Whether you're fresh out of school or back from a 2 year all-expense paid trip to an island off Singapore, there's a lot to information to swallow upon entering NUS. We've all been there, and now we've painstakingly gathered all that info so maybe you don't have to.
tl;dr: useful links and summary are at the bottom of the page.
First things first - How do Modules work?
NUS Follows a Module system. Every semester, students have to register for modules that they want to take (Modreg) and these are your classes. Modules have Modular Credits (MC) that are assigned based on how much workload is in the module. Normally, modules are 4 or 5 MC each, and each MC roughly translates to 2.5 hours of work per week (So a 4 MC Module has an expected workload of 10 hours a week). Students are expected to take a minimum of 18 MC per semester, and a minimum of 160 MC to graduate. Generally, you will end up taking 20 MC in a semester (Equivalent of 4 or 5 modules), and you may take more than 23 MC (Overloading) if needed. You cannot overload in Year 1 Sem 1.
Modules each have codes that follow a certain structure. For example, the code for Communications and New Media's introduction module:
NM1101E
The first few letters represent the course or major it's related to. If you're looking to major in CNM, you'll be looking to take mostly NM-coded modules.
The numbers in the middle are to differentiate your modules from each other. The first digit represents the level, with higher-level modules requiring more work or knowledge. NM1101E is an introduction module, it's only a level 1000 module. As you progress, you'll start to take higher level modules.
The last letter (Which some codes might not have) represents the type of module. 'E' stands for Exposure, which means you must take this module if you wish to study the associated major.
Okay, how do I register for these Modules?
If you mention the word "Modreg" to a group of students, there's bound to be a few tears coming from some students. Let's dry those tears. Once you've decided what modules you want to take, the journey is not yet over. You need to register for your modules and their respective tutorials on the Education Records System (EduRec). For a detailed guide to ModReg and Tutorial Bidding, click here.
What are S/U(s)?
It stands for Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. It's a way of excluding your module grade from the calculation of your overall CAP. You can S/U most level 1000 and 2000 level modules (As long as it doesn't have a prerequisite). If you get a C (2.00) or above, it's considered Satisfactory. The module will be deemed complete and you get the MCs but it will not be counted into your CAP. Likewise, if you get an Unsatisfactory (U) grade, you are considered to have failed the module (And may have to retake it) and do not get the MCs, but it will still not be counted into your CAP. Most students get to S/U up to 32 MCs of modules (8 Modules). There is no limit to how many you can S/U in a semester, but you can only carry over up to 12 S/U MCs when you enter Year 2. For example, if you did not use any of your S/U MCs in Year 1, you will still only be able to S/U up to 12 MCs in Year 2. If you used up all 32 MCs in Year 1, you will not be able to S/U any more modules in Year 2. You get to declare your S/Us after the semester's results are released, and you can do so on EduRec. For the full FAQ, click here.
What's so special about special term?
IDK Tbh
Too Long; Didn't Read
Most of your school-related business will be done on EduRec.
You can check a list of modules available, their MCs, and customize your timetable on NUSMods. You'll normally take 20MC per semester (About 4-6 Modules).
You can S/U most level 1000 and 2000 modules to not include its grade into your CAP. A grade of C (2.00) or above is considered S, or a pass. S/U Calculator
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