Undergraduate Education

3.1        Degrees Offered

There are four programmes in the School of Design and Environment available on a full-time basis, leading to the degrees of:

• Bachelor of Arts (Architecture) (Hons.)
• Bachelor of Arts (Industrial Design) (Hons.)
• Bachelor of Science (Project & Facilities Mgt.) (Hons.)
• Bachelor of Science (Real Estate) (Hons.)

3.2        Degree Requirements

A.   Four-Year B.A. (Architecture) (Hons.) Programme

The B.A.(Arch) Hons. is a four years degree programme that comprises a general programme allowing for a choice of three forms of specialisation. The specialisation tracks are in Design, Design Technology & Sustainability (DTS) and Landscape Architecture(LA). The curriculum content for the first three years is common to both general and specialisation courses. The B.A.(Arch) Hons. programme is accredited by the Royal Institute of Architects (RIBA) to Part One standard.

The general programme terminates at the B.A.(Arch) Hons. degree whereas the specialisation courses are concurrent with the Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) or Master of Landscape Architecture (M.LA.) degree programme. Only students who have achieved creditable grades in design, i.e. at least a B- in design at the third year level will be permitted to opt for a specialisation. Students who obtain a C grade at third year level will continue in a general degree program leading to B.A (Arch).

Under this programme, students will no longer be required to take the design modules at fourth year level. In its place, students will take modules on Advanced Architectural Studies with options to focus on Design Computing, Architectural & Urban Heritage or Urban Studies. Students who graduate with a high CAP in the general programme would continue to have the opportunity to pursue other graduate programmes.

Career Opportunities and Professional Registration

Graduates with an B.A.(Arch) Hons. degree who have completed Advanced Architectural Studies on Design Computing, Architectural & Urban Heritage or Urban Studies pursue career in architectural practices, government agencies or in research and academia.

Graduates would also have opportunities to work in related fields including and not limited to interior design, industrial design, industrialised building systems, graphic design, commercial art and architectural journalism. Graduates who complete the Landscape Architecture (LA) specialisation and graduate with B.A.(Arch) Hons. may also work in LA.

The B.A.(Arch) Hons degree does not in itself qualify graduates for registration with the Board of Architects. The M.Arch. degree is RIBA  Part Two accredited. In order to eventually register as an architect with the Board of Architects, Singapore. B.A.(Arch) Hons. graduates must complete the M.Arch degree and serve a minimum of two years of practical experience in an architectural practice to be eligible for the Professional Practice Examination conducted by the Board of Architects, Singapore. Those who pass the examination are then eligible to apply for registration as architects in Singapore.

Table 1:      Curriculum Structure of the Four-year B.A. (Arch) Hons. Programme

No.	Modules	MCs
1	University Requirements	20
a	General Education Modules (GEM) 1 from Group A: Science & Technology 1 from Group B: Humanities & Social Sciences	8
b	Singapore Studies (SS)	4
c	Breadth	8
2	Programme RequirementS	120
a	Essential modules taken within the Department	120
3	Unrestricted Electives (Ue)1	20
	Total	160

¹ The elective modules for the various  specialisations can be used to fulfil the UE requirements. 

Specialisations

Students who have achieved creditable grades in design, i.e. at least a B- in design at the third year level will be permitted to opt for specialisation. The two specialisation tracks in Design and Design Technology & Sustainability (DTS) will lead to the M.Arch. degree programme. Specialisation in LA will lead to the Masters in Landscape Architecture (M.LA.) programme.

The Design specialisation track offers students the opportunity to focus on design ideas, innovation and conceptualisation from a theoretical framework. The DTS specialisation track is driven by the need to adopt evidence based research and simulative design processes in pursuing sustainability in architecture. Specialisation modules will be offered at the fourth year level.

The LA specialisation track enables students to migrate to the Masters in Landscape Architecture (M.LA.) programme. Specialisation modules will be offered at the third and fourth year levels. Students who have opted for the LA specialisation track after completion of second year level but fail to achieve creditable design grades at third year level will pursue the general degree programme.

Please refer to Table 2 for admission criteria to the general programme and specialisation tracks in the B.A (Arch) programme.

