FAQ

1. Briefly describe the curriculum for the Renaissance Engineering Programme (REP).

REP provides a broad-based, interdisciplinary engineering education, which integrates engineering, science, business, technology management and humanities. Students learn the fundamental courses in engineering and science, business, management, leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and ethics, developing a strong scientific foundation. These then lead to studies on more specialised engineering skills in a particular discipline of the students' choice and business know-how relevant to particular areas of study. The curriculum is thus uniquely designed to nurture engineering leaders with an entrepreneurial spirit to serve society with integrity and excellence. It is a dual degree that is obtained in 4.5 years.

Students also undergo an intensive, rigorous and structured leadership program unique to REP during their undergraduate in Year 2 and again after they return from overseas in Year 4.​

2. What is the name of the degree and who will award the degree?

Students will be awarded a Bachelor of Engineering Science with specialisation in a particular engineering discipline coupled with a Master of Science in Technology Management. The Bachelor is awarded by the College of Engineering, while the Master is awarded by Nanyang Business School.

3. What is the difference between REP and taking engineering with a 2nd major in Business?

REP is a premier engineering programme to nurture students as future leaders of industry. It provides a broad-based, interdisciplinary engineering education integrating engineering, science, business, technology management and humanities.  It allows one to obtain dual degrees within 4.5 years: a Bachelor of Engineering Science (Engineering Specialisation) and a Master of Science (Technology Management). Engineering and Business subjects are taken by students from Year 1.  In Year 2 and 4, there is also a leadership skills development programme. Students spend Year 3 overseas at one of the renowned overseas partner universities*. The five overseas partner universities are University of California, Berkeley (UCB), Imperial College London (ICL), University of British Columbia (UBC), University of Toronto (UofT) and University of Waterloo (UW).  The pedagogy adopted for this programme is team-based learning. It enhances learning of valuable soft skills such as teamwork, leadership and influencing skills and improves the overall learning experience. ​ 

REP integrates engineering and business together in its curriculum and courses. For example, in Fundamentals of Management, management principles are examined in the context of engineering and high technology companies and students work on team projects that require students to integrate engineering knowledge and design with business model innovation. 

*subject to change without notice

4. Would the curriculum in REP be too generalised and not specialised enough to get a job when the students graduate?

Students would be exposed to a strong foundation in both Engineering and Business and they also take on a specialisation during the course. As a result, they will acquire both technical and management skills and knowledge which will ease them into their first job.

5. Can students just graduate with a BSC (Engineering Science) in their chosen specialisation, and exit from the program without proceeding to do the MSc?

Students will need to complete the MSc programme as part of the course requirements.
6. What is the pedagogy adopted in REP?

Lessons are conducted in Team-Based Learning (TBL) pedagogy, which provides a transformational, highly interactive and learner-driven educational experience. This new approach enhances the learning of soft-skills such as teamwork and leadership and influencing skills. It also helps to improve the overall learning experience and effectiveness of the learning of the course content.
 
7. REP adopts Team-Based Learning pedagogy, will it take up a lot of time to prepare for lessons each time?

TBL can be considered a subset of flipped classroom. Instead of attending passive lectures and spending time outside of class to work on tutorial questions and going through solutions in classes, students prepare for classes by going through materials such as interactive video segments, readings and self-paced exercises first. When attending class, students first work on individual questions to check the understanding of the pre-class materials, then work in teams on the same questions to confirm their grasp on the content. Students will further work on more complex questions as a team to offer the solution. Thus, the time spent in class and outside class will be similar, and it allows more self-paced study.
8. What are the areas of specialisation students can choose from? Is there a quota for each of the specialisation?

Students can choose from these specialisations: Aerospace Engineering, Bioengineering, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Materials Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.  

There is no quota set by the Engineering Schools and the College of Computing and Data Science. 

9. Which is the most popular specialisation?

The top 2 choices for past cohorts are Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering.

However, it is important to note that what may be popular today may not be popular tomorrow. Students are encouraged to follow their heart and not be narrowly focusing in a specialisation. It is important to be flexible and gain more knowledge along the way.​


10. When must students indicate their specialisation as well as their place of study in Year 3?

Students have to indicate their choice of specialisation at the end of Year 1.

11. What are the primary differences between the overseas universities* in the US (Berkeley), London (Imperial) and Canada (University of British Columbia, University of Toronto and University of Waterloo)?

REP students should expect differences in culture and environment during their experiences in University of California, Berkeley (UCB), Imperial College London (ICL),  University of British Columbia (UBC), University of Toronto (UofT) and University of Waterloo (UW). In addition, each partner university has different characteristics. For UCB, the focus is more on entrepreneurial start-up. For ICL, the focus is more on Aerospace. For UBC, it is more on their inter-disciplinary collaboration. For UofT, there is a strong focus in innovation and diverse student life. For UW, the focus is on problem-based and experiential learning.

