Attending University (Source: imgflip)
We’ve all been there. We’ve all been lost freshmen who didn’t know what to expect from university – we don’t know about module bidding, CAP, and worst of all, finding your way around campus. It can be unbelievably frustrating. So here we are, to help ease your upcoming entry into NUS! Read on for some important things that you MUST REMEMBER as an NUS freshman!
1) Module bidding + What modules to take?
Confused about module bidding (Source: imgflip)
Coming into NUS, it’s perfectly normal for us freshmen to be confused about bidding. Especially if you come from a faculty where you have to bid for most of your modules, you’ll be bound to be even more stressed out!
While most of us are initially frantic during module bidding to get our modules, it does become easier after subsequent semesters. Trust me – After you get used to it, module bidding actually a breeze, and there’s nothing to worry about as long as you have all the information you need.
There are various types of modules in NUS, which I have summarized below:
1) Core modules are compulsory for students from a particular major or faculty. To check what are the core modules you have to take, visit the website of your respective major or home faculty, or you can refer to the NUS bulletin here, under the list of programs and faculties.
2) University Level Requirements are General Education Modules (GEMs), Singapore studies and Breadth. To graduate, you must take the 5 pillars of GES modules which would cover both your SS and Breadth modules. More information about GEMs can be found here.
3) Unrestricted Electives – Ah, finally a bit of freedom! Each NUS student has about 12 UEs that they can play around with to pursue a minor, second major, or anything that interests you.
Generally, most modules in NUS are worth 4MCs (modular credits). However, there are certain exceptions, so do be sure to check beforehand! The recommended workload every semester is 20MCs, although some students take up to 24MCs (aka overloading). For certain faculties, there is a minimum CAP restriction for students to overload.
Source: knowyourmeme
For AY19/20, NUS has implemented a new module registration system called ModReg to replace the CORS bidding system. ModReg is a rules-driven and priority-based module allocation system. This means that where demand for a selected module exceeds the available places, the Priority Scores of students seeking to read a particular module will be used to determine module allocation.
Students have to first submit an academic plan declaration and then rank their preferred modules later when they submit their module request. There are a total of 3 registration rounds with round 1 starting on 29 July 2019.
For further information including detailed user guides on how to navigate ModReg, do refer to http://www.nus.edu.sg/ModReg/index.html.
2) All about that CAP
Trying to Preserve your CAP (Source: @peeaigee on Instagram)
After the end of the semester, you can check your results at the Education Records System (EduRec). If you absolutely can’t wait, you can also choose to subscribe to the SMS service to receive your results in the wee hours of the morning!
NUS and NTU share the same grade point system. To understand how each grade affects your overall CAP, refer to the table below:
Grades and corresponding CAP (Source: NTU WKWSCI)
Basically, the formula to calculate CAP would be the total number of MCs per module multiplied by the corresponding numerical grade point. In essence:
CAP = Σ(MCs per module x Point)/Total number of MCs taken for the semester
In addition, there are online CAP calculators that you can use to find out your CAP for the semester.
For a comprehensive article of how the CAP/GPA system works in University, The Digital Senior has a guide here that you can check out!
Is the bell curve a myth?
Sorry to break it to you, but the bell curve in NUS is very much a real thing (and at times, very competitive!). As such, your grade is determined by your relative performance compared to your peers.
There are a lot of articles out there trying to understand the concept of the bell curve, but it really all just boils down to a few main ideas – it is a normal distribution function that represents every student’s scores, and for the purposes of differentiation between students, the bell curve may be used to moderate students’ marks.
In NUS, students are affected by a recommended grade distribution as follows:
Recommended Grade Distribution (Source: NUS Provost Blog)
In essence, this means that in university, it’s hard to actually fail for most modules (since only about 5% of students get a D-F grade), but it’s also hard to actually perform well as most people (about 70% of the cohort) fall between the B or C range.
Road to success starts with … S/U!
It’s a really common saying in NUS.
S/U (Source: @peeaigee on Instagram)
S/U stands for Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. In essence, you can “S/U” a grade if you find it unsatisfactory! As a freshman who may be exploring new things in university, don’t let this scare you – this is what your five S/U’s are for! Try to adapt to the rigor of university as quickly as possible but bear in mind that you have a grade free semester, so don’t hold back from trying out new things!
3) Abbreviation Wonderland
NUS is a place full of abbreviations. It may definitely seem overwhelming at the start, but you’ll get used to it!
Here’s a list to get you started:
…….
