Overview
Learn how interdisciplinarity can address complex problems like climate change.
Learn more about CHS and how our interdisciplinary approach can equip our students with the foundational skills they need, to solve problems in the real world.
Build your foundation in interdisciplinary thinking and learning at the new College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) at NUS!
Brochures
Programmes
FAQs
Here we address some frequently asked questions (FAQs) that are specific to prospective students to the NUS College of Humanities and Sciences.
General
What is the rationale for implementing a new College of Humanities and Sciences, given that these two disciplines seem very contrasting?
NUS recognises that graduates entering the workforce will increasingly require breadth of knowledge, depth, as well as the ability to integrate multiple disciplines to solve complex problems. This is increasingly important in light of an emerging era characterised by discontinuous change, uncertainty and growing complexity. To this end, NUS is making deep reforms to enhance the educational quality, market relevance and learning experience for students of the FASS and the FoS so as to equip them with relevant skills to thrive in the future economy.
Will the CHS have a new home on the NUS campus?
No, the CHS is a virtual college with its students having access to the facilities at both FASS and FoS buildings on campus. FASS and FoS will not be merged, and will continue to operate as separate faculties; there will not be a CHS building. CHS is therefore also not a residential college. It may be viewed as a scalable experience for FASS and FoS students in interdisciplinary training.
What degree will I be awarded with when I graduate from the CHS?
Depending on the primary major of study, three types of degree programmes will be offered, namely, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Social Sciences (B.Soc.Sci.) and the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.). For example, a student who reads Economics or Psychology as primary major will be awarded with the Bachelor of Social Sciences degree, while a student who reads Philosophy as primary major will be awarded with the Bachelor of Arts degree. For more information on the respective primary majors under these degrees, please refer to this URL here.
Can I choose to exit after three years of study from the CHS with a Bachelor degree without Honours?
Students in the CHS will all embark on a four-year Honours degree programme and therefore the option of exiting after three years with a Bachelor degree without Honours is not applicable. The four years of education will allow students adequate time and space to broaden their intellectual horizons and to acquire deep skills.
What is the tuition fee for students in the CHS?
The fees for all NUS undergraduate programmes for the coming academic year will be published on the Office of the University Registrar's website here around May to June each year. The tuition fees for CHS students reading a second major or minor(s) will be the same as those reading a single major.
What are the available undergraduate scholarships or financial aid schemes available for CHS students?
The information on scholarships and financial aid for NUS undergraduate students can be found on the NUS Office of Admissions website. Please click on the respective links above.
What are the career prospects of CHS graduates?
CHS’ interdisciplinary training and the greater curricular flexibility to read a second major, minor or even a second degree opens up more career opportunities and employment prospects. Students are trained to be lifelong learners and effective problem solvers, who can pivot towards new opportunities even during disruptive times. Prospective applicants of CHS can read up on the career prospects of each discipline on our CHS website here or contact the respective departments offering the majors/programmes to find out more.
What student clubs are there for students and how is the student life like in CHS?
CHS offers a vibrant student life experience with activities organised by over 25 student clubs and societies. Please click here for more information.
When will CHS and its programmes start?
CHS will admit its inaugural cohort in AY2021/2022.
How many students does CHS take in each year?
The Indicative Grade Profile (IGP) published on the NUS Office of Admissions website here in January each year provides information on the number of programme places taken up in NUS for the admissions exercise of the latest Academic Year, which includes the programmes offered by CHS. Please note that the number of programme places changes from year to year.
Curriculum
General
What is the curriculum structure like in the CHS?
Briefly, students enrolled in CHS will follow a four-year curriculum structure comprising the CHS Common Curriculum (52 units i.e. 13 4-unit courses), Primary Major Requirements (60 units i.e. 15 4-unit courses) and Unrestricted Electives (UE, 48 units i.e. 12 4-unit courses). The Common Curriculum will concertedly impart intellectual breadth where students will acquire essential foundational skills in literacy, numeracy and critical thinking. They will also be given exposure to the intellectual approaches across the Humanities, Social Sciences, Scientific Inquiry and Asian Studies, as well as gain interdisciplinary insights through higher-level interdisciplinary courses. Furthermore, with the student-centric and flexible pathways offered under the CHS educational model, students can choose to specialise by pursuing depth in a particular discipline to gain deep specialist knowledge and mastery, or build multi-disciplinary expertise using the UE space.
I am interested in only a specific discipline in Science or Humanities as I intend to pursue further studies in that discipline. Can I still do so under the CHS curriculum?
Other than the compulsory Common Curriculum and major requirements, students can decide how they wish to utilise their UE space. For example, if they are interested in pursuing more in-depth knowledge in a particular major, they can focus on reading mainly courses of that major for their UE space.
CHS Common Curriculum
Are students from special programmes (e.g. NUSC/USP/UTCP/RVRC) exempted from some CHS Common Curriculum courses?
