Double Degree Programmes within CDE

Overview

Students from Cohort AY2024/2025 onwards may pursue a double degree programme (DDP) within the College of Design and Engineering (CDE). They will graduate with two honours degrees from CDE which may be completed within 4 or 4.5 years (i.e. 8 or 9 regular semesters). 

A DDP within CDE enables students to widen their knowledge and skills in design and/or engineering, and build a stronger foundation to undertake multidisciplinary specialisations within CDE that require knowledge from different disciplines (e.g. the Robotics Specialisation and Industry 4.0 Specialisation) which are open to several Engineering majors. Having a DDP in complementary fields (e.g. Civil Engineering with Architecture or Industrial Design with Electrical Engineering) could also broaden job prospects and lead to new and unique career options as students learn how to engage professionals from both fields. 

Overall curriculum structure

The overall curriculum structure of the DDP comprises the following:

  • CDE Common Curriculum
  • Primary degree major
  • Second degree major

Students can choose any combination of degree programmes from CDE, including two Bachelor of Engineering programmes or two Bachelor of Arts programmes, except for the following:

  • Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Engineering) with Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical Engineering)
  • Bachelor of Arts (Architecture) with Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

Additionally, students can only choose the following as their primary degree programme. Nonetheless, those who wish to enrol in the following as a second degree programme may submit an appeal to be considered on a case-to-case basis:

  • Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Engineering)
  • Bachelor of Arts (Architecture)
  • Bachelor of Arts (Industrial Design)
  • Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

The specific requirements for various cohorts may be found below.

Double counting between majors in primary and second degree programmes

In general, students may double count up to 40% of courses in each major with the CDE Common Curriculum or another major, second major or minor, subject to the following restrictions:

  • At least 60% of courses in each major in the DDP must be distinct from the other major.
  • If there are additional core courses that are identical or mapped between the two majors in excess of the 40% limit, students must read additional discipline elective courses from either major (to ensure that at least 60% of courses in each major are distinct) to replace these identical or mapped core courses. Unrestricted elective courses and bridging courses cannot be counted for this purpose in lieu of the additional discipline elective courses.
  • Courses that are double counted between the two majors in the DDP cannot also be counted toward the CDE Common Curriculum or another second major or minor as it would lead to triple counting.

The specific requirements for various cohorts may be found below.

Internship for Engineering majors

Student in this DDP who are enrolled in an Engineering major as a first or second degree programme must complete at least 10 units of internship courses via any combination of the following:

  • CFG2101 NUS Vacation Internship Programme (4 units)
  • CP3200 Internship (6 units) - for those in Computer Engineering only
  • CP3202 Internship II (6 units) - for those in Computer Engineering only
  • CP3880 Advanced Technology Attachment Programme (12 units) - for those in Computer Engineering only
  • CDE2605/EG2605 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (4 units)
  • CDE2605R Undergraduate Research Experience (4 units)
  • EG3611A Industrial Attachment (10 units)
  • EG3612 Vacation Industrial Attachment (6 units)
  • TR3202N/S/T Start-up Internship Programme (12 units) - for those in NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programmes only
  • ETP3201L/S Innovation & Enterprise Internship (12 units) - for those in NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programmes only
  • ETP3205 Innovation & Enterprise Internship (6 units) - for those in NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programmes only
  • ETP3206L Innovation & Enterprise Internship (16 units) - for those in NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programmes only
  • ETP3207S Innovation & Enterprise Internship (Team) - for those in NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programmes only

Polytechnic-intake and other students who have received advanced placements credits for the internship requirement will be considered as having fulfilled the requirement.

Students who are enrolled in two Engineering majors can undertake internships that are relevant to either major only, i.e. they do not need to fulfil the internship requirement for both majors. However, they are strongly encouraged to go for internships that are relevant to both majors in order to maximise the benefit of the double degree programme.

Integrated Project

For all cohorts, students only need to complete one Integrated Project course (minimum 8 units) which is relevant to either CDE major, without being required to also take a second Integrated Project course for the other CDE major. However, they are strongly encouraged to select a topic for the Integrated Project course that is relevant to both CDE majors so as to maximise the benefits of interdisciplinarity that are offered by the double degree programme.

The Integrated Project course can also be counted towards a specialisation within either CDE major, but it cannot be counted towards another second major, minor, or another specialisation.

Admission

Students who are interested to pursue this DDP must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a minimum GPA of 4.00 (before exercising the S/U option on any course) for their first degree programme.
  • Completed between 60 units and 80 units (excluding units earned from student exchange programmes or advanced placement credits), i.e. typically in the third, fourth or fifth semester in NUS (note: students cannot enrol in a DDP beyond the end of their fifth semester).
  • Passed at least 12 units of courses from the major in the second degree programme, including the gateway course(s) for the major listed below but excluding courses in the CDE Common Curriculum and those that are double counted or mapped between the two majors.
  • Obtained a minimum GPA of 4.00 (before exercising the S/U option), i.e. average grade of B+, for the courses from the major in the second degree programme.
  • Able to complete both degree programmes within a maximum candidature period of 10 regular semesters.>

In addition to the above, students may also need to go through an interview. Admission is subject to availability of vacancies in the second degree programme, and may be subject to other factors such as performance during interview and quality of other applicants.

