Curriculum Overview

At CoE, we aim to nurture a new generation of leaders and professionals with character, cognitive agility and competence to impact the world and its grand challenges. Our curriculum is reviewed regularly to ensure that it is updated, industry-relevant and that students are exposed to real-world developments such as globalisation, sustainability and technopreneurship. As a research-intensive university, our faculty are at the forefront of knowledge creation and technological innovation. 

The following highlights some of the key features of CoE’s curriculum.

Broad-based Curriculum

To succeed in the dynamic global workplace, a broad body of knowledge and skillsets is necessary. At CoE, we design our undergraduate curriculum to provide a holistic education and create diverse opportunities to harness the talents of students. With the world's problems becoming increasingly more complex, we prepare and empower our graduates to be future-ready through a rigorous yet flexible, broad-based and multidisciplinary curriculum that integrates core disciplinary knowledge with Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core (ICC) courses that address global challenges and key transferable skills. The ICC promotes and enables interdisciplinary collaboration by providing students the opportunity to attend classes with students from other disciplines. This allows students to experience learning, collaborating and problem-solving in multidisciplinary teams to create more holistic and sustainable solutions, a prelude to professional practice upon graduation.

CoE’s curriculum also offers students the flexibility to direct their learning according to their interests and abilities. Using the free electives provided in their curriculum structure wisely, students can make the most of their time at NTU by exploring a minor, tinker in one of the Makers’ Labs, or even launch their first start-up.

Global Exposure

With over 350 premier partner universities in nearly 40 countries, NTU’s global programmes allow students to advance their knowledge and learning as well as acquire a global edge through the opportunity to study, work or research at some of the most renowned institutions in the world, including Australian National University, Cambridge University, Imperial College Long, King's College, Northwestern University, Peking University, Royal Academy of Art, Technische Universitat Muchen, University of British Columbia, University of California, Berkeley and Wageningen University. 

Through the experience, students are able to move out of their comfort zone to broaden their horizons, connect with people from various nationalities and learn about their culture and way of life, develop global perspectives, and network with peers and professors from other prestigious universities. See Global Programmes for more information. 

Research Opportunities

Research and development is the key to growth and competitiveness for both the college and university, and therefore an integral part of the undergraduate curriculum. To kindle students’ interest in research as well as propagate the research culture on campus, NTU offers research opportunities such as the CN Yang Scholars Programme, Undergraduate Research Experience on Campus (URECA) and Undergraduate Research Opportunity Programme (UROP). View Research Programmes for more information. 

At CoE, we advocate learning beyond the classroom and encourage students to think outside the box to develop creative solutions. We nurture our students to become problem-solvers and innovators and provide them with a collaborative and stimulating environment to build innovation into their daily learning experience. Partnering other colleges in the university, CoE students can now access the makers’ spaces in their schools and across the campus, including the Dyson-NTU Studio, a joint collaboration between Dyson Singapore and NTU and Dyson’s first on-campus engineering studio in Asia. Through this, we hope to encourage CoE students to collaborate with peers from different disciplines and work in teams to experiment, create, build and innovate. Check out our Makers' Labs here.

Professional Internship

NTU’s internship programmes help students gain a head-start towards their future careers by providing them with the opportunity to apply what they have learnt in the context of their classes to the real world. During their internship, students develop professionalism and good work ethics, while sharpening their interpersonal and communications skills.

CoE students usually undertake internship in their third year of study. They can work with a private or public organisation, locally or overseas. The Career and Attachment Office (CAO) works closely with schools and programmes to bring these opportunities to our students. The various internship options include:

• Professional Attachment (10 weeks)
• Professional Internship (20 weeks)
• Enhanced Professional Internship (30 weeks)

Find out more at Internship

Final Year Project

Final Year Project (FYP) provides the platform for graduating students to demonstrate their ability to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills gained from coursework and practicum, which in turn prepares them for the transition to the job market upon graduation. 

As would be expected of them when they enter professional practice upon graduation, students are required to undertake and manage a project independently to its successful completion. This includes being able to perform literature review, acquire technical knowledge of the subject matter independently, exercise critical evaluation skills, make sound decisions, manage time and other resources, write good technical reports and deliver presentations. 

Projects, which usually span one academic year, may include innovation and product development, software development, computer modelling and analysis, laboratory investigation, field testing and instrumentation, as well as feasibility study. Students may also undertake projects proposed by the industry, i.e. Industry-Sponsored Final Year Project (ISFYP). Interested students may enquire more from the undergraduate office of their respective school.
The following tables present the general curriculum structure of a single-degree Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Science programme as at AY2021-22. For further details on a specific programme, please refer to the relevant engineering school's website.
     
Table 1: Curriculum Structure for Bachelor of Engineering
​ Course Type​​AU
Major Requirement Core and Major PE ​82 - 87*

Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core (ICC)

Common Core
·  ​Inquiry and Communication in the Interdisciplinary World (2AU)
·  Navigating the Digital World (2AU)
·  Ethics & Civics in a Multicultural World (2AU)
·  Career and Entrepreneurial Development for the Future World (2AU)
·  Science & Technology for Humanity (3AU)
·  Sustainability: Society, Economy & Environment (3AU)
·  Healthy Living & Wellbeing (3AU)

17​
 Foundational Core
·  Engineering Communication (2AU)
·  Introduction to Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (3AU)
·  Professional Internship (10AU)
15
Broadening and Deepening Electives (BDE)  ​18 - 21​
Total 135 - 137*​

Students without 'A' Level Physics will take 'PH1012 Physics A' (4AU) and increase total AU by 1AU.

Information is accurate at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to update programme options and curricula without prior notice and obligation.  

Table 2: Curriculum Structure for Bachelor of Science (Maritime Studies)
​ Course Type​​AU
​Major Requirement​Core and Major PE​83

Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core (ICC)

Common Core
·  ​Inquiry and Communication in the Interdisciplinary World (2AU)
·  Navigating the Digital World (2AU)
·  Ethics & Civics in a Multicultural World (2AU)
·  Career and Entrepreneurial Development for the Future World (2AU)
·  Science & Technology for Humanity (3AU)
·  Sustainability: Society, Economy & Environment (3AU)
·  Healthy Living & Wellbeing (3AU)

17​
 Foundational Core
·  Communication 2 (2AU)
·  Introduction to Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (3AU)
·  Professional Internship (10AU)
15
Broadening and Deepening Electives (BDE) ​21​
Total136

Information is accurate at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to update programme options and curricula without prior notice and obligation.