Frequently Asked Questions
For prospective BSc Project and Facilities Management (PFM) students
Q1: Why pick the BSc (PFM) programme?
Plan. Build. Manage.
The programme covers the entire project phases:
The BSc (PFM) programme offered by the DoB provides comprehensive training in planning, building and managing sustainable buildings, facilities and infrastructure.
Welcoming Diversity
The DoB welcomes students from diverse backgrounds: GCE A-Level Science (Physics or Chemistry); GCE A-Level Arts with Mathematics ; GCE A-Level Hybrid with Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry; GCE A-Level Commerce with Mathematics; IB; NUS High School; Polytechnics (Facilities Management, Project Management, Engineering, Architecture, Sustainable Buildings, Business, Finance, Management, Aviation, and Hotel and Leisure).
Excellent Careers
90% of DoB’s students were employed within 6 months of graduation with major corporations/organisations: Arcadis Singapore, Building and Construction Authority (BCA) , Shimizu Corporation , Land Transport Authority (LTA) , AECOM , Surbana Jurong Private Limited , E M Services Private Limited, Kajima Overseas Asia Pte Ltd, Rider Levett Bucknall LLP, CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, Driver Trett, Faithful + Gould, Turner & Townsend, DBS Bank Ltd, CPG Facilities Management Pte Ltd (CPG FM) , Woh Hup (Private) Limited , Keppel Land Limited , CapitaLand Limited, Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) etc.
Many of DoB’s students apply and are conferred BCA-Industry iBuildSG Undergraduate Scholarship/Sponsorship (worth $10,000-$18,000 per year). There are also numerous other scholarships and bursaries offered by the DoB and NUS below:
The Department of Building offers scholarships to eligible BSc (PFM) undergraduates: Kong Mun Kwong Scholarship NUS Department of Building Scholarship Wee Hur Scholarship Woh Hup Scholarship |
Many of our BSc (PFM) undergraduates were also recipients of Government-administered scholarships which include: Building and Construction Authority Undergraduate Scholarships Building and Construction Authority – Industry iBuildSG Undergraduate Scholarships / Sponsorships JTC Corporation Undergraduate Scholarships Singapore Land Authority Undergraduate Scholarships |
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Overseas Exposure
Experience studying and living overseas through the DoB’s Student Exchange Programme at partner universities including the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of California (UC). Students may also apply for and participate in stints at NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC), a 6-month to 1-year technopreneurship programme inSilicon Valley, New York, Shanghai, Stockholm and many more.
Q2: What is the BSc (PFM) programme about?
The BSc (PFM) programme’s diversified curriculum places strong emphasis in equipping students with new knowledge, skills and techniques to manage projects and facilities.
The programme covers the entire project phases:
- Project initiation which includes feasibility studies
- Project planning to generate design and baseline plans
- Project execution and control of time, cost, quality, and safety
- Project closing
- Facilities management from inception, development, operation, maintenance to decommissioning
Although the focus is on management, the programme is underpinned by a strong foundation in the relevant science and technology as well as contracts and law.
Q3:What is Project Management (PM)?
The Project Manager leads the project team to oversee the entire project process outlined above. As a leader, he needs to strategise, plan, direct, and implement project plans.
Q4:What is Facilities Management (FM)?
FM is about the professional management of facilities in order to provide excellent support for activities which these facilities are meant to support. Well-managed facilities enhances the sustainability of the work and activities of organisations and their employees.
Q5.Who should apply for the BSc (PFM) programme?
You must have a passion to contribute to, and also to manage project teams in a multi-disciplinary framework. You must also have the interest and desire to embrace the challenges of managing large physical assets such as airports, hospitals, educational institutions, science parks, seaports, residential, industrial and commercial buildings.
Q6. What is the difference between NUS’s BSc (PFM) programme and those from other local universities, IHLs, etc?
The BSc (PFM) programme is a unique programme in Asia because the full-time professors and teaching staff on the programme consist not only of construction professionals such as project managers, facilities managers and quantity surveyors but also civil, mechanical, electrical and material engineers as well as lawyers who have extensive experience in the built environment. As the only full-time undergraduate programme in Singapore with full-time professors and teaching staff dedicated to nurturing future leaders in the built environment, BSc (PFM) undergraduates are in good hands as they are immersed in a rich learning environment in the University with the longest history in Singapore.
