| On the Course
Q) What is the difference between B.TECH and
B.Eng?
It is just a differentiation between the
Full-time and Part-time Engineering Degree in
NUS. Our part time course is catered more to
the working class people, who want to upgrade
themselves and still have the choice of keeping
their current job.
The academic foundation and background of this
group of students are different from those of
'A' level students and thus their needs are also
different. Therefore, unlike the full-time B.Eng
courses in the Faculty which caters primarily
for students with 'A' level backgrounds, the B.TECH courses are specially designed for
students with a polytechnic background. As such,
in the earlier years, the curriculum of the B.TECH courses is somewhat different from
that for the B.Eng. However, to ensure
comparable graduation standard, almost all the
courses in the later 3rd and final year of the
B.TECH programme are the exactly the same
as those for the B.Eng with students from both
groups sitting for the same examination papers
and graded in the same way.
Q) What is the normal candidature?
The typical period is 3.5 to 4 years for all the
courses. The maximum period is 8 years
(inclusive of approved leave of absence).
Q) Is there any supplementary paper if I fail
any exam module?
There is no supplementary paper and student
will need to retake the module again.
Q) Are we able to specialize in a specific area
in the course of study? E.g. fluid mechanic
area?
Yes, there are a range of electives in the third
and fourth year for all the B.TECH
courses and students can choose to specialize to
a certain extent within their course of study by
appropriately choosing the electives. Students
interested in any specialized area should visit
the B.TECH website at
http://btech.eng.nus.edu.sg/ for more
information on the electives available.
Q) Is the course demanding and how fast is the
teaching speed?
The academic standard of all the courses is very
high and all are fully accredited by relevant
engineering bodies such as the Institution of
Engineers, Singapore. The UK engineering
institutions accredited our courses to the MEng
level. So yes, all the B.TECH courses are
very demanding. This is particularly so as
students not only have to spend much time and
effort on their studies, all are holding down
full-time jobs and many have to also take care
of family matters. So any student planning to
join the B.TECH Programme must be make
sure that they are able to allocate sufficient
time for their studies and, equally importantly,
does not have too many other worries or
anxieties that can prevent them from focusing
their full attention to their studies. Otherwise
they will just be wasting their time, effort and
money.
Because all the courses are fully modular, all
students can plan to study at a pace they are
comfortable with. This varies from student to
student as factors such as the demands of their
full-time work and their family circumstances
are important considerations.
However, based on the experience and success
rates of the students who have enrolled in the
B.TECH Programme, students with a good
polytechnic diploma or equivalent, and who are
prepared to spend time and effort should not
have too much difficulty successfully completing
the course in the normal time of four years.
Quite a number of students have completed their
B.TECH degrees in less than fours years
while many others prefer to do theirs at a
slower pace.
Q) Do part time students get to enjoy NUS
facilities?
Yes.
E.g. Library, Swimming pool, computer lab and
others.
Q) Is there any web cam teaching available if
the student is absence from certain lesson?
Not
at the moment.
Q) What do you mean when you mentioned that SAT
test results are not compulsory but will be
advantageous?
SAT is no longer required for application but we
will still look at the SAT results as it helps
in their entry into the course.
Q) Is B.TECH degree recognized in the job market
compared to full time B.Eng?
Yes.
Q) Will my temporary assignments (technical
field) be recognized as relevant working
experience?
·
Contract assignments - Yes
·
Industrial Attachment - No
Q) Is there a minimum attendance required for
this course?
To be honest, no. However, you’ll need to
inform B.TECH office or lecturers
especially if you’ll miss any lab or if taking
any short/long leave.
Q) I am a work permit holder and if during my
2nd year of my study I am being retrenched, can
I still continue the course?
You can apply for leave of absence, up to a max.
of 2 years. This requires approval by the
officer in-charge. Administrative Fee of $250
(inclusive of GST) will be charged per semester
(excluding Special Term).
Q) How much is the whole course?
The tuition and other administrative fees
for the B.TECH programme is around S$36,000
for AY2008/2009. All items are inclusive of
GST. Fees are currently under reviewed for
AY2009/2010.
Q) How much do I have to pay on the fees per
semester or per year?
Fees are currently pay by Modular Credits
(MC) system. This means the student will
have to pay base on the total MC weight age
of the module(s) he/she is taking per
semester. The minimum module he/she can take
per semester is 1 module and up to a maximum
of 4 modules. For AY2008/2009, tuition fee
per MC is $285 and a typical 4-MC module is
S$1140.
