National University of Singapore

Q1: What kind of students is USP looking for?
You are the one we look for, if you:

• Seek a university life full of experiences that stretch your intellectual, leadership and personal qualities;
• Seek an education that liberates minds to explore, create, challenge and lead;
• Are one who takes the initiative to venture beyond your comfort zone and to incessantly challenge yourself;
• Have academic aptitude and leadership potential;
• Have a passion in learning beyond a narrow field of specialisation;
• Have a passion to forge interdisciplinary understanding and possibilities;
• Have the motivation to pursue active and independent learning; and/or have an interest in the affairs of the society.

Q2: Can any NUS applicant apply to USP?
Yes, anyone applying to NUS may at the same time apply online for USP separately, by Thursday, 2 April 2009.

Our students are from any one of USP partner NUS faculties or schools (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Engineering, NUS Business School, School of Computing, School of Design and Environment). You may apply to USP even if your first or second choice is not one of the USP partner faculties and schools (e.g. 1st choice Medicine, 2nd choice Dentistry, 3rd choice Science), however, your place in USP (if selected) is contingent upon your accepting an offer to study in one of these partner faculties and schools.

Q5:I will be serving the National Service in the next two years. Should I apply to USP now or later?
We would encourage you to apply now, so that you can be assessed with those from your cohort for admissions into USP. If you are successful in your application now, we will reserve a place for you in the year that you matriculate into NUS.

Tuition fees for NSmen are pegged to tuition fees prevailing at the time they accepted their offer of admission.

However, your application will not be processed in time for you to sign up and read USP modules in the Special Term I of AY2008/09 (May to June 2009), that is, if you are interested to do Special Term modules. That means you will start to read USP modules with effect from either Special Term II of AY2008/09 (June to July 2009) or the new academic year AY2009/10.

Additional information for Open House promoters:

Those RNS men who intend to read USP modules in the Special Term will note from the USP website that they need to apply to USP by 01 February 2009 in order for their application to be processed in time for the Special Term I module registration period of 16 March (9AM) to 17 March (5PM) 2009.

The module registration period for Special Term II is from 1 June (9AM) to 2 June (5PM) 2009.

Q7:How much does USP cost?
NUS fees are based on the home faculty you join. There is no extra fee to enroll in USP.

Q8:Is USP a scholarship?
USP is not a scholarship disbursement programme. USP students can apply for scholarships at NUS or other scholarship providers. For details on NUS scholarships, please approach NUS Office of Admissions.

Q9:What degree does the USP student graduate with?
The USP student graduates with the honours degree of his/her home faculty. In addition, he/she also receives the USP Certificate and the USP Testimonial. Outstanding USP students graduate with a range of USP awards bearing testimonies to their academic and non-academic achievements.

Q10:What are the academic expectations of USP students?
USP students are expected to maintain a Cumulative Average Point (CAP) of 3.5 and above throughout their course of studies. This USP CAP requirement of 3.5 is a stepping stone for USP students to achieve the fundamental academic goal of honours in their home faculty. USP students are also expected to participate in USP activities and contribute to USP.

Q11:Are USP students given direct admission into the honours programme in their departments? If not, what will happen if I fail to get into the honours programme or unable to obtain an honours degree at the end of my NUS candidature?
If you are not selected for honours, or decide not to continue to your honours year at the Faculty/School, your NUS transcript will reflect the USP modules that you have taken, but you will not be eligible to receive the USP certificate. We consider the academic depth which the honours year provides a vital component of your overall course of study. Although you will no longer be eligible for the USP certificate, you may however, still request for a USP Testimonial that will document your accomplishments at USP. You are also encouraged to join the Scholars Programme Alumni Network (SPAN) regardless whether you complete your requirements at USP.

Q12:What is interdisciplinarity?
An interdisciplinary approach examines a subject using knowledge and methods from multiple disciplines.

Q13:Why is interdisciplinarity important?
Many significant problems are believed to be solvable only by interdisciplinary approaches. For example, a solution to global warming is likely to involve science, economics, and international relations. Apple attributes the success of the iPod to the way it integrates design, engineering, and marketing.

Q14:What is a writing module?
All USP students choose one of USP’s renowned writing modules in their first year. The writing module provides the tools to craft compelling arguments and expositions, and forms a foundation for pursuits both in university and beyond. Writing modules are taught seminar-style with a maximum of 12 students per class, and include ample one-on-one tutorials with USP professors.

Q15:Can I switch major as a USP student?
USP students may apply to switch major and/or faculty up until the end of their second year. (Non-USP students may apply to switch faculty up until the end of their first year.) For advice on switching criteria and process, you can consult your USP academic advisor, who will be assigned to you at the start of your first semester at USP.

