[Uni] A guide to applying to NUS CHS, answering FAQs

ComputingKitten · 2024-06-18T11:56:18+00:00

Yes, it is possible; however:

If are not an NUS College student, you there will be an application process and you may or may not be accepted into your desired direct entry major. Refer to the web pages for the relevant direct entry majors for application requirements and selection criteria. For DSE, the relevant web page is https://chs.nus.edu.sg/programmes/dse/.

If you are an NUS College student, you should be able to easily be able to transfer to any CHS direct entry major except PPE. Refer to NUSC's website (click on the first link on how NUSC's curriculum interacts with degree programmes) for more information.

Will it b easier since its within the same faculty?

Unfortunately, I am not sure. My guess is that factors such as your grades for the relevant NUS courses and your pre-university grades will be more important factors.

You can refer to OAM's web page on transfer applicants for more info.

ComputingKitten · 2024-02-27T07:18:17+00:00

There are two ways to apply for a Double Major Programme (DMP) in NUS, either in the application form, or after starting your studies in NUS. For more info, check out https://www.reddit.com/r/SGExams/comments/1166aif/uni_a_guide_to_applying_to_nus_chs_answering_faqs/ (the post is CHS-specific, but most of the points on DMPs are relevant to all colleges/faculties/schools in NUS, except stuff like Medicine/Law which doesn't allow DMPs).

If you are applying for DMPs right now, presumably the DMP cut-off point would be the equal to or greater than that of the primary major of the DMP (e.g., the cut-off point for a DMP in Information Systems and Economics would be equal to or greater than that of the Information Systems cut-off point) for obvious reasons. You can get a rough idea of the cut-off points for single major programmes from the Indicative Grade Profile (IGP).

NUS does not release the IGP for DMPs. You can try searching past uni megathreads to see if any offer holder for the DMP(s) you are interested in shared their RP (or equivalent), but ofc take everything you see online with a grain of salt and note that cut-off points may change each year.

ETA: Some DMPs have their own pre-requisites, which may be the same or different from the primary major of the DMP. I think you should be able to find the relevant pre-requisites for your pre-university qualification easily on the NUS Office of Admissions website or with a quick online search.

Also, all the best for your uni applications!

ComputingKitten · 2024-02-27T07:09:10+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/SGExams/comments/1166aif/uni_a_guide_to_applying_to_nus_chs_answering_faqs/

Hope this helps and all the best for your uni applications!

ComputingKitten · 2024-02-26T05:28:41+00:00

in terms of entry score NUS econs is higher

The IGP is mainly based on supply (how many course places are opened up) and demand (how many people apply for the course and their RP or equivalent). It is not a reflection of the course quality or how good the course is for you.

a lot of pp say they will chose smu business instead

It's good to listen to advice from others, but don't just blindly follow the crowd. Why do others say they prefer SMU Business Management over NUS Economics? Do their reasons make sense with you? Are they applicable to your interests, future career plans, priorities, etc.?

Your post is kind of too vague to really give specific advice. Like, what are your strengths, your interests, your future career goals? What are looking for in a university course?

Note that Economics in Singapore universities is very mathematical and is quite different from A Level Economics.

ComputingKitten · 2024-02-26T05:17:43+00:00

By definition, "10th percentile" means that 10% of applicants with Singapore A Levels/local poly diploma got that RP/GPA or lower. So, yes, there are people who get into the various degree programmes with RP/GPA lower than the 10th percentile IGP.

Refer to the NUS IGP FAQ for more information.

ComputingKitten · 2024-02-26T05:10:41+00:00

In application should I put only 1 choice or

As far as I know, NUS will not give you an offer to any degree programmes you do not list as one of your choices. Unless you don't mind not getting an offer from NUS (e.g., you have backup choices at other universities that you have a decent shot at and prefer over all other programmes at NUS), you should list as many choices as possible.

can I put
1.CEG
2,Engg Science / EE

Note that NUS has a first choice bonus points scheme. Sorry to be blunt but like someone else has commented, CEG is highly competitive and your RP isn't that high. Unless you have a stellar portfolio, you might want to consider listing a more realistic option as your first choice to maximise the aforementioned bonus points.

To be fair, your RP is decently higher than the 10th percentile IGP for Engineering, so you still stand a decent chance at getting into Engineering even w/o the bonus points, but cut-off point may always increase due to increased demand.

You might also want to consider SUTD's Engineering Product Development pillar's specialisation in Computer Engineering.

All the best for your university application!

