SPUR aggregates existing undergraduate research activities, including the UROP and REx programmes, as well as FYP/HT.
UROP + REx will be a core requirement to fulfil in SPUR. However, students may still apply to UROP course (with REx course upgrade) without having to be enrolled in SPUR. For UROP course eligibility, please check with the UROP course coordinator of your department.
No, SPUR has been designed to immerse students in research learning and mentorship in their early years of candidature. SPUR can be applied to only during the first three semesters of study.
The research portfolio serves as evidence of an applicant’s research aptitude and engagement, such as internships, research projects undertaken in JC or Polytechnic programmes, and other relevant experiences. It may include written content, images, and links to videos showcasing research-related activities, including but not limited to fieldwork, presentations, publications, and personal websites.
No, there is no qualifying exam. Students are to access the SPUR Application form and submit a research portfolio.
In addition to the existing REx research grant, students participating in SPUR are eligible for a supplementary SPUR grant of up to $1,500. This grant may be used to support expenses incurred in connection with their research projects or internships. The funding remains available throughout the student’s participation in SPUR, and all claims must be submitted by the student’s graduating semester.
Undergraduates from Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Law and SCALE BTech/BIT are not eligible to apply to join SPUR. This is because of their unique academic plans. SPUR requires that students complete the requirements by accessing courses at their home department from within their own academic plans. We hope this clarifies.
Please refer to the NUS Undergraduate Research – SPUR Course List page for the course list.
SPUR students may either do 1 additional UROP (or Independent Study Course) or do a research internships as a part of elective requirements, hence you may still choose to do one UROP project.
In general, the SPUR courses you take within your faculty will be counted towards your graduation. For specific requirements, you may want to check with your home faculty.
For SPUR, at the end of your candidature we will see if you have successfully completed all elements rather than looking at each semester so it does not have to be finalised very early into your candidature.
SPUR and REx are separate applications. Hence you will still need to submit your REx application to upgrade your UROPS/UROP course.
For elective basket it is any combination to reach 12 units, so 8 units UROP can be 8 out of the 12
Students do not need to complete UROP before applying for SPUR. As long as they are from an eligible faculty and year of study, they can apply.
SPUR aggregates existing courses towards its requirements. For example, research methods and other research-focused courses recognised by SPUR may also count towards a student’s existing graduation requirements.
SPUR aggregates recognised courses rather than requiring students to take a separate set of “SPUR courses”. Students can fulfil the requirements using SPUR-recognised courses within their faculty, and where appropriate, may also take recognised courses from other departments if their own department does not offer sufficient options.
Students who are concerned about securing UROP or REx can be assured that SPUR students will receive the necessary support from the SPUR Programme Office in enrolling in UROP + REx. However, students should note that the UROP course application and REx course upgrade have separate application forms which they will need to complete.