NUS guide: entering university! 🏫🎓💯

For those staying in halls, remember that you have an F&B cash value (close to $30) in your dining app that is expected to expire before 7 Dec 12 p.m./when you check-out, if you have not used it. This can be used at various canteens e.g. The Deck, YIH (you may also use the NUS SmartDining app — most stores listed there accept it). You may consider just loading up on snacks/canned drinks that are less perishable if you’re spending everything last minute. (Most snack/drink stores should accept the app). If you have leftover F&B cash but can’t be bothered to visit stores, I don’t think there is a way to transfer it to a friend who e.g. is still in campus and hasn’t checked out. This is unlike normal dining credits that are transferable. Of course, you might consider whether to give such friends access to your NUS Dining account to spend the F&B cash on your behalf (but this would mean trusting them with your NUS NET ID access since it’s the same account; that said, there is also 2FA anyway). If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

Stacking SEP awards/scholarships/bursaries: For those going on SEP, you may find that you are able to apply for various awards/scholarships/bursaries, either offered by NUS or your exchange uni/country. Each typically doesn't cover your full cost (instead being maybe a thousand/a few thousand dollars). However, most actually allow you to stack awards. In fact, the NUS Awards for Study Abroad ("NASA") awards are one of these: its terms state that "This award cannot be held concurrently with any other awards which do not allow award recipients to hold concurrent awards meant for overseas programme or the total sum of all concurrent awards meant for overseas programme has exceeded what is needed for the overseas programme." This may get misread as prohibiting holding of concurrent awards. What it is really saying is that you cannot hold it concurrently with an award that prohibits concurrent holding; most awards do not specify such a prohibition. Thus, it is possible to get e.g. the NASA award and stack it with another award (unless the other awards' terms prohibit concurrent awards). Reminder: the NASA award application deadline is tonight! If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

The exam results are expected to be released on 23 December. Although this is not shown on the NUS main website/schedule, at least one faculty has mentioned this in their documents (which should presumably apply to all faculties as the release date is the same). If you don't expect to perform well this semester, you may consider making applications for internships etc. before the results release. Also, note that Academic Plan Declaration (for Sem 2) opens on 30 December; this can allow you to declare your primary/second major/minor. This affects CourseReg, which opens on 2 January. Thus, although the deadline for academic plan declaration is 19 January, it may be a good idea to do this >24 hours before CourseReg (since it takes time for CourseReg to factor in your declaration). Typically, students may choose to be strategic and intentionally declare their first major/second major/minor to align with courses they plan to bid for (even if they are not actually sure they want to major/minor in that). This gives them priority over someone undeclared. (e.g. you want to take EC1101E although you have no plans on minoring/majoring in economics; by declaring economics to be your second major/minor, you'd have priority over someone who bid for it but didn't do so). For those of you still taking exams, all the best! 💯 If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

Just made an edit! The following programmes seem to have their applications open only on 3 Feb (as you enter these only in the subsequent AY), and it is that which is the only window you can apply for these: Architecture, Dentistry, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Nursing (CCP-RN Degree) and Pharmacy) Applications for these courses will have their Sem 1 uni performance considered, but your Sem 2 results are unlikely to matter as you would typically be offered before Sem 2 results release. —————— Are there other programmes I can enter mid-way? You could consider going from a single degree to a double degree. For e.g. https://bba.nus.edu.sg/academic-programmes/dcdp/ddp/ad-hoc-double-degrees/ You can do this at the end of your first year (or technically, even later). It appears that uni performance, especially if you took relevant courses, are particularly helpful here. You could also consider interdisciplinary programmes (e.g. if you have cleared PolSci/Econs/Philosophy courses and meet requirements, you can apply for PPE). https://chs.nus.edu.sg/programmes/ppe/ If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

