NUS BBA

Admissions & Scholarships

FAQ

General Admissions

Programme Focused Questions

    • For more about the BBA2017 new curriculum, feel free to refer to our brochure or visit our website at https://bba.nus.edu.sg/nus-bba-curriculum/.
      For curriculum details for students who matriculated before AY17/18, please refer to the following websites:
      BBA Curriculum: https://bba.nus.edu.sg/academic-programmes/bba-programme/curriculum-ay2017-2018-onwards/
      BAC Curriculum: https://bba.nus.edu.sg/academic-programmes/bba-accountancy-programme/curriculum/
    • The three new specialisations under the new curriculum aside, approximately 55% of BBA students specialise in Finance, 25% in Marketing, 10% in Human Capital Management and the remaining 10% in Operations and Supply Chain Management. Students are allowed to read a double specialisation, which comprises 2 of the 4 options.
    • NUS Business School is a top-tier university. By and large, universities in this league generally keep their scope of specialisation to the mainstream 4: Finance, Logistics, Marketing and HR as we do. Also:
      • Hospitality is still not considered a mainstream specialisation and the sustainability of such a major is not certain
      • The nature of the hospitality and tourism specialisation is highly similar to the marketing specialisation with high focus on soft skills. Many of our students specialising in marketing have proven well-equipped and have gone on to pursue careers in this sector.
    • Specialisations are fundamentally the same as majors and minors, except the former constitutes reading courses within the Business School and the latter, courses from other NUS faculties.
      A second major comprises 48 units from a cross-disciplinary field within NUS that a student can undertake. A minor comprises 24. In both cases, the student will still only be conferred a single degree, but with an added second major or minor reflected in the academic transcript. There is an extensive list of 2nd majors and minor programmes available to BBA and BBA (ACC) students.
      More details can be found here and here.
      Some majors and minors are more popular than others, so a quota is imposed, and an additional application process and minimum GPA score is required to gain entry into these programmes. Also, certain specialized courses like Medicine, Law and Engineering do not offer a major or minor programme.
    • Based on past statistics, close to 90% of our students qualify for the Honours Programme. With the new curriculum, all students are automatically enrolled into the direct honours programme with the possibility to withdraw should they wish to complete just the basic Bachelor degree.
    • The ‘grade-free’ scheme was proposed with the aim of providing a supportive and enabling environment for new NUS undergraduates to make a successful transition into the academic and social culture of university life. It serves to alleviate anxiety among students and transform the mind-set of placing an excessive focus on maximising grades to engage in exploratory, self-directed and independent learning.
    • More details on the application of the Grade-free Scheme for BBA and BBA (ACC) students can be found here.
    • NUS has implemented a reformed General Education (GE) curriculum since Academic Year 2015/16. These refer to courses outside of the core/compulsory requirements for a student’s primary major. This segment of courses comprised 5 main pillars: Thinking and expression, Asking questions, Quantitative reasoning, Human cultures, and Singapore studies.

    • Polytechnic diploma holder Advanced Placement Credits (APCs) – Single-Degree programmes

      Before AY2015/2016, incoming students with a Polytechnic diploma typically receive 20 Units of automatic exemptions – 8 Units (equivalent to 2 courses) from their University-Level Requirements, and 12 Units for their Unrestricted Elective Courses (UEC). The former will now be reworked into the new GE curriculum and hence all 20 Units will be directed to UEM exemptions.

      * Students pursuing the 4-year BBA/BBA (ACC) Honours programme are eligible for 20 Units of UEM exemptions. More details regarding APC can be found here: https://bba.nus.edu.sg/academic-programmes/module-registration-information/general/

      Double and concurrent degree programmes

      Students enrolled in the double degree programmes will have to read an additional 8 Units for their ULRs, as there will no longer be exemption for these under the new GE curriculum.

Accountancy Specific

Double Degree

    • Highly motivated students with an interest in two complementing disciplines may consider the Double Degree Programme (DDP). BBA students may choose from the following options:

      • Business Analytics (New)
      • Communications and New Media
      • Computer Science
      • Economics
      • Engineering
      • Information Systems
      • Law
      • Ad-hoc Double Degree * (with other faculties not mentioned above, with the exception of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Music.)

