A School of the College of Engineering

 

prospective students >FAQ

FAQ

1. Why Singapore?
2. Why ICT (Infocomm Technology)?
3. Should I go overseas?

Computer Science

1. What are the differences between the Computer Science degree offered by NTU and the Computer Science degree offered by NUS?
2. What are the specialisations offered in Computer Science?
3. Why is SCE's Computer Science degree an Engineering degree?

Computer Engineering

1. What are the differences between the computer engineering programs at NTU and NUS?
2. What are the specialisations offered in Computer Engineering?
3. I do not have background on electronics or programming. Will it be hard to cope since there are students with EE background in the course?
4. Does CE focus more on hardware or software?
5. Some people have said that CE is more difficult than other courses. Is this true and what is it about the course that makes it so difficult?
6. What are some things that can be done beforehand to prepare myself for the course?

SCE

1. What are the differences between the B.Eng (Computer Science) and the B.Eng (Computer Engineering) in SCE?
2. Are there any exemptions for JC students who have taken the A-level Computing module?
3. I have no programming/computer knowledge. Wwill it be very hard for me to study the degree?
4. I have been offered a place in SCE Computer Engineering degree. Can I change to the Computer Science degree?
5. What is the difference between ECE in NUS and SCE in NTU?
6. Why SCE?
7. Are there any exemptions for polytechnic graduates?
8. I hear from my friends that CE/CS is a very tough course and many people fail. Is that true?
9. What are the job prospects of a CE/CS graduate? Are the job prospects affected by the economic downturn?
10. If the CE/CS course is so difficult, how do we have time to do a minor?
11. After going through Year 1 of the CE/CS program, can I still switch to CS/CE?
12. Why would I choose to study CE/CS at NTU?
13. How do I choose one of the areas of specialisations in the final year? What are the details of each of the specialisations?
14. What are the details of the subjects that I will study in CE/CS?
15. What are the entry requirements for CE/CS?
16. What kind of results do I need in order to get into CE/CS?
17. I have a diploma in xxx. Can I get into CE/CS?
18. If I choose CE/CS, do I do common engineering for the first year?
19. I will be joining CE/CS in July; how do I prepare myself for the course?
20. Describe the undergraduate programmes offered by the School of Computer Engineering.
21. Is web technology covered in either CE or CSc?
22. What is the difference between CE's "CPE206 Software Engineering" and CSc's CSC207 Software Engineering 1 & CSC303 Software Engineering 2?
23. Are there exemptions for A-level students?
24. Other than C and Java, are there any other programming languages that the school teaches?
25. What are the cons on taking up the offer from these exemption?
26. Is there a choice of taking up only some of the exemption?
27. Would these exemptions affect the final result of my study? That is, will there be grades given to me for these exemptions, and how do they affect the classification of my degree?
28. My mathematics foundation is not strong. Is there any way to start preparing for University while I am serving NS or while waiting for the course to start?

NTU

1. Why NTU?
2. When am I eligible for the student's exchange programme?
3. How long can I go for an exchange programme? Can I continue my IA in the country?
4. Which are the universities that offer an exchange programme?
5. What are the minors offered currently? Will there be more?
6. I hear so much about the New Undergraduate Experience. What is it really?
7. Does NTU have a computer science program?
8. Who are required to take the Qualifying English Test (QET)?
9. Can I apply if I am waiting for my polytechnic results?
10. Are all students allowed to take minors, or only selected students?
11. Will currently-enrolled students be allowed to take the new electives/minors?
12. Is there a part-time B.Eng course for Computer Engineering/Science?
13. Do NTU students have opportunities to spend a semester or more overseas?

1. Why Singapore?

  1. Best Value for money (S$6,000 per year in Singapore versus up to S$66,000 per year overseas). Singapore is home to two of the world's top 50 Universities (London Times 2004 ranking), so why not consider staying here for your undergraduate degree?
  2. No bond. If you study in Singapore and self-finance, there is no 6-9 year bond frequently associated with overseas scholarships. Imagine where Bill Gates would be today if he had to serve a 6-9 year bond! He won't be able to start his company halfway! 1 year, not to mention 6 or 9, is like an eternity in the business world! Moreover, a bond can only restrict your career path, for example, you might not be able to accept any other offers to work outside Singapore, if the opportunity arises. You may not be able to pursue further studies at anytime you wish.
  3. Stay close to home This is the last chance for some of you to stay close to your home. Because once you start working, the world becomes your stage; you might be working in New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong or Shanghai! For those of you who need to take care of your parents, this could be your last chance!
  4. Establish and strengthen your Singapore network of friends and contacts. This is important for your career!