How long can a student take to finish the common curriculum courses? Are they preallocated or can students choose when to do those courses?
Students are strongly encouraged to complete all CHS Common Curriculum courses in their first two years except for the following three courses:
- Communities and Engagement course – can be taken from Years 2 to 4
- Two Interdisciplinary courses – can be taken in Years 3 and 4
It is for this reason that the Faculty preallocates several Common Curriculum courses to students across their first two semesters, depending on their major. More information about the course preallocation is provided here.
How does the CHS curriculum requirements ‘fit in’ with the NUS College (NUSC) curriculum? Do I have to read a lot more courses if I am enrolled in both the CHS and the NUSC?
The NUSC curriculum is designed to complement and enhance your chosen major in the CHS. CHS students who are also enrolled in NUSC will be able to satisfy most of the common curriculum requirements of CHS (including the general education requirements), upon completion of the NUS College curriculum. Hence, they need not necessarily have to read a lot more courses than their CHS peers who are not in NUSC. Please refer to the NUSC website here for more information.
Can I complete my Common Curriculum courses (besides Communities & Engagement (C&E) and Interdisciplinary pillars) in Year 3?
While you may do so, this is not the norm as students are strongly encouraged to complete the Common Curriculum courses (except for C&E and Interdisciplinary pillars) by their second year.
Is it a must to follow the CHS guidelines of completing all CHS Common Curriculum courses by Year 2 except for C&E and the Interdisciplinary Courses?
While you may do so, this is not the norm as students are strongly encouraged to complete the Common Curriculum courses (except for C&E and Interdisciplinary pillars) by their second year.
When should I take SP1541? (For those not in any special programmes)
If you intend to go for a Student Exchange Programme (SEP), it is advisable to take it in Year 1 or Year 2 Semester 1, as it is one of the eligibility criteria for SEP application. SEP applications will be in the Academic Year (AY) before the AY of the actual exchange. At the point of application, you would need to be reading/have read SP1541 or its equivalent.
Can I not take certain Common Curriculum courses?
All students will be required to complete the CHS Common Curriculum by reading a course to satisfy each pillar, respectively. You can find the course(s) corresponding to each pillar here.
However, students in special programmes (such as the Special Programme in Science and Double Degree Programmes) may be able to map to some of the 13 pillars of the CHS Common Curriculum. More information can be found here (under CHS Common Curriculum Courses for Special Programmes).
For the Data Literacy pillar, students who wish to read a higher-level course such as ST1131, DSA1101, DSE1101 and BT1101 instead of GEA1000 can do so. More information can be found here (under Overview of Pre-allocation of CHS Common Curriculum Courses and Gateway Courses (FoS)).
If I am not in the Special Programme in Science (SPS), can I still take some of their courses to fulfil my common curriculum requirements?
SP2271, SP2273 and SP2274 are open to all CHS students, and these courses can be counted towards the Writing, Digital Literacy and Scientific Inquiry I pillars, respectively. Please note that priority will be given to SPS students to take these courses and slots may be limited. SP3275 is only open to SPS students.
Are we allowed to do our Interdisciplinary Courses early in Year 2?
Yes, students can read the Interdisciplinary Courses in their second year if they meet the course prerequisites, if any.
Unrestricted Electives
What are Unrestricted Electives (UE)?
Unrestricted Electives are courses which allow students to explore greater breadth or depth in various topics by giving them the freedom to read topics according to their interests and aptitude. CHS students can use the UE space to read different courses, second major or minor(s) depending on how they wish to chart their learning pathway to graduation. UEs can be taken from faculties outside of the CHS provided that the course prerequisites are fulfilled.
Do we have to choose UEs outside of our Faculty?
No. Students can choose to read courses from within or outside their Faculty as their UE, subject to them meeting the course prerequisites. Some common UEs are second major courses, minor courses, language courses and internship courses.
Course Pre-Allocation
What courses will be pre-allocated to CHS students and when can I view them?
Can I drop a pre-allocated Common Curriculum course to do another course?
Students are strongly encouraged to read pre-allocated Common Curriculum courses first, and should read at least one pre-allocated Common Curriculum course per semester. You are encouraged to complete all CHS Common Curriculum courses in your first two years except for the following three courses:
- Communities and Engagement course – Can be taken from Years 2 to 4
- Two Interdisciplinary courses – Can be taken in Years 3 and 4
Please find more information on the pre-allocation of CHS Common Curriculum courses here.
Gateway Course
What is a gateway course?
A gateway course offers an introductory yet comprehensive overview of your desired major. Reading it early on in your academic journey is crucial.
Is it compulsory to take the gateway courses?
It is compulsory to take the gateway course for the discipline you want to major in.
I am interested in two majors in the Humanities and Sciences programme e.g. Life Sciences and Economics. Can I take the gateway course of both majors to find out which one I prefer to study as a primary major?
