Undergraduate

Eligibility

The Minor in Cities is open to all undergraduate students in NUS with strong interests in urban planning, policy and governance. Students can declare their interest no later than the end of the 5th semester of their study.

Course Offerings

Click on the various courses below for the course writeup and overview.

ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/2025
SEMESTER 1	SEMESTER 2
Core Course
CDE2501 Liveable Cities (4 Units)
Electives (more courses to be included in AY25/26)
CDE3504 Smart Cities (4 Units)	CDE2502 Cities for All (4 Units)
CDE3505 Planning and Governing Cities (4 Units)	CDE2503 Cities in Nature (4 Units)
CDE4501A Topics in Challenges of Cities (4 Units)*	CDE4501B Topics in Challenges of Cities (4 Units)*

*These courses are dependent on visiting professorship and may not run every semester.

Graduation Requirements:

Successful completion of the minor programme requires students to pass at least 20 units of courses from the following:

CDE2501 Liveable Cities
a minimum of 16 units from the list of electives

Students can be admitted to Minor programmes at the point of admission to NUS, or by applying/declaring to the relevant Faculties/Schools no later than the end of the fifth semester of study. Requests to declare a minor after the fifth semester will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Our core course, CDE2501 Liveable Cities, introduces students to the principles of liveable cities and the urban planning systems used to achieve them, using the Liveability Framework (LF) as its founation. Through seminars, students explore themes of Cities for All, Cities in Nature, Smart Cities, and Planning & Governance, delving into topics like climate change, heritage and inclusivity.

Seminars, led by practitioners and domain experts, provides insights into urban systems approaches, while studio sessions offer hands-on opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world district studies. Working in interdisciplinary teams, students learn to integrate the expertise of urban policymakers, planners, architects, engineers, and real estate professionals to achieve liveable city outcomes.

"This course enabled me to understand more about diversity within the city because it focus on aspects like access to amenities, public transportation, green spaces, and social services that impacts different communities and their quality of life."

Ramachandran Thirusulochani

Biomedical Engineering (Hons)

"This course is insightful as I get to understand the different thought processes by people in the industry."

Lim Yau Dexter

Landscape Architecture

"Liveable Cities taught me that cities comprise of multiple systems which can be seen, demonstrated, illustrated through an intricate interplay of transportation networks, housing developments, green spaces, waste management facilities, and the integration of technology to enhance urban living."

Sherman Lim Kai Xiang

Biomedical Engineering (Hons)

We also launched our Liveable Cities Best Project Competition last academic year to encourage students to build better and liveable cities through their group projects within the course. This award is proudly sponsored by DP Architects and the Urban Land Institute.

Read more about the winning teams here:
AY23/24 Semester 1
AY23/24 Semester 2

NUS Cities collaborates with several universities to provide students with global exposure, allowing them to work alongside local students, stakeholders, and professors to address urban challenges. The summer programs offered are short-term, typically culminating in site visits and a final studio project. These programs are scheduled during NUS's vacation period, enabling students to broaden their horizons without disrupting their academic commitments.

Currently, the summer programs offered by NUS Cities are non-credit bearing, and fee-paying where students are responsible for their own airfare, accommodation, visa (if required), and living expenses.

Application Process:

Watch for email announcements from NUS Cities in January or early February calling for applications.
Interviews may be required, and attendance is compulsory. Details of interview slots will be sent separately.