2. Why ICT (Infocomm Technology)?

  • Do you like Computers, hardware/software or communication equipment? If you do, seriously consider ICT as your career!
  • You could influence and change the world in 3 years with your IT idea versus 15-20 years for traditional fields like life sciences.
  • It is not impossible to be wildly successful pursuing a career in IT:
  • "According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer scientists, database administrators, and computer-system analysts will experience some of the fastest job growth through 2012, while the US National Association of Colleges and Employers points to increasing salaries for IT graduates. Of the jobs the bureau predicts will grow most quickly through 2012, eight of 11 that require a bachelor's degree are computer-related." [Information Week Article (2005.10)]
  • "The average computer-science grad started at US$50,664, a 3.3% increase from last year, according to the fall quarterly survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Information sciences and systems grads posted a 3.6% increase to an average offer of US$43,902. Graduates in management information systems saw a bigger jump, rising 5% to an average starting salary of US$43,653. Most business degrees rose at a healthy pace, such as accounting, up 4.6%, to US$42,940" [Information Week Article (2005.10)]
  • Average Annual Salary for US Computer Programmers is US$62,000 (2005.05). It is higher in the West and East Coast.
  • ICT is experiencing a second boom and phenomenal growth in China. Do not miss out the opportunity to do something great!
  • "It's clear that a degree in computer science is not the quick road to riches it once was. But what is? A degree in Sociology? How about History? IT is still a very good career choice. Just because the get-rich-quick stock-option mania of the '90s is over does not make it a bad career field. But the competition is stiffer now. Let's be realistic; during the '90s, almost any moron could get a job in IT with a minimal amount of skill. And anyone who was at least mediocre and signed with the right company at the right time made a lot of money. So now, you have to be good at what you do, you have to be professional, and you have to work hard. Maybe that last part is what is scaring the kids away?" [Charlie Harris]
  • "U.S. Falling Behind China, India for New Engineering Graduates" Investor's Business Daily (01/05/06) P. A1; Mandaro, Laura Technology and engineering firms fear that a stagnating rate of graduates in the hard sciences could compromise the United States' hegemony over foreign competitors in the fields of software development and technological innovation. Increased interest in science and engineering among foreign students in nations such as China, which currently boasts 21 percent of the world's engineering graduates, and India and Russia, both of which produce 8 percent of the world's engineering graduates, has only exacerbated the concern in the United States which, in contrast, produces just 6 percent of the world's engineering graduates. The number of U.S. freshmen who intend to pursue computer science as a major dropped from 16 percent in 2000 to 9.6 percent in 2002. This trend has prompted major computer companies such as Microsoft and Intel to pursue offshore outsourcing programs not only for rudimentary coding assignments, but also for significant research and development initiatives. While the Cold War competition with Russia drew many students to engineering in the 1960s, and the 1990s had the appeal of soaring salaries, the post-dot-com economy has eroded the appeal of the technology industry for many future job-seekers. The unemployment rate for computer scientists from 2000 to 2004 was the highest of any four-year period since 1972, at one point eclipsing the national unemployment rate, though the job market has since rebounded, as computer science graduates from the best schools can look forward to starting salaries of roughly $70,000. Despite such perceptions, the U.S. job market for computer scientists is actually improving, as the Labor Department predicts that the demand for science and engineering occupations will increase by 47 percent over the next five years, compared to a more moderate 15 percent increase for jobs in other fields.

3. Should I go overseas?

Stay in Singapore and NTU to complete your Bachelor's degree. You will get a world class education with world class facilities and faculty.

You may wish to consider going overseas for your Master's, MBA, and/or Ph.D. degree! If you study diligently at NTU and get good grades (plus a good GRE/TOEFL), you could be awarded a scholarship in the form of a Research/Teaching Assistantship (RA/TA) by a top US University. Think of it as a bond-free scholarship. As a RA/TA, you get paid approx. US$1000-US$1500 per month plus tuition waiver (no need to pay tuition). You help professors conduct research or teach as an RA or TA, respectively.