Q) How many classes do I have to attend per
semester?
The course structure is completely modular.
This means that the numbers of classes a student
has to attend per week depends of numbers of
module(s) he/she is taking per semester. For
example, if a student takes up 4 modules per
semester, he/she will need to attend 4 evening
classes per week.
Q) What’s the course structure of B.TECH
programme?
A typical student would attend classes three evenings a week and
would be able to complete his degree in 3.5 to 4
years. Classes comprise lectures, tutorials,
project and laboratory work. The course
structure is completely modular, which allows
students to study at their own pace according to
their own circumstances.
All classes are conducted in the evenings from 6
pm to 9:30 pm on weekdays, with some classes
held on Saturday afternoons. Each academic year
comprises two 18-week semesters and one 10-week
special term.
Q) I’m working on shift and my working hour is
not flexible. Can NUS B.TECH arrange the
lecture and tutorial time to suit for my
convenient and availability?
No. This cannot be arranged.
On Loans & Subsidies
Q) Am I eligible for loans from NUS to pursue my
study?
Tuition Fee Loan Scheme (TFL) and NUS Study Loan
Scheme is available for part-time undergraduate
students who are Singapore Citizens. The loans
will only cover the tuition fee payable. Details
of the schemes can be found at:
http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/sfau/UG/ug-loans.html
and
http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/sfau/UG/ug-bs.html.
For further enquiries, please contact Student
Financial Aid Unit at 65162870 or send an email
to financialaid@nus.edu.sg
Q) Can I apply to deduct my fees from my CPF?
CPF cannot be used to pay the fees for part-time
studies.
Q) Am I eligible for funding under the skills
development fund (SDF)?
SDF funds are not available for courses above
the Diploma level.
Q) Are there any subsidies for NUS staff taking
BTech courses?
There are no subsidies for NUS staff at the
moment.
Q) Is sponsorship available to student?
There is no sponsorship provided to part-time
students. You may, however, approach your
company for sponsorship, which is to sponsor you
for your course.
Q) Can I apply to pay the course fees by
instalments?
If you have financial difficulties, you can
contact our officer in-charge and we will see
how best we can assist you.
On Admission
Q) Am I eligible to apply for the course if I
already have a degree?
If the person has a degree, then the Selection
Committee will decide, provided it is a relevant
degree.
Q) Can I apply if I have A-levels instead of
Polytechnic Diploma?
A-level holders are not considered at the
moment.
Q) Is National Service counted as part of the
working experience?
NS is not considered as working experience.
Q) Can I apply using my Advanced Diploma?
Diploma is the basic requirement to our
admission. Advance diploma will be an advantage
to your application.
Q) Can I apply if I have less than 2 years of
working experiences?
It is preferable to have at least 2 years of
working experience. However, if you have no
working experiences or have less than 2 years of
working experiences, you can still apply for the
BTECH programmes.
Q) Will I be considered if I am having a
non-technical vocation?
If the person is holding a non-technical job, it
will be decided on a case by case basis.
Q) Will there be any admission tests or
selection procedure involved for foreign
applicant?
Admission test is compulsory for applicant with
foreign qualification. Foreign applicants may
need to attend an interview. Application will
NOT be considered if applicant fails to attend.
Q) I am currently serving my National Service.
Can I apply?
Yes, you can. However, if you’re still serving
NS (2 1/2 or 2 yrs), you will need to submit a
letter from NS/SAF Unit in acknowledge and in
approval of the course.
Q) I'm taking my last semester in polytechnic.
Can I apply for the coming intake?
Yes, you can. If your application is Successful
and you would like to take up the offer, it will
be subjected to the completion of your diploma
and to submit your diploma transcripts and poly
scroll to B.TECH office at least 2 months before
the term starts.
Q) What are the grades that B.TECH are looking
at?
It is confidential.
Q) I'm a foreigner (not working in Singapore);
can I still apply to your programme? If no,
why?
No. That is the basic criteria – Any foreigner
(Non PR) has to possess a valid work permit or
employment pass. Student pass will not be
granted to part-time studies.
Q) Will there be an increase of fees for the
Part-Time course?
Fees are under review and will likely increase
gradually over the next few years.
Q) Can B.TECH office assist in applying work
permit for working foreign students?
No.
