Second Major in Sustainability
We live in a time of large-scale challenges, where climate change, deforestation, biodiversity loss and ocean acidification are no longer only considered from an environmental perspective, but also in terms of social justice, economic development, technological adaptation, and political will. The survival of our growing population depends on the natural resources we continue to overexploit, but there is increasing awareness on how the concept of sustainability strives to address this. By understanding how our environment, economy and society interact, applying this to technological innovation and communicating readily with decision makers, we can maintain the health of our world for the benefit of current and future generations.
Should you have any programme enquiries, please contact ASE's Academic Admin Team at aseacadteam@ntu.edu.sg.
Prospective Students
Prospective students may apply for and enrol in the Second Major in Sustainability upon admission. The Second Major in Sustainability may be pursued alongside various undergraduate programmes across NTU, subject to the admission requirements and eligibility criteria of the respective programmes. For information on programmes offered by other Schools that may be taken with the Second Major in Sustainability, please refer to the respective Schools’ websites.
As both the Environmental Earth Systems Science with a Second Major in Sustainability (ESSN) programme and the Second Major in Sustainability are offered by our School, the information below provides specific details on the ESSN programme and its admission requirements.
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental Earth Systems Science with a Second Major in Sustainability (ESSN) programme accepts ‘A’ Level, IB, NUSHS Diploma, Polytechnic Diploma and other equivalent international qualifications on a selective basis. All candidates with strong academic potential who satisfy minimum subject requirements as well as the general admission requirements set by NTU will be considered.
| Qualification | Minimum Subject Requirements |
|---|---|
| GCE A-Level | H1 Level pass in Mathematics, and H2 Level pass in Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Computing/Economics |
| Polytechnic Diplomas | Please visit us on the web to learn which polytechnic diplomas are eligible for our programme. *Applicants should have at least taken one mathematics module in pre-calculus at the Polytechnic or equivalent institution, or have engaged in relevant self-directed student learning. |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma | Mathematics at Standard Level, and Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Computer Science/Economics at Higher Level |
| NUS High School Diploma | Major CAP of 2.0 in Mathematics, and Major CAP of 2.0 in Physics/Chemistry/Biology |
| International Qualifications | Additional Mathematics at Junior High School Level and equivalent, and Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Economics at Senior High School Level *Applicants should have at least taken one mathematics module in pre-calculus at the Polytechnic or equivalent institution, or have engaged in relevant self-directed student learning. |
Current Students
For current NTU students who did not matriculate with the Second Major in Sustainability, applications are open to all students except those enrolled in double-degree, double-major, or other Second Major programmes. Students with a CGPA above 4.0 are also welcome to apply, subject to approval and the availability of vacancies.Students who are currently pursuing the Minor in Sustainability may also apply for the Second Major in Sustainability and build on the sustainability courses they have already completed, subject to the relevant requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to declare their interest in the Second Major by the end of Year 1 or during Year 2 Semester 1 to allow sufficient time to fulfil the Second Major requirements.
To apply, please email your home School’s Undergraduate Office with your full name, matriculation number, current programme of study, and reasons for applying for the Second Major in Sustainability. Your home School will forward your request to us for review. Once your enrolment request has been processed, your home School’s Undergraduate Office will inform you of the outcome.
To graduate with a Second Major in Sustainability, students must complete a minimum of 30 Academic Units (AU), of which at least 18 AUs must be letter-graded (i.e., not taken on a Pass/Fail basis).
| Total AU | Composition |
30 AU | 5 core courses, with 1 course selected from each of the 5 knowledge pillars (People, Planet, Profit, Practice, Policy) |
| Minimum total of 12 AUs from core and elective courses | |
| Interdisciplinary Project - ES5100 Sustainability Capstone Project (Pass/Fail, 3 AUs) – typically taken in the 3rd or 4th year |
Typically, courses taken towards a Second Major are classified as Broadening and Deepening Electives (BDEs). However, if you are taking a Second Major course that is a requirement for your programme’s Core/MPE, it will be classified as Core/MPE in your degree audit.
These courses may be double-counted, allowing the same course to fulfil the requirements of both your main programme and your Second Major. For more information on the double-counting policy, please refer to Question 4(iii) of the Second Major in Sustainability FAQ, as well as the relevant information on the NTU website.
AUs earned from courses taken during an overseas exchange may be transferred towards fulfilling the requirements of the Second Major in Sustainability. Students may also exercise the Flexible Grading Option (FGO) for courses taken towards the Second Major in Sustainability. Please note that courses taken during an overseas exchange and courses taken under the FGO are graded on a non-letter-graded (Pass/Fail) basis.
Upon graduation, the Second Major will be reflected in the graduation transcript, but not on the degree certificate. Students graduating from 2021 onwards will also receive a separate certificate recognising the award of the Second Major. For more information, please refer to here.#Students will only be able to take one of these courses.
Note: The list of approved courses was revised in November 2025. Students who have taken courses from the previous list before AY2025-26, Semester 2 will still have those courses counted towards the fulfilment of the Second Major in Sustainability.
* Pre-requisites apply
Please find the curriculum for Bachelor of Science in Environmental Earth Systems Science with Second Major in Sustainability here.
| Helpful Links | |
|---|---|
| NTU Second Major in Sustainability website | https://www.ntu.edu.sg/ase/admissions/undergraduate-programmes/second-major-in-sustainability |
| NTU Minor in Sustainability website | https://www.ntu.edu.sg/ase/admissions/undergraduate-programmes/minor-in-sustainability |
| UNITAR CIFAL NTU | https://www.ntu.edu.sg/about-us/sustainability/sustainability-education/cifal |
| General info about second majors (including embedded links about the double-counting policy) | https://www.ntu.edu.sg/education/degree-programmes#Content_C109_Col02 |
| Flexible Grading Option (FGO) on NTU Student Intranet | Flexible Grading Option (FGO) |
| Course Registration on NTU Student Intranet | Course Registration |