Some of our graduates have successfully applied and obtained RA/TA at MIT, CMU, Stanford, etc.

Computer Science

1. What are the differences between the Computer Science degree offered by NTU and the Computer Science degree offered by NUS?

  • The NTU Computer Science programme leads to a Bachelor of Engineering while the NUS degree leads to a Bachelor or Computing. Thus, NTU graduates enjoy some privilege in getting jobs which prefer engineers.
  • The NTU programme is more practice-oriented, with a lot more hands-on, e.g.
    • 5 weeks of Computing Innovation and Design project (done as a group project)
    • 6 months of compulsory IA (optional in NUS)

2. What are the specialisations offered in Computer Science?

Apart from providing a solid foundation in Computer Science, the course offers various specialisations which students will undertake in the final year of study. The electives are grouped into streams, reflecting different disciplines within Computer Science.

  • Computer and Communication Networks
  • Computer Vision & Graphics
  • High Performance Computing
  • Intelligent Systems
  • Software Engineering
  • Information Management
  • Advanced CS Topics

3. Why is SCE's Computer Science degree an Engineering degree?

The activity characteristic of professional engineering is the design of structures, machines, circuits, or processes, or of combinations of these elements into systems or plants and the analysis and prediction of their performance and costs under specified working conditions.

— M. P. O'Brien (1954)

Engineering is the art or science of making practical.

— Samuel C. Florman (1976)

The Computer Science course aims to educate would-be professionals to :

Apply – mathematical theory, algorithms, design methodologies into working software systems

Integrate – techniques involving processes, management, cost and quality considerations into the construction of a software system

Be Professional – focuses on the codes of conduct and practices expected of a professional engineer

Achieve Correctness and Reliability in Products – aware of the tools and techniques available to produce robust software systems

Solve Problems – ability to analyse data and solve problems that may be non-routine in nature

Communicate – hone skills to enable communication with peers, clients and management.

Manage – acquire skills to manage people, projects, resources and time

The key difference in this engineering course is the focus on practice-oriented application of computer science foundations. This is evident in the mandatory 6-month industrial attachment, inter-semestral group Innovation and Design project, capstone individual project in the final year and numerous mini-projects throughout the course.

Computer Engineering

1. What are the differences between the computer engineering programs at NTU and NUS?

NTU

The School of Computer Engineering at NTU offers a 4-year program leading to the B.Eng (Comp. Eng.) degree. This is a direct honours program and good students are given the option of completing the program in 3.5 years under the Accelerated Bachelor’s Programme. The CE program is very established, being the first computer engineering program to be offered by a university in Singapore; nevertheless, it continues to evolve with the times so that our graduates are equipped with the most up-to-date knowledge and technologies of computer systems.

Our curriculum integrates seamlessly the subjects in electronic engineering and computer science. Considerable emphasis is placed on relating hardware and software design such that the requirements of one are matched by the possibilities of the other. Students may choose to specialize in one of the following areas by a choice of elective subjects in their final year:

  • Computer & Communication Networks
  • Computer Vision & Graphics
  • Embedded Systems
  • High Performance Computing
  • Information Systems
  • Intelligent Systems

We have built up a reputation with employers through our past 13 cohorts of graduates. Our graduates enjoy high employment rates and high starting salaries.

NUS

There are two CE programs in NUS: B.Eng (Computer) offered by the Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and B.Comp (Computer Engineering) offered by the School of Computing. Both the programs cover hardware as well as software, with the former having a more hardware focus, and the latter having a more software focus. Both are also 4-year programs. To get into the B.Eng. (Computer) in NUS, the student has to do common engineering and then make a selection at the end of the first year.

2. What are the specialisations offered in Computer Engineering?

Students have the opportunity to specialise in one or more of the following areas in their final year:

  • Computer and Communication Networks
  • Computer Vision & Graphics
  • Embedded Systems
  • High Performance Computing
  • Intelligent Systems
  • Information Systems

3. I do not have background on electronics or programming. Will it be hard to cope since there are students with EE background in the course?

In the introductory course on electronics and programming, we do not assume the students have any prior background. Those with EE may have an initial advantage but this rapidly changes as the course progresses.

4. Does CE focus more on hardware or software?

The CE course is about half hardware and half software in content.