Yes, you can, and you will be given the units if you pass both courses.
If I apply for a second major in my third semester of study, can I read the gateway course then?
Yes. However, you are required to register for the gateway course for your second major on your own.
If I am pursuing a second major / minor / double degree – will the gateway course be pre-allocated to me?
Most gateway courses for a second major/minor/double degree will not be pre-allocated. Students can select the gateway courses for their second major/minor/double degree or appeal via ModReg if they are unsuccessful. Gateway courses will be pre-allocated to the respective primary majors if you have declared your primary major by the stipulated date for each Academic Year.
Please find more information on the pre-allocation of CHS Common Curriculum courses here.
If I am doing a second major – should I clear my gateway course in Year 1?
The general rule of thumb is to read the gateway course early. As there could be subsequent higher-level courses in the second major that require the gateway course as a prerequisite, reading the gateway course earlier will provide students more flexibility to select second major courses in subsequent semesters.
Primary Major, Second Major, Minor
What majors/programmes can I read in the CHS?
Please refer to the Cross-Disciplinary Programmes (XDPs), Primary majors, Second majors and Minors offered by CHS here.
What is the difference between a primary major, a second major and a minor?
Second major(s) and minor(s) are taken on top of the primary major to broaden and complement students’ undergraduate education. A primary major under CHS comprises 15 courses. Across all faculties, all second majors comprise 10 courses while minors comprise 5 courses.
What is the difference between double major and having a primary major with a second major?
They essentially refer to the same thing. If you are in a double major programme, it means that you are reading a primary major (15 courses) and a second major (10 courses).
Upon successful admission to the CHS, how many majors/minors do I have to take? Is it compulsory to have a major?
Students should satisfy the requirements of at least one primary major in order to graduate. In CHS, students are given the flexibility to customise their learning portfolio according to their interests and aptitude. For instance, students can deep dive into their chosen primary major and specialise in the discipline. For those who value more breadth in their education, they can choose to read a second major or minor(s). Read more about how you can chart your individual pathways to graduation here.
How many second major / minors can I declare? Will they be reflected on my degree scroll?
CHS students are allowed to declare one second major and a maximum of three minors. Completed second majors and minors will be reflected on the NUS official transcript but not on the degree scroll.
Are there opportunities for me to do a second major, minor or a second degree in the CHS?
Yes, with the establishment of CHS, students can look forward to an even more flexible curriculum structure which facilitates the specialising and building of mastery in their primary major. Or they can gain expertise in multiple subjects with interdisciplinary insights via taking on a second major, minor or pursuing a double degree. In fact, students can choose to pursue any major, second major, major-minor and specialisation pathways offered by FASS and FoS, according to their interests, aptitude and career aspirations.
Can I read a major, second major or minor offered by CHS which I have a keen interest in, even if I do not have the prerequisites?
Students are expected to fulfil the necessary prerequisites before they embark on the major, second major or minor programme. Relevant bridging courses can be taken in order to fulfil these prerequisites. For more information on the subject prerequisites of CHS programmes, please refer here.
Can I declare more than one primary major and do I need to do any ranking?
Students are allowed to declare only one primary major and thus no ranking of majors is required in the major declaration process.
When do I declare my major in CHS under the Humanities and Sciences programme?
Students can declare their major as early as the start of the first semester and are in fact encouraged to do so. They have the flexibility of switching their major within the first two years of studies.
Is it compulsory to declare my major/second major/minor in my first year?
The latest that students can declare or switch a major/second major/minor is during the Academic Plan Declaration (APD) exercise held before the start of ModReg in their 5th semester. Please note that your declared major will give you a higher priority in the selection of major courses, so you are encouraged to declare your major as early as possible.
Do our ‘A’ Level / Polytechnic results affect our eligibility to read certain minors or second majors?
Students can declare a subject as their second major or minor. However, students who do not meet the subject prerequisite (if any) will be required to complete the bridging course before they can read the gateway course. You may check the subject prerequisites here. Bridging courses will be pre-allocated in Semester 1 if the gateway course cannot be pre-allocated to students who have declared their primary major by mid-July.
Is it possible to take two majors and one minor? Technically, the total workload would be 60 (primary major) + 40 (second major) + 20 (minor) + 52 (Common Curriculum) = 172 units, which exceeds the 160 units requirement. However, since courses can be double counted, I believe that this combination will not exceed 160 units.
Can I start to read my major courses in the first semester or can I only read the Common Curriculum in the first two years?
Students are allowed to read their major courses starting from the first semester (subject to meeting the prerequisites of the courses, if any), although it should be noted that all common curriculum courses are to be completed within the first four semesters except for the following 3 courses:
- Communities and Engagement course – can be taken from Years 2 to 4
- Two Interdisciplinary courses – can be taken in Years 3 and 4
If I am enrolled in the CHS, can I still read a second major or minor offered by other NUS faculties/schools/colleges outside the CHS?
