1. DECISION MAKING
Did you go to JC/Poly? Which subjects did you take?
I went to JC, and I took PCME. I really enjoyed Physics, Economics and GP!
Which courses were you considering? Which universities were you considering for this course?
I always knew I wanted to study something related to the social sciences, so back when I was in J2, I only focused on the social science section on the university pamphlets. I’ve always enjoyed learning about politics, so I knew I wanted to do something related to politics in uni.
I only applied to NTU and NUS, and I didn’t consider the other universities mainly because I knew what I wanted at the point of application. I didn’t consider SMU/Yale-NUS because of the high school fees!
My application choices were, in order:
NTU – Economics and PPGA, Economics, PPGA, Communication Studies
NUS – Economics with a Minor in Business Analytics, Arts and Social Sciences
I also applied to the UK in my J2 year, and got a few conditional offers to study Economics and Social Policy, but I didn’t go through with them eventually.
I think even as I neared the end of J2, I still didn’t have a good idea of what I wanted to major in. It was only after my first internship with MOE after A-Levels that I decided that I wanted to study something that could aid me in a career in the public service/social service sector.
If you’re still unsure of what you want to do in university, make use of your post A-Levels break to take up internships and explore your interests. Internships are the best way to figure out if a certain industry is suitable for you, and it is a great opportunity for you to speak to people who have been in the profession for a period of time.
Why NTU over NUS?
Public Policy as an Undergraduate Degree
I chose NTU mainly because they offered public policy as an undergraduate major. In NUS, you can only study public policy/administration at a graduate level, so I gravitated towards PPGA in NTU. But now that I’ve gone through NTU PPGA, I’d say it resembles a political science course more than a public administration course. However, if you want a more rigorous education in the political sciences, NUS Political Science will probably fit the bill much better.
NUS FASS
For NUS FASS, you’ll be spending your first year doing general modules in FASS. Since I knew that I wanted to study economics or PPGA/Political Science, I decided I didn’t want to spend my first year exploring modules that I was not going to be as interested in. I eventually chose NTU, where I could declare my majors in my first year.
NTU’s Combination
I found out the NTU offers a double major combination in both Econs and PPGA, which was great since I couldn’t decide which major I wanted to go for. So I did both.
School Culture
This is more school culture related, but while NUS definitely has a more vibrant student life scene, the academic environment was also more competitive. A lot of students in my JC batch went to NUS, and I really wanted to experience a change in environment, so I went to NTU instead!
Which factors did you consider when choosing a course?
Personally, I considered these factors when choosing a school.
Cost
NTU and NUS were, in my opinion, the most reasonably priced, so I only looked at these 2 universities. I later found out that SMU actually offered PLE, which I would’ve considered had I not eliminated it at this stage, so research widely guys!! haha
Course Offerings
NTU offered the exact course combination that I was interested in, so this was the primary factor that pushed me to choose NTU over NUS! 🙂
School Culture
I think the best way to judge the school’s culture is to head down to their (physical) open house. While NUS had a very vibrant school culture, I felt a lot more at ease when I was speaking to the students at NTU.
From my point of view, especially having gone through NTU, I would say the people in NTU are generally more approachable, and the sharing culture is much more prevalent compared to other universities. The academic culture is not as competitive since opportunities for exchange or scholarships are abundant, and you will have a higher chance of obtaining them.
If you are considering entering more competitive majors (ones where opportunities are limited, and academic merit is heavily emphasised), such as Business or Accountancy, the academic culture can be rather unhealthy, and may not be suitable for some. So choose wisely, and speak to seniors whom you trust to give you an honest opinion 🙂
Distance and on-campus housing
Contrary to popular belief, I actually find NTU to be quite accessible. Even though people know us as “Pulau NTU”, they only see NTU’s location on the map, but not the distance between key facilities within the school. Unlike NUS, all the schools and facilities in NTU are closely located to each other (like on a tiny island!), and you can actually walk from one end of NTU to the other in 10-15 mins. There are a lot of amenities within campus and right outside as well. Also, because NTU is so distant from town, there is actually a lot more focus on increasing accessibility to shops and amenities on campus, so it’s possible to spend an entire week on campus without feeling like you’re missing out on anything.
