National University of Singapore

Number of module substitutions

Students are able to map modules that they read overseas on SEP onto USP modules, subject to the approval of the University Scholars Programme (USP). You are not encouraged to replace more than one First-Tier module per semester abroad. Typically, up to one First-Tier module and one Advanced module substitutions may be approved per semester of SEP. For students on two semesters of SEP, up to one First-Tier and two Advanced module substitutions may usually be approved.

Suitability of module substitutions

First-Tier substitutions

You should propose First-Tier substitutions which are not usually offered in your home Faculty/Department, and are in the spirit of the Programme, with emphasis on critical thinking, active class participation and/or inter-disciplinary contents. The proposed substitution module(s) need not be an exact match or equivalent to any of the existing USP modules in terms of the course contents, since we encourage you to study what is normally not offered at USP as part of your undergraduate training to broaden your perspectives. The proposed substitution module(s) should possess the academic rigor similar to or above that of the level 2000 modules in NUS. As far as possible, they should also have about the same number of class contact hours as a typical USP module. First-Tier substitutions require only the approval of the USP office.

Course-Based Advanced module or USP Multidisciplinary Seminar Advanced module substitutions

You should propose Course-based Advanced module (CBM) substitutions or USP Multidisciplinary Seminar (UMS) substitutions that are in the spirit of the Programme, with emphasis on critical thinking, active class participation and/or inter-disciplinary contents but which need to be in your domain of study i.e. Humanities & Social Sciences or Sciences & Technologies. The proposed substitution module(s) should possess the academic rigor similar to or above that of the level 3000 modules in NUS. As far as possible, they should also have about the same number of class contact hours as a typical USP module. As a CBM or UMS is usually counted towards a student's faculty/departmental-level or unrestricted elective requirement concurrently, the CBM or UMS substitution would require the joint approval of the home Faculty of the student.

Independent Study Advanced module substitutions

(a) Newly-designed ISM

We do not normally encourage you to propose Independent Study Advanced module (ISM) substitutions unless you are absolutely confident to find fully research-based type of overseas modules (similar to how a newly-designed ISM would be administered at NUS). The proposed substitution module(s) should possess the academic rigor similar to or above that of the level 3000 modules in NUS. As an ISM* is usually counted towards a student's major requirement concurrently, the ISM substitution would require the joint approval of the home Faculty/Department of the student.

(b) Ride-on ISM

We also do not normally encourage you to propose Independent Study Advanced module (ISM) substitutions that ride onto the regular coursework overseas modules. Unlike ride-on ISMs* that are read at NUS, USP and your major department are not able to oversee the administration and the quality of the ride-on research components that you undertake for the overseas module.

Should you decide to propose ride-on ISM substitution, you would need to undertake around 20% research-based additional work outside of the normal curriculum of a regular coursework overseas module e.g. strike an agreement with the module instructor to undertake an extra research assignment which may or may not factor into the overseas module's overall grade, but should at least be reviewed and assessed by the lecturer. A copy of this reviewed assignment is to be submitted together with a copy of the transcript when you return from SEP in order for the credits to be transferred. The proposed substitution module(s) should possess the academic rigor similar to or above that of the level 3000 modules in NUS. As an ISM is usually counted towards a student's major requirement concurrently, the ride-on ISM substitution would require the joint approval of the home Faculty/Department of the student.

* Note for FASS USP students, they may only read pure or newly-designed ISM but not ride-on ISM substitution overseas on SEP towards their major requirements at FASS.

For students who are on the Double Degree Programme with French Grandes Ecoles, they will be reading their third and fourth year curriculum at a French institution. These students may refer to the recommended study schedule for recommendations on the possible number of USP module substitutions.

For students on the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC), the whole of the NOC study experience may count towards their fulfillment of the Advanced Curriculum requirements at USP. Please refer here for more information.

Implications of module substitutions

Only the modular credits, not the grade attained, of the replacement modules will be transferred back to NUS.