The list of abbreviations is non-exhaustive, and you’ll definitely pick up more along the way!
4) Planning your timetable with NUSmods
Before the start of the semester, you’ll be pre-allocated certain modules and free to choose others. In order to avoid timetable and exam clashes, NUS has come up with their very own timetable builder NUSMods for you to plan your own schedule!
Whether you’re a late riser or a person that likes to have long breaks in a day to just chill and relax, NUSMods allows you a great deal of flexibility in planning your schedule just the way you like it! Instead of having to sit through a fixed regimen of an 8am-2pm school day, you can now choose the classes at timings that suit you for more effective learning.
How to use NUSMods? Simply select the upcoming semester, then key in the module codes of the modules you are planning to take in the search bar. It’s that simple!
Using NUSMods
Some modules have lectures or tutorials with more than one timeslot for you to choose from. After you have added your desired modules to your timetable, simply click on the tutorial or lecture slot to see what other timings are available!
Toggling modules with more than one timeslot
Nonetheless, be sure to check before adding the module to your timetable – This is to avoid possible clashes in exam dates or any of your classes.
Option to share/sync your NUSMods timetable
After making sure all your modules have been added and there are no clashes in schedule, you can download your timetable in image or PDF format or share it on messaging platforms such as Whatsapp or Telegram!
5) Getting around NUS (NUS NEXT BUS) – Bus routes
NUS Shuttle Bus (Source: Land Transport Guru)
Getting around a new, unfamiliar space can be daunting – Especially since the NUS campus is super big at first glance. There are different shuttle buses that have different routes around campus, so be sure to know which buses you have to take to get to class!
NUS NextBus App (Source: itunes Store)
For a quick, convenient way to familiarize yourself with the buses and routes around NUS, be sure to download the NUS NextBus app which gives information about the bus frequency, the bus routes around NUS, and the bus stops dotted around the school!
Another thing to note is that the shuttle bus frequency around NUS can be painfully slow at times, so do be sure to reach the bus stop early! It’s also likely that there’ll be students crowding to squeeze on the bus, so you may have to miss a few buses before getting on.
6) Where to eat and hang out/study
NUS University Town (Source: NUS Utown Information site)
NUS has plenty of great spots to eat, study and hang out with friends – From the Central Library to University town, there is a place for everyone to just chill out in school!
NUS Central Library (Source: flickr)
Many people study at Central library (CLB) if they want to get a good mugging session in – the fifth and sixth floors are always occupied by muggers during exam period!
Education Resource Center, Computer Commons (Source: Utown ERC Information site)
Utown’s Education Resource Centre (ERC) is also a convenient, central and conducive study spot. With rooms that contain wall plugs to charge your devices and iMacs for students to use, it’s the best study spot (if you can get a seat!)
The Deck @ FASS (Source: taylorinsingapore)
The food around NUS is generally cheap and good, so don’t worry about having nothing to eat when you come to school!
7) On-campus accommodation
UTown Residence (Source: Utown Residence Facebook page)
With so many options for on-campus accommodation, how do you know which one to choose from?
NUS Halls (Source: NUS OSA)
Our advice would be to talk to seniors/friends about the culture of the various halls and residences around NUS to see which suits you best – For example, if you prefer not to be active in school or residential activities, staying in hall may not be such a good choice.
Since you’ll be spending almost all of your time after classes among your residential community, it is important that you like the culture and activities of the people in the place, so do be sure to choose wisely!
No money (Source: askideas)
Staying on campus isn’t cheap – Residential Colleges, UTown Residence and Yale-NUS College are more expensive as compared to Halls or Prince George’s Park Residences/PGP House, so do be sure to weigh the cost before choosing your ideal accommodation on campus!
For more information about staying in school and the differences between the various types of accommodation in NUS, you can refer to one of our older posts. For information on hostel and meal plans, refer here.
Lastly, consider which residence is nearest to your faculty. Although the residential colleges in University Town are the most centrally-located, the NUS Halls are spread out over the whole campus. If you’re staying in a place that’s not as near your faculty, it may be a bit of a hassle to travel especially when you’re busy!
For a better idea on where the various halls, residences and faculties are located, click here for the NUS campus map.
After reading this NUS freshmen guide, do you now feel less worried about stepping into NUS? Fret not, because there will always be people to help you if there’s anything you’re unsure about – if you have any more questions about studying in NUS, so feel free to leave them down in the comments section below! See you in school! 🙂
