NUS Bulletin AY2020/21

Faculty of Engineering

The College of Design and Engineering (CDE) came into existence on 1 January 2022 from the merger of the Faculty of Engineering (FoE) and the School of Design and Environment (SDE). Do check cde.nus.edu.sg for the latest on CDE’s programmes.

Coursework Programmes

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Aimed at working professionals, our coursework (taught) programmes are designed for university graduates who wish to advance their knowledge and careers in their chosen fields of specialisation.

Admission for a Master of Science programme requires a Bachelor’s degree with honours or its equivalent from a good University, in an area related to the intended programme of study; or a Bachelor’s degree with a relevant NUS Graduate Certificate with a minimum CAP as imposed by the Host Department of the intended programme of study. Candidates should preferably have had a period of relevant work experience after obtaining their first degree. Candidates with other qualifications and achievements deemed to be suitably prepared for the programme of study may also be considered.

Coursework programmes of study, well chosen, enhance future career prospects and have been a vital part of many of our students’ career plans.

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Coursework programmes leading to the Master of Science (MSc) are normally conducted in the evenings and are awarded once the candidates pass the relevant examinations in a prescribed number of subjects. Students may enrol in any of these programmes on a part-time or full-time basis.  However, International candidates who are not long-term residents of Singapore at the time of application are only eligible to apply for the full-time MSc programmes, and if offered admission, they are to be registered as full-time students.

Typically the study workload for students are as follow:

Part-time

  • Classes: Normally take 2 modules each semester (i.e. generally attend lectures 2 evenings per week).#
  • Maximum workload per semester:12 MCs*
  • Period of candidature
    • Minimum residency: 50% of required MCs
    • Normal Course Duration: 5 semesters / 2.5 years
    • Maximum candidature: 8 semesters / 4 years

Full-time

  • Classes: Normally take 3-5 modules each semester (i.e. generally attend lectures between 3-5 evenings per week)#
  • Maximum workload per semester: 16 – 20 MCs*
  • Period of candidature
    • Minimum residency: 50% of required MCs
    • Normal Course Duration: 3 semesters / 1.5 years
    • Maximum candidature: 4 semesters / 2 years

*A graduate module is normally equivalent to 4 MCs. A 4-MC module would normally require 10 hours of work a week, including lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions, assignments, and independent or group study. Refer to NUS modular system here.

# Candidates who intend to take more than or fewer than the prescribed number of modular credits in a given Semester should seek approval from the respective Heads of Departments within the first two Instructional weeks of that Semester.

Graduate classes (including lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions) are usually conducted in the evenings from 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm from Mondays to Fridays.

For students eligible for MOE subsidised fees, please note that the Tuition fee subsidy is only for the duration of their normal candidature duration (this is different from maximum candidature period), non-subsidised fees apply thereafter. 

In general (except for students who obtained a CAP of < 1.50 during their first semester of study), students who are not performing within expectations, will be issued with either an academic warning or an academic probation before he/she is issued with a letter of academic dismissal

For continuation of candidature, a student must demonstrate satisfactory progress during his/her candidature, i.e.:

(i) academic probation/warning:

  • subject to subparagraph (ii), probation/warning is issued to students if CAP < 3.00; &

(ii) academic dismissal to students if:

  • in the 1st semester of study, CAP < 1.50;or
  • for 2 consecutive semesters of study, CAP < 2.50; or
  • for 3 consecutive semesters of study, CAP < 3.00

In addition to the above, students in MSc (IP Mgt) programme must achieve a pass with a minimum average mark of 55% in the Graduate Certificate in IP Law in order to proceed to Part 2 of the MSc (IP Mgt) programme.

All graduate students are not permitted to repeat a module which he/she has passed for the purpose of improving his/her grade.

The above rules on academic probation/warning and dismissal shall also apply to a candidate on an exchange programme, and/or a candidate on leave of absence for one semester or longer. If a candidate is given an academic probation/warning prior to his/her leave, the academic probation/warning prior to the leave shall count towards dismissal.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory modules shall be excluded in determining the academic probation/warning of a student.

Students who fail to register for modules by the 2nd instructional week of the semester are deemed that they are no longer interested in their graduate programme and will have their candidatures terminated.

Students must complete their requirements for their degrees within their maximum period of candidatures, failing which they will have their candidatures terminated.

For MSc(PPOT) programme requirement, please refer to the respective website.

In general, all MSc students, with the exception of MSc(IP Mgt) & MSc(PPOT) are expected to achieve a minimum of 40 modular credits and a minimum level of proficiency (i.e. CAP of 3.00) in their coursework before they can graduate. Details are described in the degree requirements of each respective programmes.

For MSc(PPOT) programme requirement, please refer to the respective website.