To win a place in the increasingly popular
computer science course at the National University of Singapore
(NUS), students need at least two As for their A levels.
Next year though, students eyeing the degree can take
up a computer programming course at NUS and, if they do well, gain
fast-track admission into the degree course even though their
grades may fall short.
NUS provost Tan Eng Chye, who was yesterday named its
president-designate, said the university is looking at admitting
more students by assessing their aptitude for a field of study.
Currently, only about 12 per cent of the 7,000 freshmen
- in courses such as medicine, law and architecture - are assessed
on their aptitude for a course, through interviews, portfolios and
entrance tests. Most are admitted based on their A-level,
International Baccalaureate or polytechnic diploma exam
results.
Prof Tan is known for introducing bold changes,
including allowing students to write off their grades for up to
eight modules in the first year.
The aim is to reduce academic stress and encourage
students to explore subjects outside their specialisation.
The scheme has proven to be popular with its first-year
students, with over 80 per cent choosing to drop their grade for at
least one module.
Prof Tan said NUS is also looking at allowing
flexibility to students to take a gap year during their
studies.
"Students may want to break up their undergraduate
degree into two parts - he or she may study for two years, perhaps
go out to work for two years and come back after that to complete
their degree," he said.
As part of efforts to promote lifelong learning, Prof
Tan also announced that the university will be opening up 5,000
places a year for the next five years to NUS alumni and all
Singaporeans to take up courses at NUS.
TNP