5. Some people have said that CE is more difficult than other courses. Is this true and what is it about the course that makes it so difficult?

It would be misleading if we said that CE is an easy course. The difficulty lies in the amount of lab work that we have. NTU prides itself on its professional engineering courses. And as part of this, there is a high emphasis on laboratory work. If you learn to plan your schedule and optimise your time, there is no reason why you will not be able to cope. We select students based on their results and potential - so we have confidence that those we have selected will succeed.

6. What are some things that can be done beforehand to prepare myself for the course?

We have a maths bridging course to help you brush up on this topic. Please refer to Preparatory Course.

SCE

1. What are the differences between the B.Eng (Computer Science) and the B.Eng (Computer Engineering) in SCE?

The B.Eng (Comp.Sci) degree is essentially an Engineering degree and it will involve both computer hardware and software modules. However, it has a stronger focus on software modules as opposed to the B.Eng(Comp.Eng) degree (which has approximately 50% hardware and 50% software).

Computer Engineering (CE) is an integration of the broad knowledge of programming and electronics, coupled with specialist skills in software and hardware interfacing. Our CE programme is designed to produce graduates who have a range of knowledge, understanding and skills in the hardware and the software technologies of computer systems. This is made possible by the unique combination of subjects from computer science and electronic engineering disciplines within the Computer Engineering course.

Computer Science is concerned with the efficient application of computing technology, especially through the design of efficient algorithms and data structures, design methodologies and language paradigms. There is also an emphasis on the practical design of efficient and reliable software to meet given specifications.

There are overlapping topics in Computer Science and Computer Engineering, including computer architecture, networks, and information storage and management. The fundamental principles used by both disciplines are similar, as both recognize the constraints imposed by existing technology and applications. The differences, however, are in the emphasis placed at the algorithmic and conceptual levels. Hence, the Computer Science course will focus more on software design and construction compared to the Computer Engineering course. The Computer Science course will not have subjects on circuits and basic electronics, digital communications, etc., but will include strengths that are well-known in all the NTU engineering courses: industrial attachments, group projects, practice-oriented approach, etc.

Graduates of the B.Eng. (Comp. Eng.) course bring with them expertise in a range of topics including electronic and microprocessor systems design, digital signal processing, control systems and computer architecture. Graduates of the B.Eng. (Comp. Sc.) programme are able to effectively apply computing technology through the design of efficient algorithms and data structures, design methodologies and language paradigms.

2. Are there any exemptions for JC students who have taken the A-level Computing module?

If the results are good, the student may be exempted for a couple of subjects whose materials are covered in A-level Computing.

3. I have no programming/computer knowledge. Will it be very hard for me to study the degree?

The School accepts applicants with no background in Computing. The first year lecturers will teach their subjects assuming that students do not know programming.

All our subjects do not assume prior knowledge of programming/computer. We start from the very basics. So if a student put in reasonable effort, there should be no problem. (Many of our foreign students do not have prior knowledge of programming/computer and they are OK; in fact,some of them are doing very well).

4. I have been offered a place in SCE Computer Engineering degree. Can I change to the Computer Science degree?

For those who have not started the course yet, requests for change must be made through the Office of Admissions. Please note that the cutoff for both courses are not the same, and so qualification for one course need not necessarily imply you qualify for the other course. For students who have already started the course, a request for change can be made online. Requests are reviewed after the examinations and not during the term. The School will look at your results to see whether you qualify to switch courses.

5. What is the difference between ECE in NUS and SCE in NTU?

SCE started the Computer Engineering programme in 1989. At that time, there was no such degree offered in Singapore, though separate Computer Science and Electronic Engng programs did exist. The NTU degree was tailored to ensure that students are grounded in the hardware and software essentials. The rigorous curriculum, based on the IEEE/ACM Joint curriculum, is very specific and focused to empower the CE grad with skills in both hardware and software. Our students have been very well received by industry and public sector. The key to this success is our focus on engineering practice based on sound theory. Opportunities given to students to hone such engineering skills include the group Design & Dev. Project, mandatory 6-mth Industrial Attachment, Final Year Project and ubiquitous lab work in all years of study. The SCE programme has been accredited by IEE UK at a Master of Engineering level. The success of this program prompted NUS to start a similar prog in the late 1990's. Initially, their prog. was conducted jointly between the School of Computer and Dept of EE (now known as ECE). This was basically a merger of existing subjects conducted by both parties. Subsequently, both depts decided to offer their own CE course. Hence, there are actually two CE progs. in NUS.