Q7.Will students without a Science background be at a disadvantage?
Students from the Arts, Commerce and Science streams do well on the programme because the BSc (PFM) programme covers and integrates a wide range of subjects from both the arts (such as economics, finance and law) and the sciences.
The modules are taught in a manner such that students will be able to obtain a firm ground in their concepts and principles before these are applied.
Q8.How many places are available on the BSc (PFM) programme?
The number of places offered for the BSc (PFM) programme varies from year to year, and is related to the nation's perceived human resource needs. Please refer to the Indicative Grade Profile (IGP) for reference on the number of places offered in the past.
Q9.How do I apply for the BSc (PFM) programme?
The details of the admission exercise for A-level, polytechnic and other categories of applicants are available on the Office of Admissions (OAM)’s website (www.nus.edu.sg/oam). All applications are made online.
Q10. Will there be opportunities for further studies in Singapore after I graduate?
Graduates of the BSc (PFM) programme can further their studies via the coursework graduate programmes offered by the DoB such as the MSc Building Performance and Sustainability and MSc Project Management. Apart from coursework graduate programmes, the DoB also offers graduate progammes by research.
Q11. What jobs will be suitable for graduates of the BSc (PFM) programme?
In the sector concerning the built environment, BSc (PFM) graduates can find employment as project managers, contract administrators, contract managers, facilities managers, quantity surveyors and construction managers among others.
Q12. Where will the graduates be employed?
Graduates of the BSc (PFM) programme will be employed in government departments, statutory boards, and in private sector organisations. Some of the statutory boards and government bodies that have employed graduates from the DoB’s undergraduate programme include:
- Arcadis Singapore
- Building and Construction Authority (BCA)
- Shimizu Corporation
- Land Transport Authority (LTA)
- AECOM
- Surbana Jurong Private Limited
- E M Services Private Limited
- Kajima Overseas Asia Pte Ltd
- Rider Levett Bucknall LLP
- CBRE
- Cushman & Wakefield
- Driver Trett
- Faithful + Gould
- Turner & Townsend
- DBS Bank Ltd
- CPG Facilities Management Pte Ltd (CPG FM)
- Woh Hup (Private) Limited
- Keppel Land Limited
- CapitaLand Limited
- Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
The graduates from the programme will also embark on careers in private-sector organisations such as construction consultancy firms, facilities management companies, financial institutions and construction and property development companies.
Q13. What is the starting pay of a BSc (PFM) graduate?
According to the 2018 graduate employment survey, the average salary of a PFM graduate is $3,237. In addition to starting salary, one should be concerned with your demand in the market. 90% of PFM graduates are employed within 6 months of graduation with major corporations.
Q14. What are the career opportunities for BSc (PFM) graduates?
Project Management will continue to gain in importance as activities in all sectors of the economy become more complex. Organisations worldwide require efficient facilities and infrastructure in order to enhance productivity and profits. The demand for building and infrastructure development in Singapore will continue to increase.
Facilities Management will be important as it is a major factor for organisations who continue to explore new developments to enhance their productivity, efficiency and competitiveness.
The combination of these two areas of knowledge relevant to different aspects of the process of developing and managing built facilities gives the graduates an essential versatility and a range of career options.
In recent years, there have been increasing opportunities for graduates with the kind of expertise provided by the BSc (PFM) programme to pursue their careers outside Singapore, particularly in the developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region such as China, Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Q15. Are the graduates able to work in other fields?
The BSc (PFM) programme focuses on the projects involved in the development and management of built assets. The knowledge of the management of such projects is also applicable to many other sectors.
Q16. What are the admissions requirements specific to the BSc (PFM) programme?