2. TEACHING CURRICULUM
What is your course structure like?
I’m currently doing a double major, in Economics and PPGA (ECPP). This can be a little confusing for some, especially if you don’t know the difference between a double major, second major and a double degree (I didn’t know this too haha).
A double major essentially means that you are required to complete a similar number of Academic Units (AUs) as single major students, only that a majority of these AUs are reserved for each of the majors, both equal in weightage. As an ECPP student, I take most of the modules that single major students in both Econs and PPGA would take. The only difference is that I do not need to clear as many general education modules (basically modules not related to your major) as single major students do.
What is the difference between a double major and a double degree?
This is a bit hard to explain, if my explanation isn’t clear I think there are a lot of better sources out there that you can refer to!
Majors are basically a part of a degree. When you graduate with a degree in double majors, you’re graduating with one piece of paper, stating both the majors. When you graduate with a double degree, you’re graduating with two different pieces of paper, each stating a single major.
You’ll need to clear more AUs in order to graduate with a double degree. People tend to take 1 additional year to complete a double degree as compared to a single degree (but double major) student.
Whether you can take a Econs + PPGA double degree is subject to the school’s approval. I’ve personally never seen an Econs + PPGA double degree combination before, but I have seen people taking Econs as a primary major, PPGA as a second major. Compared to a double major student, a second major in PPGA requires you to complete lesser AUs in PPGA as compared to your primary major, Econs, and there is a disproportionate weightage of each major.
Are there any specialisations available?
For a major in PPGA, the two routes are namely International Relations and Public Administration. While you can choose to take modules from one route specifically, your graduation cert will not state the route that you chose to specialise in, since these are just guides and not officially recognised specialisations.
However, for Econs, the specialisation tracks in Applied Econs and Finance are recognised specialisation tracks. As long as you complete the requirements for the specialisation, it will be reflected officially on your graduation cert.
How is Economics like?
You will spend most of your first year clearing compulsory core modules, which are very theoretical and mathematical. I would say your first year may potentially be your toughest year in uni, because these modules are meant to give you both breadth and depth in foundational topics. Strong math foundations will aid you, but it’s equally important to work hard since the bell-curve (especially in year 1) can be pretty steep. Even so, I’ve had friends from Poly who haven’t touched math in 5 years (and have no prior foundation in econs), who still managed to do relatively well!
Unlike JC econs, which is mostly essay writing, the first year Econs in uni is mostly math, with maybe a little bit of qualitative explanation here and there. If you can do well in H2 Algebra (without the trigo, don’t worry), and don’t mind learning more about statistics (in more depth than H2 Math statistics) which forms the majority of uni Econs, then I’d say go forth HAHA. It’s important to note that it’s a lot of application, and memorisation will not get you anywhere.
But once you get past your first year, you’ll be able to start choosing Econs modules that you are interested in, and there is a relatively good balance of quantitative and qualitative modules!
NTU offers 2 specialisation tracks for Economics – applied economics and finance. I personally really enjoy taking modules in the applied economics branch (eg. Public Economics, Health Economics). It’s a lot of real-life application, and a good balance of quantitative and qualitative analysis.
How is PPGA like?
PPGA is an entirely qualitative major (mostly writing, not mathematical!). With the exception of one statistics module, all the modules offered in PPGA are qualitative ones. If you don’t mind reading and essay-writing, then you will definitely be able to cope with the workload in PPGA. Though this may depend on the professor, in-class participation is usually heavily weighted, so being comfortable with speaking up will help a lot! Even if you see yourself as a quieter student now, you will grow into it over time, so no need to fret too much about it!
In your first year, you’ll have to go through a few compulsory core modules which cover each of the 4 main pillars of political science – comparative politics, political philosophy, international relations and public administration. Your year 1 modules will help you decide what type of modules you would like to take on in the future. Most higher-level modules either focus on international relations or public administration, so knowing your preference will help you as you choose your modules in the future.
IR and PA are not official specialisations in PPGA, meaning that even if you do choose to take modules only from one branch, it will not be reflected on your degree when you graduate. However, the specialisation in Econs will be stated on your degree.