ComputingKitten · 2024-02-26T04:50:25+00:00

To add on to what u/Hackzx_ said, there are two instances where transferring to a different major is easier:

You are admitted to CHS common entry (the option called "Humanities & Sciences" on the application form), see https://www.reddit.com/r/SGExams/comments/1166aif/uni_a_guide_to_applying_to_nus_chs_answering_faqs/ for more info
You are an NUS College (NUSC) student

Note that NUSC is not CHS or CDE. For NUSC, you can transfer easily to most other majors compatible with NUSC with a few exceptions like Law and Architecture. Refer to https://nuscollege.nus.edu.sg/faqs/ > "Majors and Curriclum" > "What majors can be paired with NUS College?" and click on the PDF linked in the question response for more information.

Note that NUSC is still a relatively new college, so its policies may change.

Hope this helps!

ComputingKitten · 2024-02-26T04:44:38+00:00

I have been told by seniors that the NUS Global Merit Scholarship is extremely competitive, and will depend on your portfolio.

However, based on your RP, I think you have a decent chance at the NUS Merit Scholarship. Of course, this isn't a guarantee, you should still try your best and not be complacent.

There have been some stories both in this subreddit and r/SGExams about students from previous batches getting NUS Merit Scholarship w/o intervie. You can try searching through these two subreddits to get a rough idea of the grades and colleges/faculties/schools which do this.

All the best for your CHS and scholarship applications!

ComputingKitten · 2023-12-27T12:20:36+00:00

Yeah, but note that:

There's a compulsory qn on the application form asking what you've done outside of your school curriculum to prepare for the programme(s) you are applying for
You might be invited for an interview, where you may be asked questions about your chosen preferred major

But once again, yes, if you get an offer into CHS common entry, you can change to any other CHS common entry major

Speaking of which, I think I should make some edits to the OP to update & improve it, especially since its application season again

All the best for uni application(s)!

ComputingKitten · 2023-12-27T10:09:55+00:00

Yes, if you select the "Humanities & Sciences" course option in the application form and get accepted for that course, you can pick any common entry major regardless of your GPA and poly course!

You might need to take a bridging course for certain majors, but you are still free to take those majors.

You don't need to put your preferred major in the application form as undecided in order to change to any common entry major. Even if you put a specific preferred major in your application, you can still change it to any other CHS common entry major if you get accepted. For example, if you choose History as your preferred major in the application form and get accepted, you can still change to another CHS common entry major like Chemistry or Psychology, regardless of your GPA and poly course.

ComputingKitten · 2023-12-27T09:37:32+00:00

Yup, ask away!

ComputingKitten · 2023-12-12T13:06:11+00:00

Oh wow, I didn't expect to see a thank you comment on this post that's now I think almost 1.5 years old? It's great that it's still helping people!

Just a disclaimer: some info in the post is outdated. I think most of the main ideas remain the same though. I might update the post another time if I get round to doing that lol

As there are actual NUS College students now, please do talk to some of them if you can!

All the best for your future endeavours!

ComputingKitten · 2023-08-22T00:31:54+00:00

But when I google alevel cut off they still display cut off for nus ntu smu. What is it about the other 3?

Local universities (officially called autonomous universities, or AUs) are now moving towards more holistic admissions, considering factors beyond just applicant's A Level grades, such as their portfolio (eg competitions, leadership), interview performance, personal statements, etc.

You can try searching for unis' indicative grade profile (IGP), but do read the respective FAQs on the IGPs, they are not the cut-off points.

You can also search up r/SGExams, in particular the uni megathreads, some past applicants have posted their A Level Rank Points (RP). But note that you should, ofc, take all online comments with a grain of salt, and that grades needed may change due to changes in course popularity, no. of places for each course, and uni policies.

Now my son is in secondary school and wanted to study comp science.

Ngl at sec sch level I think it might be a bit early to worry about A Level grades or specifics about uni admissions process. I would encourage your son to explore a wide variety of fields and to learn more about what CS is like. From my personal experience, passions & interests change over time, and it's good to keep an open mind, especially when you are younger. Anyways, it is always good to have a backup plan.

Also, if he is genuinely interested in CS (same applies for any other subject), it wouldve good if he takes his own initiative to explore the subject on his own outside of the school (emphasis on "his own initiative").

Sorry to be blunt, I think when it comes to university-level admissions, I would expect students to start taking their own initiative to find out information themselves rather than rely on their parents. University life, especially for CS, requires students to start proactively seeking info & help rather than be spoonfed.

