FAQ
General Information on ECE
Electrical Engineering (EE) and Computer Engineering (CEG) are among the most exciting and challenging fields of engineering, and are the key disciplines driving a highly technological society. They lead in creating new innovations and technologies in areas such as sustainable energy generation, and in designing and developing new products such as smartphones, tablets, biomedical equipment and electric vehicles, to name a few.
Electrical Engineering (EE) deals with the practical and innovative applications of the laws of physics governing electricity, magnetism, and light, which underpin the technologies and products mentioned above.
The Computer Engineering (CEG) programme, jointly offered with the Department of Computer Science, prepares graduates to embark on a lifelong journey in designing computing systems for a smarter world.
Yes, of course! Electronics rely on electricity and they naturally come under electrical engineering.
The EE programme in NUS includes electronics both at the discrete device level and at the integrated circuits level, which means students will be taught how semiconductor devices work, as well as how IC chips are used to form electronic circuits. EE students also gain hands-on experience building hardware/software systems using the electronics knowledge that they have learnt.
Engineering is the application of science to solve real world problems and is practice-oriented. Our curriculum is design-centric and experiential. It has significant project-based and hands-on learning components, and includes compulsory design projects with participation and inputs from the industry. While we groom our students to become professional engineers, we also place emphasis on understanding fundamentals to equip them with the ability to appreciate and adapt to the rapidly advancing technologies and innovations in the 21st century.
Two Engineering Principles and Practice (EPP) courses are included in the curriculum. These two courses (EPP I and EPP II) aim to train students with a foundation in the first year on some of the important engineering principles that they will need to know and to carry with them for their subsequent studies and careers.
The courses are designed to emphasize experiential learning so that students have hands-on opportunities to apply what they learn, thus giving them an experience of what engineers do. This is an important aspect of training of engineers.
Curriculum changes in the EE core/higher years' courses have been carefully planned to reinforce the importance of contextualizing engineering principles with practice.
The EE programme is fairly broad and covers areas such as microelectronics, communications, power, control, microwave and radio frequency (RF), whereas the CEG programme covers a mixture of computer-related hardware and software topics such as embedded systems and real-time operating systems. Topics such as networking, signal processing and media (video, image and audio) processing are covered in both programmes.
The CEG programme covers a mixture of computer-related hardware and software topics such as embedded systems and real-time operating systems, which are increasingly important these days with devices such as smartphones and wearable electronic devices that require special signal processing capabilities and need to be energy efficient.
The CS programme covers computer systems aspects such as operating systems, databases, algorithms, programming languages, parallel computing, and systems security.
Using the analogy of a smartphone, the CEG programme addresses the smartphone electronics and integrated circuits (ICs), integrated with the lower level operating system and signal processing functions, whereas the CS programme addresses the higher level operating system functions, applications, and algorithms.
Curriculum
In the new Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering curricula, students have 40 Units of Unrestricted Elective (UE) space. This means you will have the flexibility of taking a Second Major, a Minor and a Specialisation, two Minors, or two Specialisations using your UE space. These fit well into your degree structure without you having to delay graduation.
If you wish to go deeper within an engineering discipline, you may opt to read one or more Specialisations. ECE Department currently offers 6 exciting Specialisations for students to choose from. Students are strongly encouraged to opt for one of these Specialisations, to better equip yourself for the digitalized and transforming industries, and the challenges ahead.
Students in the EE and CEG programmes are required to complete a minimum of 160 Units with a Grade Point Average (GPA) ≥ 2.0 to graduate.
In the first two years of the programme, students will receive a broad-based training that seeks to establish a strong foundation in Mathematics, Computing, and Electrical Engineering. These courses include Machine Learning, Design and Make, Programming, etc. Students will also enrol in core modules which provide the essential foundation for a variety of specialized technical areas in EE or CEG. During the senior years of study, students may choose from a wide variety of electives to enable them to specialize in certain fields of EE or CEG.
Throughout the programme, students are also expected to broaden their views by reading several general education modules and breadth courses offered by other faculties/colleges. Students are also encouraged to take at least one business course.
Student Exchange Programme (SEP) will allow students to spend up to a year aboard in a prestigious university. Most students will opt for a 6-month Student Exchange Programme (SEP).
To be eligible to participate in the SEP, you must meet the following requirements:
- be enrolled at the National University of Singapore (NUS) as a full-time student
- complete at least two semesters of study before applying for the exchange programme (Polytechnic direct entry, GEP and CHE students are required to have completed at least one semester of study before we can consider you for the exchange programme)
- minimum GPA of 3.0, preferably with no letter grade below C
- have sufficient financial means to cover the necessary expenses for the duration of the SEP (documentary proof of your financial status may be requested)
- satisfy host institution and host country entry requirements
- not apply for SEP to your home country
- not apply for SEP to China, Taiwan and Hong Kong if you are a Chinese national
- not be in your final year or semester of study when embarking on SEP
More information can be found at https://www.nus.edu.sg/gro/global-programmes/student-exchange
From AY2021/2022 intake onwards, students may take up to 20 Units of credit-bearing internships from the following list of courses (EG3611A, EG3612, CFG2101, EG2605), of which up to 10 Units can be used to fulfil the compulsory IA under the Major requirement and the remaining will be counted towards Unrestricted Electives. More details are available at https://cde.nus.edu.sg/undergraduate/engineering-internships/student-info/
For Polytechnic diploma graduates, IA is optional.