Progression for the Architecture Concurrent Degree Programme

The admission requirements for various tracks of the M.Arch. and M.LA programmes are summarized in Table 2.

Students will receive both B.A. (Arch) Hons./B.A. (Arch) (depending on his/her CAP) and M.Arch./ M.LA. degrees concurrently upon completing the Masters programme.

Table 2:      Summary of the Architecture Concurrent Degree Programme

Listing of Modules

The four-year B.A. (Arch) programme is structured as follows:

Table 3:      B.A. (Arch) Curriculum – General Programme

*(1) – Select one module – either AR2224 Ideas and Approaches in Design or AR2225 Reading Visual Images

*(2)- Two History & Theory modules selected from a basket: AR2221 History and Theory of SEA Architecture, AR2222 History and Theory of Western Architecture and AR2226 History and Theory of Modern Architecture

Table 4:      B.A. (Arch) Curriculum – Specialisation in Design

*(1) – Select one module – either AR2224 Ideas and Approaches in Design or AR2225 Reading Visual Images

*(2)- Two History & Theory modules selected from a basket: AR2221 History and Theory of SEA Architecture, AR2222 History and Theory of Western Architecture and AR2226 History and Theory of Modern Architecture

^ Five Design Specialisation modules – two studio-based and three other modules

^# Specialisation Elective

Table 5:      B.A. (Arch) Curriculum – Specialisation in Design Technology and Sustainability

*(1) – Select one module – either AR2224 Ideas and Approaches in Design or AR2225 Reading Visual Images

*(2)- Two History & Theory modules selected from a basket: AR2221 History and Theory of SEA Architecture, AR2222 History and Theory of Western Architecture and AR2226 History and Theory of Modern Architecture

^Five DTS specialisation modules – two studio-based and three other modules,

^# Specialisation Elective

*Two modules selected from a basket of Technology modules as advised by the Department

Table 6:      B.A. (Arch) Curriculum – Specialisation in Landscape Architecture

*(1) – Select one module – either AR2224 Ideas and Approaches in Design or AR2225 Reading Visual Images

*(2)- Two History & Theory modules selected from a basket: AR2221 History and Theory of SEA Architecture, AR2222 History and Theory of Western Architecture and AR2226 History and Theory of Modern Architecture

^Eight LA specialization modules – two studio-based and six other modules

^# Specialisation Elective

Teaching Approach

Design modules are taught through design studios. Critique sessions will form part of the studio procedure in teaching. Lecture modules include formal lectures, followed by seminars/tutorials. Field trips, site visits, measurement and study of buildings for research, investigation and documentation may be involved.

Assessment and Examination

Assessment criteria will vary according to subject content. In the Department of Architecture, design modules are assessed by 100% “continuous assessment” (CA). The other essential modules may also be assessed by 100% CA or a combination of CA and Examination.

Students who fail an essential module will retake the module when it is next offered and must sit for the examination in that Semester. A retake module refers to a module where students have to attend lectures and tutorials and complete assignments and examinations. A new CA grade has to be obtained.

Students who fail a GEM/SS/Breadth/UE module may either replace it with a new GEM/SS/Breadth/UE module or retake the failed module the following year. There is no limit to the number of times a student may retake the same GEM/SS/Breadth/UE module.

A student who has passed the examination of a module will not be permitted to retake the same module for the purpose of improving his/her grade. This condition does not apply to the Design modules where the prerequisite for progression to the next level is a C grade. Students who achieve a

D grade will be required to retake the Design module.

Progression of Students

Please see the table below:

Graduation Requirements for four-year B.A. (Arch.) Programme

Students are required to take all essential modules offered in the semester to which they have progressed, provided they have passed the relevant prerequisites. In addition, they may take modules to satisfy University and other requirements.

Minimum Graduating criteria for

-     B.A. (Arch) Hons.  :   Minimum Grade C for Design and CAP 3.2

 -    B.A. (Arch)             :   Minimum Grade C for Design and CAP 2.0

Students who exit the concurrent degree programme at B.A. (Arch) Level 4 and consequently seek admission to M.Arch. or M.LA would be required to fulfil a minimum CAP of 3.5 and other criteria governing admission as determined at the point of application.

