Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is the course for?
   
   The degree is aimed at outstanding students of both Economics (see Department homepage: http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/ecs/index.html ) and Law (see Faculty homepage: http://law.nus.edu.sg/ ). It is an exacting course of study, for which students will need exceptional abilities in language, critical thinking and mathematics.
   
   
2. What is the qualification at the end of it?
   
   Students who complete the course successfully will be awarded both LLB (Hons) and BSocSci (Hons).
   
   
3. Why these two modules?
   
   Economics and Law are, in some areas, complementary disciplines. Increasingly, experts will use methodologies from the two disciplines. Scholars and practitioners of the two fields have been actively examining the places where they meet. For example, most Corporation Law modules in top law schools now include economic analysis, and economists working on public policy, such as competition policy, require a working knowledge of the supporting legal infrastructure. Here is a study that shows 'economics training increases a lawyer's human capital, as compared with other undergraduate majors'.
   
   
4. Where will the degree lead?
   
   Singapore is a regional center for legal services, and a lot of our international legal work involves commercial, corporate and financial law. This means there is – and will continue to be - a demand for lawyers with a strong background in Economics, as well as for economists trained in law. Likely future employers are: some law firms, large commercial banks, and institutions such as the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Media Development Authority, the Infocomm Development Authority, and the soon to be established Competition Authority.
   
   
5. What does the course involve?
   
   The course includes the core of our Economics (see Programme Requirements: http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/ecs/undergraduate/progReq.html) and Law degrees, as well as some other modules to allow students to explore beyond those areas.
   
   
6. How long will it take?
   
   That will depend upon the way in which individual students plan the course. However, the degree has been designed so that it can be completed in five years.
   
   
7. How much will it cost?
   
   From the AY2007/08 cohort, students in a DDP will pay the prevailing tuition fee of the Faculty/School offering the home course for the first four years of study.
   
   For the fifth year of study, in view of limited or no Tuition Grant from the Ministry of Education, the fees will be four times the prevailing fee.
   
   In view of the financial implications for students, NUS will offer scholarships to help offset 50% of the total tuition fee in the fifth year. In other words, students will pay two times the prevailing tuition fee of the Faculty/School offering the home course
   
   For more information, please refer to the Registrar’s Office website at http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/faqs/ddp-cdp-dm-faq.html#ddp12
   
   
   
8. How will my degree be classified?
   
   You will receive separate classes of Honours for Economics and Law. Each will be calculated from the modules you do in that subject. In the case of Economics, the university requirements will also be factored into the CAP.
   
   
9. How can I apply to be admitted into this double degree programme?
   
   Students may be admitted to the programme, on a competitive basis, in one of three ways:
   1. By direct application from Junior College. These students will spend the first year in the Faculty of Law;
   2. By application during their first year in the Faculty of Law;
   3. By application during their first year year in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Applicants to the double degree programme must meet the admission requirements of both Faculties.
      
      
10. What if I do badly or don't like the course?
    
    Students must either maintain a CAP of 4.0 for the B.Soc.Sci (Hons) or remain in the top half of the Law cohort. Those who fall below in both degrees for two consecutive semesters will be required to leave the programme. Students who exit from the programme will return to their home faculty.
    
    Students who do not qualify for the FASS Honours Thesis will graduate with LLB (Hons) and BA, if all other conditions are met.
    
    Students leaving the program on their own accord will be advised on how to use modules taken towards their single BA or B.Soc.Sci (Hons) degree (in Economics) or the Law degree.