Students pursing a major within CHS are still able to read a second major or minor offered by other faculties/schools/colleges, subject to approval, where required, by the respective hosting department of the second major/minor.
Will taking less courses per major compromise the quality of my degree and the knowledge I gain from it?
Not at all. CHS students will have the flexibility to chart their individualised pathways according to their interests, aptitude and career aspirations. They could choose to specialise and build their mastery in their primary major, or gain expertise in multiple subjects with interdisciplinary insights via a second major, minor or through pursuing a double degree.
If I am accepted into special programmes (e.g. NUS College (NUSC), Special Programme in Science (SPS), Ridge View Residential College (RVRC), University Town College Programme (UTCP) etc.), do I have space to take up another major / minor?
Courses in these special programmes can be mapped to some of the 13 pillars of the CHS Common Curriculum. More information can be found here (under CHS Common Curriculum Courses for Special Programmes).
There will still be space under the Unrestricted Electives (UEs) for students in special programmes to read another major, second major, minor or specialisation. However, students in special programmes reading a second major will likely read more than the minimum 160 units required for a degree.
How do I navigate the major-minor combinations?
There are different minors available in NUS, and students can refer to https://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/academic-information-policies/undergraduate-students/special-programmes/minor-programmes for the list of minors. Some are restricted minors and students need to apply before they can have the minor declared in their academic records.
My admission offer is in a double major programme (e.g. Life Sciences with Management). Can I change my second major in Management to another second major after I am enrolled in CHS, or drop my second major if I am no longer interested in reading it?
Yes, you can still change your second major to another offered by CHS or other faculties/schools/colleges (if you meet the necessary requirements stipulated by the hosting department of the second major). The latest that students can declare or switch a second major is during the Academic Plan Declaration (APD) exercise held before the start of ModReg in their 5th semester.
You will also be able to drop the second major on your own during APD exercise. However, please note that if it is a restricted second major, you will not be able to re-declare the same second major without approval after you have dropped it.
My admission offer is in a double major programme (e.g. Mathematics with Business Analytics). Can I change my primary major to Business Analytics after I enrol in CHS?
As the primary major that you will like to switch to is from another College/Faculty/School outside CHS (i.e. in the above e.g. Business Analytics is offered by School of Computing (SOC)), you will need to apply for a transfer application to SOC via the NUS Office of Admissions (OAM). Please click here for more information on filing for a transfer. Do note that applications will be reviewed on case-by-case basis and hence there is no guarantee that it will be successful.
Cross-Disciplinary Programmes (XDP)
If I am reading a Cross-Disciplinary Programme (XDP), can I still read a second major or minor?
Yes, it is possible. The Unrestricted Elective space in the XDPs will be able to accommodate a minor comfortably. For second majors however, overloading of courses may be needed for some semesters.
Are Cross Disciplinary Programmes (XDPs) the same as Double Degree Programmes (DDPs)?
XDPs are specially designed single degree programmes that integrate two or more disciplines, with the aim of addressing significant emerging business or societal issues that require a tight integration of knowledge from these disciplines. DDPs consist of a combination of two separate and contrasting degrees from two discipline areas in the same faculty/school/college or in two different faculties/schools/colleges. Students are allowed to put together their own double degree combinations.
I am currently reading one of the open primary majors under the Humanities and Sciences programme (e.g. Life Sciences, Psychology, Economics etc.). Can I declare a major in a cross-disciplinary programme (XDP), or majors such as Food Science and Technology (FST) or Pharmaceutical Science (PHS) during the Academic Plan Declaration (APD) exercise?
XDPs and majors in FST and PHS cannot be declared during the Academic Plan Declaration (APD) exercise if you did not apply for it during the admissions exercise as they are offered on direct admission. However, there is a midstream admission pathway for the XDPs, FST and PHS, and more information can be found here.
For CHS students who are in NUS College (NUSC), please approach the NUSC Academic office for an academic counselling session regarding the process of changing your programme of studies.
What would be the difference if I enrol in the DSE Cross-Disciplinary Programme (XDP) as compared to enrolling in the Humanities and Sciences programme to read a primary major in Data Science and Analytics (DSA) and second major in Economics (i.e. double major in DSA and Economics)?
Briefly, XDP-DSE is specially designed to address significant emerging business or societal issues that require a tight integration of knowledge from the two disciplines. There is an integrative problem-solving component that involves project(s) requiring application of knowledge from both disciplines. On the other hand, the double major in Data Science and Analytics (DSA) and Economics would consist of distinct elements from both disciplines.
Does a student in Cross-Disciplinary Programmes (XDP) have a home faculty, and will that be FASS or FOS?