Advanced Placement Credits

Polytechnic diploma holders admitted to the programme may be granted advanced placement credits (APCs) for relevant modules. This is subject to Departmental consideration, given the wide range of subject modules from the polytechnics.

For up-to-date APCs list, please refer to:http://www.sde.nus.edu.sg/ACAD/programmes/download/APC%20OAM%20SDE.pdf

B.   B.A. (Industrial Design) (Hons.) Programme

The B.A. (ID) programme at NUS was first offered in 1999 with support from the Faculty of Engineering and School of Business.

The Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design, B.A. (ID), is a four-year undergraduate honours programme, consisting of courses crafted with our synergistic three-pronged approach:

1. Design Thinking: Out-of-box innovation strategies and investigative methods to discover new ideas and unmet needs.

2. Multi-Disciplinary Aptitudes: Behavioral sciences, social economics, business strategy, engineering and technology knowledgedevelop  entrepreneurial strategic thinking and holistic problem-solving.

3. Artistic Sensibility: Training of imagination, taste, and craft-like ability to give pleasing and appropriate aesthetics and emotion to ideas, through traditional and 2D/3D digital means, so that solutions are both functional and desirable.

The combined approaches equip our graduates with high-level strategic thinking, and enable them to translate problems and ideas to tangible, desirable solutions, i.e. meaningful products, environments and experiences that people love to have, love to use - and those which have a big impact on lives.

As part of our strategy to be thought leaders in industry, a major component of the course is a series of industry-sponsored 'vertical studio platforms'. These are project teams comprising a mix of year 2 to year 4 students, encouraging cross-pollination of thoughts, skills and learning.

In these platforms, students tackle both conceptual and real-life projects led by our industry collaborators, e.g. Asus, Dell, L'Oreal, Estee Lauder, BMW Group DesignworksUSA, Tupperware, Toshiba, Osim, ICI, Swarovski, HansGrohe, Risis and Nakamichi.

Students may customize their individual course during the 4 years by selecting from amongst these different industry platforms - Each student will get the opportunity to be involved in 6-7 of these projects.

The programme has been proven to be effective in grooming students for the design and related industries. Apart from the success in local and international competitions and awards, recent graduates have achieved recognition in gaining scholarships for further studies as well as being placed in well-known design practices and reputable companies.

Students can also opt to do a second major in Management (Technology), offered by School of Business, in four years.

International Exposure

To broaden our students' exposure to global challenges, two-thirds of each cohort are involved in one-semester overseas exchange programme during their 3rd year. Students typically go to distinguished design schools in Switzerland, France, Japan, Netherlands, Finland, USA, Germany, Italy and China.

Career Opportunities

Students are educated to become expert innovators and master problem-solvers. These attributes make them highly valuable in any industry.

Graduates pursue careers as industrial designers, interaction designers, brand and packaging designers, design managers, product managers and innovation consultants. It is also possible for industrial designers to rise to corporate leadership levels in the areas of creative innovation or design. These are highly-coveted positions, such as Chief Designer, Chief Innovation Officer (CIO), etc.

Armed with design, business and technological knowledge, graduates will be well-positioned to serve in R&D companies, technology start-ups, design consultancies, service industries, marketing sectors and government agencies as well as in design education.

Advanced Placement Credits

Polytechnic diploma holders admitted to the programme may be granted advanced placement credits (APCs) for relevant modules. This is subject to Departmental consideration, given the wide range of subject modules from the polytechnics.

For up-to-date APCs list, please refer to:http://www.sde.nus.edu.sg/ACAD/programmes/download/APC%20OAM%20SDE.pdf

Table 1:      Curriculum Structure of the B.A. (Industrial Design) Programme

Table 2:       B.A. (ID) programme is structured as follows for AY2012/2013 onwards:

Table 3:             B.A. (ID) programme is structured as follows for students admitted in AY2011/2012 and earlier:

^#        Students are required to read one of the below modules as Breadth in Year 2:

         MKT2413       Marketing Research

         MKT2401       Asian Markets & Marketing Management

         MKT2411       Retail Entrepreneurship

         MKT2412       Global Marketing

         DSC2006       Operations Management

         TR2201          Entrepreneurial Marketing

         TR2202          Technological Innovation

         TR3001          New Product Development

Teaching Approach

Design modules are taught through design studios. Critique sessions will form part of the studio procedure in teaching. Lecture modules include formal lectures, followed by seminars/tutorials.

