AS THE Add/Drop period drew to a close last week, students desperate to get their coveted modules turned to offering money for them on NTU’s online message boards.

Popular modules requested include Biology in Business (BS802), Science or Fiction? – Biology in Popular Media (BS803) and Astronomy (EE8086).

 “I am surprised that there are students willing to buy slots,” said Assistant Professor Andrew Tan and subject coordinator of Biology in Business, when told of such offers on the Public Folders, a messaging system accessible through Webmail.

He had not anticipated such popularity as the module was only into its second semester of being offered. The initial 300 vacancies expanded to 500 to cope with the large number of applicants.

The increased slots were apparently still insufficient, prompting students who failed to get their choices through STARS to resort to offering money on the Public Folders.

The Office of Academic Services decline to comment when asked if such practices are acceptable in the university.

Final-year Computer Engineering student, Chua Chee Yong, 24, intended to buy Environmental Health and Safety (EM107) online. He was willing to pay up to $50 if necessary.

As part of his Industrial Orientation (IO), Chua had to take an additional six academic units. However, he failed to register for the module on STARS because he had reached the maximum number of academic units he could register for his course.

“I needed the electives badly in order to complete my IO and graduate,” said Chua. ”But (approval to take the additional units) could take up to four days. Fortunately, EM107 opened more vacancies and I did not have to spend the $50.”

Associate Professor Sze Chun Chau, who teaches Biology in Popular Media (BS803), disapproved of the buying of modules and said: “While I am encouraged by the overwhelming response, students should try to accept that vacancies are limited and be more open-minded to other modules which could be just as interesting as BS803.”

However, she empathised with final year students who had to fulfil their AUs, and would try to give the vacancies to them.

She said: “The initial solution was to move to a larger lecture theatre (LT), but the booking of LT slots also depends on core modules, which require the bigger LTs.”

Chia Wan Ping, 20, a second-year Sociology student taking Biology in Popular Media this semester, said that she would not sell her elective as she was happy with it.

“Getting popular modules to get good grades is just a myth as people could still get Bs and Cs,” she said. “There might be other modules that don’t seem as interesting but one could always learn something new.”

Professor Sze said: “A kind of official module swapping system based on goodwill would be nice to see, if juniors are willing to help the seniors.”

“But that is only an ideal and I’m very sure they will not give up their place in the class because they are not even giving it up for cash right now,” she laughed.