CSC Phase 1 FAQs

Command and Staff Course

    1. When does the SAF-NTU CE Master’s Programme start?
    The Command and Staff Course is scheduled from January to end October at the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College. After completion of the CSC programme, SAF officers may proceed to start the NTU full-time Master’s Programme.

    The full-time Master’s programme, applicable to the current year CSC cohort, will start in Trimester 2, November (for the NBS/RSIS programmes) and Semester 2, January of the following year (for the CoE/WKWSCI/NIE/NCPA programmes). Qualifying officers studying at GKS CSC will need to apply for the full-time programme by March.

    Officers who wish to commence their studies in the year(s) after CSC are expected to commence their studies from Trimester 1/ Semester 1 of the Academic Year which starts in July/August except for programmes which has an intake in January. This applies to both the full-time and part-time students. 


    2. Can non-graduate CSC officers benefit from CE?
    NTU cannot enrol non-graduate officers into its Master's programme. To address the CE needs of non-graduate SAF officers, Bachelor’s degrees from Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) are offered and eligible officers can choose from a range of SUSS's regular or customised undergraduate programmes.


    ​3.  What are the CE Master’s courses offered at Phase 1?
    The 4 main NTU accredited courses are Leadership in Context, Leadership Development in Organisation, The Evolution of Strategic Thought and The Analysis of Defence and Security Policies. Specific-to-Service NTU accredited courses, Maritime Security Studies and Airpower Studies are also offered.

    Officers attending CSC need to choose any of the 4 main courses (subject to a minimum of 2) to be completed up to NTU accreditation requirements. They will still have to go through the remaining courses that are not chosen for accreditation but with less assignment and assessment.

    4. Credit Transfer for the CE Master’s courses

    • What is the minimum requirement for all/the combination of the NTU accredited CE Master’s courses to be transferred as course credits to Phase 2?

      Officers who are interested in the NBS/CoE/WKWSCI/NIE/NCPA programmes will have to obtain a minimum Grade Point of 2.5 for each of the CE Master’s courses completed in Phase 1 (subject to minimum of 2 main NTU accredited courses).

      Officers who intend to apply to the RSIS programmes, a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.5 or more for the combination of CE Master’s courses completed in Phase 1 is required (subject to minimum of 2 main NTU accredited courses).

      The number of course credits for transfer (up to 4 course credits) will depend on which NTU Master's progamme the officers intend to apply to.

    • Are the international officers eligible for the SAF-NTU CE Master's programme in terms of credit transfer and the 7-year arrangement for Phase 2?
      For international officers, including MHA officers, credit transfer would be handled by SNA. The 7-year arrangement however would be not applicable.

    • Will NTU recognise credits from other universities that are earned by SAF CSC officers?
      NTU will process such applications on a case-by-case basis.

    5. If I have registered for 4 CE Master’s courses to be completed up to NTU accreditation requirements, can I withdraw later on and just complete the minimum requirement of 2 courses up to accreditation?
    No. After the Phase 1 course registration deadline in February, no withdrawal of courses is allowed. As an enrolled student, you will have to submit the additional assignment/exam, failing which, a) it will be deemed that you have sat and failed the course and a grade “F” will be reflected in the Record of Courses, b) GKS CSC will be informed as the course fee has already been paid for you. 


    6. What courses should I register for in Phase 1 if I intend to commence the MSc (Strategic Studies) immediately after CSC under FPSL sponsorship?

    You are required to complete ADSP & EST and any 2 of the 4 (LC, LDO, MSS & APS). ADSP and EST are core courses and hence compulsory if you wish to start the programme in November immediately after CSC.

    7. Referring to the course credit transfer table, some CSC courses are indicated as ½ course credit. If I complete the courses up to accredited level, does that mean I will only get a ½ credit?
    For credit transfer to some programmes, ie MSc Supply Chain Engineering and the NIE programmes, the identified CSC courses are ½ course credit each. You need to do the courses up to accredited level to get the ½ credit. However, do note that you cannot transfer ½ credit only over to the Master’s programme. For course credit transfers, you need to transfer at least 1 course credit (combine two ½ course credits).

    8. If the NTU Master’s programmes can accept 4 CE Master’s courses as credit transfer but I have only registered for 2 CE Master’s courses during CSC, can I just top up the additional exam/assignment for the 2 courses when I attend the Master’s programme?
    No. If you transfer only 2 courses over to the Master’s programme, you need to take all the remaining courses fully during the Master’s programme, ie, attend all the lessons and complete all the assessment requirements. The courses conducted during CSC are different from the Master’s programmes hence you are not able to just “top up” to the max credit transfer later on. “Topping up” the additional exam/assignment with the future CSC batches are also not allowed.


    9.     If I do not register for courses to be done up to accredited level during CSC, do I re-take the same courses during Phase 2?
    The courses offered in Phase 1 (CSC Phase) and Phase 2 are different. Depending on the number of credit transfer you are given, you are to take the remaining courses in Phase 2 to graduate. 

    However, for MSc (Strategic Studies), ADSP and EST taught at CSC are core courses for the MSc (SS) programme. If you did not take the ADSP and EST courses during CSC, you need to take the entire course again during Phase 2 (in-phase enrolment as the courses are offered in Trimester 1 (Aug to Oct).   


    10.     How do I qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Military Leadership?
    The Graduate Diploma in Military Leadership will be conferred after the student has completed 5 CE Master’s courses in Phase 1 up to NTU accreditation requirement (each course’s grade point of at least 2.5), AND after successful completion of the NTU Master’s degree programme in Phase 2.