Special Programmes
There are now six exciting Specialisations that you can choose from, with effect from AY2023/2024:
- Advanced Electronics
- Industry 4.0
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Robotics
- Space Technology
- Sustainable Electric Transportation (EE only)
Find out more: https://cde.nus.edu.sg/ece/undergraduate/electrical-engineering/specialisations-and-minor/
Double degree: 2 routes – point of admission or after year 1 results in NUS
https://cde.nus.edu.sg/undergraduate/programmes/
| Double Degree Programmes | Home Couse/Faculty |
|---|---|
| Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering & Business Administration | Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering, plus Business Administration [NUS Business School] |
| Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering & CHS | Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering, plus another Bachelor Degree in College of Humanities and Sciences |
Application for admissions into the Grandes Écoles normally starts in Semester 1 of Year 2.
As a student in the B.Eng. (direct honours) degree programme, you can also pursue a second Major in addition to your primary engineering Major (EE or CEG) after admission. A Double Major is a single degree programme in which a student satisfies the requirements of two Majors - a primary Major and a second Major. Double Majors are conceived as an opportunity for students to broaden their knowledge and capacities with a significant degree of depth by pursuing a second Major alongside their primary Major. By acquiring an additional set of skills, students are well-placed for multiple career options. For students admitted from AY2019/2020 onwards, the requirement for a second Major is at least 40 Units. Details about the general requirements for the Double Majors can be found via http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/academic-information-policies/undergraduate-students/special-programmes/double-major-programmes. It is possible to complete your B.Eng. with Honours degree and a second Major within 4 years.
At the point of admission, students can select the following Double Major programmes:
Undergraduates can opt to study a Minor programme to gain skills and knowledge beyond their Major disciplines.
At the point of admission, students can apply for the following Minor programmes:
- Business Analytics (EE only)
- Computing (Design and Engineering) (EE only)
- Data Engineering (both EE and CEG)
- Entrepreneurship (CEG only)
- Information Security (EE only)
- Management (both EE and CEG)
Besides the above Minor programmes that can be applied at the point of admission, there are many other Minor programmes that students can choose after being admitted. Some examples are: Minor in Technopreneurship, Minor in Financial Mathematics, Minor in Interactive Media Development, Minor in Communications and New Media, Minor in Health and Social Sciences, Minor in Film Studies, etc.
Click this link to find out more: http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/academic-information-policies/undergraduate-students/special-programmes/minor-programmes
Students who intend to apply to an Engineering programme in NUS and are interested to join the iDP may select an Engineering programme of their choice AND include the Innovation & Design Second Major in their application form during the NUS admission exercise. Successful applicants will be admitted into the iDP during matriculation.
Students who are unsure whether to join the iDP at matriculation may apply during their first or second semester in NUS. Email invitations will be sent out to eligible students when the application period is open in each semester, which is normally around March/April and October/November.
More details can be found at https://cde.nus.edu.sg/idp/academics/faq/
E-Scholars are generally admitted at matriculation, i.e., students apply during the NUS admissions exercise. Admission is based on interviews and A-level results.
More details at https://cde.nus.edu.sg/escholars/
Second Major/Minor in Computing (Design and Engineering)
The second major/minor in Computing (Design and Engineering) is only open to students reading a common admission Engineering primary major, an Architecture primary major, an Industrial Design primary major, or a Landscape Architecture primary major.
The following groups of students are precluded from taking the second major/minor in Computing (Design and Engineering):
- Students who are not reading a CDE primary major;
- Students reading Computer Engineering as a primary major;
- Students taking a second major or minor in Computer Science
- Students may apply at the point of admission, where the selection criteria are based on their university admission score and/or their proficiency in mathematics.
- “In-flight” (i.e., current) CDE students may also apply for this second major/minor during the prescribed application window via EduRec in semester 2 of their Year 2 studies, or in semester 2 of their Year 3 studies.
The differences are in the programme core and the units required.
- Core Requirements: 24 Units (6 courses) for the second major, and 12 Units (3 courses) for the minor.
- Unit requirements: 40 Units for the second major, and 20 Units for the minor.
Second major/minor in Computing (Design and Engineering) are restricted programmes which in-flight students must apply during the prescribed application window via EduRec in semester 2 of their Year 2 studies, or in semester 2 of their Year 3 studies. It is not possible to apply during Year 1.