In addition, please note that you will not be allowed to transfer the modular credits of modules that were read as 'Pass/Fail' or 'Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory' at the overseas partner university (not applicable to students on NOC) as we like to see how you have performed in the overseas module(s) in terms of grades.

When your request for the transfer of credits is approved upon your return from SEP, the modules that you read and passed overseas will be assigned the 'OVS' grade and not 'S/U' grade. Please refer to the following notices by NUS Registrar's Office on the maximum number of modular credits that you can transfer while on the SEP. Please take note that if you have been on any NUS overseas summer/winter programmes before, the maximum number of modular credits that you can transfer while on the SEP will be reduced accordingly by the number of modular credits that you have previously transferred while on the summer/winter programmes.

Cohort matriculated in AY2001/02 to AY2003/04:
http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/faqs/su_faq1.html
Cohort matriculated in AY2004/05 to AY2006/07:
http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/faqs/su_faq2.html
Cohort matriculated in 2007/08 and after:
http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/faqs/su_faq3.html

Procedures for proposing module substitutions

Before you depart for SEP...

1. To propose USP module substitution(s), please download and complete the application form, for which you will have to submit, with specific and comprehensive details, the replacement modules that you propose to read at the overseas partner university. In proposing Advanced module substitution(s), please obtain your home Faculty/School/Department's endorsement on the application form prior to submitting it to USP. Although you need only send in your application after you are confirmed of a place in SEP, you should aim to submit your application to USP Student's Office (attention to Mr ) at least one month before your departure for SEP. Fresh applications and appeals will not be entertained after your departure for SEP, save for extenuating circumstances.
   
   
2. You may propose more than the required number of module substitution(s) in case you are unable to read your preferred overseas module. As far as possible, you should try to consolidate all of the proposed replacement modules in one single application. The limit on the number of First-Tier and/or Advanced module substitutions allowed per semester abroad will still apply even if you should send in separate application forms on different occasions.
   
   
3. Once your application is approved by USP, you will be contacted via email to collect a copy of the approved application form so that you may inform your home Faculty/School of the final list of approved substitution(s).

Upon your return from SEP...

• Upon returning from SEP**, you will need to report to USP to verify the actual replacement module(s) that you have read at the overseas Partner University by producing a copy of the academic transcript.
  
• Based on a verification of the transcript, USP will issue the appropriate USP substitution module codes. You are reminded that it is your responsibility to show the endorsed forms with the assigned substitution module codes to your home Faculty/School for the transfer of credits to be effected.

** Students who, as a result of the overlap in academic terms, cannot avoid returning late from SEP to resume studies at NUS, are to observe USP's guideline on this matter: Late Returns from SEP

Providing information about replacement modules

Providing specific and comprehensive information about the replacement module(s) will expedite the approval process (Sparse applications risk being rejected!). Try to gather as much information as possible from:

• Overseas partner universities' website or curriculum catalogue
• Lecturers who teach the replacement module(s) at the partner universities
• SEP coordinators at the partner universities
• Any other relevant sources

We will need the following information to evaluate the suitability of the replacement module(s):

• Synopsis or course description
• Overview of the syllabus and assigned readings
• Modes of teaching e.g. lecture and tutorial, seminar etc
• Number of class contact hours and/or class schedule
• Methods of assessment and their composition
• Any other relevant information

Checklist

1. When proposing First-Tier module substitutions, you should be mindful of the domain requirements of your outstanding First-Tier modules.
2. An Advanced Curriculum module (and therefore its corresponding substitution) can count towards the major requirement if its content is directly related to the major.
3. An Advanced Curriculum module (and therefore its corresponding substitution) can count towards the faculty/departmental-level requirement if its content is directly related to subjects offered by the faculty/department (in some cases, they are required to be outside the student's major).
4. All module substitutions can count towards unrestricted electives, except for FASS which requires them to be outside the student's major.

Substitution module codes

Substitution module codes are assigned by the USP office upon a student's return from SEP, as follows: