CDE Open Day
We welcomed our freshmen-to-be at Open Day held on 13 May
Career prospects
Exposure to real-world scenarios, broad domain expertise and cutting-edge research in your university education will empower you to thrive in your future professional roles. You will be equipped with a range of versatile and transferable skill sets for enhanced career prospects and the potential to explore a wider variety of roles.
Click the images to discover the possible combinations you can take to personalise your own journey!
Meet the CDE community
Hear from our students, faculty and alums!
Come explore CDE through our
E-Open House & Campus Experience!
If you missed our e-Open House held on Sunday, 26th February, or want to run through the information shared again, you can catch the recordings here:
Session 1: The Future of Design
- Architecture
- Landscape Architecture
- Industrial Design
Session 3: Sustainable Innovations
- Civil Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Infrastructure & Project Management
Session 2: Reimagining Technology
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Session 4: Impacting Lives
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Materials Science & Engineering
- Engineering Science Programme
Hear from the NUS College of Design and Engineering (CDE) professors and students introducing CDE’s bachelor’s degree programmes and sharing about our vibrant community and exciting student life.
CDE at NUS Open House 2023
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Getting into CDE
The common admissions “Engineering” programme has a single set of entry requirements. If you are admitted to this joint admissions you have access to any one of the 10 majors in the common admissions pool; which one you choose is up to you. In contrast, each of our direct entry courses have their own admissions requirements. If you gain admission to one of our direct entry programmes this will predetermine which degree programme you will follow, be it Architecture, Computer Engineering, Industrial Design, or Landscape Architecture.
The only pre-requisite for the Engineering programmes is H2 Mathematics for Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘A’ level applicants. A H2 Physics qualification would be an advantage, but not a requirement. Some of our higher-level engineering courses in certain engineering majors do require H2 Physics as a prerequisite. Students without the necessary Physics background will be asked to do bridging courses on their own whilst in NUS.
Shortlisted applicants for all 3 programmes will be required to attend an interview as part of the selection process to be considered for admission. The interview with Architecture or Landscape Architecture would also require applicants to bring a portfolio showcasing the applicant’s creative work. For Industrial Design, a portfolio is not required however it is advisable to bring along a portfolio (or any creative material such as photographs, drawings, paintings, making hobbies, etc.) for the interview.
Yes. Under Aptitude-Based Admissions, CDE will consider other exceptional qualities for students besides academic grades such as work experience, leadership, community service, entrepreneurship, and exceptional talent, subject to a minimum level of academic competence. For more info, https://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/undergraduate-programmes/aptitude-based-admission
Choosing your Major
If you have yet to decide a major under the Engineering common admissions, you can select “Major to be Decided” at the point of application.
Yes, if you are admitted to the Engineering common admissions course you can choose any one of those 10 majors and will have a place in the major of your choice.
For the Engineering common admission courses, you have up to your fourth semester of study to re-declare your major. For the direct admission courses, you can apply for a course transfer in October and February each year.
Applying for scholarships & financial aid
The most common scholarships are our Engineering Scholars Programme, the NUS Global Merit Scholarship and the NUS Merit Scholarship. There are also NUS Scholarships for those who excel in sports and performing & visual arts. Apart from NUS Scholarships, there are also donated scholarships and other scholarships administered by NUS and that are funded by external organisations. Applicants can also apply for scholarships offered by various external organisations on their own (e.g., BCA, DSO, LTA, A*STAR). The full list may be found on OAM’s website.
Application for NUS Scholarships should be made at the same time application for admission to NUS. Use the same application number and admission PIN. For scholarships from external organisations, please check with them.
Building your CDE degree
An education at CDE will be an exciting, interdisciplinary experience for students where their learning journey takes centre stage. We are equipping students with an adaptable toolbox of skills across disciplines, moving them beyond a knowledge-based education to a mindset-based approach to problem-solving. The CDE common curriculum provides a broad intellectual foundation on which you can continuously upgrade, evolve and re-pivot in a fast-changing world. Our majors build on top of the common curriculum to allow you to explore your chosen field, and our unrestricted elective space gives you the freedom to customise your educational experience.
Your major is your primary programme of study, comprising 15 courses. The Common Curriculum accounts for 15 courses. There are 10 courses in the Unrestricted Electives (UE) space that you can use to decide how broad, deep or integrated you want your education to be. Second majors (10 courses) and minors (5 courses) allow you to broaden your knowledge and skills in a complementary or contrasting area, with second majors offering twice as much room for depth. A specialisation (5 courses) is a focus area within your chosen discipline. Alternatively, you can choose from over 3,000 courses available across NUS as electives based on your interest.
Planning your CDE journey
Some courses under the Common Curriculum will be pre-allocated to students within the first year of study. Each programme also has a recommended curriculum schedule that students can use to plan the courses to take each semester. You may then ballot for the courses you want during the courses registration exercise before each semester. The recommended schedule is available on each department’s website.
CDE and the wider NUS community offer a wide range of global opportunities and special programmes to enhance your learning experience such as the NUS Overseas College, Residential Programmes, Student Exchange Programme and Summer/Winter Schools.
For any enquiries, you may contact us here.
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