Q16:What other for-credit options can I pursue in USP?
Apart from USP’s interdisciplinary modules, students also earn academic credit in the following three ways:

1. Academic Inquiry
USP students with an interest in research may embark on independent study under the mentorship of a professor. This gives a head start in a research or research-based career. Other academic options open to USP students include double-degree and double-major programmes, such as:

• ANU-NUS PhB/BSc(Hons) Joint Degree Programme in Science
  This is a four-year Joint Degree Programme between Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) of Australian National University (ANU) and Bachelor of Science (Honours) of NUS, which can be taken in three fields of study: Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics. This is offered exclusively to USP students in the Faculty of Science.
  
  
• ANU-NUS PhB/BA(Hons) Joint Degree Programme in Arts
  This is a four-year Joint Degree Programme between Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) of ANU and Bachelor of Arts (Honours) of NUS, which can be taken in four fields of study: English Literature, History, Philosophy and Theatre Studies. This is offered exclusively to USP students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

2. Cultural Immersion
USP students who are keen to develop cultural capabilities and networks in a foreign country have the option to pursue cultural immersion at an overseas partner university. Currently, USP offers such immersion programmes with China’s Peking University (Yuanpei College), Japan’s Waseda University (School of International Liberal Studies), and India’s Delhi University (Lady Shri Ram College and Hindu College).

3. Entrepreneurial Development
USP students who want to experience an entrepreneurial culture have the option of spending a year in one of NUS’s Overseas Colleges in leading entrepreneurial and academic hubs of the world: Silicon Valley and Philadelphia (USA), Stockholm (Sweden), Shanghai (China), and Bangalore (India).

Q17:How do I embark on Independent Study Modules (ISMs) as part of USP's curriculum?
You may embark on ISMs through the following ways:

• Individual or Small Group Study: A student or a group of students designs and completes a project under the guidance of a faculty member.
  
  
• Masters or higher level course-based modules: A student completes a Masters or higher level course-based module.
  
  
• Enhanced Year 3 or 4 modules (sometimes known as ride-on ISMs): A student signs up for and enhances a Year 3 or 4 module into an ISM. In addition to the standard course requirements, the student undertakes additional research at greater depth. Compared to non-USP students, USP students taking this route may have the weightage on examinations lessened, with greater weightage placed on continual assessment on their project work and term papers.

Q18:Does USP offer me the chance to participate in activities outside the classroom?
Yes, through many ways. In fact, USP strongly encourages and supports its students to actively engage in a wide range of experiences beyond the classroom, both overseas and locally.
 
In particular, the USP Global Programme provides resources, supports, and plans for activities that help USP students gain a global outlook, apply their interdisciplinary learning, and develop leadership capabilities. It is a unique platform provided for USP students to initiate and customise their own learning experience in a global context.  Activities which have been sponsored by the USP Global Programme include seminars, symposia, overseas study programmes and youth expeditions. These activities are generously subsidised by USP.

Students also have a plethora of study abroad opportunities through Student Exchanges, NUS Overseas Colleges, and joint and double degree programmes with prestigious overseas universities.  These include PhB/BSc(Hons) and PhB/BA(Hons) Joint Degree Programmes with the Australian National University, USP-Yuanpei Cultural Immersion Programme with Peking University, NUS-in-Yale and USP-Stanford Summer Programmes, Harvard College in Asia Program exchange conference at USP, USP-George Washington University Two-City Dialogue Programme, and many more.  Students also travel to countries like Japan, India, and Cambodia on field trips organised under their USP First-Tier curriculum.

Q19:What is the USP community like?
USP students, professors, staff, and alumni have diverse backgrounds and talents, yet are united by their passion and motivation to pursue their interests and create significant outcomes. The USP community bonds over intellectual and social activities and events, many of which are organised by the USC, its students club, and Scholars Programme Alumni Network, its alumni society.

Q20:Who can I seek advice from if I need help on the choice of modules and subsequently enquiries relating to the Faculty/School?
An Academic Advisor will be assigned to you in the first few weeks of your first semester in USP. You may approach him/her to seek advice on the choices of modules. For enquiries relating to the requirements of your Faculty/School, you can locate the contacts in your respective Faculty/School’s website.

Q21:Does USP have an affiliated Student's Club?
Yes. The University Scholars Club (USC) is the student’s club of USP. It is also one of the Constituent Clubs under the purview of the National University of Singapore Students’ Union (NUSSU). All USP students are automatically members of USC, and encouraged to initiate, organise, and participate in USC activities.

Q22:Does USP have an alumni network?
Yes. The Scholars Programme Alumni Network (SPAN) aims to build group identity and relationships for the extended community of Scholars. Former students of USP, regardless of whether they complete all of their USP requirements, are encouraged to sign up with SPAN.

Q23:What facilities does USP offer?
In addition to other campus facilities, USP students have access to:

• USP Writing Centre
• USP Reading Room
• The Chatterbox (USP student common room)
• USP Multimedia Lab
• USP Cyberart Studio
• USP Cyberart Project Room

Q24:Will the University Town apply to USP?
Come 2011, USP will have a residential college where every USP student will have a chance to live in for at least a year. To plan for the transition of USP to a residential programme, USP will run a pilot programme at one of the Prince George’s Park Residences (PGP) blocks in August 2009. As part of the pilot programme, some USP classes may be conducted at PGP in the new academic year.  More details on the pilot programme, the USP Residential College and the University Town will be made known in due course.