Assessment and Examination

Assessment criteria will vary according to the modules offered. In the Division of Industrial Design, design modules are assessed by 100% “continuous assessment” (CA). The other essential modules may also be assessed by 100% CA or a combination of CA and examination.

Students who fail an essential module will retake the module when it is next offered and must sit for the examination in that Semester. For a retaken module, students have to attend lectures and tutorials and complete assignments and examinations. A new CA grade has to be obtained.

Students who fail a GEM/SS/Breadth/UE module may either replace it with a new GEM/SS/Breadth/UE module or retake the failed module the following year. There is no limit to the number of times a student may retake the same GEM/SS/Breadth/UE module.

A student who has passed the examination of a module will not be permitted to retake the same module for the purpose of improving his/her grade.

Progression of Students

Please see the table below:

Graduation Requirements for four-year B.A. (ID) (Hons.) Programme

Students are required to take all essential modules offered in the semester to which they have progressed, provided they have passed the relevant prerequisites. In addition, they may take modules to satisfy University and other requirements. ‘Fulfilling’ Modular Credits means reading and passing the modules, which carry the Modular Credits.

Advanced Placement Credits

Polytechnic diploma holders admitted to the programme may be granted advanced placement credits (APCs) for relevant modules. This is subject to Departmental consideration, given the wide range of subject modules from the polytechnics.

For up-to-date APCs list, please refer to:http://www.sde.nus.edu.sg/ACAD/programmes/download/APC%20OAM%20SDE.pdf

C.          B.Sc. (Project & Facilities Management) (Hons.) Programme

The Department of Building offers the full-time B.Sc. (Project and Facilities Management) undergraduate programme, a professional honours degree programme designed to be completed in four years by students proceeding at a normal pace.

Students can also opt to do a second major in Management or Management (Technology). The double major can be completed in four years (i.e., normal time) through double counting.

1^st year students can opt to do one freshman seminar module as an unrestricted elective module. Currently, the department offers two freshman seminar modules, FMD1201 (Policies for Building Sustainable Cities) and FMD1202 (Green Building Technologies for Sustainable Cities).

Recognition by Professional Bodies

The B.Sc. (Project and Facilities Management) programme was offered for the first time in AY2006/07. The programme is accredited by both international and local professional bodies such as Chartered Institute of Building, UK and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, UK and Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers.

Table 1:          Curriculum Structure of the B.Sc. (Project and Facilities Mgt.) (Hons.) Programme

Table 2:             B.Sc. (Project and Facilities Mgt) Programme Structure

* Students may take PF2401 Environmental Management and PF3401 Practical Training Scheme to fulfil their Unrestricted Electives (UE) requirement. 

# Pre-requisite module

Students on the B.Sc. (Project and Facilities Management) programme can enrol in the University Scholars Programme (USP). Details on application and updates on the USP can be found at : http://www.usp.nus.edu.sg 

Students who have not passed or been exempted from the Qualifying English Test at the time of admission to the University must take an additional module, BE1000 English, in the first semester of the First Level of Study.

Length of Degree Programme

The programme is designed to allow students to progress at their own pace. Students who are able to progress at a faster pace can complete the programme in three-and-a-half years if they take additional foundation modules in semester two of their Second and Third Levels. Those doing the programme at a regular pace should complete it in four years.

Assessment and Examination

Students are assessed on a mixture of class work and end-of-semester examinations for each module they had registered for in the semester. Continuous Assessment (CA) may be in the form of essays, laboratory work, projects, reports, or tests. Students’ performance during tutorials may be assessed as part of the CA.

Students who fail in a foundation module have to retake the foundation module the following year. For a retaken module, students have to attend lectures and tutorials and complete assignments and examinations. A new CA grade has to be obtained.

Students who fail a non-foundation module may either replace it with a new module or retake the failed module the following year. There is no limit to the number of times a student may retake the same non-foundation module.

Students who have passed any module are not allowed to retake the module to improve their grades.