For XDP in PPE, the student's home faculty will be FASS. For XDPs in BES and DSE, the home faculty will be FOS.
Double Degree Programmes (DDP)
How are double degrees awarded to students in the CHS?
Double degrees may be awarded to students who read two contrasting Majors, i.e. 15 4-unit courses, from two different degree types subject to fulfilling the graduating requirements for both degrees. There are three types of degrees offered in CHS, namely the Bachelor of Arts (BA) (Hons), Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSci) (Hons) and the Bachelor of Science (BSc) (Hons). Hence, to be awarded a double degree, the possible combinations would be a BSc (Hons)-BSocSci (Hons), BSc (Hons)-BA (Hons) or BSocSci (Hons)-BA (Hons).
What is the difference between a double degree and a double major?
For students reading a double major, they will be required to read 15 courses (primary major) and 10 courses (second major). For students reading a double degree, they will be required to read two sets of 15 courses for each primary major. However, some double counting between the two programmes may be possible and hence the total time taken to complete the double degree is not exactly the sum of the time required to complete the two degrees individually.
Students will be awarded with two degrees for double degrees (one degree scroll for each degree), whereas they will only be awarded with the degree associated with their primary major (one degree scroll) if they are pursuing a double major, with the second major reflected on the official transcript only.
If I take 2 majors of the same type (eg.BSc), that will be a double major, but if they are different types (e.g. one is BSc one is BA), will that be a double degree?
If you pursue two majors of the same degree type, you may only read it as a double major programme. However, if you choose two majors that are contrasting majors, it may be possible for you to do it as either a double major or double degree. Please note that for a DDP, there is an application process for it.
If I am enrolled in the CHS, can I still read a second degree offered by other NUS faculties/schools/colleges outside the CHS, or can I only read a second degree offered under the CHS?
Students enrolled in the CHS can still take up a second degree offered by faculties/schools/colleges outside the CHS, following the prevailing framework and guidelines for Double Degree Programmes (DDP).
Are Cross Disciplinary Programmes (XDPs) the same as Double Degree Programmes (DDPs)?
XDPs are specially designed single degree programmes that integrate two or more disciplines, with the aim of addressing significant emerging business or societal issues that require a tight integration of knowledge from these disciplines. DDPs consist of a combination of two separate and contrasting degrees from two discipline areas in the same faculty/school/college or in two different faculties/schools/colleges. Students are allowed to put together their own double degree combinations.
If I enrol in CHS and do a DDP within CHS, I note that I will read one set of CHS Common Curriculum. However, if I take up a DDP with CDE or SOC, do I need to do two sets of Common Curriculum?
Students will need to fulfil both the CHS Common Curriculum and the common curriculum of the respective Faculty/College/School, taking into consideration the possible mappings of both sets of Common Curriculum. Please refer to the information here for the details (under 'CHS Common Curriculum Courses for Double Degree Programmes').
Special Programmes
Will CHS students have opportunities to join special programmes such as the Residential College programmes and NUS Overseas College Programme (NOC)?
Yes, they can. CHS students can access any of the programmes that are available to students of the FASS and FoS, including all special opportunities like the NOC, UTown Residential Colleges and the Special Programme in Science (SPS) offered by the Faculty of Science.
Study Abroad Programmes
Can I still go for study abroad programmes or internships as a CHS student?
Students continue to have abundant learning opportunities, through internship programmes or study abroad programmes at renowned partner universities. This is further facilitated by the enhanced flexibility of the CHS curriculum, where students have sufficient UE space to take part in such programmes.
How can we go about planning for exchange (e.g. what courses to take, where to find resources)?
You may refer to the resources in the Student Portal here (login using NUS webvpn). Please also refer to this URL here for a list of NUS partner universities.
We recommend that you do your own research based on your study plans / interests, as the resources in the Student Portal are meant only as a guide in terms of course mapping / general procedures. Do also attend the SEP sharing session which will take place in end-August, where we will share more details on SEP.
Course Registration
If I take a bridging course to meet the qualifications of H2 Mathematics and a H2 Science subject, will I be allowed to take other courses that has the requirement of a good pass in H2 Mathematics or a H2 Science subject?
Yes, you can take the bridging course in the relevant subject first if you do not meet the requirements to read them.
What are tutorials? Are they just introductions to our courses?
Simply put, tutorials are smaller classes that facilitates active discussion of lecture contents and assignments. They are usually held to revise the topics went through in the lectures, to cover some concepts more in depths, or to go through assignments.
How do we register for tutorials? Do we have choices where we can rank our preferred slots? How are the tutorial groups allocated to us?
You may rank your preferred tutorial slots in ModReg. ModReg will then allocate your choices based on your ranking. Please refer to: https://www.nus.edu.sg/modreg/using_modreg_undergraduate.html.
Do we have to register for tutorial groups for courses that have already been pre-allocated to us?
Yes.
