Written by Yanhao Deng (yanhao_deng@u.nus.edu).
If there is any question or any updates, please contact me.
Timeline
All PhD students are required to complete the relevant qualifying examinations by the end of their fourth semester.
Copied from the department’s email:
Taking your seniors as an example, some of them do take both their CQE and OQE in their fourth semester. There is no issue on this but do kindly note that CQE and OQE exam dates have to be at least a month apart.
WARNING
Failure to complete both CQE and OQE by the end of the fourth semester will lead to stipend suspension in the fifth semester.
Stipend payments will only resume after OQE3 is completed, with no retroactive payment.
Comprehensive Qualifying Examination (QE II / CQE)
Please refer to the following document for detailed procedures and requirements:
SOP for CQE (not to be shared with students from other departments)
Oral Qualifying Examination (QE III / OQE)
Overview
The OQE is an oral defense of your research proposal and progress. You’ll present your work to a committee and answer questions about your research and related topics.
Sample Timeline
Work backwards from your planned OQE date:
| Time Before OQE | Task |
|---|---|
| 5 months | Discuss timing with Jerry; start identifying committee members |
| 4 months | Confirm committee; submit required forms to department |
| 3 months | Meet with each committee member individually (15-20 min each) |
| 2 months | Draft written proposal; start preparing presentation |
| 4-6 weeks | Schedule practice OQEs with group members |
| 2-3 weeks | Send final proposal to committee; confirm date/time/location |
Choosing Committee Members
Discuss with Jerry who should be on your committee. Considerations:
- Research expertise relevant to your work
- Someone who will give constructive feedback
- Department requirements for committee composition
Scheduling Strategy
Start with the committee member who has the worst availability. If they can only do certain dates, lock those in first before checking others.
Written Proposal
The written proposal typically includes:
- Background and literature review
- Research objectives and hypotheses
- Work completed so far
- Proposed future work and timeline
- Expected outcomes
Check with your department for specific format requirements. Common length: 5-10 pages plus references.
Preparing the Presentation
Your OQE presentation is typically 30-40 minutes, followed by Q&A. Common sections:
- Introduction / Background
- Literature review
- Research methodology
- Results so far
- Proposed future work
- Timeline
Practice Presentations
Schedule 2-4 practice OQEs with group members. They can ask questions and give feedback on clarity, pacing, and content. This is extremely valuable preparation.
Studying for Questions
The committee may ask about:
- Your specific research (methods, results, interpretation)
- Background knowledge in your field
- Alternative approaches you could have taken
- Limitations of your work
- Future directions
Review:
- Key papers in your area
- Fundamentals related to your research
- Your own thesis and proposal thoroughly
During the Exam
- Stay calm — this is a conversation, not an interrogation
- It’s okay to say “I don’t know” — better than guessing
- Take a moment to think before answering
- Ask for clarification if a question is unclear
- Be honest about limitations and uncertainties
After the Exam
- If you pass: Congratulations! Complete any required paperwork for advancement to candidacy
- If revisions needed: Address feedback promptly and reschedule
- If you don’t pass: Don’t panic — you’ll get feedback and can retake
The OQE is a milestone, not a destination. It’s designed to help you, not just test you. Good preparation makes it much less stressful.