🚨Transfer applications close on 12 Nov 1. How do transfers work? Your uni GPA might be considered, but your A-Level (or other pre-uni) grades still matter. It appears both may be taken into account. Thus, if you did well in uni, this might help you enter a course you previously could not enter. Unfortunately, if you’re in y1, you do not know your Sem 1 results yet when applying. The transfer outcome releases only from December, so it is still possible for the admissions office to consider your Sem 1 results. For some courses, the outcome is later than December e.g. if they involve shortlisting for interviews. Pre-uni grade requirements still apply (e.g. business which requires you to have passed math). The only additional step in your application (compared to normal uni admission applicants) is that you would be asked to explain your reason for wanting to transfer. 2. What if I was in the A-Level 90 RP system, where a contrasting H1/H2 subject and PW was required? Can I benefit from the 70 RP system now and exclude these? Nope; if your A-Level was in 2024 or before, these are still taken into account. Unfortunately, it is only in 2028 (which is probably too far away) that fresh NUS applications will exclude PW etc. from your University Admission Score computation even if you took the A-Levels in the old 90 RP system. 3. Is my graduation delayed? If you can count your past courses as UEs / if there are common courses, then your graduation may not be delayed at all. Even if not all courses can be transferred, you may consider overloading. However, this is not possible for courses like Medicine and Dentistry, due to lack of UEs in their curriculums for your past courses to be counted towards. Another difficulty is you cannot enter some programmes (Architecture, Dentistry, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Nursing (CCP-RN Degree) and Pharmacy) in sem 2 I.e. you only officially enter in in the subsequent AY. This means that if you cannot count 40 units for transfer, you may be delaying graduation by a year. As noted, this is so for courses with no UE space in their curriculum. If you delay graduation because e.g. you’re already y2 or it is to a course you can’t count units towards, there are MOE Tuition Grant implications (your excess semesters have no MOE Tuition Grant). However, NUS heavily subsidises the first two excess semesters so it’s not that bad a hike: First sem in excess: [Full semestral fees × Workload%] capped at [Subsidised semestral fees × 120%] Second sem in excess: [Full semestral fees × Workload%] capped at [Subsidised semestral fees × 150%] 4. What about Law? In 2023, NUS Law (in an effort to bring in interdisciplinary talents) introduced a pilot programme that smoothened transfers to law: this meant that for the first time, a transferee to law school would be able to count 40 units of his previous programme towards the law degree. Thus, if you’re in y1 now, this would mean no delay in graduation. Your former courses essentially replace what would typically be the “y4” of NUS Law which is a year students take electives. In fact, this rule was subsequently expanded and all NUS Law students can take up to 40 units of non-law courses in their senior years. Thus, a transferee to Law is basically doing what a typical law student could do, but in reverse order (i.e. instead of clearing law courses first and then non-law electives, the non-law electives have simply been cleared first before the law courses). To my knowledge, in the 2023 intake, there were only two transferees accepted out of many applicants. In the 2025 intake, it appears nine transferees were accepted, a drastic increase from what was once 0-2 transferees per year. Despite this increase, a transfer to law remains extremely competitive and constitutes a minority. Note: You still have to sit for the same written test and interview process as fresh applicants. If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

Thought I'd share another alternative way to get a discount on ChatGPT Plus (but it doesn't always work): if you subscribe to ChatGPT Plus for several months at full price (it is not clear how long this has to be), then try to cancel your ChatGPT plan, sometimes (and it isn’t clear when), when you try to cancel your plan, ChatGPT grants you the offer of getting 50% off your subsequent three months if paid upfront. However, this still means having to pay full price first (at ~25 SGD/month for an unclear number of months), and still having to pay ~$13 SGD per month even after getting 50% off (and this discounted period is only three months).  This alternative is admittedly still multiple times more expensive than what Circles.Life offers (https://t.me/ThisCounted/1307), which is an immediate 80% off discount and getting additional perks (the second number/4G plan, access to other tools), for always $5/month that’s cancellable anytime, which remains a more cost-effective way to access ChatGPT-5.  If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

For those who were interested, there's been an update to this!

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Also, a user posted the following (regarding taking a course on exchange without having cleared prerequisites, then taking the prerequisites later on, and trying to retrospectively map the course) on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/nus/s/e6wKQySl1c This might be noteworthy for those applying for exchange. We are not certain how it applies to different faculties, though, so it is best to check with your faculty if this was something you’re considering. If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

Upcoming applications: 1. if you want to transfer to another degree, the transfer application period is a brief one: 29 October 2025 to 12 November 2025 - I note that if you’re looking to transfer to one of the following courses (Architecture, Dentistry, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Nursing (CCP-RN Degree) and Pharmacy) this window is especially important as you cannot apply to transfer into these during the Sem 2 transfer window i.e. you can only apply in the upcoming period. - If you’re just looking to change major but have the same degree, then this process can generally be skipped; you may be able to simply opt for a different major during the next academic plan declaration which is usually straightforward. - It may be possible to transfer degrees without delaying graduation nor overloading; this may depend on whether your courses so far can be turned into UEs, if there are common courses, or if the faculty you’re entering into has certain policies to allow such transfers to be smoothened. - @NUSguide will share more tips/advice on this on a later date 2. Application for Sem 2 stay in Halls, Houses, Student Residences & RCs (for those who are not currently staying and want to) is open from 1-6 November. - However, as I have shared before, halls mainly accept Sem 2 residents via a separate “Master’s List” process which involves an interview with the hall (usually with its JCRC, a student committee). This typically requires you to get a recommendation from an existing resident, although the exact policy differs from hall to hall. Thus, applying for a hall purely on UHMS (the nus housing portal) without going through the Master’s List process is unlikely to be successful. If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