Students who complete a double major, specialisation and/or minor successfully will receive one degree scroll for the primary major only. The second major, specialisation and/or minor will, however, be reflected in the student’s transcript.
Possible career options are (not exhaustive):
- AI/Data Engineer
- Biomechanics Engineer
- Computational Materials Engineer
- Computational Mechanics Engineer
- Computer Hardware Engineer
- Design Technologists
- Digital Architect
- Digital Manufacturing Engineer
- Games Developer
- Process Optimization Engineer
- Robotics / Automation Engineer
- Software Engineer
- Smart Building Designer
- UI/UX Designer
- Verification & Validation Engineer
- Virtual/Augmented Reality Architect
Yes, if the student plans well then the UE space is sufficient to complete the second major/minor in Computing (Design and Engineering) and another specialisation within CDE as some courses can be double-counted towards the minor/second major/specialisation requirements. Please refer to NUS double-counting policy for second major and minor.
FYP/capstone project is not under the requirements of the second major/minor. However, a student who wishes to work on a computing-focused FYP/capstone project may consider choosing such projects within the student’s primary major.
The second major/minor in Computing (Design and Engineering) programme will open up new avenues for careers within one’s primary major as well as the whole of engineering and design with the contextualisation of computing requirements. The idea is not to compete directly, though overlaps are inevitable in certain fields.
There is no penalty for withdrawal from the second major/minor programme. The courses studied could be counted towards the student’s UE space.
The core between the two programmes may seem similar but CDE’s second major/minor in Computing (Design & Engineering) is contextualised for design and engineering. This is to ensure that students are equipped not just with the tools and techniques to do computing but also exposed to practical computing complex problems in CDE. This is further demonstrated in the choice of computing-related electives from a wide range of discipline-relevant electives across the CDE spectrum.
Some EE and CS electives are very similar; to avoid students from double dipping, e.g., taking a specialisation in EE and a second major/minor in CS for similar elective courses, EE students are not allowed to take the second major/minor in CS. The second major/minor in Computing (Design and Engineering), on the other hand, is contextualized for design and engineering, and hence does not have this concern.
The Computer Engineering degree is explicitly designed (built from ground up) for systems involving intimate hardware-software interaction and cyber-physical systems. The second major/minor in Computing, on the other hand, augments the essential computing skills that are required for engineers with CDE-specific contextualization.
The main aim of the minor in Data Engineering programme is to train graduates with the ability to handle and manage the large volume of data generated by the industry and glean actionable insights from that data.
The second major/minor in Computing would augment the essential computing skills that are required for engineers with CDE-specific contextualization which would include but not limited to handling large data.
Students completing the second major/minor in Computing (Design and Engineering) will be able to:
- Understand fundamental computing concepts and the underlying components that are required for the operation of computing systems;
- Analyze complex problems and use computing-based tools and techniques to find solutions to these problems;
- Apply cross-disciplinary tools and techniques to the analysis and design of practical strategies for digitization and automation;
- Evaluate emerging technologies in the area of computing and their potential impact on society and industry;
- Gain critical-thinking, perspective-sharing and team-working skills.
The following combinations are strongly recommended for synergy between the chosen programmes:
- Second major in Computing (Design & Engineering) + minor in Data Engineering
- Minor in Computing (Design & Engineering) + specialisation in Space Technology, Internet of Things, Robotics, Industry 4.0, Advanced Electronics, Sustainable Electric Transportation
Financial Aid, Study Award & Scholarships
NUS offers a variety of financial aid schemes which are designed to help meet a portion of the educational and living expenses of financially-needy students in the form of loans, bursaries and work-study opportunities, and these schemes are administered by the Office of Financial Aid (OFA). For more information, click the following link: http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/financial-aid
Please refer to the link below for details.
Career Prospects
Graduates can look forward to bright, diverse and challenging careers in design, research and development, manufacturing, marketing, management, consulting and software / IT development. A number of enterprising graduates have also become entrepreneurs, setting up new businesses that find innovative ways of applying electrical and computer engineering technologies.
Sectors that employ EE and CEG graduates include electronics and semiconductors, telecommunications, IT, utilities, transportation, manufacturing, R&D, finance, educational institutions and the defense industry. In short, the training provided by the ECE curriculum is very versatile.
Some examples of the industries: Aerospace & Aviation, Automotive, Chemicals, Control & Automation, Consumer Business, Electronics & Semiconductors, Energy; Oil & Gas, Finance & Investment, Healthcare, Infocomm, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Marine & Offshore, Media & Digital Entertainment, Medical Technology & Healthcare, Precision Engineering.
Our graduates continue to do well in terms of employability. In the 2023 Graduate Employment Survey (GES), the mean gross monthly starting salary for Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering graduates are $4,918 and $5,737 respectively. Click here to find out more: NUS GES 2023