I. Eight First-Tier Modules:

First-tier modules are a structured collection of multidisciplinary modules in which students integrate diverse bodies of knowledge and evaluate critically different intellectual methodologies. There are three main Domains and thirteen Areas of study. These modules can be read anytime over four years (preferably within the first three years, but not all within the first year). These modules are equivalent to level 2000 modules, and are run by the USP Office.

II. Four Advanced Modules:

There are a few options for which the students can follow to fulfill their Advanced Curriculum requirements. These include the Academic Inquiry option, Cultural Immersion option and the Entrepreneurial Development option.

Q2:As a USP student, do I still need to read the University Level requirements (ULRs)?
A: No. The USP First-Tier modules you read will replace the ULRs that a non-USP student will have to read. The USP Advanced modules will also simultaneously fulfill the faculty/UEs and/or major requirements within the Faculty/School that offers them. In this aspect, our partner Faculties/Schools have already mapped out and incorporated the USP requirements into that of the USP students’ graduation requirements at the Faculties/Schools. Both the USP student and his non-USP counterpart graduate with similar, if not the same, number of modular credits. In the event that the incorporation of the USP requirements at the Faculties/Schools is not a perfect fit, it is possible that students may graduate with a few more modular credits compared to their non-USP counterparts. 

(Note: ULRs comprises General Education requirements, Singapore Studies requirement, and breadth requirements.)

However, if you plan to study Double Degree programmes, you are likely to read up to 20 MCs above the usual graduation requirements in comparison to other DDP students not in USP. You are therefore likely to need to extend your candidature at NUS, in order to complete the curriculum requirements of the Faculties/Schools and USP.

In view that the USP module class sizes are kept small and places for popular First-Tier Modules are limited, you are not encouraged to sign up for the popular ones as the additional First-Tier modules you wish to read.

Q9:Can I remain in the USP programme if I subsequently enroll for the Double Degree Programme offered by the faculties?
A: You may remain in the USP programme while enrolling subsequently for a Double Degree Programme (DDP), only if the two degrees are offered by USP’s partner faculties.  The six partner faculties are Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Science, NUS Business School, School of Computing and School of Design and Environment.

However, if the DDP involves a degree that is not offered by USP’s partner faculties (eg. Law Faculty), you will have to withdraw from the USP programme if you decide to do the DDP. For the withdrawal procedure, please email for the details and the withdrawal form.

Q10:If I were to study a Double Degree Programme as well as enroll in USP, what requirements do I need to fulfill?
A: USP students must satisfy the same USP curriculum requirements as needed for a single-degree programme, i.e. 8 First-Tier modules (32 MCs) and 4 Advanced Modules (16 MCs). Similar to that in the single-degree structure, USP students do not need to read the University Level Requirements (ULRs) as the USP First-Tier modules will be read in place of the ULRs.

An added consideration, insofar as the ULRs for DDP students are concerned, is that the DDP students have fewer ULRs to fulfill e.g. they will not be required to read Breadth module requirements of the ULRs if the degrees are from two different Faculties/Schools as modules read from one Faculty/School will satisfy the Breadth requirements of the other Faculty/School. As a result of this, DDP students in USP may potentially read up to 20 MCs above the usual graduation requirements in comparison to other DDP students not in USP. They are therefore likely to need to extend their candidature at NUS. The 4 Advanced modules must be of level 3000 or 4000 and can come from either or both of their degree requirements.

• Joint Degree Programme for Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) of ANU and Bachelor of Arts (Honours) of NUS – (ANU-NUS FASS). The ANU-NUS FASS can be taken in four fields of study: English Literature, History, Philosophy and Theatre Studies
  
  
• Joint Degree Programme for Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) of ANU and Bachelor of Science (Honours) of NUS (ANU-NUS FOS). The ANU-NUS FOS can be taken in three fields of study: Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics.

Q4: How many students are selected each year? How are they selected?
A: Up to 6 students for the ANU-NUS FASS and up to 10 students for the ANU-NUS FOS.   Students who are interested in this programme need to indicate accordingly in the USP application when they apply for admission into USP, under "NUS-ANU Joint Degree Programme". There is no need for a separate application for the JDP.

Applicants who indicated interest in the JDP will be assessed for suitability during the same interview for USP admissions. They will be assessed on the basis of academic achievements, the essay and the interview. Successful applicants will be accepted into USP and admitted provisionally into the JDP.

Q5:What are the fees for the JDP?
A: Students accepted for the JDP will pay the normal tuition fee that they are paying as undergraduates in NUS.

The airfare and traveling expenses incurred by ANU-NUS JDP students traveling to ANU, accommodation and all living expenses, including medical/health insurance will be borne by the students. USP will provide a study grant.