Progression of Students

Please see the table below:

Graduation Requirements for four-year B.Sc. (Project and Facilities Mgt.) (Hons.) Programme

Students have to take all foundation modules offered in the semester to which they have progressed, provided they have passed the relevant prerequisites. In addition, they may take modules to satisfy University and other requirements. To graduate, a student must obtain a minimum of 160 MCs in accordance with the requirements shown in Table 1A (2010 Cohort and earlier) or Table 1B (2011 Cohort). ‘Fulfilling’ Modular Credits means reading and passing the modules which carry the Modular Credits.

Advanced Placement Credits

Polytechnic diploma holders admitted to the programme may be granted advanced placement credits (APCs) for relevant modules. This is subject to Departmental consideration, given the wide range of subject modules from the polytechnics.

For up-to-date APCs list, please refer to:http://www.sde.nus.edu.sg/ACAD/programmes/download/APC%20OAM%20SDE.pdf

D.   B.Sc. (Real Estate) (Hons.) Programme

The Department of Real Estate offers a full-time B.Sc. (Real Estate) undergraduate programme. This is a professional honours degree programme to be completed in four years by students proceeding at a normal pace. The programme is fully recognised by renowned local and foreign professional institutions.

Student may opt to complete a specialisation in either real estate finance or urban planning by completing 24 MCs of distinctive modules from either one of the lists of programme elective modules.

1^st year students can opt to do one freshman seminar module as an unrestricted elective module. Currently, the department offers two freshman seminar modules, FMD1203 (Real Estate Policy Issues) and FMD1204 (Urban Conservation and Sustainable Development)

Recognition by Professional Bodies

The B.Sc. (Real Estate) degree is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, UK, and the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers. Graduates of the B.Sc. (Real Estate) programme are exempted from all the examinations required for professional membership of these institutions.

Career Opportunities

Students in this programme should be interested in the built environment covering issues from planning, development, management, and the social, economic, political to technical facets of the built environment. In Singapore, career opportunities for Real Estate graduates are found in both public and private sectors. Graduates are employed in the fields of real estate fund management (including REITs), real estate development and investment, urban planning, property valuation and corporate real estate management.

Table 1:         Curriculum Structure of the B.Sc. (Real Estate) (Hons.) Programme

Programme Structure

The programme is structured into three core areas of study as listed below:

Core Areas  

i)         Real Estate Finance and Investment:

-         Economic and financial theories

-         Real estate investment and financing decisions

-         International real estate

ii)       Real Estate Development and Management:

-         Dynamics of the property development process

-         Real estate valuation

-         Real estate law

iii)      Urban Policy and Urban Planning:

-         Planning theories and techniques

-         Public policies and real estate markets

-         Regional real estate sectoral markets

Table 2:         B.Sc. (Real Estate) Programme Structure

# Pre-requisite module

Students who have not passed the Qualifying English Test at the time of admission to the University must take an additional module in English in Level One. Students who are exempted from the Qualifying English Test need not do an additional module in English.

Students admitted can undertake one of the 3 academic routes:

-B.Sc. (Real Estate)
-B.Sc. (Real Estate) with Specialisation in Real Estate Finance
-B.Sc. (Real Estate) with Specialisation in Urban Planning

A specialisation will be awarded if a student completes a basket of 24 MCs (6 modules) of stipulated Restricted Electives .  The specialisation will be noted in a student’s transcript. It is not compulsory for students to pursue a specialisation.

A student may opt to complete a specialisation in either real estate finance or urban planning by completing 24 MCs of distinctive modules when they have completed the fourth semester.

Table 3:            Real Estate Programme Electives

*       Electives offered in Semester 1

^#        Electives offered in Semester 2

Table 4:            Real Estate Unrestricted Electives

Student Workload

In any one semester, students are not allowed to take more than 8 examination papers (excluding English), whether essential, elective, Singapore Studies Module or GE modules.

Length of Degree Programme

The programme is designed to allow students to progress at their own pace. Students doing the programme at a regular pace should complete it in four years. Students who are able to progress at a faster pace can complete the programme in three-and- a-half years if they take additional essential modules in each of the four semesters in their Second and Third Levels.