Before you make a decision, it is advisable to talk to seniors who have already been to these places. In addition, there are resources available online that reflect the academic strengths of the different schools. REP students can decide on the place that best suits their needs. In terms of professional attachment arrangement, students heading to ICL will start their professional attachment before the start of their 3rd academic year while those in UCB, UBC, UofT and UW will do it at the end of their 3rd academic year.

*subject to change without notice

12. Can one take more courses or change modules when overseas?
 
REP values the vast experiences from different culture, people, business environment and geography – these are deemed to be equally important and hence would discourage students to change courses or take more modules. Do not be crammed with a lot of intense new curriculum. It is by intentional design that REP looks at modules mapping carefully with the overall objective kept in focus.
13. What kind of professional attachment opportunities can students enjoy?

Students will be able to do a 10-week professional attachment in US, Europe or Singapore. The professional attachment can be self-sourced or placed by the Career & Attachment Office. It can be in private organisations or start-ups. Examples of organisations which students had interned include Amazon, Dyson, Micron, Merck & Co., Cisco Systems, Shopee Singapore and Apple South Asia. For students who are on an external scholarship, depending on the needs of the organisation sponsoring the scholarship, some may have to fulfil their professional attachment locally. 

14. Can students take on more than one professional attachment in the REP?

Only one professional attachment is counted as part of curriculum requirement. However, students can have the option to do extra non-credit internship during their semester breaks, especially between Year 4 and 5.
 
15. How are students linked up with the companies for professional attachment?
 
NTU Career & Attachment Office is the party that will help in the professional attachment process. The professional attachment can be self-sourced or placed by the Career & Attachment Office. Students who wish to source for their own professional attachment will have to submit the respective documents to CAO by the stipulated deadline. Depending on the nature of the professional attachment, students may or may not be paid during the course of the professional attachment. REP students should be reminded that a salary is a bonus and the primary objective of a professional attachment is to get the necessary workplace experience. The contacts made might also be helpful in their future career. With effect from AY2023 cohort, Professional Attachment will be letter-graded.
16. Nine batches of REP students had graduated. Where and what are the students working at now? 
 
Our ninth batch of students have just graduated this year. Our graduates have been able to secure good jobs in a diverse range of industries.  

REP graduates secured engineering jobs in the public sector, or private sector such as internet and information technology, petrochemical, electrical & electronics, and financial sector. A small proportion of graduates have also initiated their own start-ups.

17. What skills can a REP student bring to his/her job?

REP is a broad-based programme. Skills such as engineering, communication and teamwork are particularly useful for your first job. The broad-based education in REP offers a good launchpad for those starting in their first jobs. Other than the technical knowledge they bring to their first job, they will also be able to tap on their business knowledge such as accounting, management and financial management and play an effective role in balancing both the technical and business aspects on the first job.

18. Can students take up external company's scholarship even when they are holding on to REP scholarship?

Yes, but the existing REP scholarship will cease once the company scholarship takes effect. Students are advised to seek the advice of the Scholarship Department and REP Office.

19. Do students need to maintain a minimum of cGPA to keep the scholarship?

Students need to maintain a minimum cGPA of 3.75 (for offers made from AY2017 onwards) to keep the scholarship.

20. How do students go about purchasing a laptop with the one-off computer allowance from REP scholarship?

After students have matriculated in August, the one-off computer allowance will be credited to students in September. There is no need to submit any claim. 

21. Are there plans for full accreditation for the Renaissance Engineering Programme?

In June 2024, EAB has awarded REP full accreditation for the Bachelor of Engineering Science (Engineering Specialisation) degree for students graduating in the academic years 2023/2024 to 2027/2028.
22. How is the REP students' learning experience like?

REP is committed to provide students with various opportunities to explore their interests, meet and work with like-minded individuals on meaningful projects and have an enriching and rewarding student life.

We work closely with the REClub to co-organise events, or to provide mentorship and support to student-led initiatives. Some examples of student-led initiatives supported by the REP Office include Makers' Lab which is an ongoing project for students to create innovative solutions to real world engineering problems; Transition and Orientation Programme which is an annual week-long freshmen orientation programme; REPlay which is an annual showcase of talent in sports and performing arts; HEAL which is overseas service learning and REPertoire which is the performing arts branch of REClub.

23. How do students apply for their hall?

All REP freshmen are required to stay in the North Hill halls for the first year. Students will need to apply for Binjai, Tanjong or Banyan Hall via Hall OnLine Application (HOLA), and will be assigned to either one of these 3 halls.

Please click here to find more out about hall accommodation.

24. Do REP students need to enrol in any courses during Special Term to clear some of his/her courses before school officially starts in August? 

There is no need for REP students to clear modules before school starts officially in August.