Undergraduate Continuation and Graduation Requirements

Minimum standards are set for continuation in a programme of study and graduation.  This section covers the following:

• CAP for Continuation and Graduation
• Degree Classification
• Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory (S/U) Option
• MCs excluded from CAP Computation
• Residency Requirement and Maximum Candidature

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAP for Continuation and Graduation

To graduate, an undergraduate student must have a minimum CAP of 2.0.  To remain in good academic standing, and to continue in an undergraduate programme of study, a student may not have:

• CAP below 1.5 for two consecutive semesters; or
• CAP below 2.0 for three consecutive semesters.

For any semester in which the student’s CAP falls below the CAP required for graduation (i.e. 2.0), s/he will be issued a warning.  If, in the following semester, the student’s CAP again falls below the graduation requirement, but not sufficiently to warrant immediate termination of candidature (i.e. 1.5 ≤ CAP < 2.0), s/he will be placed on probation.  If the student’s CAP falls below 1.5 for two consecutive semesters, or remains below 2.0 for three consecutive semesters, the student will be issued a letter of dismissal by the Registrar, and denied re-admission. 

Such a student may appeal the dismissal if there are extenuating circumstances. The appeal must be submitted to the relevant Faculty/Department within two calendar weeks of the last day of the release of each semester’s examination results.  Normally every student is allowed only one such appeal per candidature.  If the appeal is rejected, the student will not be re-admitted.  If the outcome of the appeal is positive, the student will be given one semester in which to achieve the minimum CAP required for graduation. 

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Degree Classification

The criteria for degree classification are:

Honours Degree Classification	Criteria
First Class Honours	CAP 4.50 and above and at least A- in Honours thesis/project(i)
Second Class Honours, Upper Division	CAP 4.00 – 4.49
Second Class Honours, Lower Division	CAP 3.50 – 3.99
Third Class Honours	CAP 3.20 – 3.49
Pass	CAP 2.00 – 3.19
Fail	Below CAP 2.00
Bachelor’s Degree Classification	Criteria
Pass with Merit	CAP 3.20 and above
Pass	CAP 2.00 – 3.19
Fail	Below CAP 2.00

(i) Students with a CAP of 4.5 and above but with a B+ or below in the Honours thesis/project or without having completed an Honours thesis/project will be awarded a Second Class Upper Honours degree.

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Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

The Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) option is intended to encourage students to pursue their intellectual interests, without undue concern that exploring a new subject area may adversely affect their CAP.  

For modules graded on an S/U basis, students will receive credit towards the degree only if they attain a ‘Satisfactory’ (S) grade.  An ‘S’ grade is assigned if a student receives a ‘C’ grade or above for the module.  Conversely, students will receive an ‘U’ if the grade obtained is lower than a ‘C’ grade.  The S/U option, once exercised, will be irrevocable for the module.

Up to 12 MCs may be taken on an S/U basis during a student’s candidature, subject to the maximum number of MCs that may be excluded from the computation of CAP.

The S/U option is not applicable to modules taken to meet Faculty, Major, Minor, or University Scholars Programme (USP) requirements, unless specifically stated otherwise by the Faculty/School.  Credits earned from modules taken on an S/U basis may also not be used to count towards the residency requirement.

Students will exercise their S/U option after the results are announced for any module that permits the S/U option. The S/U declaration exercise will be conducted in the immediate 3 days following the release of results. Thereafter, the decision will be considered final.

For Frequently Asked Questions on S/U Option, please click here.

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MCs excluded from CAP Computation

Besides modules that are graded on an S/U basis, some credit bearing modules completed under the NUS Student Exchange, Overseas Colleges, Industrial Attachment, and Internship programmes are also not factored into the computation of a student’s CAP.  Advanced placement credits are likewise excluded from CAP calculation.

To protect the integrity and value of the NUS degree, a limit is placed on the number of MCs that may be excluded from the computation of CAP. In other words, a minimum number of MCs must be based on graded modules with assigned grade points. The following are general university-level guidelines:

1. A student registered for a Bachelor’s degree must do the greater of (a) 50% of required MCs for the degree programme or (b) 80 MCs at NUS. These MCs must be earned from graded modules with assigned grade points.
2. A minimum 60% of Programme/Major credits must be graded and factored into the CAP.
3. A minimum 16 MCs of the Minor requirements must be graded and factored into the CAP.
4. Only up to 12 MCs may be accrued from modules graded on an S/U basis. Such modules may not be used to fulfill Programme/Major/Minor/USP requirements.

Individual Faculties/Schools may require a higher minimum of MCs that must be based on graded modules and included in the computation of CAP. It is important that students check with their Faculty/School to ensure that they have fulfilled the minimum number of CAP-bearing MCs required for graduation.

Limit on Level-1000 Modules
The limit on the number of level-1000 modules to be counted towards fulfillment of graduation requirements is 60 MCs for both 3- and 4-year programmes for students admitted from AY2007/08 onwards. Nevertheless, Faculties could set more stringent requirements.

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Residency Requirement and Maximum Candidature

The University has established a minimum residency requirement and maximum candidature for all NUS degrees, including joint and double degrees with foreign universities.

Residency, in this instance, is defined as payment of fees and ability to meet all curricular requirements of a programme of study.  MCs which count towards residency for an undergraduate degree programme must come from graded modules that are factored into a student’s CAP.

A student registered for a Bachelor’s degree, as mentioned earlier, must complete do the greater of 50% of required MCs for the degree programme or 80 MCs, whichever is greater, at NUS.  In addition, such students are required to read at least 15 MCs every semester throughout their candidature, except during the following semesters when they are allowed to read fewer MCs:

• the final semester before completion of all graduation requirements for the degree; and
• the semester in which the students are undergoing industrial attachment or doing their final year projects.

For students admitted in AY2006/07 and earlier, the maximum candidature for:

• a Bachelor’s degree programme with a minimum requirement of 120MCs is 5 years;
• a Bachelor with Honours degree programme with a minimum requirement of 160MCs is 6 years;
• a typical double degree programme (which may involve between 180 and 200 MCs) is 6 years.

For the students admitted from AY2007/08 onwards, the maximum candidature for:

• a Bachelor degree programme with a minimum requirement of 120 MCs is 4 years;
• a Bachelor with Honours degree programme with a minimum requirement of 160 MCs is 5 years;
• a typical double degree programme (which may involve between 180 and 200 MCs) is 6 years.

Faculties may approve extension of candidature not exceeding two years on a cumulative basis.  Beyond the two-year limit, the approval of the Board of Undergraduate Studies must be sought.

In general, students who have completed their degree requirements by the 6th semester or earlier for 120-MC programmes and the 8th semester or earlier for 160-MC programmes, may be allowed one additional full semester of study to improve their CAP standing subject to their reading:

• the minimum MCs required for full-time students (i.e. 15 MCs) in the additional full semester⁴
• only level-3000 or higher modules

Additionally, students are not allowed to opt for a new Minor, Second Major or second Degree programme beyond the end of the 5th semester of study for 160-MC programmes.

⁴This criterion will not be applicable if the semester of extension falls during the Special Terms.

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