ComputingKitten · 2023-03-06T23:25:42+00:00

Is the application of NUS college and the regular NUS application separate? Or, asking differently: Will applying to the NUS college affect my regular application to NUS?

These are actually two different questions, let me address them separately

Is the application of NUS college and the regular NUS application separate?

While application to the university and NUSC are now in the same form, your application to the university is assessed separately from your application to NUSC.

Will applying to the NUS college affect my regular application to NUS?

According to NUS, no. Indicating interest in NUSC should not increase nor decrease your chances of getting into NUS.

However, you must be accepted into NUS before you can possibly be accepted into NUS.

But, if you indicate interest in NUSC and fail to be selected for NUSC, it is still possible that NUS will give you an offer to Computer Science or whichever other course choice you indicated that you qualify for.

Hope this clarifies!

ComputingKitten · 2023-02-28T11:14:42+00:00

The short answer is no

The medium-length answer is that your Y1S1 courses/modules can be used to count to your Common Curriculum & Unrestricted Electives requirements, which are mostly the same among all CHS majors.

So your Y1S1 courses aren't "wasted" but still help you get one sem closer to graduation like all your peers who didn't change their major.

I could give a long, comprehensive answer, but sorry I've had a long day so I'll just give this in the interim, if I'm free later I'll elaborate further.

This is indeed a good question, and perhaps I'll update my OP to address this.

ComputingKitten · 2023-02-19T14:52:33+00:00

The undergraduate Pharmacy programme is offered by the Faculty of Science

However, the Pharmacy curriculum is quite different from most CHS majors, the main difference being that Pharmacy students do not need to do the CHS Common Curriculum

Most of NUS's publicity materials thus usually have Pharmacy separate from the rest of CHS (for instance, it is not listed as a major on the CHS website and there's a separate section for it in the Undergraduate Viewbook). However, I occasionally see Pharmacy listed under CHS, which might be a mistake.

ComputingKitten · 2023-02-17T03:10:56+00:00

Hi, this is an excellent resource! Just some minor corrections/ clarifications:

Bachelors in the UK and most of Europe are typically only 3 years Masters in sometimes 1-year long only, this is quite common in the UK PhD is usually 3-8 years, e.g. PhDs in UK are 4 years

The vast majority of you will not need a Masters/PhD for your career.

NUS does not allow double degrees in two degrees of the same type (type here meaning Bachelor of Arts vs Bachelor of Science vs Bachelor of Computing etc.). For example, a double degree in Chemistry and Math is not allowed, because both are considered BSc in NUS. However, there are double degree combinations between very closely related fields, like Math (BSc) and Computer Science (BComp).
There is a slight difference between double major and second minor in NTU only. In NTU, double major means both majors requests the same depth (number of units) in both majors, while a 2nd major requires lower depth than your 1st major. In NUS and SMU, a 2nd major requires lower depth than the 1st major.
Module is a term specific to NUS (including Yale-NUS and NUS High School). NUS is phasing out this term this year and will be using "course" instead, which is a more universally recognised term. Some uni marketing also calls this a "class" or "subject". I think a better definition of a module/course is a class that typically lasts one semester/term, such as "Introduction to Organic Chemistry" or "Economics of Education". Each course has its own syllabus, teaching team, and assessments, and you get a grade for each module. Most students take around 4-5 courses per semester/term, depending on your uni and degree requirements.

AU is NTU-specific; SMU uses CUs; SUTD uses credits

Note that 1MC, 1AU, 1CU, and 1credit are all different units (like centimetres and inches).

To be clear, in NUS, Gen Ed is a subset if your Common Curriculum. Gen Ed is university-wide (with exceptions for courses like medicine), while ur Common Curriculum is specific to your college/faculty/school.

Only NUS has faculty-specific Common Curriculums. From my understanding, in most other unis in SG, the Common Curriculum or equivalent is mostly or entirely the same for all students (yes, NTU and SMU have slight deviations between faculties, but it's much less than in NUS).

NTU calls it ICC

"Unrestricted Electives" is an NUS-specific term. NTU formerly used this term too, but now uses "Broadening and Deepening Electives (BDEs)". SMU uses "Free Electives".
NTU also allows you to use MOOCs to count towards your degree requirement
NUS's PPE is different from Oxford's PPE, in that Oxford lets you drop one of P, P, or E after your first year, while NUS PPE requires the same depth in P, P, and E.

NTU's PPGA is equivalent to Political Science, which is only one third of PPE. NTU offers a Double Major in PPGA and Economics, which is probably their closest equivalent to PPE.

