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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Have a question? No worries.

For questions not covered in these FAQs, more information can be found in the respective pages on this site.

Or, email us at socug@comp.nus.edu.sg and we will get back to you.

  1. What is NUS Computing’s Common Curriculum?

  2. Why is this necessary?

  3. Are there any changes in admissions requirements for NUS Computing with the introduction of the new Common Curriculum?

  4. What's the difference between Common Curriculum and the General Education Requirements?

  5. Is the Common Curriculum less rigorous?

  6. I would like to apply to both NUS College and an NUS Computing degree programme. How will the Common Curriculum affect my application process?

  7. I am an NUS Computing student who has just enrolled in the new NUS College programme. How does this affect NUS Computing’s Common Curriculum?

  8. Will the tuition fees be increased due to the Common Curriculum?

  9. Will I take longer to graduate?

  1. What grades do I need to be admitted or accepted into Computing degree programmes?

  2. What are the annual tuition fees for Computing degree programmes?

  3. Which fees do National Servicemen (NSmen) pay – the prevailing fee when they accept their offer or when they matriculate at NUS?

  4. What are some examples of scholarships and bursaries that NUS Computing students can receive?

FAQ: General Information
A. General Information
1. Why should I study Computing?
  • Demand for computing talent is growing each year.
  • Expertise in computing enables you to solve, complex, challenging problems.
  • Computing offers many types of rewarding careers, both in Singapore and worldwide.
  • Computing offers great opportunities for career satisfaction, true creativity, and innovativeness.
FAQ: GI: #1
2. What is NUS Computing's ranking worldwide?
Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject 2024 – #6 in Computer Science & Information Systems
Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2023 – #7 in Computer Science
FAQ: GI: #2
3. Can I still apply to do a Computing degree if I have no background in programming or coding?
  • Yes, we assume that students do not have such prior skills and you will be taught programming or coding from scratch in the first-year courses. But if you would like to get a head start, you may enrol in pre-semester optional programming and coding classes.
  • A Computing education is not solely about programming languages. It also involves computational thinking skills and a methodological or systematic approach to solving problems across hardware, software, platform, application, user, organisational and data domains.
FAQ: GI: #3
4. How does NUS Computing prepare me for my career?
  • You will undergo internships that will lay the foundation for your career.
  • You will be able to take part in industry talks and career fairs that will provide you with links to companies.
FAQ: GI: #4
5. What are the career prospects for a Computing graduate?
  • They will have exciting and rewarding career prospects upon graduation in various industry sectors such as IT, finance, government, transport, manufacturing, e-commerce, services, etc.
FAQ: GI: #5
6. What companies employ NUS Computing graduates?
  • Examples: Accenture, GovTech, JP Morgan, Citibank, GIC, Apple, Deloitte, KPMG, NCS, PayPal, StarHub, Symantec, OCBC Bank, DSO, DSTA, SEA, Facebook, Google, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Grab, DBS Bank, SingTel, ST Electronics, Visa, Ufinity and IHIS.
FAQ: GI: #6
7. Which graduate schools do NUS Computing students get into?
  • You can get admitted into top graduate schools and programmes with a NUS Computing degree.
  • We have students getting admissions to New York University, Stanford University, Cornell University, MIT, etc. for their graduate studies in master and doctoral degrees.
FAQ: GI: #7
8. What research opportunities can I enjoy in NUS Computing?
  • Students can choose to undertake a Final Year Project (spanning two semesters of consecutive research work) in their respective degree programmes.
FAQ: GI: #8
9. Will there be opportunities for entrepreneurship at NUS Computing?
  • We offer courses such as IS3251 Principles of Technology Entrepreneurship and CP2201 Journey of the Innovator, where experienced entrepreneurs and venture capitalists are invited to share their experiences in class.
  • There is an annual innovation award for projects with high potential for commercialisation. We administer an innovation grant (Venture Initiation Programme) of $10,000 to allow you to validate the viability of your startup ideas first before taking the plunge.
  • An incubator called the Furnace provides office facilities for your startup companies to work in. At the Furnace, you will receive guidance and mentorship from faculty members who are experienced in the startup space.