^^ you can view their FAQ to understand how the bonus ThisCounted up to $60 works! https://t.me/ThisCounted/1292 I realise this is actually one of the first times that you’re able to get a newly launched accessory alongside the Back to School Sales (e.g. the Apple AirPods Pro 3 that just launched which has had rather positive reviews/live translation features), since it so happens that the new product launch happened before the Back to School Sales has ended. I’ve also previously shared how a benefit of an iPad is that it can act as a second screen, which may help with productivity—a benefit I took a while to realise:

If you already got your laptop, an iPad does have an extra perk of acting as a “second monitor” (other than just a larger easy-to-take-around/easy-to-scribble-on device) that some are unaware of! https://support.apple.com/en-sg/102597 This is most seamless if your laptop is already a MacBook; you simply go to the extended display setting, and this can work with your iPad unconnected to the MacBook. For windows laptops, it’s less direct, but there are easy workarounds to still allow for it after connecting a USB cable (specialised but free apps like Spacedesk). A second display screen might be helpful for productivity: e.g. one device for playing a lecture video/displaying reading material, and the other device for note-taking/writing (or in some courses, programming).

An iPad is very portable, so you can use this as a second screen even if you typically study outside (which is how I’ve personally used it). If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

Last Chance: Apple Store Online’s Back to School Offer (ends 30 September) 💻 🟢 Maximise your student benefits with ThisCounted’s exclusive link — Get bonus Apple Store Gift Card/cash on top of Apple’s offer. This year, depending on what product you purchase, you may be able to choose a different accessory for the bundle offer: the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad. The AirPods Pro 3 is also available for selection as a step-up option. 📒 Purchases must be through our unique link ( bit.ly/ThisCounted ) and follow the tracking steps below. 📘  Bonus Apple Store Gift Card or cash valued at up to $60 (with min. guaranteed value of $30) is provided in addition to Apple's Back to School offer. 🍪 Steps for successful tracking: 1. Ensure that you’re using ThisCounted’s link ( bit.ly/ThisCounted ) when making your purchase; you will need to enter this again when actually checking out (Step 2). Your browser should allow cookies to be tracked. 2. After student/staff status verification, enter bit.ly/ThisCounted again 🚨(UNiDAYS may redirect you incorrectly, so just re-enter our link after student/staff status verification. i.e. Re-enter bit.ly/ThisCounted again on the same tab when you reach the final check-out page; your cart should still be saved)  📘 T&C apply (refer to the image and Apple’s T&C) 🔴 Bonus Apple Store Gift Card/cash only for those who make verified purchases through ThisCounted’s link from now till 30 September. Fill this claim form after your purchase (and to indicate preference of Apple Store Gift Card/cash) : https://forms.gle/Xf1DGXvD2mVAzAEw5 Questions? Reach out to us at ThisCountedBiz@gmail.com or @ThisCountedSupportBot ——— FAQ and more student deals: @ThisCounted

1. Are there any practical incentives for joining NUS CCAs? Since some faculty clubs are still co-opting for management committee roles and most are currently recruiting subcomm members, here’s a timely note for those who are interested: there might be a benefit to securing student housing. The Residence Admission Scheme does not apply to halls/RCs, but for the residences e.g. PGPR/UTown Residence. The cap (refer to remarks column) means that each student club is only able to nominate a few individuals for the RAS. For SEP (student exchange programme), faculties like business that have a point system take into account CCA involvement and leadership. Most faculties are focused purely on GPA, though. Of course, there may be other less direct benefits e.g. to your CV/interview answers/getting to know more ppl. —- 2. 💻🍎Also, the @ThisCounted / Apple Back to School Sales promo returned and ends on 30 September (this gives you extra up to $60 on top of the usual Apple perks like free AirPods/Apple Pencil etc. for students when you order with ThisCounted’s link). View more here: https://t.me/ThisCounted/1291 — 3. P.S. reminder that W grade / course drop period ends this weekend! — If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

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Reminder that the deadline to drop a course is 28 September, for it to only reflect as a W grade on your transcript which will not affect your GPA! Also, you can check out the following promo to save on costs if you see yourself needing ChatGPT Plus especially during your recess week revision/submissions. If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

Bots for matching: With some questionable bots/apps out there that you may want to steer clear of, here are some that are NUSSU-supported or have student verification/safety features that allow you to match and chat anonymously until both parties are comfortable with exchanging tele handles (the bot acts as a middleman so that chats are anonymous!) These bots are from the creator of the original uni matching bots that were viral in 2021/2022, during the pandemic, across unis and has been used by tens out thousands of users across the years (https://www.tiktok.com/@nicolettecalliewe/video/6973191836521237762 | https://www.tiktok.com/@ninjabread_/video/6971050102278360321) The original bot is @nuschatbot , but albeit it being faster to get a match, the following bots were updated versions with better safety mechanisms. Do refer to this list below as there have been copy-cat versions not by the same creator, which may be less safe! NUSSU-supported bot @nusmatchbot : opt to match only with verified NUS students, match by faculty/batch/gender, and goals! This may be used for making friends or getting helpful senior advice too. 🎓 @simplymeetbot : match by location; chats reset at 10 am daily, and you can opt to meet with verified students who are already near you. This is meant for meet-ups for lunch/dinner/activities etc. (you can set various goals) on the day itself. This is meant for wholesome meet-ups, and there isn’t gender selection by default. 🤝 @cupidsgbot : unlike the above bots, this bot is geared more towards dating, and you can match by MBTI and specific dating goals! 💘 Nonetheless, stay safe and limit the personal info you share when chatting! If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