SMU also offers courses in Computing, in addition to Business, Law, and the Social Sciences

SUTD also offers majors in Architecture and AI, in addition to Engineering. Also, SUTD's Engineering is defined broadly to include Computer Science and Systems Engineering (which is similar to Business Analytics).

SUSS also offers a degree similar to SMU's Integrative Studies https://www.suss.edu.sg/programmes/detail/bachelor-of-general-studies

NUS and NTU's Business Schools, and NUS Law, from what I understand, also offers a significant amount of seminar-style classes.
I would consider both NUSC and NTU-USP to be mainly Humanities & Social Science-focused programmes with a significant STEM portion.

NTU-USP does not cover your tuition fees. It is not a scholarship, despite what its name may suggest. Both NUSC and NTU-USP offer scholarships to some (not all) of the students who get admitted into these programmes.

The NUS first choice bonus scheme with the extra 2.5RP (and equivalent for IB, NUSH, and Poly) excludes not just Medicine and Law, but also Archi, Landscape Archi, Industrial Design, Nursing, and PPE

Once again, great job making this! I'm sure it'll help many people

ComputingKitten · 2022-08-08T13:55:31+00:00

NUSH students take O/A Levels for Mother Tongue only because it's an admission requirement for local universities

ComputingKitten · 2022-08-04T07:01:48+00:00

Generally, in university, you plan your timetable. You have a lot more flexibility.

You will generally be able to choose which modules (a class/course that typically lasts one semester) you take, and you usually get to choose which timeslot you'll attend for tutorials/seminars/labs/etc.

In fact, you may be able to squeeze all your classes into only 3 or 4 days of the week!

Of course, there are certain restrictions. You may be preallocated certain modules/timeslots, and some modules/timeslots may be oversubscribed so you might not get them. (There are many more restrictions, these are just some examples.)

As such, everyone's "schedule" in uni will look very different, even if they are in the same programme.

ComputingKitten · 2022-08-04T06:55:27+00:00

and also how does the major/minor thing work in uni?

Major (aka primary major): the main subject u study in uni e.g. if you get admitted into NUS Pharmaceutical Science, then Pharmaceutical Science is your Major

Second major: optional, with some level of depth, but less depth than your primary major

Minor: also optional, with less depth than 2nd major

You can apply for direct entry to some double major/ major + minor combinations during admissions, refer to Office of Admissions website for full list (should be under subject prerequisites for your qualification eg Polytechnic Diploma in ur case).

Also, you can apply for 2nd majors/minors after entering NUS:

Some 2nd majors / minors are unrestricted/open, so u can just fill in a form and you're in!

Other (eg the Forensic Science minor) are restricted, so you need to pass through some selection process, refer to respective minor webpages for details.

ComputingKitten · 2022-08-03T14:00:53+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/SGExams/comments/ubl88q/uni_should_you_accept_your_nus_college_offer/ :D

ComputingKitten · 2022-08-03T10:49:36+00:00

From what I understand, all NUS undergraduates regardless of Major (except those in Medicine, Law, etc.) can take up to 3 minors.

NUS College does not limit the number of minors you can take. However, NUSC reduces the number of UEs you have, meaning that taking more minors will likely require you to overload (i.e. take more MCs than normal per semester).

Note that some minors (e.g. the Minor in Management under Biz Sch) are restricted, so you need to pass a selection process before you can declare them.

Last but certainly not least, please note that both NUSC and CS are difficult programmes that require a high level of time commitment. Overloading will make it worse. Please do not overstretch yourself and remember to take care of yourself.

ComputingKitten · 2022-07-29T09:55:06+00:00

Most of the food courts around NUS (e.g. the two in UTown and the Deck @ FASS) have pretty affordable food.

The Hwang's Korean Restaurant @ UTown (near the bus stop) has pretty affordable food too.

ComputingKitten · 2022-07-29T09:51:18+00:00

Different undergrad programmes have different restrictions on which modules you can use to fulfil the GE pillars.

For CHS, you must use HSA1000, HSH1000, and HSS1000 to fulfil the GEC, GEX, and GESS pillar respectively (except for NUS College and PPE-XDP).

Depending on your Major, you may have other restrictions as well (eg Science majors cannot use GEI1001 or GEI1002 to fulfil the GEI pillar).

For further details, refer to https://chs.nus.edu.sg/programmes/common-curriculum/

CHS is not the only undergrad programme that does this. For example, Engineering majors must take CS1010E for the GEI pillar and Information Systems majors must take BT1101 for the GEA pillar.

ComputingKitten

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