Interview with Professor Zhang from Nanyang Technological University: How does the Master's degree in Blockchain Technology cultivate interdisciplinary professionals for the Web3 era?

Nanyang Technological University, NTU held its first admissions briefing in Taiwan last week to promote its Master of Science in Blockchain, MSBT. This is not just an admissions event; it also reflects the long-term optimism of Asia's top technological universities regarding the future of the blockchain industry.

The Blockchain News also interviewed Associate Professor Zhang Tianwei from the School's Computational Finance Research Center to gain a deeper understanding of the course structure and career development of MSBT, as well as their views on how blockchain underlying technology can integrate and change various industries.

From a technical perspective: Why did NTU in Singapore establish a Blockchain Master's degree (MSBT)?

“We have observed that the application potential of Blockchain technology is rapidly expanding, not just in cryptocurrencies, but also penetrating various fields such as finance, energy, and supply chains,” said Professor Zhang Tianwei in an interview.

He pointed out that as an academic unit within NTU focused on cutting-edge financial technology and computational technologies, the NTU Centre in Computational Technologies for Finance, CCTF, integrates multiple colleges of the university, including the College of Computing and Data Science, CCDS, and the Nanyang Business School, NBS, to jointly establish the MSBT, aiming to cultivate talents who understand underlying technologies and possess cross-industry application capabilities.

In his view, this is not only in line with the trend, but also helps to cultivate the next generation of professionals who can make an impact in the real world.

The design of this program is very comprehensive, covering theory, engineering, and application aspects, with the ultimate goal of enabling students to bring this knowledge into various industries after graduation.

Course Design: A Triple Framework from Core Basics, Development to Management

In terms of curriculum structure, MSBT is divided into full-time and part-time, with a study duration ranging from one year to four years. The curriculum consists of three main areas:

Blockchain Fundamentals ( Basic Theory ): covering core technologies such as distributed systems, cryptography, software engineering, privacy, and scalability.

Blockchain Development ( Engineering Implementation ): Includes smart contract development, DApp implementation, web programming, and network security testing.

Blockchain Management ( Business Management Applications ): Discussing token economics, regulatory governance, industry ethics, and emerging applications of financial technology.

Practical Reinforcement of Combat Effectiveness: Six-Month Capstone Industry-Academia Collaboration Project

At the same time, MSBT also places great importance on practical experience, which is why the industry-academia collaboration course “Capstone Project” has become the biggest feature of the program.

Professor Zhang introduced the Capstone industry-academic cooperation project and the companies it has collaborated with in the past.

Professor Zhang pointed out that the project will collaborate with multiple financial institutions, insurance providers, consultants, and multinational corporations. They will provide topics and distribute them to student teams, who will develop under the dual guidance of the corporations and professors, participating fully from design, implementation, testing to delivery.

He emphasized that this not only helps them understand how Blockchain is applied in the real industry, but also paves the way for their future careers:

We have quite a few students who, during the process of completing their Capstone projects, have received internship and even full-time job opportunities. The Capstone can be seen as the first step for students to enter the industry.

Various scholarships available for application: from government grants to campus rewards.

When asked about the scholarship part that students are concerned about, Professor Zhang also cheerfully stated that they would provide two main types of scholarships for outstanding students.

Professor Zhang introduced the scholarship system.

First, there is the scholarship phase for admission applications, which will select students with outstanding academic performance and background information from the applications to award admission scholarships. The specific amount for scholarships applicable to Taiwanese students ranges from 10,000 to 15,000 SGD, approximately 230,000 to 350,000 TWD.

The second type is aimed at students who perform excellently in their studies. Based on their academic performance during the school period, (GPA), participation in courses and activities, and research and project performance, additional rewards will be provided.

In addition, there are scholarships from the government or partner organizations, such as the “SG Digital Scholarship” provided by the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA), aimed at students aspiring to engage in technology-related research in areas such as Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Data Analysis.

Are there any qualification restrictions for enrollment? How should Taiwanese students prepare?

Regarding the question “Do Taiwan students need to prepare anything special when applying for MSBT, such as language scores, background conditions, or skills?” Professor Zhang pointed out that Taiwan students excel in foundational abilities and logical training, but if they want to further enhance their competitiveness, they can also take the initiative to strengthen themselves:

Must have an academic or professional background in computer science, information engineering, or electrical engineering.

If you do not have a background in computer science, you can learn the basics of programming through online courses and obtain relevant certificates to have a certain foundation in programming.

Prepare a portfolio: GitHub projects, hackathon records, research reports, or industry-academia collaboration results are all acceptable.

As long as you can demonstrate that you have hands-on experience and are willing to learn, we welcome you very much.

Additionally, since the course is taught entirely in English, graduates from universities that do not teach in English must also provide proof of a TOEFL score between 100 and 600 for the ( online/paper-based test ) or an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher.

Career Path: From Engineer to Entrepreneur, the Vast Stage for On-Chain Talent

The enrollment briefing also revealed the current career paths of MSBT graduates, and Professor Zhang also added to this regarding future career development.

MSBT graduates' experience sharing

He stated: “This is actually very flexible, depending on the students' interests and goals.”

Some students wish to stay in Singapore for development and will join local fintech companies or blockchain startups. There are also students who return to their home country to enter large enterprises, research institutions, or start their own businesses. Additionally, some students have a particular interest in academic research and continue to stay at NTU to pursue a doctoral degree after graduation.

Our students come from diverse backgrounds and have varied ideas. The school can also provide various resources, whether for entrepreneurship, research, or industrial internships, with comprehensive support.

Pang Shaofu, chairman of the Taiwan Blockchain University Alliance, stated that since Taiwan does not have any blockchain-related research institutes, academic blockchain talents mainly come from computer science departments or self-learning communities. The systematic teaching of 30 credits in the Blockchain Master's program at Nanyang Technological University aligns well with students' interest in blockchain master's degrees.

Linking the future, starting from Taipei

It is not difficult to see that the MSBT program at Nanyang Technological University is not just a curriculum for cultivating technical talents, but a bridge that allows students to start from technology and reach the global industry.

Currently, the enrollment season for August 2026 will open for applications on November 1, 2025, and will close at the end of February 2026. Interested readers may want to learn about it through the department introduction and admission guidelines.

This article features an interview with Professor Zhang from Nanyang Technological University: How does the Master of Science in Blockchain Technology cultivate interdisciplinary professionals for the Web3 era? Originally published in Chain News ABMedia.