  • If you have entrepreneurial aspirations, you are encouraged to participate in the NUS Overseas Colleges programme where you will gain real-world experience interning with startups in top entrepreneurial locations in the world such as Silicon Valley and Beijing.
FAQ: GI: #9
FAQ: SL: #1
10. What are NUS Computing professors like as teachers and researchers?
  • They are excellent teachers and have often been placed on the NUS Teaching Honour Roll.
  • They are world-leading researchers and have won best paper awards at various international research conferences.
11. What is the workload like for each semester in NUS Computing?
  • The typical workload is about 5 courses or around 50 hours of classes/study/revision per week.
  • If you wish to expedite your study and have high Grade Point Average (GPA), you can apply for a heavier workload per semester after your first semester of study.
FAQ: SL: #2
12. Are internships compulsory for all NUS Computing students?
  • Yes, you will have to complete at least 6 months of internship to fulfil graduation requirements. However, students with GPA of 4.00 or higher after completing at least 70% (i.e. 112 units) of the unit requirement may opt to replace internship with the dissertation option.
  • We will facilitate the sourcing of internships for you. Career counsellors from the Centre for Future-Ready Graduates will provide 1-1 guidance on career options, CV writing and interview skills.
FAQ: SL: #3
FAQ: Our Programmes
B. Our Programmes
FAQ: OP: #1
FAQ: OP: #2
3. What is a Double Degree Programme (DDP)?
  • A DDP allows you to graduate with two different degrees in two disciplines from the same faculty/school or two different faculties/schools. It allows some courses taken to be double counted towards the requirements of both degrees, thus enabling you to complete the two degrees in a shorter period.
See also: www.comp.nus.edu.sg/programmes/sp/ddp/
FAQ: OP: #3
4. What types of Double Degree Programmes (DDP) are there?
  • There is flexibility in constructing your own DDP with other faculties, subject to the agreement of the other faculty. Depending on your programme, you can apply for DDPs with the NUS Business School, and the College of Humanities and Science.
  • There is also the French Double Degree Programme (FDDP), which allows you to earn three degrees in 5 years (which would normally take about 7 years): a Bachelor’s and Master’s from NUS, as well as a Diplôme d’Ingénieur from one of the premier Grandes Écoles in France.
FAQ: OP: #4
5. What types of Concurrent Degree Programmes (CDP) are there?
  • You can apply for a CDP (CS, IS) with the NUS Business School in Master of Science (Management) under direct admission.  In-progress admissions for other majors are possible during your undergraduate candidature by satisfying the admission criteria laid out by the School of Business.
See also: www.comp.nus.edu.sg/programmes/sp/cdp
FAQ: OP: #5
6. Can I appeal or apply again to a DDP or CDP if I did not get an admission offer during the direct initial admission exercise?
  • If you have been offered admission into a single degree programme, you can accept the existing offer, and then apply for CDP/DDP after the end of the first year of your studies.
  • Your application should be submitted to the School of Computing, and not the NUS Office of Admissions.
FAQ: OP: #6
7. What is a Double Major Programme?
  • A double major is a single degree where you fulfil the requirements of two majors. Computing students can do a second major at NUS Business School, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Science etc.; non-Computing students can do a second major in Computer Science, Business Analytics and Information Security.
See also: www.comp.nus.edu.sg/programmes/ug/dmajor/
FAQ: OP: #7
8. What is the difference between a Computing degree and a second/double major in NUS Computing?
  • If you pursue a Computing degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Computer Engineering, Information Security or Business Analytics, you will be exposed to more breadth and depth in terms of content across 160 units (or 40 courses). In contrast, if you do a second or double major in Computing, you just need to complete 40 units (or 10 courses).
FAQ: OP: #8
9. What minors can I do at NUS Computing?
  • Depending on their first major, Computing students can pursue a minor in Financial Mathematics, Economics, Interactive Media, Management, Real Estate etc. Non-Computing students can pursue a minor in Artificial Intelligence, Interactive Media Development, Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Security, and Business Analytics.
See also: www.comp.nus.edu.sg/programmes/ug/minor/
FAQ: OP: #9
10. Are Polytechnic graduates granted course exemptions in NUS Computing?
  • Polytechnic graduates who are admitted to NUS Computing may receive up to 40 units of course exemptions.
FAQ: OP: #10
FAQ ComCur
C. NUS Computing Common Curriculum
1. What is NUS Computing’s Common Curriculum?