6. Why SCE?

  • SCE is well-respected in Singapore for the high-quality graduates it produces
  • SCE graduates also command higher pay than NUS graduates according to a 2003 Straits Times article.
  • SCE offers a rigorous balance of theory and hands-on curriculum
7. Are there any exemptions for polytechnic graduates?

Our system is the Academic Units system. Poly student cases are handled by a committee who will look at the diploma and exempt students for the subjects they have done.

Polytechnic graduates may be offered exemptions based on the diploma programme they had completed. Some polytechnic graduates will be exempted from a sufficient number of subjects such that they are classified as 2nd year students when they join us. They may therefore be able to complete the degree programme in 3 or 3.5 years.

8. I hear from my friends that CE/CS is a very tough course and many people fail. Is that true?

It is true that CE/CS is a very challenging course. This is why graduates with good standing from CE are highly prized by the industry. Even in such poor economic climates, excelling SCE students in their final years are still receiving multiple job offers even before they graduate. It is therefore necessary to work hard in SCE. We have not encountered hardworking students who fail. It is also fair to say that the majority of the students make it through CE. Students with keen interest in the subjects tend to do exceptionally well because the disciplined study is boosted with a healthy dose of personal interests. These students are usually the ones who are snapped up by industry before they graduate.

9. What are the job prospects of a CE/CS graduate? Are the job prospects affected by the economic downturn?

NTU CE graduates are highly sought after by employers, as attested to by the consistently high employment rates and high starting salaries. They take on a variety of positions in IT-related and other industries both in the public and private sectors. Typical graduate positions include Systems Engineer, Software Engineer, R&D Engineers, IT Specialist, Systems Analyst, Technopreneur/Entrepreneur, among others.

CS is a new program but would benefit from the prestige associated with the CE program. The career prospects of the Computer Science graduates will be almost the same as our Computer Engineering graduates. With a stronger focus on software modules, graduates will be equipped with a variety of software skills to enable them to enter the software job market immediately. Graduates still have hardware knowledge and that will make them competitive in the system integration market.

Moreover, the CE/CS degree is a good degree. Like all good degrees, it will provide you the opportunity to get a job. Subsequently, your performance will determine your career progression. NTU also allows you to do a Minor in business, which will provide you with an understanding of the business world.

10. If the CE/CS course is so difficult, how do we have time to do a minor?

Minor programmes have already been factored into the load schedule so that it is possible for good students such as yourself to take on the additional minor programme. The minor programme is not meant for normal students. It is therefore safe to say that only good students can get both the major and the minor within the 4 years.

11. After going through Year 1 of the CE/CS program, can I still switch to CS/CE?

Yes, that would be possible as many of the subjects taught in Year 1 are common to both the CE and CS programs. However, approval to switch courses (from CE to CS or vice versa) would be granted on a case-by-case basis, and subject to the applicant meeting the admission criteria of the course to which he intends to switch.

12. Why would I choose to study CE/CS at NTU?

See Why SCE

13. How do I choose one of the areas of specialisations in the final year? What are the details of each of the specialisations?

In the final year, students are allowed to specialise in one of six areas: Computer and Communication Networks; Computer Vision and Graphics; Embedded Systems; High Performance Computing; Information Systems; and Intelligent Systems. 30-40 electives from these areas will be offered (not necessarily in the same semester or year) from which students have a choice of 6 electives. By choosing all/most of the subjects from one specialism, the student will have more in-depth knowledge of that field. On the other hand, students may also choose any combination of subjects from different areas and have more broad-based knowledge instead.

14. What are the details of the subjects that I will study in CE/CS?

For more information, please check out

15. What are the entry requirements for CE/CS?

A-level Applicants

The minimum requirements are 2 A-level passes (in Maths/Further Maths/Applied Maths/Pure Maths and Physics/Physical Science) and a pass in General Paper in the same sitting, D7 in 2nd language, and C6 in English at O-levels. Project work in the JC will also be taken into account.