What should I consider when selecting tutorial / laboratory classes?
Students would need to ensure that the tutorial / laboratory classes do not clash with other courses’ lectures / tutorials / laboratory sessions / workshops. Faculty of Science is not supportive of timetable clash waivers.
Can I select tutorial slots for two different courses at the same time, but held at different weeks (e.g. HSA1000 tutorial at odd weeks, HSH1000 at even weeks)?
Yes, you can do so, as long as there are no timetable clashes between these two courses.
Although it's explained that there will be priority or advantage for senior students and when students have completed the course feedback exercise, can I know the calculation / formula for the Priority Scoring Rubrics?
In the event that we cannot get our courses, especially those required for graduation, do we have to wait until the semester starts to submit our appeals?
With reference to the information here, students can submit appeals under "Unable to secure course" in week 1 of the regular semester. There are also other appeal types such as "Issues while selecting Course" where you can submit via ModReg when trying to select a course during the rounds.
How does the course bidding system work?
It is not a bidding system but rather a system to register for courses based on certain scoring rubrics. Please refer to more information here.
If I want to take a course that fulfils my primary major requirements but clashes with the Common Curriculum course (or something similar), what should I do?
Students will not be allowed to register for a course whose timetable clashes with courses which they have already registered for. This includes tutorial and practical timetable clashes. Hence, you will need to select another course without timetable clashes. Please refer to pages 14 and 15 of the document here.
Faculty of Science generally does not support students to read courses with timetable clashes. Appeals are only considered if students require the course to fulfil their graduation requirement in their graduating semester, without which might lead to a delay in graduation.
The ModReg system allows students to register for courses that might have clashes in tutorials / laboratory sessions. The onus is on the student to ensure that he / she does not register for classes with clashes, and to drop courses with clashes and select other courses to read. All components of the course must be allocated to the student. If there are some components that cannot be allocated, the course will be dropped for the student when the Dean’s Office conducts its checks.
How can I find out seniors' past experiences in courses which I am interested in taking?
You may wish to search for the courses in NUSMods here and read up on the Review and Discussion.
Study Plan
Do we have a list of recommendations or a study plan regarding which CHS Common Curriculum or major courses we should take in each semester throughout our university years?
For FASS majors, you may find the sample progression here.
For FOS majors, you may refer to the sample study plan on the respective department’s website.
If I am planning to go for exchange / internship, should I factor that into my study plan?
Yes, students are advised to do up a study plan factoring in exchange and / or internship courses. However, if you intend to go on a Student Exchange Programme (SEP), it is important to be flexible with your study plan as you may not get the courses as planned at the partner university.
Is it too early to plan courses for all eight semesters?
It is never too early to start planning your courses for all eight semesters. Some courses may only be offered in one semester. Planning in advance will ensure that you do not fall into a situation where you will have to wait one academic year in order to read a compulsory course that you missed registering for.
Many higher-level courses also require lower-level courses as prerequisites. Early planning helps to ensure that you can meet the prerequisites of the courses that you wish to read in your subsequent semesters. You may even start to plan if you would like to embark on Study Abroad Programmes, internships etc as this will affect the number of courses that you will have to read in NUS.
Workload
Am I able to overload on my courses in Year 1?
Students may only read up to a maximum of 23 units during the first semester.
For students in the following specific special programmes, they may read up to a maximum of 27 units during the first semester.
- Double Degree Programmes
- Concurrent Degree Programmes
- Faculty of Engineering's Engineering Scholars Programme
- Faculty of Science's Special Programme in Science
- Students in Residential College programmes reading cross-disciplinary degree programmes in Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Hons), Bachelor of Science (Hons) with Majors in Data Science and Economics, or Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
From the second semester onwards, students will be able to overload, and the workload allowance will be in accordance with the GPA.
Please refer here for more information on the workload allowance for the respective GPA range.
Is it possible to do more than 24 units per semester?
It is possible to read more than 24 units per semester. However, the workload allowance will be in accordance with your GPA.
Please refer here for more information on the workload allowance for the respective GPA range.
Do I need to overload if I am taking a second major / minor?
Students can read a second major or minor using the Unrestricted Electives space (48 units). You need not overload unless you are reading multiple minors and / or enrolled in other special programmes.
Is overloading recommended, since it seems that I will not be doing many major related courses especially in the first year?
This is dependent on the student’s ability to cope with the increased workload, as well as the student’s study plan. For example, students who wish to embark on a Student Exchange Programme might need to overload in the semesters when they are in NUS.
On the other hand, students who read courses in the Special Term might not need to overload in their regular NUS semesters. Do note the tuition fees applicable for Special Term here. It is also dependent on the courses that are offered in Special Term as they may only satisfy your Unrestricted Electives. Depending on when the electives are offered, overloading may also be needed to avoid timetable clashes and depending on their availability in a particular semester. Hence, we recommend that you prepare a study plan and have alternatives.
