Undergraduate Students Frequently Asked Questions
S/U Grading Option for Student Intakes of AY2004/2005 to AY2006/2007
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| Q01. |
What is the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) Grading Option? |
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The S/U grading option allows a student to take a module on an ungraded basis (i.e. no letter grade e.g. A, B etc). For a module elected to be graded on S/U basis, a student will receive credits for the module and these will count towards his degree requirement only if he attains a ‘Satisfactory’ (S) grade. A module will be indicated as ‘S’ if the final grade obtained is a ‘C’ or better (i.e. grade point of 2.0 and above). Similarly, if the final grade is lower than a ‘C’, an ‘Unsatisfactory’ (U) grade will be assigned to the module. The descriptor ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Unsatisfactory’ will appear in the result slip and the transcript issued by the University. |
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| Q02. |
How will the S/U grade affect a student’s CAP? |
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The ‘S’ or ‘U’ grade has no effect on the CAP since it carries no grade point. The modular credits associated with a module with an ‘S’ grade will count towards the total number of modular credits that a student needs to fulfil for his degree programme. On the contrary, a module with an ‘U’ grade earns no modular credits. |
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| Q03. |
Can a student who gets a ‘U’ grade retake the module and will the ‘U’ grade be removed from his record if he passes it the second time? |
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The student who obtains a ‘U’ grade for a module can retake the module. However, the ‘U’ grade that he gets for his first attempt will still remain in his record and will appear in the transcript issued by the University. |
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| Q04. |
How many modular credits can a student choose to be graded on S/U basis? |
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A student may opt for up to 12 modular credits to be graded on S/U basis and which are counted towards fulfilling his/her degree requirements. Nonetheless, a student may be allowed to opt for an additional module to be taken on S/U basis as long as his/her accumulated S/U MCs is less than 12. For such a student, the total number of S/U MCs will eventually exceed 12. However, only a total of 12 S/U Modular Credits will be counted towards his/her degree requirements (i.e. any excess S/U MCs will not to be counted towards any part of the degree requirements for graduation)(Refer to example (1) in Q8). |
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| Q05. |
Do all modules come with the S/U option? |
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The S/U option is available for all modules that are not part of a student’s Faculty, Major, Minor, or University Scholars Programme (USP) requirements, unless specifically stated otherwise by the Faculty/School. This information is indicated in the module listing put up by the Faculties/Schools at their respective websites. If the information is not available, you may check directly with the Faculties/Schools concerned. |
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| Q06. |
Does the S/U option apply to modules that count towards the requirements for faculty, major or minor? |
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The S/U option is not_available for modules that are part of a student’s Faculty, Major or USP requirements, unless specifically stated otherwise by the Faculty/School. The S/U option is intended to encourage students to pursue their intellectual interests beyond their disciplinary areas, without undue concern that their CAP would be adversely affected. Some Faculties/Schools may have more stringent rules on exercising the S/U option. Please refer to your Faculty/School’s website for more information.
However, with effect from Semester 1, AY2008/09, the S/U option is_available for modules that are part of a student's Minor requirements, as long as the student has at least 24 MCs of graded minor modules to fulfill the Minor requirements towards graduation, unless otherwise stated by the Faculty/School. |
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| Q07. |
Can modular credits from modules taken on S/U basis count towards the residency requirement? |
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No, the modular credits from modules taken on S/U basis cannot be used to count towards the residency requirement. Under this requirement, a student registered for the Bachelor’s degree programme must do the greater of (a) 50 percent of required modular credits, or (b) 80 modular credits for the degree requirement.
Residency is defined as (i) payment of fees and (ii) ability to meet all requirements of the programme of study. For (ii), the modular credits that count towards residency must come from graded modules included in the CAP computation.
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| Q08. |
How are modular credits earned from Student Exchange Programme, Industrial Attachment, Internship Programme, NUS Overseas College and Advanced Placement Credits counted towards graduation requirements? |
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Modular Credits earned from SEP/IA/IP/NOC/APC/SU/CSCU are excluded from the CAP computation but the modular credits may count towards the total number of modular credits that a student needs to fulfill his degree programme. The maximum number of Modular Credits that may be excluded from CAP computation are summarized in the table below. |
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Is student on;
SEP; and/or
NOC; and/or
IA; and/or
IP?1 |
Is student granted Advanced
Placement
Credits (APC)?
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Maximum MCs that may be excluded from CAP and conditions |
#1.
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Nil |
Nil |
 Up to 12 MCs S/U + CS/CU4 |
#2.
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Nil |
Yes |
Up to 40 MCs APC
Up to 12 MCs S/U |
#3.
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Yes
(for 1 semester) |
Nil |
Up to 32 MCs2, 3 + CS/CU4 |
#4.
