MSc FAQs
1. Application Information
Am I able to apply to enrol in individual courses without doing the complete MSc?
Yes, it is possible to apply as a Non Graduating Student. However places are limited. The application form is available form Graduate Studies Office, enquires should be forwarded to Graduate Studies (attn: Ms Chan Siew Mui). The approval is done by the school. There is a limit of 4 courses (this varies from school to school) that an individual can apply to take from a programme.
I am a foreign student. Can I apply for the part-time MSc by coursework programmes offered by SCE?
No. Because these are part-time programmes we only consider local applicants. That is you must already have residency status in Singapore ( Singapore Citizen, Singapore Permanent Residents, Employment Pass/ Work Permit/Dependant Pass holders).
I have applied and been accepted into one of the MSc programmes. Is it possible to defer?
Deferment of admission is not possible. A candidate who is unable to take up the offer of admission will need to re-apply afresh in the next round of applications.
2. Degree Candidature
I am unable to continue with my programme of study for a period of time. What should I do?
In order to be excused from your studies, you need to apply for Leave of Absence. This should be done on-line via GSLink.
I am reaching my maximum period of candidature but I don’t think I can complete my degree requirements by then. What should I do?
If you are undertaking the Coursework & Dissertation option, you should consider changing to the Coursework Only option of study and complete the remaining courses.
Otherwise, you can apply for extension of candidature but such a request is subject to the approval of the Programme Director and the Associate Chair (Research) - Computer Engineering. Please remember to state your reasons and the period of extension required in a formal letter addressed to the Graduate Studies Office. Do take note that you are liable for fees during the extended period of candidature. If your candidature has expired and you have not applied for extension, then your name will automatically be deleted from the University register.
Due to some unforseen circumstances, I wish to withdraw from my programme of study. What is the procedure?
If you wish to withdraw from your programme of study, you would need to write to GSO (through the school) officially. Please remember to state your reasons in the letter.
Can I convert from part-time candidature to a full-time candidature?
Conversion of candidature is solely on the discretion of the School. If your application for the conversion is approved, please take note of the implications of converting your candidature (particularly the maximum period of candidature and the tuition fees). Reverting back to part-time status is not allowed.
3. Course Registration
I have missed my period of registration. When can I register for my courses?
If you have missed the first registration period, you will have to register during the add/drop period. You are not allowed to register after this period.
If the period of my leave of absence falls within the registration period, can I still register for courses?
Yes. You must register for courses that you wish to undertake in the semester that you will be returning to study.
When is the appropriate time to check the date for registration?
The most appropriate time to check the date for registration will be after the release of your examination results.
How can I check if I have successfully registered for the courses I wish to undertake?
You can check the courses that you have successfully registered under the option 'Check Course Registration' from the Graduate Course Registration System.
How can I obtain information about classes?
You can do so by accessing 'Class Timetable' through the Graduate Course Registration System.
When is the class schedule for the semester usually released?
You can check the class timetable for the coming semester after your examinations.
If there were changes in the class schedule during the registration period, how would I be notified?
If you have registered in a course and its class timetable has been changed, you will be notified through your student email account.
How many courses can I register for in each semester?
A maximum of 3 courses for a part-time MSc and a maximum of 5 courses for a full-time MSc. For more details, please refer to the 'Instructions' option from the Graduate Course Registration System.
I want to register for an elective offered by another school. Is this possible?
Some programmes allow electives from other schools. If you are interested, you will need to check with the relevant Programme Director from SCE and lecturer (of the school that offer the programme) to see if he think you can cope with the course. If they support it, you will need to obtain formal approval for these electives by filling up a form.
Upon completion of Section A of the form, please submit it to SCE Graduate Office (Blk N4, 02C-120) before the application deadline. The SCE Graduate Office will consolidate all requests and send them for approval in batches. With approval from both schools, a letter will be written to Graduate Studies Office for manual registration.
4. Dissertation Matters
When should I select my option of study? (This applies for Part-time Students Only)
The Graduate Studies Office (GSO) has an On-Line System for all students to select their option of study. Please do NOT select this option before your second year of study, and under NO circumstances should you select the Project+Dissertation option. The reason being, that this is the default option and selecting it will limit your future options unnecessarily. In addition, please read the GSO instructions carefully before making any selection.
I selected the “Coursework Only” option of study and now want to revert back to the “Coursework & Dissertation” option of study. Is this possible? (This applies for Part-time Students Only)
Reverting back to the Coursework & Dissertation option of study is not encouraged. It is possible though on a case by case basis. You need to send a formal application addressed to the Dean, Graduate Studies Office, through the Associate Chair (Research) - Computer Engineering, SCE and the relevant Programme Director.
Is it possible to do the Directed Reading course and the Dissertation?
The independent study course BI/DM/ES6129: Directed Reading is compulsory only if you select the Coursework Only option of study. This applies to Part-time students only. For Part-time students, if you are undertaking the Coursework & Dissertation option of study, the directed reading course can be treated as an elective. For Full-time students, you have only the single option of study, i.e. Coursework & Dissertation.
When must I register for my Dissertation Title?
Part-time students undertake their dissertation in their second year of study. A student must register his/her project using the on-line "MSc Dissertation Topic Proposal" form before the start of the second year of study. Prior discussion with the possible supervisor is essential before he/she makes the proposal. For Full-time students, you are required to register for your topic in the first 4 weeks of the programme and undertake full-time for the remainder of the programme. Similarly, prior discussion with the possible supervisor is essential before he/she makes the proposal.
I have completed my coursework requirements but not the dissertation. Do I need to pay fees?
Yes, you are still registered for the dissertation, therefore you need to pay fees. If you submit the dissertation within the first 2 weeks of semester you are not required to pay fees for that semester.
When is the deadline to submit the Dissertation Reports?
If you wish to attend the following convocation, the results need to be forwarded from the school to Graduate Studies Office soon after the end of examinations. Thus, the 2 ring-bound copies of your Dissertation must reach your supervisor well before the last day of the semester that you are graduating. This is to allow time for examining, undertaking any amendments, and for the examination reports to be circulated.
5. Other Administrative Matters
How do I check the status of my dissertation report after submitting it to the School?
The school will inform you via email through your NTU account when a PDF file of the final version of the thesis has been submitted by your supervisor and the Chair-Computer Engineering has recommended for a "PASS". The process usually takes around 4 weeks after you made the final amendment required by the examiner. If you do not receive any news from the school after 4 weeks, it is best to informally contact your supervisor.
Below shows the flow of thesis routing procedure.
- Student submits thesis to supervisor.
- Supervisor forwards thesis to Programme Director.
- Programme Director forwards thesis to assigned examiner for review.
- Examiner returns thesis to Programme Director.
Programme Director
a. Forwards to supervisor for student to do correction. (Repeat Step 1).
b. Forwards final thesis to Head of Department.
- Head of Department makes recommendation and passes to Associate-Chair (Research) - Computer Engineering.
- School informs student whether a "PASS" has been recommended or re-submission of thesis is required.
How should I apply for a Letter of Certification for my post- graduate studies at NTU?
You can send your request directly to Graduate Studies Office or submit the on-line application form obtained via GSLink.
How do I register for my calculator?
You can register your calculator during office hours, click here for detail. A seal will be given to your calculator if its model is in the school’s list of approved calculators.
Can I obtain the various forms on-line?
Yes. All forms are avaliable from the Handbook for MSc Students, accessible from the school’s MSc (by Coursework) web page. http://www.ntu.edu.sg/sce/msc-coursewk.asp.