International Relations is, as the name suggests, the study of the relationships between different countries. For instance, we have modules like US & East Asia, China in Africa, etc. Most IR modules are conducted seminar style, sometimes with simulations which can resemble MUN.
Public Administration goes beyond the field of IR. You’ll be able to study the roles of the different government institutions, analyse the crisis management styles in different countries, or learn about public budgeting and finance, amongst many others.
There are quite a few modules that do not have final exams, but they tend to be heavily graded on in-class participation and term papers.
What’s the kind of student that the Econs/PPGA department is aiming to nurture?
I guess the school’s official statement would probably go something along the lines of “trying to nurture critical thinkers”, or “to equip you with 21st century skills”. But I think you should bear in mind that ultimately the kind of student experience you’ll go through is highly dependent on your own choices.
A lot of people actually think that if you enter Econs, you’ll eventually enter finance, and for PPGA, a career in the civil service. But that’s not entirely true. The set of skills that you leave with should not limit you to a career in a specific field. I’ve seen seniors who graduated to join charities or private entities, so I’d say there really isn’t a fixed model of what a graduate from Econs or PPGA looks like.
Do you have opportunities to learn about things outside your major?
All students are given AUs to take modules outside of their majors, namely General Education Prescribed Electives (GER-PE) and Unrestricted Electives (UE). With UEs, you can basically take any module in NTU, so have fun with them!
I can’t say much about GER-PEs and UEs since my double major curriculum restricts the amount of AUs I have in these categories. I’ve only taken one GER-PE module to date – Business Law – and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Talking to your seniors is the best way to find module recommendations!
What is the teaching style like at NTU?
I would say that in general, the professor matters a lot when it comes to the style of the classes. What I’d suggest is to take time to talk to your seniors, hear what they have to say about the professors’ different teaching styles, then try to explore these modules and figure out your own preferences.
Your classes can either be 2 hour lectures followed by a 1 hour tutorial session or 3 hour seminars.
Economics modules are lecture-tutorials while PPGA modules are either seminars or lecture-tutorials.
How heavy is the workload?
Your workload really varies depending on your major. I’ve personally found my university workload to be a lot more manageable compared to the months I spent mugging for A-Levels. Having an interest in the subject, and proper timetable planning helps a lot!
I spend about 4 days in school, and my lessons take up 3-7 hours each day. Most of my time after school is spent on hall and school activities, which I’ll elaborate on later!
3. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE / PREFERENCES
Did you have expectations about your course?
Before I entered Uni, I’ve always had friends and seniors who warned me against doing Economics in Uni because it’s very math-heavy, and the bell-curve tends to be incredibly steep (since there are “right” answers). Now that I’ve successfully completed 50% of my degree, I guess it’s safe to say that this statement, while true, only explains a fraction of what the course is actually about. If you love learning about the economy and the social science of human behaviour, you don’t have to be intimidated! There’s really a lot more to Uni life than the bell-curve.
What should I like in order to survive well in this course?
I think the most important requirement is to have a love for your subject. It really makes school life a lot more enjoyable (and fun!) for you!
4. CAREER PROSPECTS
Will the career prospects be good by the time I graduate? Is the money worth it to study the course?
I think it’s a running joke that majoring in the social sciences = 没有前途 (no future). And I guess there is always a truth in all jokes haha. When I was explaining my university choices to my parents (the people most worried about our future), I told them that the social sciences are the most broadly applicable field of study.
Even though I did PCME in JC, I completely eliminated the engineering, computing and science-related fields largely because I had no interest in them. I knew I would not enjoy a career in tech or the sciences, so the choice was pretty clear for me.
In terms of employability, there is a currently high demand for graduates with a computing or tech-related background. This is why many students choose to take up a degree in computer science or engineering. For social science graduates, having a good knowledge of statistical software and programming languages (eg. Tableau, R, Python) will help you a lot in your career applications. Even though they do not teach these in school, it is actually very common for social science students to pick them up either through taking courses offered by other majors, or by taking up external lessons on your own accord.
