owned enterprise in China. His department oversees infrastructure construction, and his primary responsibilities include procedural jobs, such as government paperwork, as well as providing legal advice. As an MIA student, Winston did a yearlong internship with Hengqin Innovation and Development Research Institute. Winston holds a Bachelor in International Relations and Public Affairs from the University of Macau..
Winston Tan
Winston Tan

MIA (2018/2019)
Akanksha currently engages in intelligence gathering and strategising for the Government of India on shaping the start-up landscape of the country through better policies and enhanced role of state governments. During her study in the MIA programme, she had an opportunity to work closely with the Energy Studies Institute and Abbott. Akanksha had worked as a Financial Market Analyst and Research Associate prior to joining the MIA programme. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Economics from Shri Ram College of Commerce, India
Akanksha Sinha
Akanksha Sinha

MIA (2018/2019)

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