Miscellaneous
Now that lessons are on campus, what is the cut off time for lessons to end so that we are able travel to the next location?
If it is a one-hour lesson, it should end 15 minutes before the hour. If it is a two-hour lesson or longer, it should end 25 minutes before the hour. This is crucial to ensure that students with back-to-back classes have sufficient time to travel between venues that may be of some distance from each other (eg. between FOS and FASS/BIZ/CDE,) and to enable the class to start on time.
Would my tuition fees be higher if I take a first major and a second major/minor(s) as compared to taking only one major?
No, the tuition fees are not affected provided you do not exceed the normal candidature.
Admissions
Which Faculty will I belong to if I enrol in the CHS?
With the formation of the new College, students will no longer be directly admitted to FASS or FoS; they will be admitted to the College. In this regard, students admitted to the College can belong to FASS, FoS or both, and will have access to facilities and courses in both Faculties.
How do I apply to the CHS?
To apply, students can select from the following programme(s) as one of their choices on the admission application form to NUS. Please refer to the NUS Office of Admissions website here.
a. Cross Disciplinary Programmes
- Data Science and Economics
- Environmental Studies
- Philosophy, Politics and Economics
b. Food Science and Technology
c. Pharmaceutical Science
d. Humanities and Sciences
If you are pursuing the “Humanities and Sciences” programme, you can decide on your major within the first two years of studies (e.g. Chemistry, Data Science and Analytics, Economics, Life Sciences, Political Science, Psychology etc.) Please click here to find out the list of majors offered under the CHS.
For the three Cross Disciplinary Programmes, Food Science and Technology, and Pharmaceutical Science, these are specific programmes under the college which are offered on direct admission. Students interested in these programmes should indicate them upfront in the admission application form.
I was asked to indicate my preferred major when I selected the Humanities and Sciences (H&S) programme in my NUS application form. Does this mean that I will be considered for direct admission into that major that I have selected?
No, you will not be directly admitted to the preferred major indicated in the application form. This is simply an indication of your major of preference and it is non-binding. This means that you can still revise your choice of major later on in the June-July period of the year of your enrolment as a H&S student under the CHS. After you have successfully gained admission to the H&S programme, you will also not be subject to quota restrictions on a major that you have decided to read within this programme.
Is there a quota for each major under the Humanities and Sciences programme?
Students admitted to the Humanities and Sciences programme can read any major offered by FASS or FoS with no quota restrictions as these are open majors.
Where can I find the Indicative Grade Profile (IGP) and intake quota of the various programmes in CHS?
The information on IGP for Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-level and Local Polytechnic Diploma Applicants and number of programme places taken up in NUS (including CHS) for the admissions exercise of the latest academic year is available here. The number of programme places may change from year to year.
Please note that there is no IGP listed for each open major within the Humanities and Sciences programme (e.g. Economics, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Psychology) because students enrolled in the Humanities and Sciences (H&S) programme can read (and switch to) any major offered by FASS or FoS with no quota restrictions, up to the start of ModReg in their 5th semester. Do also note that XDPs in BES, DSE and PPE, as well as FST and PHS are not open majors within the H&S programme, and their IGPs and programme places are listed separately.
Regarding IGP information for IB and NUSHS diploma, please refer to the IGP FAQs here.
What are the admission requirements to CHS for the various applicant groups (e.g. A-Level, Polytechnic, International Baccalaureate (IB), NUS High School)?
Please refer to the OAM website here for the detailed admission requirements for the various applicant groups.
What are the subject prerequisites for the different programmes in the CHS?
The list of programme offerings and their subject prerequisites are available here.
I am an A-level student in the Science (or Arts) stream. Am I eligible to apply to the CHS?
Students will be eligible to apply to the CHS as long as they meet the admission requirements as stipulated on the NUS Office of Admissions website here, which will be updated in due course.
Are Polytechnic students eligible to apply to the CHS?
Students with polytechnic diplomas will be eligible to apply to the CHS as long as they meet the admission requirements as stipulated on the NUS Office of Admissions website here. Students who do not present a diploma that is currently accredited to their intended major of study will first be required to complete the relevant bridging course(s), before they can read the level 1000 gateway course of the major. More information on this can be found here.
How many APCs will students be awarded if they have graduated from the polytechnics? Will these APCs be automatically given?
For polytechnic diploma holders majoring in an FASS subject, 20 units will be automatically granted as fulfilling the Unrestricted Elective requirement.
For polytechnic diploma holders majoring in a FoS subject, up to a maximum of 40 units may be granted, of which 20 units will be automatically granted as fulfilling the Unrestricted Elective requirement, and up to 20 units for programme requirements based on performance in placement tests set by the FoS department(s).