Progression of Students

Please see the table below:

Graduation Requirements for four-year B.Sc.(Real Estate) (Hons.) Programme

Students have to take all essential modules offered in the semester to which they have progressed, provided they have passed the relevant prerequisites. In addition, they may take modules to satisfy University and other requirements. To graduate, a student must obtain a minimum of 160 MCs.

Advanced Placement Credits

Polytechnic diploma holders admitted to the programme may be granted advanced placement credits (APCs) for relevant modules. This is subject to Departmental consideration, given the wide range of subject modules from the polytechnics.

For up-to-date APCs list, please refer to:http://www.sde.nus.edu.sg/ACAD/programmes/download/APC%20OAM%20SDE.pdf

3.3        Multidisciplinary Opportunities

3.3.1     Minor Programmes

A.       Minor in Project Management

Curriculum

The MC requirement for the Minor Programme in Project Management is 24 MCs. To satisfy this requirement, students must read outside their major, the following modules offered by the Department of Building.

Three compulsory modules:

PF1101       Fundamentals of Project Management

PF3101       Project Scheduling and Control

PF3202       Project Development and Finance

Any three elective modules from:

PF2201       Scope and Design Management

PF2203       Quality and Productivity Management

PF3204       Project Risk Management

PF4203       Project Dispute Management

PF4204       Case Studies in Project Management (offer until AY2011/12)

B.       Minor in Real Estate

Curriculum

The requirement for the Minor Programme in Real Estate is 24 MCs. To satisfy this requirement, students must read outside their major, the following modules offered by the Department of Real Estate. All modules are worth 4 MCs.

(a)  Four ‘Essential’ modules from the following list, subject to the prerequisites (if any) for each module.

Modules	Prerequisites	Preclusions	Offered In
RE1103 Property and Facilities Management	-	RE1805	Semester 2
RE1104 Principles of Valuation	-	RE2803	Semester 2
RE2101 Real Estate Market Analysis	RE1104, EC1301	RE3801	Semester 1
RE2102 Real Estate Economics	EC1301	RE2802	Semester 1
RE2103 Urban Planning	RE1102	RE2801	Semester 1
RE2104 Real Estate Finance	RE1101	RE2804	Semester 2
RE2106 Real Estate Marketing and Negotiation	-	RE2805	Semester 2
RE2107 Property Tax and Statutory Valuation	RE1104	RE3805	Semester 2
RE3103 Real Estate Development	RE2101, RE2102	RE4802	Semester 1
RE3104 Real Estate Investment Analysis	RE2104	RE3802	Semester 1
RE4201 Real Estate Practice and Ethics	RE3101, RE3103	RE3803	Semester 1
RE4222 Public Policy and Real Estate Markets	RE3103, RE3104	RE4801	Semester 1

(b) At least two Unrestricted Elective Modules offered by the Department of Real Estate. Students must read RE1102 Urban Land Use and Development (which will be made available to students taking Minor in Real Estate as an Elective) to satisfy partially the MC requirement for Minor Programme in Real Estate.

For more details of modules offered in the respective semester, please check the website: http://www.rst.nus.edu.sg/programme/special/minRE-AY1011-onwards.htm or call Mdm Srividya at 65161341.

(c)  For overlapping modules, the Minor Programme will consider double counting of MCs up to a maximum of 4 MCs towards the MCs-requirement in the Minor in Real Estate.

C.        Minor in Urban Studies

Curriculum

      This Minor offered jointly by the Department of Real Estate and Department of Geography is open to all students. The requirement for the Minor Programme in Urban Studies is 24 MCs. To satisfy this requirement, students must read a minimum of six modules (three or four Core Modules, and three or two Elective Modules respectively) from the lists below. At least four modules required for the Urban Studies Minor must be taken outside the student’s own department and at least two modules must be from level-3000 or 4000. All modules are worth 4 MCs.

      (a) Students should choose at least three core modules from the list below. These three modules must comprise two RE + one GE modules or                 two GE + one RE modules.

Level 1

(b)     Students have to choose two or more elective modules from the lists below to obtain a total of six or more modules inclusive of

the core modules.

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

(c)      For overlapping modules, the Minor Programme will consider double counting of MCs up to a maximum of 8 MCs towards the

MCs-requirement in the Minor in Urban Studies.