GCE A-Level
- Good grades in Chemistry or Mathematics or Physics at H1 Level
- Pass in at least two subjects at H2 Level
- Pass in either General Paper (GP) or Knowledge and Inquiry (KI)
- Meet NUS Mother Tongue Language (MTL) requirements
Polytechnics
- Good grades in any diplomas from a local polytechnic
- Minimum pass in GCE O-Level Elementary Mathematics
NUS High School
- Diploma with good grades in Chemistry or Mathematics or Physics
- Meet NUS Mother Tongue Language (MTL) requirements
International Baccalaureate (IB)
- Pass in SL Chemistry or Mathematics or Physics
- Other requirements as set out in http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/apply-to-nus/international-baccalaureate-(ib)-diploma/admissions-requirements
For existing BSc Project and Facilities Management (PFM) students
Q1: How will the BSc Project and Facilities Management (PFM) programme be affected by the BEng Infrastructure and Project Management (IPM) programme?
If you matriculated in AY2020/2021 or earlier, you will not be affected by the BEng IPM programme. You will graduate with the BSc PFM programme under your respective BSc PFM curriculum
Q2: I matriculated in AY2021/2022 (i.e. August 2021). How will I be affected by the BEng Infrastructure and Project Management (IPM) programme?
The College of Design and Engineering (CDE) is currently discussing whether to allow your batch to switch to the BEng IPM programme. If this option is given, you may choose to switch if you (a) meet the BEng IPM admission requirements and (b) choose to do so.
If you do not want to switch to the BEng IPM programme, you will stay with your current BSc PFM curriculum till graduation. It is NOT compulsory to switch to the BEng IPM programme even if you do meet the admission requirements. More details will be released when available.
Q3: Although I matriculated in AY2021/2022, I am a Returning NS-man (RNS) who accepted the BSc Project and Facilities Management (PFM) offer in 2019. Am I still eligible for the switch to BEng Infrastructure and Project Management (IPM) assuming I meet the admission requirements?
If the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) eventually decides to grant the option to switch, you will be allowed to make the switch to the BEng IPM programme because you matriculated in AY2021/2022. The year of offer acceptance is immaterial.
Q4: I am a Returning NS-man (RNS) who accepted the BSc Project and Facilities Management (PFM) offer in 2021. As I will be matriculating in AY2023/2024, how does the BEng Infrastructure and Project Management (IPM) affect me and my PFM place?
The College of Design and Engineering (CDE) will honour your PFM place and continue to offer the BSc PFM programme to your batch as the final batch of PFM students. You will not be affected and you will graduate in 2026 or 2027 as the final PFM cohort. If CDE decides to offer you the option to switch to the BEng IPM programme you may choose to do so if you meet the BEng IPM admission requirements.
Q5.What will employers think of my BSc Project and Facilities Management (PFM) degree when I graduate?
The built environment industry employers are already very familiar with the current BSc PFM programme as it has been running since 2006. The first batch of the BEng Infrastructure and Project Management (IPM) students will only graduate in 2026. Our recent BSc PFM graduates will therefore still be able to secure good job and career opportunities.
In the working world, the most important thing is to ‘get through the door’ first. You will be able to do that with your BSc PFM degree since the BEng IPM graduates will be your juniors in the chronological sense. Once you are in the company, your degree becomes secondary to your work performance and learning attitudes.
Q6. How can the University help in my career and professional development now that the BSc Project and Facilities Management (PFM) programme is no longer run after AY2023/2024?
The College of Design and Engineering (CDE) will work with the Centre for Future-ready Graduates (CFG) to ramp up its efforts to train BSc Project and Facilities (PFM) students with skills to land jobs. Whether students are reading the BSc PFM or BEng Infrastructure and Project Management (IPM) programme, the focus should be on staying relevant with your skills in the industry and therefore the need for lifelong learning.
The University encourages all NUS graduates to upskill and upgrade with the course offerings from the NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education (SCALE). The CDE is also looking into the possibility of offering some form of subsidies for BSc PFM graduates who apply to read postgraduate programmes at the Department of the Built Environment. More details will be released when available.
Q7: What can I do if my employer wants to validate my BSc Project and Facilities Management (PFM) degree but I am unable to find it on the NUS website since it will be gradually phased out?
Write to ipm@nus.edu.sg to request for an explanatory note.
Please write to pfm@nus.edu.sg if you have further questions on the BSc Project and Facilities Management programme.
Note: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information at the time of publication, the information in this webpage is indicative and subject to further updates where appropriate.