Differentiated Pathways (Applicable to Cohorts AY2019/20 and AY2020/21 only)
As an engineering graduate, you can become a practitioner in industry, take up academic or commercial research, or start your own company as an entrepreneur. We offer differentiated pathways to help you realise the career that best suit your strengths, interests and aspirations.
What is the Difference?
Each pathway is aligned with the engineering career it leads to. Pathways are distinguished by pathway-specific modules, the nature of internship, and type of final-year project* (FYP).
| Curriculum | Practising Professional Pathway (PPP) | Innovation & Design Programme (iDP) | Research-focused Pathway (RfP) |
| Foundation | Engineering core modules & discipline-specific modules | ||
| Pathway Modules | ·      Professional Development Electives | ·      Innovation & Enterprise Electives
·      Multi-semester team projects |
·      Graduate-level electives |
| Internship | ·      MNCs
·      SMEs ·      Public agencies |
·      Start-up companies
·      Engineering design firms ·       NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) |
·      Research Institutes
·      Research Laboratories |
| Final-Year Project* (FYP) | ·      Industry-focused | ·      Design-focused | ·      Research-based |
| Possible Starting Careers | ·      Project engineer
·      Consultant |
·      Product design engineer
·      Technopreneur |
·      Research engineer
·      Graduate study |
*FYP is optional in some programmes
Choosing Your Pathway
PPP will be the default pathway unless you opt for iDP or RfP.
If you choose iDP, you will be awarded a Second Major in Innovation and Design when you successfully complete all the requirements of the programme. Due to the time required for the multi-semester group project, you would need to make an early decision, as follows:
- Either apply to iDP 2nd Major when applying to NUS Engineering (any discipline)
- Or apply to iDP 2nd Major after Semester 1 or Semester 2 (at the latest)
You may opt for RfP before you apply for internship, which takes place typically in Semester 4 or Semester 5.
Switching Pathways
You may switch to a different pathway if you change your mind. However, switching into iDP after Semester 2 is inadvisable because iDP projects take place over several semesters – you may have to extend your study and delay your graduation if you switch to iDP late.
| Current Pathway | New Pathway & Deadline for Switching^ | ||
| PPP | iDP | RfP | |
| PPP | – | Start of Semester 3 | Start of Semester 5 |
| iDP | End of Semester 6 | – | Start of Semester 5 |
| RfP | End of Semester 6 | Start of Semester 3 | – |
^Without extending study and delaying graduation