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Yes
(for 2 semesters) |
Nil |
Up to 52 MCs2, 3 + CS/CU4 |
| #5. |
Yes
(for 1 semester) |
Yes |
Up to 40 MCs APC
Up to 32 MCs2, 3 |
| #6. |
Yes
(for 2 semesters) |
Yes |
Up to 40 MCs APC
Up to 40 MCs2, 3 |
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Notes:
1SEP: Student exchange
NOC: NUS Overseas College
IA: Industrial attachment
IP: Internship programme |
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2Includes modular credits (MCs) from SEP and/or NOC and/or IA and/or IP and the maximum of 12 MCs taken on S/U basis. |
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3Minimum 60% of programme/major credits must be letter graded and factored in the CAP (individual Faculties can set a higher %) |
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4CS/CU MCs approved by Faculties/Schools to fulfill stipulated requirements. |
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Examples |
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1. (Refer #1 in table above) |
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A student in a 120-MC programme and who has done 11 MCs on S/U basis may declare another module (e.g. 4 MCs) on S/U basis. This means the student will have a total of 15 MCs taken on S/U eventually. However, the student will only be allowed to: |
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Count 12 MCs on S/U basis towards the fulfillment of his/her degree requirements
Count the remaining 3 MCs (i.e. 15 – 12 MCs) in excess of his degree requirements. Hence, the student will graduate with 123 MCs. |
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2. (Refer #2 in table above) |
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A student who has been granted advanced placement credit (APC) will be allowed: |
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Up to 40 MCs of APC, and
Up to 12 MCs for NUS modules taken on S/U basis. |
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This is provided he does not also pursue the SEP, IA, IP, or studies at NOC. |
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3. (Refer #3 in table above) |
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A student in a 160-MC programme who has used up 22 MCs on 1 semester of SEP and 8 MCs on S/U basis may declare another module (e.g. 4 MCs) on S/U basis. This will give him a total of 34 MCs (i.e. 22 MCs from SEP and 12 MCs from S/U) that are ungraded. However, the student will only be allowed to: |
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Count 32 MCs towards his/her degree requirements
Count the additional 2 MCs in excess of his/her degree requirements. Hence, the student will graduate with 162MCs. |
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Note: |
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If the student did not transfer all 20 MCs from SEP, he/she cannot use the balance MCs (i.e. 20 minus the number of SEP MCs) in NUS for S/U, IA/IP purposes. |
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4. (Refer #4 in table above) |
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A student in a 160-MC programme will need to fulfil degree requirements as stated in column (i) of the table below. If he is not granted APC and chooses to pursue 2 semesters of SEP at an overseas partner university, he may choose to spread the maximum 52 ungraded MCs across his degree requirements.
If he chooses to use up the maximum 12 MCs of NUS modules on S/U basis, then he is left with only 40MCs of SEP modules that may be ungraded. |
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As such, columns (ii) and (iii) are two possible instances that he may consider. |
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(i) |
(ii) |
(iii) |
| Modules |
No. of MCs to fulfil degree requirement |
No. of MCs graded |
No. of MCs ungraded1 |
No of MCs graded |
No. of MCs ungraded1 |
| University Level Requirements |
28 |
28 |
0 |
20 |
8 |
| Unrestricted Elective Modules |
12 |
8 |
4 |
8 |
4 |
| Programme / Major Requirements |
120 |
72 |
482 |
80 |
40 |
| Sub-Total |
160 |
108 |
52 |
108 |
52 |
| Total |
160 |
160 |
160 |
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1Up to 12 MCs may be NUS modules taken on S/U basis and counted towards degree requirements.
2Applying the condition that a minimum of 60% of the 120 programme/major MCs (i.e.72MCs) must be graded, this leaves a maximum of 48 MCs of programme/major modules that can be taken on ungraded basis. |
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5. (Refer #4 in table above) |
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A student who has gone on 1 semester of SEP and would like to pursue another semester on IA will be allowed: |
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Up to 40 MCs for SEP and IA and
Up to 12 MCs for NUS modules taken on S/U basis |
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| Q09. |
When does the S/U declaration exercise take place? |
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The S/U declaration exercise will take place immediately with the release of each semester examination results. The declaration exercise will be conducted for 3 days, starting from the day of release of results. Thereafter, the decision will be considered final. |
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| Q10. |
Can I appeal for the module or modules that I have opted to take on S/U basis to be changed to graded basis after the exercise for S/U option is over? |
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No, the S/U option that you have exercised for a module or modules is irrevocable once the S/U option exercise is over. |
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| Q11. |
Can the S/U option be applied for modules taken and already completed for letter grades from the previous semesters? |
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No, the S/U option can only be applied for modules taken in the current semester. The S/U declaration exercise is conducted after the release of the examination results at the end of each semester to allow students to exercise their S/U option for modules they have taken in that semester only. |
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| Q12. |
Is the S/U option available to non-graduating students studying in NUS? |
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No, the S/U option is not available to non-graduating students studying in NUS. |
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| Q13. |
Can a student exercise his S/U option in his final graduation semester after the release of the examination results? |
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Yes, the student is allowed to exercise his S/U option even in his final graduation semester. |
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| Q14. |
I have dropped a module during the period when ‘F’ grade takes effect. Hence, the module is recorded with an ‘F’ grade. Can I then apply the S/U option on the module during the S/U declaration exercise? |
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No, you will not be able to apply the S/U option on the module which you have dropped with ‘F’ grade as you are considered to have withdrawn from the module when you dropped it. |
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| Q15. |
When and where can a student check his updated results after he has exercised his SU option(s)? |
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Updated results will be available on the 3rd working day after the closing of the S/U declaration exercise.
During the window period for online release of results: Students may check their updated results from the Online Release of Results System.
After the window period for online release of results: Students may check their updated results from the Self-Service Printing of Results Slip System. |
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| Q16. |
I am transferring to a new Faculty/School in the following semester. Can I participate in the SU Declaration Exercise? |
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Yes. With effect from Semester 2, AY2007/08 students who are transferring to a new Faculty/School can exercise their SU option(s) on module(s) they have read in the immediate semester preceding the transfer. The S/U rules of the new Faculty/School would apply. These students will have to exercise their S/U option manually, i.e., by filling in a form and submitting it to the Registrar’s Office. The details will be made known to the students when they are successful in the application for transfer.
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