3.4        Special Programmes

3.4.1     Student Exchange Programme [SEP] and NUS Overseas Colleges [NOC] Programme

Students can spend up to one semester in approved overseas Universities offering similar modules. These modules will count towards the fulfilment of the number of modules required of a student to graduate. One academic year absence is allowed for students joining the NOC Programme.

3.4.2     Practical Training Scheme (PF3401) – Department of Building

B.Sc. (Project and Facilities Management) students undertake a minimum of nine weeks of Practical Training which is normally held at the end of the second semester in the Third Level. The aim of this scheme is to give students essential real-life work exposure in Singapore or abroad. The Department finds suitable placements with an organisation in the construction or real estate industry for students, and their work is supervised by a staff member of the Department, and a senior person within the organisation to which they are attached. The module will contribute 4 MCs and a CS/CU grade is awarded.

3.4.3     Real Estate Internship Programme – Department of Real Estate

The Real Estate Internship Programme (REIP) is a partnership between industry and academia in the provision of real estate education and training. It provides opportunities during the university vacation for internship training in mainstream private property companies as well as public institutions that serve the industry.

The Department will secure the necessary positions with reputable organisations that are able to provide quality training and exposure for the undergraduates. Participation in the REIP is offered only to selected third year B.Sc. (Real Estate) undergraduates after a rigorous application and selection process. The minimum duration of an internship is nine weeks. This module will contribute 4 MCs.

3.4.4     Summer Programme – Department of Real Estate

This module is designed for third-year undergraduates to examine country-specific issues in socioeconomic, demographic and political dimensions underlying the real estate processes. Students will attend lectures and seminars in both NUS and partner universities in the country of discussion. Site visits to projects and organisations are an integral part of the module. Students will work on a project for in-depth study of selected aspects of the real estate industry in the country. This module precludes students who take the Real Estate Internship Programme module.

3.5        Financial Assistance / Scholarships

3.5.1    SDE Travelling Loan Fund

Undergraduate students in the School of Design and Environment can apply for this loan for the purpose of assisting in the payment of travelling expenses incurred by students to travel overseas during the vacation each year for the purpose of stimulation and broadening of outlook in the respective disciplines of architecture, building and real estate. The loans also cover trips organised by the Departments.

3.5.2     K H Tan Bursary

                K H Tan Bursary is donated by Mr Tan Kwang Hwee to support financially needy full-time undergraduate students at the Department of Architecture. A total of 9 bursaries, each valued at $5,000 will be awarded to deserving students in AY2011/12. 

The bursary is tenable for one year. Existing full-time BA(Arch) students and 1^st year full-time undergraduates who have been admitted to the BA(Architecture) programme are eligible to apply for the bursary. There are no constraints on the applicants’ nationality, race or gender.

On 7 March 2012, Mr Tan has made another expendable gift for five bursaries to be disbursed in AY2012/13. Mr Tan has re-designated the K H Tan Bursary from Department of Architecture to the School of Design and Environment, making it available to all undergraduates at the School.

3.5.3    Architecture Alumni Association (AAA) Travel Prize – Department of Architecture

The AAA Travelling Award is sponsored by the Architecture Alumni Association commencing in AY2000/01. This award is presented to the B.A. (Arch.) Year 1 student who has distinguished himself/herself in the Year 1 History module, “History and Theory of Modern Architecture”.  The intention of this award is to sponsor the recipient’s second year field trip on history studies.

3.5.4    ONG&ONG Travelling Fellowship – Department of Architecture

Up to 2 Travelling Fellowships will be offered to BA(Arch) Level 4 students proceeding to NUS M.Arch studies and/or M.Arch. students from any of the Research Teaching Groups in the Department each year. The value of each award is up to $10,000. Selection is based on the strength of proposed study & travel plan and  academic excellence

3.5.5    Kumpulan Akitek Prize – Department of Architecture

The top 5% of the best students in design from the second to fourth year of study in the BA(Architecture) programme will be invited to form their own team, preferably drawn from each of the three years. This is to encourage the spirit of team-work and group learning. Winners of the prize which is a one-off grant of $10,000 must work together to develop a design-research undertaking.

