Master the future of a rising region with National University of Singapore

NUS is mastering the social, political, and strategic pulse of South Asia with a new programme offering.

Amidst the global power shifts reshaping the international landscape, South Asia stands out with its scale, complexity, and strategic importance. Home to over two billion people, fast-growing economies, and rising geopolitical influence, its influence is rapidly expanding, becoming an essential terrain for governments, corporations, and organisations worldwide. 

However, despite this significance, there is a lack of region-specific expertise.

To address this, the National University of Singapore (NUS) is launching the Master of Social Sciences in Geopolitics of South Asia, a one-year, interdisciplinary coursework master's programme to be offered by the South Asian Studies Programme (SASP) in conjunction with the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) beginning in the first semester of AY 2026-2027.

Why the programme matters

Speaking to Asian Business Review, programme coordinator (South Asian Studies Programme) Dr Rajshree Jetly explained that the programme was developed to fill the growing need for a deep understanding of South Asia in a rapidly changing world.

It is the only master’s programme in ASEAN focused specifically on South Asia; hence, it fills a critical academic and strategic gap whilst also complementing NUS’s regional studies offerings focused on Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and East Asia.

“Whilst South Asia has great promise, it also faces significant challenges rooted in its colonial past, intensifying religious and ethnic tensions. It remains one of the least integrated regions, posing challenges to security and economic cooperation,” Jetly said. “Understanding the geopolitics of South Asia is crucial for the world, as developments in the region can profoundly shape global markets, security dynamics, and international policy.”

With the programme, students will benefit from a truly interdisciplinary curriculum that draws on political science, history, and sociology, amongst others.

This structure, as pointed out by Jetly, will expose them to different pedagogical approaches and perspectives, considering that geopolitics cannot be understood through a single lens. 

She further noted, “Geopolitics has both contemporary and historical relevance with deep interdisciplinary dimensions,” which allows students to engage with multiple perspectives across the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Additionally, the collaboration between the SASP and the ISAS provides an additional layer of richness with access to cutting-edge research and policy insights.

Insider/outsider perspective

One of the programme’s most distinctive features is its dual analytical perspective. Studying from Singapore provides what Jetly describes as “a unique vantage point for studying South Asia.” This is because Singapore is connected closely enough to offer deep insights whilst remaining outside the region, which ensures an objective analytical stance.

“Further, as a global city, Singapore reflects a range of international perspectives on geopolitical issues,” she added. “Studying in Singapore will thus enable students to analyse South Asian geopolitics both as insider and outsider.”

In such a multicultural environment, students will be encouraged to interpret South Asia’s political and social transformations from both within and beyond the region’s borders. The programme’s one-year coursework structure is also ideal for recent graduates and working professionals seeking advanced knowledge without the time commitment of a research thesis. Instead of focusing on a single topic, they could engage with a wide spectrum of issues, including political transitions, economic integration, security tensions, and cultural shifts.

In addition, graduates of the programme can expect strong employability, as they are equipped for careers in government, diplomacy, international organisations, think tanks, NGOs, journalism, and corporate strategy, fields where a nuanced understanding of regional geopolitics is increasingly valuable. 

Once rolled out, the programme will cultivate leaders who can interpret global instability and respond to shifting power structures.

More than an academic qualification, the Master of Social Sciences in Geopolitics of South Asia presents itself as a timely and future-oriented gateway into understanding the region whose developments will increasingly shape global politics, markets, and societies.