However, if a student has good A-level passes, please encourage him/her to apply even if the language requirements are not met. The A-level results that are used in the computation of points are: 3 A-level subjects, GP and mother-tongue language. The student may thus have total points above the cut-off and gain admission.

A qualifying English test (QET) will be conducted before the start of the semester for successful applicants with GP grades of B4 and lower. Those who fail QET will have to take English Proficiency in their first semester.

Polytechnic Applicants

Only certain diplomas are eligible to apply for admission (Please click here). Diploma holders compete for available places in their own category. O-level results are also required.

Others

There are several other categories of applicants (e.g. mature applicants, international students). Please refer to the OAS admissions webpage for details.

16. What kind of results do I need in order to get into CE/CS?

The cut-off point varies from year to year depending on the quantity and quality of applications. You are encouraged to submit an application if you are really interested in the program.

17. I have a diploma in xxx. Can I get into CE/CS?

For a list of acceptable diplomas, please click here.

18. If I choose CE/CS, do I do common engineering for the first year?

No, successful applicants to the CE/CS course at NTU joins the School of Computer Engineering directly, right from the first year.

19. I will be joining CE/CS in July; how do I prepare myself for the course?

You may want to familiarize yourself with the subjects and do some read-up. Check out the "List of Subjects".

20. Describe the undergraduate programmes offered by the School of Computer Engineering.

The School of Computer Engineering offers two 4-year undergraduate programmes leading to the award of the Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Engineering) and the Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Science) degrees. Both are direct honours programmes and good students are given the option of completing the programme in 3.5 years under the Accelerated Bachelor’s Programme.

The Computer Engineering (CE) programme is very established, being the first computer engineering course to be offered by a university in Singapore in 1989. Nevertheless, it continues to evolve with the times so that our graduates are equipped with the most up-to-date knowledge and technologies of computer systems. The Computer Science (CS) programme is a new course that will be offered starting from July 2004.

21. Is web technology covered in either CE or CSc?

CPE416 contains some web-based techniques but not to the extent as CSC304 Net-Centric Computing. Net-Centric Computing combines Computer Networks with Web Technologies.

22. What is the difference between CE's "CPE206 Software Engineering" and CSc's CSC207 Software Engineering 1 & CSC303 Software Engineering 2?

CPE206 is a shortened version of Software Engineering. In Computer Science, there are two subjects which cover more topics, as well as more depth (including project management, software quality assurance, etc.)

23. Are there exemptions for A-level students?

Those who have done very well in their A-levels will be considered for exemptions in subjects they have taken (such as Mathematics, Economics).

24. Other than C and Java, are there any other programming languages that the school teaches?

We teach a first language (Java) as a vehicle and foundation to understanding and applying a programming language, and then introduce C as a comparison. We do not believe that teaching the syntax of multiple languages is a useful approach. Hence, though we touch on Ada, Prolog and many other languages, they are used to illustrate different paradigms. Students are expected to pick up other languages on their own, which they have always done so in Final Year Project, Industrial Attachment, etc.

25. What are the cons on taking up the offer from these exemption?

The main advantage is that you will be able to complete the course faster. We have planned a schedule that allows exempted students to complete in 3 yrs. You may also opt to take up the many progs NTU has (such as global immersion, exchange prog, extended Industrial Attachment, research prog, minors, etc etc). This can be done using the extra time you get as a result of exemption. I need to caution, however, that all these prog, are subject to availability of places.

26. Is there a choice of taking up only some of the exemption?

I'm afraid not. We have been granting various scheme of exemptions for more than 10 years (and hence, have experience of different way of doing this). It will be chaotic to allow different people options because of the difficulty of timetabling and monitoring. However, I understand the concern of students who have left the poly many years ago. For such students, we advise the you 'audit' the exempted courses. That is, you sit in on the lectures & tutorial (not necessary every topic) and maybe, even try the labs. However, you will not need to sit for the exams or pass the subj. This auditing is a means of refreshing your memory.

27. Would these exemptions affect the final result of my study? That is, will there be grades given to me for these exemptions, and how do they affect the classification of my degree?

The exemption will NOT affect the final degree classification. This is because we 'normalise' the results based on the grades you score for the remaining subjects.

28. My mathematics foundation is not strong. Is there any way to start preparing for University while I am serving NS or while waiting for the course to start?