  • The NUS Computing Common Curriculum is a common set of courses (with some choices) which all students studying Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Analytics, and Information Security, must take. It was introduced in AY 2022/23 and consists of the following components:

    • University level requirements (24 units)

    •  Computing Ethics (4 units)

    •  Interdisciplinary/Cross Disciplinary Education (12 units)

    • Total: 40 units

FAQC1
FAQC2
2. Why is this necessary?
  • The introduction of the new Common Curriculum is part of our periodic curriculum update to ensure that NUS Computing students are well-prepared for future jobs roles.
FAQC3
3. Are there any changes in admissions requirements for NUS Computing with the introduction of the new Common Curriculum?
  • There are no changes to admissions requirements and no new additional admissions requirements for NUS Computing.
FAQC4
4. What's the difference between the Common Curriculum and the General Education Requirements (GER)?
  • Under the new Common Curriculum, NUS Computing students must read 10 courses (total of 40 units). These 10 courses include 6 General Education (GE) courses that all NUS students are required to read; one GE course from each of the 6 pillars (a total of 24 units).
  • Hence, NUS Computing students must read the remaining 4 courses from three available categories: Ethics, Inter-Disciplinary, and Cross-Disciplinary courses.
5. Is the Common Curriculum less rigorous?
  • No. The Common Curriculum emphasises broad-based education while giving students the flexibility to pursue their specialisations.
FAQC5
6. I would like to apply to both NUS College and an NUS Computing degree programme. How will the Common Curriculum affect my application process?
  • The application process will not be affected; the same process still applies for undergraduate applications to NUS Computing. Simply choose your NUS Computing degree programme and tick a box to be considered for NUS College. You will then go through a more rigorous admissions process (e.g. sitting through an interview, writing an essay, sharing a portfolio).
  • If you are admitted into NUS College, you will do a modified version of NUS College and NUS Computing's common curriculum.
FAQC6
7. I am an NUS Computing student who has just enrolled in the new NUS College programme. How does this affect NUS Computing’s Common Curriculum?
  • If you are admitted into NUS College, you will do a modified version of NUS College and NUS Computing's common curriculum. You may consult NUS Computing Undergraduate Office or NUS College administrators when you join us as an undergraduate. There are also no other changes to the Major requirements.
FAQC7
8. Will the tuition fees be increased due to the Common Curriculum?
  • No. Under the cohort-based fee system, tuition fee for an intake cohort of students will be fixed throughout the student's candidature. While fees continue to be reviewed annually and adjustments made as and when necessary with each new cohort of students, each new cohort will know the exact amount of tuition fees they have to pay throughout their candidature.
FAQC8
9. Will I take longer to graduate?
  • No. You will be required to fulfil 160 units in 4 years.
FAQC9
FAQ: Admissions
D. Admissions, Tuition Fees & Scholarships
1. What grades do I need to be admitted or accepted into Computing degree programmes?
  • However, please note that the grade profiles and GPAs may vary from year to year, depending on the number and performance of applicants and the number of places available.
  • The grade profiles do not take into account offers that were made under Aptitude-based (Discretionary) Admissions.
FAQ: ATS: #1
FAQ: ATS: #2
2. What are the annual tuition fees for Computing degree programmes?
For reference, the most recent published annual tuition fees for Computing degree programmes are as follows:
  • For Singapore Citizens: S$8,250
  • For Singapore Permanent Residents: S$11,550
  • For International Students; S$17,965
  • For students not in receipt of the MOE Tuition Grant: S$39,168
Fees for the upcoming academic year may change. For the latest official NUS fees, please visit: https://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/docs/info/administrative-policies-procedures/ugtuitioncurrent.pdf
3. Which fees do National Servicemen (NSmen) pay – the prevailing fee when they accept their offer or when they matriculate at NUS?
  • NSmen will be charged the tuition fees prevailing at the time they accepted their offer of admission.
FAQ: ATS: #3
4. What are some examples of scholarships and bursaries that NUS Computing students can receive?
  • School of Computing Scholarship
  • School of Computing Pay-It-Forward Bursary
  • PayPal Women Luminaries Program
  • Singapore Digital (SG:D) Scholarship (Undergraduate)
  • UOB-NUS Scholarship
  • Singapore Sustainability Scholarship
  • SNCF Co-op Scholarship
  • NUS Scholarships & Aid
See also: www.comp.nus.edu.sg/financial-support/soc
FAQ: ATS: #4
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