Though the teams are given flexibility to explore thematic issues of the time and their interests, the following are highly encouraged:

1. Ecological Design in the Tropics

2.  Cultural Continuity and Traditional Forms in the contemporary settings

3.  Design for Society

3.5.6     Tun Tan Cheng Lock Scholarship – Department of Architecture

This is a one off scholarship valued at $4500 and is set up to support research in the area of urban and architectural heritage in Southeast Asia.  The Department will provide another $2000 per academic year for publication and exhibition of the projects Up to 4 Scholarships will be awarded to students under the following categories each year:  

i.               Up to two undergraduate students in third/fourth year of study in the Department and or

ii.             One graduate student in the Department and/or

iii.           Up to two undergraduate or graduate students in accredited architectural programmes in other universities, preferably in Southeast Asia..

The basis of award corresponds to the 3 categories of students:

i.               The scholarship supports the undergraduates on projects that require travelling within Southeast Asia.

ii.             Research project related or connected to design thesis, dissertation or similar academic exercises. The study should preferably focus on urban and architecture heritage.

iii.           The area of study should be related to disciplines of the built environment, such as environmental design, landscape architecture, urban and architectural heritage & management, urban studies or urban planning.

Recipients are required to put up an exhibition of their research/studies at the Tun Tan Cheng Lock Centre upon the completion of their projects. 

3.5.7     Woh Hup Scholarship – Department of Building

The Woh Hup Scholarship is donated by Woh Hup Pte Ltd, commencing in AY2011/12. The scholarship, valued at $6,000 per year, is awarded to a 3^rd year student in the BSc (Project and Facilities Management) programme. It is tenable for two years, subject to the student’s progress. The same student shall continue to receive the award in his/her 4^th year of study. Applicants should attain at least a CAP of 3.5; have a strong record of CCA involvement; and demonstrate a commitment to community service.

3.5.8     Rider Levett Bucknall Medal and Prize - Department of Building

Rider Levett Bucknall has pledged to make an expendable gift of $15,000 to establish the “Rider Levett Bucknall Medal and Prize” which will provide support to students undertaking the Bachelor of Science (Project and Facilities Management) at the Department of Building.

The expendable gift of $15,000 will be fulfilled in two instalments of $7,500 beginning 2012.

With effect from AY2011/2012, a gold medal and cash prize of $750 will be awarded to one student from each graduating year in the Bachelor of Science (Project and Facilities Management). The Board of Undergraduate Studies will award the winner based on the recommendation of the relevant Board of Examiners.

3.5.9    Fission Scholarship – Department of Real Estate

Fission Group is a property development company in Singapore, established in 2006. Fission Group has been involved in numerous projects in the real estate development business and investment in various real estate projects, with a total value of more than S$500 million.

Melvin Poh and Francine Lee are both alumni of the former Building & Estate Management of NUS. They have both benefited from their education and would like to give back by making an expendable gift of $45,000 through their company, Fission Group, to the full-time undergraduates of Department of Real Estate.

The value of each award will be fixed at S$3,000 per annum. The first award to be made in AY2012/13 and administer by the Department. The gift will allow the Department to award five merit-based scholarships per year. Two awards will be given to year 2 students and three awards will be given to year 3 students every year. Or three awards will be given to year 2 students and two awards will be given to year 3 students every year. The tenure of this Scholarship is three years.

3.6        Academic Awards

Medals and book prizes are awarded only once in the academic year, after the Semester 2 Examination. In all instances, a prize-winner must be of sufficient merit. He/She must have passed all modules attempted and must be a good overall student. No award will be made unless there is a candidate of sufficient merit.

In general, to be eligible for consideration for an Academic Year Award, a student must have completed a minimum workload of 40 MCs, 80 MCs and 120 MCs for the Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 awards respectively. In addition, students must have completed at least 36 MCs of graded modules within the academic year of the award.

The exception to this ruling would be students who are involved in internships, accelerated programmes or double degree programmes. For these students, they need to have a minimum of 24 MCs graded modules. In addition, students must have also completed a minimum of 16 MCs in the subject within the academic year.

Below is a full list of the medals and book prizes for  SDE undergraduates :