The application window is normally open between Week 6 and Week 11 of each regular semester. The application link will be posted here once the application window is open. Applications submitted outside of this window or after the deadline will NOT be accepted.

Applications will be reviewed after the release of examination results for the same semester, and the outcome will be made known within 2 to 3 weeks from the release of examination results.

Gateway courses for Engineering majors

Engineering major Gateway courses
Biomedical Engineering

(Cohort AY2024/2025 and prior)

BN1111 Biomedical Engineering Principles and Practice I

BN2111 Biomedical Engineering Principles and Practice II

Biomedical Engineering

(Cohort AY2025/2026 onwards)

BN1112 Introduction to Biomedical Design and Manufacturing

BN2112 Cell Biology and Analytics for Engineers

Chemical Engineering CN1101A Chemical Engineering Principles and Practice I

CN2102 Chemical Engineering Principles and Practice II

Civil Engineering

(Cohort AY2024/2025 and prior)

CE1103 Principles of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering

CE2155 Principles of Structural Mechanics and Materials

Civil Engineering

(Cohort AY2025/2026 onwards)

CE1109 Structural Engineering Principles

CE2155 Principles of Structural Mechanics and Materials

Computer Engineering CG1111A Engineering Principles and Practice I

CG2111A Engineering Principles and Practice II

Electrical Engineering EE1111A Electrical Engineering Principles and Practice I

EE2111A Electrical Engineering Principles and Practice II

Engineering Science ESP1111 Engineering Principles In-Action

ESP2111 Sensor System Electronics

Environmental & Sustainability Engineering

Environmental Engineering

ESE2101 Environmental Science and Engineering Principles & Practice

ESE2102 Principles & Practice in Environmental Monitoring

Industrial & Systems Engineering IE1111R Industrial & Systems Engineering Principles & Practice I

IE2111 Industrial & Systems Engineering Principles & Practice II

Infrastructure & Project Management

(Cohort AY2024/2025 and prior)

IPM1104 Built Environment Engineering Principles and Practice

PF1101 Fundamentals of Project Management or PF1101A Project Management and Finance

Infrastructure & Project Management

(Cohort AY2025/2026 onwards)

IPM1104 Built Environment Engineering Principles and Practice

PF1101A Project Management and Finance

Materials Science & Engineering MLE1001B Materials Science & Engineering Principles and Practice I

MLE2001A Materials Science & Engineering Principles and Practice II

Mechanical Engineering

(Cohort AY2024/2025 and prior)

ME1102 Engineering Principles and Practice I

ME2104 Engineering Principles and Practice II

Mechanical Engineering

(Cohort AY2025/2026 onwards)

ME1103 Principles of Mechanics and Materials

ME2105 Principles of Mechatronics and Automation

Robotics & Machine Intelligence RB1101 Fundamentals of Robotics I

RB2101 Fundamentals of Robotics II

 

Candidature period and tuition fees

Regardless of the combination of majors for this DDP, the normal candidature period is 10 regular semesters. However, most students in the DDP should be able to graduate within 8 or 9 semesters. 

Students in this DDP are required to pay only the prevailing tuition fee of their primary degree programme during the normal candidature period. However, those who take longer than the normal candidature period to complete the DDP will have to pay partial non-subsidized fees, culminating in full non-subsidised fees, during the extended semesters.

Continuation requirement and exit

Students in this DDP will need to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.50 for both degree programmes. They will be given a warning if they do not meet this requirement for a single semester. Those who do not meet this requirement for two consecutive semesters will be required to withdraw from the DDP by withdrawing from the second degree programme. However, this continuation requirement is not applicable once a student's total cumulative units exceed 140 units.

A student may decide to withdraw or can be asked to withdraw from this DDP by withdrawing from the second degree programme. All the courses that the student has taken to fulfil the requirements of the second degree will be reflected in the transcript and included in the computation of the GPA for the single degree programme.

Students in the DDP who want to withdraw from the primary degree (i.e. originally offered degree) programme and change to the second degree programme must seek a formal transfer through the Office of Admissions if their second degree programme is one of the following:

  • Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Engineering)
  • Bachelor of Arts (Architecture)
  • Bachelor of Arts (Industrial Design)
  • Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

If both primary and second degree programmes are Engineering (except Computer Engineering), students must seek for approval from CDE to withdraw from their primary degree programme and change to the second degree programme.

Contact us

Students may contact Ms Lesley Poong at lesley@nus.edu.sg or 6516 1339 if they have questions about this DDP.