Quick Access Tips For Mobile Key (those staying in hall/dorm) or quick access to other apps (e.g. NUS Bus time app) Taking advantage of the Shortcuts App (iPhone) - For those staying in dorms, one inconvenience may be the Mobile Key app (as the physical card for accessing rooms is increasingly phased out). To cut down on the number of steps needed to open the app each time you want to access a room, you may find this convenient: Step 1: Create a shortcut “Open App” which will open “NUS Mobile Key” app (or another app you prefer). Step 2: Option A: If you’re on iPhone 15/16, the “action button” which is the default ring/silent button may be replaced to activate a shortcut. Search “action button” in settings. This way, whenever you press the physical button on your iPhone, the NUS Mobile Key app opens instantly. Option B: Settings > Accessiblity > Touch > Back Tap Set the device such that when you tap the back of your iPhone twice (double tap), the “Open App” shortcut activates. Note: this may be also for other purposes [P.S. I’m not familiar with Android, unfortunately, but I believe there are equivalent features you can consider including third-party apps] — Timetable This one is quite straightforward: if your phone’s homescreen wallpaper is not put to good use, you can consider just having it replaced with your NUSmods timetable (you may set the nusmods timetable view to “Vertical”, take a screenshot, and set it as your Lock Screen wallpaper). This may make it more convenient whenever you want to check your schedule! If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

What happens if I still do not secure a tutorial swap after the Add/Swap period (ends 5 p.m. today)? After 5 p.m., you may begin appealing to your course's host department. Limited reasons are accepted for appeals. You may attempt this if you have any extenuating circumstances. ------------- It’s been said that if your NUS course timetable has a clash from other courses such that you have no choice but to take another tutorial at a particular timing, and you didn’t manage to secure that, an email appeal to the faculty/course department may stand a chance at succeeding. On an extreme, some seniors have gone to the extent of intentionally causing a schedule clash in an attempt to get the tutorial slot they want (of course, it is probably too late for you to do that now even if you wanted to). On an even greater extreme, some realise that when appeals to course host departments are made, host departments may not know your actual timetable especially if it consists of other faculties' courses in the mix. They thus send an image of a false nusmods.com timetable that shows a “clash” between the undesired tutorial slot and another course. This probably only works in the following sequence: E.g. the course has two tutorial slots, tut 1 and tut 2 (and the student doesn’t want tut 2) Round 1: he bids only for tut 1 (fail) Round 2: he bids only for tut 1 (fail) Add/Swap: skip/ don’t bother adding tut 2 Appeal to course’s host department, claiming he didn’t bid for tut 2 due to a “clash” with another course (from a different department/faculty). This is because if he didn’t want tut 2, but was allocated it in Round 1 or 2, then to claim a clash would be more clearly disingenuous: edurec would not have allowed him to pick tut 2 if there were a clash. The above sequence of events may stand a chance of success because he was never allocated tut 2, and is able to claim he didn’t select it due to a clash, with the course host department possibly unable to verify on its own if there is truly a clash. (However, such a request may still be rejected / you may instead be given the option to drop the course if they really are unable to add more vacancies). -------------- Of course, we don't promote unethical loopholes here, so this is shared purely for informational purposes. Although understandable in some unfortunate circumstances, turning to the aforementioned approach remains wrong and discouraged (students may also potentially face disciplinary action if caught, so do be mindful of that). If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

Round 2 results officially release on tomorrow, 18 August at 9 a.m. (but it’s apparently already visible unofficially if you check now!); what is important is that the add/swap tutorial option also opens at 9 a.m. The add/swap is first come first serve (this is unlike all the previous rounds!) Thus, you’d want to be awake at 9 a.m. to have your first pick at any remaining vacancies (if you need them). Requests to add/swap are processed at regular intervals: you’ll be shown the number of “matching requests” when you try to swap. Typically, swapping with friends would mean to coordinate to submit, at the same time, aligned swap requests and hope the system swaps both of you successfully. The course/faculty groups we shared earlier on our channel are helpful for this and you can start searching ahead of time for one-one swaps since the swap period is short, ending at 5 p.m. If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