How do we apply for APC as an A-level holder? If I am granted 20 units because of A-levels, can I use those units granted to satisfy minor requirements without taking courses? And when do we know how many APCs we have?
Freshmen who have applied to NUS using A-level results will not be automatically granted any APCs. However, certain Science departments may offer Advanced Placement tests, which grant APCs to students who do well. More details can be found here.
If I choose to transfer units from my H3 subject, will there be a transfer of grades? (i.e. if I obtained a ‘Merit’ for my H3 subject, what grade will I see in my transcript?)
Please refer to the FAQs on H3 here.
Will International Baccalaureate Diploma students be granted APCs?
Freshmen who have applied to NUS using IB results will not be automatically granted any APCs. However, certain Science departments may offer Advanced Placement tests which grant APCs to students who do well. More details can be found here.
If we have the American High School Diploma and attended AP classes, will we be granted APCs?
APCs will not be automatically granted to students who have applied to NUS using an international high school qualification.
Am I allowed to read programmes for which I do not have the prerequisites?
Students can read open majors in the Humanities and Sciences programme for which they do not have the prerequisites, but are required to complete the relevant bridging courses before they can read the level 1000 gateway course.
For the other CHS programmes (refer to FAQ on this page- ‘How do I apply to the CHS’), students will need to have met the prerequisites (if any stipulated) to be eligible to apply. For more information on the subject prerequisites of CHS courses, please refer here.
What are the minimum grades for admission to the CHS?
The Indicative Grade Profile (IGP) published on the OAM website here in January each year provides information on the grade profiles and programme places (including CHS programmes) to enable prospective applicants to make informed choices in their application for admission to NUS undergraduate programmes. Nevertheless, please note that the grade profiles may differ each year depending on the number and performance of applicants and the places available for the programme. This means that meeting the IGP of the previous academic year does not guarantee admission to the programme for the next academic year.
If I failed the General Paper (GP) at the GCE ‘A’ Level examinations, will I be denied admission into CHS?
Students will still be considered for admission if they meet the eligibility criteria. The offer of admission depends on the number of places available and the quality of those competing for a place. However, in general, students who do not possess the necessary English Language qualifications when offered a place in NUS would need to sit for the Qualifying English Test (QET) usually before the start of the new academic year.
Does admission to CHS require interviews?
Please refer to the FAQ ‘How do I apply to the CHS?’ for an overview of the CHS programme choices available on the NUS admission application form.
Admission to the programmes in CHS generally does not require interviews. Nevertheless, the holistic assessment approach of the Aptitude-based Admission (ABA) scheme requires shortlisted ABA applicants to attend an assessment (e.g. interview, written test, short write-up, etc.) conducted by the relevant faculty. This information will be communicated to shortlisted applicants at the appropriate time.
For the XDP in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, there are specific criteria for admission. Please refer to this URL here for the details.
What is Aptitude-based Admission (ABA)? Can I be admitted to CHS via this route?
The University has an Aptitude-based Admission (ABA) scheme to consider applicants for admission into their chosen degree programmes via a holistic assessment approach. For more information on ABA, please refer to the NUS Office of Admissions (OAM) website here. If applicants wish to be considered for admission to CHS under this scheme, they should provide details in the ‘Achievements’ section of the NUS online application form and follow up by sending supporting documents to OAM. Shortlisted candidates may be required to attend an assessment conducted by the relevant faculty, and relevant information will be communicated to candidates at the appropriate time.
Can a student who was given an admission offer to FASS/FOS earlier on, but will only be enrolling in the coming academic year because of NS, choose to do the pre-CHS FASS/FOS curriculum instead of the CHS one?
Students who had to serve National Service (NS) after being confirmed a place for admission to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) or Faculty of Science (FOS), will be admitted to the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) rather than to FASS or FOS, and therefore will be doing the new CHS Common Curriculum. There is no option for the pre-CHS FASS or FOS curriculum.
I am interested in both the CHS and the NUS College (NUSC). Can I apply for admission to both colleges?
Yes. Prospective applicants of the CHS can indicate their interest to be considered for admission to NUSC in their admission application to NUS from AY2022/2023, within the same admission application form. Please click here for more information.
If I apply to a specific programme/major in CHS and realise later on that it does not really suit or interest me, am I able to change to another major within CHS? What do I do if I decide to transfer out of CHS?
Students in the Humanities and Sciences (H&S) programme can switch to another major within H&S programme without further restrictions as all majors under H&S programme are open majors. They have the flexibility of switching their major within the first two years of studies.
To seek transfer to the following CHS programmes, students will need to file an application via OAM for review. Students who wish to transfer out of CHS to other NUS programmes will likewise need to file an application via OAM. Please refer to the OAM URL here for the information.
- Cross Disciplinary Programmes
- Data Science and Economics
- Environmental Studies
- Philosophy, Politics and Economics
- Food Science and Technology
- Pharmaceutical Science