      * Students may apply to pursue self-initiated DDP combinations ater the first year of study. BBA (ACC) students may also pursue the above options through and ad-hoc arrangement. More information can be found here: https://bba.nus.edu.sg/academic-programmes/dcdp/ddp/ad-hoc-double-degrees/

    • There are two rounds of application available:
      A. Done alongside the main application into the University – look for the segment on DDP within the online application to select and rank the course options
      B. Mid-stream admission after the 1st year of study for those who wish to enrol in a single degree first and enter the programme later.
      Note: For the Ad-hoc and Accountancy double degree option, admission will only be after the 1st year of study.
      Other details regarding DDP:
      • Students in a DDP will be expected to complete the honours programme in their home faculty
      • Double honours is a possible option only if they qualify academically
      • Takes 4.5 to 5 years to complete, or shorter if students choose to overload
      • All must complete approximately 180-200 Units (45-50 courses) to be conferred a Double Degree
      • Maintain an overall GPA of 3.75 for their home faculty courses, and 3.25 for the second degree courses to remain in the programme.
      • Students unable to adhere to the minimum continuation requirement over 2 consecutive semesters will require to exit the programme and complete a single degree in their home faculty. Courses already completed in the second degree may be used to fulfil the requirements of a minor (24 Units) or second major (48 Units), subject to prevailing quotas for the major and minor intakes.
      http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/academic-information-policies/undergraduate-students/special-programmes/faqs-for-ddp-cdp-and-dm
    • The full course load of an NUS double degree programme is between 180 and 200 Units, as opposed to 160 credits for a single degree. Assuming a 5-course per semester work load, this works up to 4.5 to 5 years (9 – 10 semesters). Any two disciplines also need to have a less than 30% content overlap to be recognised as a legitimate double degree combination in NUS, hence the heavier course load vis-à-vis other institutions.
    • The NUS Business School currently offers the following Concurrent Masters programmes:
      BBA + Master of Science (Management) + CEMS Master in International Management
      Students can choose to apply for the BBA + Master of Science (Management) upon entry into NUS or apply mid-way. However they will only be able to apply for the CEMS Master in International Management (MIM) upon completion of their BBA Honours and Master of Science (Management). The Master of Science (Management) is an independent programme also open to non-BBA prospects. Unlike the MBA, no prior work experience is required to be eligible to admission, only a bachelor degree.
      Detailed queries on this programme pertaining to application process and curriculum can be directed to Mr Saul Sio or Mr Daniel Pang from the CEMS management team.
      BBA/BBA (ACC) + Master in Public Policy
      Students are allowed to apply for this when they submit their applications for entry into the Business School, or apply during the course of their Bachelor programme. The selection process typically involves an interview with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy after admission into the BBA or BBA (ACC) programme. Do note that intake numbers for this programme is very small, and admissions highly selective.
    • Due to the academic rigour of these programmes, an estimated 10% or less pursues this route.

Internship placement and career prospects

    • Internships are excellent platforms to gain work experience and explore career options before graduation. These typically take place over the summer vacation months of May to July, but there are options for winter internships during the December holiday as well. Some students also take Leave Of Absence for an entire semester to pursue 6-month long internship, which will entail a delayed graduation.
      The Business School’s dedicated Career Services Office also plays an instrumental part in preparing, sourcing and matching our students to suitable internship placements. Students are also free to independently source for their own internship opportunities.
    • Students are not required to do an internship, but are strongly encouraged to and most, if not all do so. BBA (ACC) students must complete at least 8-week internship that is accounting or finance-related.  There are no limits to the number of internships that can be done.

    • Since the 2015 admission cohort, credit-bearing internship courses have been introduced and formalised as part of the curriculum, allowing students to fulfil units through their internships based on the following criteria:

      • 4 Unit internship course – minimum 8 weeks and during summer vacation only
      • 8 Unit internship course – minimum 16 weeks and during semester time only

      Students can register for these courses only after 1.5 years of studies (60 Unit of courses) and tuition fees are payable. The internship courses have assessment components but are graded pass-fail only. More information available here.

    • At a glance, career paths of Business graduates can range from:
      • Banking and finance (Investment banking, Corporate banking, Trading & Securities, Private Wealth Management, Financial Institutions, FOREX etc.)
      • Marketing (Brand management, marketing communications, advertising and PR, social media marketing, digital marketing etc.)
      • Logistics and supply chain (PSA, freight forwarding, logistics planning)
      • Management (Human Resource Management, Human Resource consulting, Executive search/Recruitment)
      • Others: Consulting, Manufacturing, Customer Services
      A more detailed list of companies that BBA students joined upon graduation is available in the BBA brochure.
      The Business Degree prepares you for a career in any sector and scope with the exception of professional and highly niche fields like:
      • Medicine
      • Dentistry
      • Law
      • Pharmacy
      • Scientific research
      • Engineering
      • Music/fine arts
      • Accountancy
    • The ACCA is an international qualification, so this will not be necessary if the student only wishes to practice in Singapore. For the ACCA qualification, the BBA (ACC) programme grants exemptions only for the foundation courses.
  • The double degree programme does not promise higher starting salaries, but gives students more career options, i.e. a student who has completed a double degree in business and law can pursue career paths in both the business functions (finance, marketing, logistics, HR), and in law (litigation, conveyancing etc).