It is advisable to look at our syllabus for maths (http://www.ntu.edu.sg/sce/Syllabus2004.asp#CPE103) and the suggested briding study information (http://www.ntu.edu.sg/sce/ps_prepcourse.asp)

NTU

1. Why NTU?

  1. NTU is one of the largest and greenest campus in South East Asia, with almost 200 Hectares of marsh land (typical polytechnic is around 30 Hectares, NUS is around 150 Hectares). Enjoy the last vestige of nature in Singapore.
  2. Would you want to go to classes just as you did for Primary, Secondary, JC, Polytechnic? Not if you have a chance to experience campus life! All first year students have a chance to live on-campus! Learn to make life-long friends, and to tolerate people. NTU has 15 Halls, housing nearly 7000 students (60%)! Experience Campus life like you never did!

2. When am I eligible for the student's exchange programme?

Students who want to go for exchange programmes have to complete at least 2 semesters of full time study in NTU before applying. Priority will be given to Singaporeans.

3. How long can I go for an exchange programme? Can I continue my IA in the country?

Students are allowed to go for exchange programmes for one semester. If the timing is coordinated correctly, it may be possible to embark on an IA programme within that same country after completing the programme with the exchange university.

4. Which are the universities that offer an exchange programme?

There are more than 50 universities that participate in the exchange programme. You can go to any one as long as the curriculum for CE/CS matches ours in certain course subjects. You can check the NTU website for information on specific universities.

5. What are the minors offered currently? Will there be more?

There are 9 minors currently and this list would probably increase in the months to come. Some of these are Entrepreneurship, Business, Communications studies. There is also a computing minor, but this is meant for students from other schools.

6. I hear so much about the New Undergraduate Experience. What is it really?

The New Undergraduate Experience (NUE) essentially provides students with a multi-faceted experiential campus life, empowering the student to excel and explore one's own creative juices. The university provides avenues for one's creativity by providing ample opportunity to participate in organized activities, and even lead and organize events that have yet been explored. Essentially, it is moving away from the mentality of "No unless it is written" but going towards "Let us see how we can help you achieve what you are planning to do."

The main reason for this paradigm shift is that NTU recognizes the uniqueness of individuals and they may have talents that can only be honed by opportunity and exploration. Such talents cannot be nurtured in an environment where standardized rules and standardized opportunities reign. Such talents are only able to grow in an opportunity friendly environment such as that promised in the New Undergraduate Experience. The NUE equips students for the future, where survival is only for those who can adapt quickly and manage change.

7. Does NTU have a computer science program?

Yes, SCE also offers a Bachelor of Engineering program in Computer Science. Check out the CS FAQ

8. Who are required to take the Qualifying English Test (QET)?

Only A-level applicants with GP grades of B4 and above are exempted from the QET. All other successful applicants are required to sit for the QET: polytechnic diploma holders, A-level holders with a GP grade of C5 and lower, and all international students. Those who fail the QET are required to take English Proficiency (EP) in their first semester. The QET is conducted just before the start of the academic year.

If you miss the QET, you will have to take EP classes for the first 4 weeks of the semester. At the end of Week Four, there will be an Exit Test. Those who pass this Test will be exempted from the remaining EP classes; those who fail will stay on. THOSE WHO FAILED THE FIRST QET WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THIS EXIT TEST.

9. Can I apply if I am waiting for my polytechnic results?

Final year polytechnic students may apply using the results of their first 5 semesters at the polytechnic. You will need to submit your final results when they are available.

10. Are all students allowed to take minors, or only selected students?

Yes, any student admitted from Academic Year 2003-2004 can take minors, provided there are sufficient vacancies and there is no clash with class/exam timetables. More information can be found at this link - http://www.ntu.edu.sg/collegesandprogrammes/Pages/MinorProgramme.aspx.

11. Will currently-enrolled students be allowed to take the new electives/minors?

TBA

12. Is there a part-time B.Eng course for Computer Engineering/Science?

No.

13. Do NTU students have opportunities to spend a semester or more overseas?

Yes, students may apply to study a semester in an overseas university under the Global Immersion Program (aka international student exchange programme).

Students may also choose to do their 24-week industrial attachment in a company that has a placement in an overseas office. Several such places are available each semester.
 
 
 
School of Computer Engineering
Block N4, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798
Tel: (65) 6790 5786 Fax: (65) 6792 6559