Q) Are there any exemptions as I have taken
similar modules in the polytechnic, both local
and foreign polytechnics?
No exemptions are considered for diploma holders
as having a diploma is the basic requirement for
admission to our courses. Our 1st
year modules are equivalent to 2nd
year full time B.Eng modules.
Q) Would there be further exemption for student
graduating from a relevant Advanced Diploma
course?
No exemptions are considered as Advance diploma
will be an advantage to your application for
admission.
Q) Can I apply for both NUS’s full-time and
B.TECH’s part-time or NTU’s part-time and
B.TECH’s part-time programme concurrently?
Yes. Admission is assessed separately for all.
Students who wish to apply for others should
apply to B.TECH programme as well during
the online application opening.
Q) I've a basic diploma in Engineering eg.
Mechanical. Can I apply for other part time
engineering courses, which B.TECH is offering
(e.g. Chemical or Electronics)?
Yes, you can apply any of our engineering
courses. However, it
will be treated as a special case and final
decision is up to the Board of Selection.
Q) My diploma is a non-engineering course. Can
I apply for B.TECH part time engineering
courses?
Yes, you can apply any of our engineering
courses. However, it
will be treated as a special case and final
decision is up to the Board of Selection.
Q) Can I apply for more than one B.TECH
programmes at the same time?
Yes, you can. You will need to submit 2
separate online application forms and make 2 one-time
non-refundable application fee of S$20 for each
application. If both the applications are
successful, you may choose one of the programmes
you wish to take up.
Q) After I've been admitted to the part-time
programme, can I switch to the full-time
course? If so, after how many semesters can I
request for the switch to full-time?
Yes, you may apply to transfer to a full-time course
during the annual admissions exercise. However, transfer is not guaranteed as
admission is based on academic merit and open competition. You will have to
submit an online application during the admissions exercise via the Admissions'
website: http://www.nus.edu.sg/admissions/undergrad/
and compete with all applicants for a place. There is no need to complete a
required number of semesters during your part-time course before applying to a
full-time course. However, you should NOT withdraw from your current part-time
course until you have been accepted into the full-time course. After
matriculating as a full-time student, you can then write to your Faculty/School
to request exemption of modules you have completed under the part-time
programme.
Q) Can I change the course half way through? Do
I have to withdraw from the current course & go
through the application procedure again?
Yes, you may write in to apply for transfer of
course. However, it will be a case
by case basis, subject to approval.
Q) How many intakes are there per year?
We have now introduced two (2) intakes
each year for ALL our B.TECH programmes. Intake
I commencing August and Intake II commencing
January in each Academic Year.
On Application
Process
Q) I have keyed in some incorrect particulars in
my form and have already submitted it, what
should I do?
Go to
http://btech.eng.nus.edu.sg/btechAdm/updateForm/index.aspx
and logon into the Online Admission System with
your Application Number and NRIC/FIN. The
System will retrieve your application form of
what you have submitted and you will be able to
make any changes to your application. Kindly
note that once your application is being
processed, you will not be able to make any
further changes to your application. Please
submit all the required supporting documents to
B.TECH office of any changes to your
application.
Q) What should I do if I cannot remember the
exact month and year of entry for my secondary
school and polytechnic?
Just key in a date which you think best
represents that date. It does not have to be
accurate. The date information is needed by the
database for retrieval purposes.
Q) I have more than 3 attempts for my ‘O’
levels, how should I fill in my results?
Choose only the best 2 attempts.
Q) How do I know that I have been offered for
the courses?
You will receive an email from us after the
online application is closed. Alternatively, you
can check your status on our website.
Q) What do I have to do after I’ve been offered
for the course?
Please wait for the online acceptance package to
be emailed to you.
Q) What should I do if I’ve just changed my
mailing address or PR status after I’ve
submitted my application based on the old
information?
Go to
http://btech.eng.nus.edu.sg/btechAdm/updateForm/index.aspx
and logon into the Online Admission System with
your Application Number and NRIC/FIN. The
System will retrieve your application form of
what you have submitted and you will be able to
make any changes to your application. Kindly
note that once your application is being
processed, you will not be able to make any
further changes to your application. Please
submit all the required supporting documents to
B.TECH office of any changes to your
application.
On Technical Issues
Q) How come my internet web browser does not
display the page properly?
The web page works best only with Internet
Explorer 5.X or higher.
|
Electronics