So I would say that as long as you are willing to learn, and are aware of current job demands, you shouldn’t see a social science degree as being lesser than other majors. In fact, I think having an education in the social sciences can make you a better global citizen, and the soft skills it offers should be valued a lot more than they presently are.
5. STUDENT LIFE
What extracurricular activities does the university offer, and which do you take part in?
There is literally everything and anything in NTU. Apart from hall-based CCAs, there are 4 big CCA umbrellas in NTU:
Students’ Union (SU)
Sports Club
Cultural Activities Club (CAC)
Welfare Services Club (WSC).
Students’ Union mainly focuses on organising student engagement events (eg. ministerial forums, firechat sessions, etc.).
Sports Club offers pretty much any sport and mind sport you can think of, including ones like in-line skating and contract bridge!
CAC focuses on the performing arts (we even have chinese drums, ballroom dancing, etc), and has working committees that run school-wide arts festivals.
WSC is kinda like your JC/Poly’s Interact Club, but upsized. They have a wide range of social causes you can volunteer for on a regular basis, different working committees (eg. Internal Relations, Finance, etc.), and if overseas CIP is your thing, they have it too!
Each school also runs their own school clubs and CCAs, so for instance if you are a Business student, NBS offers a lot of investment-related CCAs that cater to the different interests of the students. Other than those mentioned, I’ve also seen some really unique CCAs like Wine Appreciation Club and the very popular Cat Management Network (that takes care of all the campus cats living in our halls!). There are also faith-based groups, if anyone’s interested. So yeah we really have anything and everything under the sun LOL you can even initiate your own CCA too!
In year 1, I was involved in both hall activities and WSC. In my hall, I was part of the hall production committee, so we had to attend other committees’ events, and run our own as well. In WSC, I’m a member of the regular service project (children) portfolio, where I volunteer on a weekly basis. I would say the key difference is that hall activities tend to happen on a more frequent basis (ranging from once a week to every single day, depending on the month haha), and it’s great for those who love to socialise and meet new people.
Are there ample opportunities to get to know students from other courses, or do you tend to only meet people from your course?
Being involved in hall activities is the best way to get to know people from other majors! Most of my friends in hall, including my roommate, come from the science, engineering and business schools. If it weren’t for hall, my circle of friends would probably be limited to the ones I’ve met in my majors :”) If you are not planning to stay in hall, joining CCAs under any of the 4 big umbrellas is a good way to meet new people too! There are actually many couples who met through their CCAs 🙂
If you are a freshie, join the school camps! It’s the best way to meet new people, find your community, and build a strong support system, which will make your school life a lot easier.
Also, unlike NUS, CCA points in NTU are not calculated based on the number of CCAs you take part in, but your contribution to the CCA. For instance, the President of one CCA can get higher points than someone who participates in 10 different CCAs. So there really isn’t a need to stress over CCA participation in order to retain hall stay for the next year. Freshmen are guaranteed your first 2 years of stay anyway! 🙂 It is also relatively easy to apply for hall in your senior years, so there is no need to fret too much about it.
Do you get to meet many international students in your course/school?
I’d say you’ll get to meet more international students in PPGA as compared to Economics. Whether you will get a chance to work with them largely depends on your professor, and you taking your own initiative to reach out to them. I’ve only managed to work with international students in my second year, on two different PPGA projects.
One more thing: professors in PPGA tend to come from all around the world (especially since the major is largely about international affairs), while professors in Economics are usually Singaporean or from Asian countries. Just a fun fact!
What if I realise I like another course later/can’t decide yet?
I’ve seen many people who, after their first semester, realised that their major was a wrong choice for them, and changed their majors after. They’re doing really well, better than ever! Don’t be afraid if you realise your choice is wrong for you. You can always change them. If you realised that the major is not for you, make the change as early as possible (best if it’s in your first year), since it will be a lot harder to do so in your later years and you can risk graduating late.
Any advice for juniors?
Ask yourself what you are really interested in, and don’t be afraid to explore your passions! Look at your university years as a time to figure out what you want to do after you graduate. Uni is a safe space to explore everything under the sun, so make use of your time here!