Overseas Experience

    • All undergraduate students are welcomed to apply for overseas programmes from their first year of study onwards. That said, each programme has its own application criteria and focus.Student Exchange Programmes (SEP)
      • Focus on gaining invaluable international experience
      • Typically last for a semester, courses are credit (not grade) transferable
      • Applications are considered based on GPA score, minimum 3.0 (70%), and CCA involvements (30%)
      • Actual university placement also depends on other variables, from number of places in each partner university, to the profile of applicants for any one round of application.
      • Double degree programme students may select Partner Universities from the university-wide partners and faculty partners of his/her home faculty. *This does not apply for summer programmes.
      https://bba.nus.edu.sg/student-experience/exchange-programmes/about-us/
      NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC)
      • Focus on grooming entrepreneurial, resourceful, independent self-starters
      • 1 year programme, consisting typically of an internship with a start-up and classes in the partner university in that city
      • Students will read up to 10 courses, only 3 are grade-transferrable, the rest only credit-transferrable
      • No explicit cut-off, application outcomes are dependent on the demand and supply of places
      • On NUS Overseas College (NOC), a separate application process applies. Interviews required.
      • This programme will likely cause a delay in graduation.
       https://bba.nus.edu.sg/academic-programmes/special-programmes/nus-overseas-colleges/
      Summer Programmes
      • Focus on gaining invaluable international experience
      • Typically lasts 4 to 6 weeks and taken during the University summer vacation period
      • No explicit cut-off stated, application outcomes are dependent on the demand for and supply of places
      • No limit to the number of summer programmes a student can take, only as time and resources permit.
      • Courses completed are not grade-transferrable, only credit transferable
      • Summer programme fees will typically apply, as these are hosted by the overseas partner university
      https://bba.nus.edu.sg/student-experience/exchange-programmes/summer-programmes/
    • Yes, as time and resources permit, and subject to meeting NUS residency requirements for graduation. This requirement states that at least 50% of total (and major) courses must be completed at NUS.
      • SEP allows students to read courses they would otherwise complete here in NUS in the partner university, in a process called course mapping. Hence should a sufficient number of relevant courses be done, no delay is necessary. Courses read on exchange are credit-transferrable, but not grade-transferrable, in that students are only required to pass and the grades of courses done on exchange will not count towards the GPA score.

      Student Life and Others

      • NUS prides itself for its highly dynamic and vibrant student life. Depending on how much a student wants to take on during his/her university years, it is advisable for him/her to manage wisely. Much of university student life is self-steered and managed. Hence, take on as many opportunities as interested, however also be conscious of what one can cope with.
        Concerning the BBA curriculum, the teaching methodology places great focus on seminar based, small-group, interactive based teaching, particularly for upper level courses from the 2nd year onwards. However certain foundation courses that are deemed more concept-heavy and quantitative are kept to lecture-tutorial style learning. This differentiates us from local counterparts who implement 100% sectional teaching for all its courses. Sectional teaching requires more immediate application by virtue of it being high in in-class participation (so students are required to engage fully at all times and contribute constructively to discussions), but is an effective way to practically apply what is learnt in a classroom setting, thus adding more value to their learning and person development. These go a long way preparing them in being quick on their feet and well-spoken for their careers, a necessary rite of passage for a solid education in Business.
      • The Business and Accountancy programmes offered by the local Universities are typically the more popular course of choice for undergraduate prospects, following medicine and law (historically speaking). As a result, students who enrol in the courses are at the top of their class academically, which makes for an inherently competitive study environment. Students who tend towards the business course are also generally self-motivated, which also means they enjoy being involved in co-curricular activities, overseas programmes, and the range of value-added programmes available to them in the University. On the whole, the student profile is one of work-hard, play-hard.
      • There are 3 main categories of accommodations available for full time students to apply:
        1. Halls of Residence
        2. Student Residence
        3. Residential Colleges
        Halls are known for their vibrant CCA, rich history and culture. Residents are expected to participate actively in hall activities. Student residences offer independent living with opportunities for cross cultural interaction with the international community of students.  As Residences offer more privacy, they tend to be quieter than Halls.  Residential colleges are learning communities where students – enrolled in an academic programme – learn from and live alongside their peers and professors. The academic component of these residential colleges comprise 5 courses used to fulfil the University-level requirements of the respective degree programmes. For the University Scholars Programme, students do 12 courses instead of 5. They will also be awarded an additional scroll upon graduation certifying that they have been a student of the scholars programme. No extension to the standard candidature is required, as these courses will be used to fulfil University-level and Unrestricted Elective Course requirements.
        http://www.nus.edu.sg/osa/student-services/hostel-admission/undergraduate