Workload and Other Policies

Owned by Low Zhiqi
Last updated: 18 Aug 2023 by Sharon Poh
1 min read

Academic Workload

The typical workload for each semester is 20 Units (usually the equivalent of 5 courses). Below is the minimum and maximum workload applicable to CDE undergraduate students:

Minimum Workload

  • 18 Units for full-time students. For more information, click HERE

Maximum Workload

  • 23 Units in CourseReg Round 1 and 2
  • 23 Units in Round 3, for Year 1 students in first semester
  • 27 Units in Round 3, for Year 1 students in first semester under special programmes (Double Degree Programmes, University Scholars Programme, NUS College, Engineering Scholars Programme etc)
  • For all other students, the maximum workload in Round 3 is as configured by the home Faculty.


How to Appeal?

If you have valid reasons to exceed your maximum workload, please submit an appeal in CourseReg, using Appeal Type="Max Workload Waiver". Please note that any increase in the maximum workload for Round 1 and 2 will strictly not be entertained. 

Course Add/Drop Period

Dropping courses beyond a certain period of time will result in a ‘W’ (Withdrawn) or ‘F’ (Fail) grade. For more information on the timelines, click HERE.

Limit on Level 1000 courses

You can only take a maximum of 60 Units of Level 1000 courses to fulfil graduation requirements. Additional courses cannot be counted towards any graduation requirement, but their grades will still be factored into your Grade Point Average (GPA). For more information, click HERE.

Policy on Auditing NUS Courses

Undergraduate students are not allowed to audit NUS courses. To take an NUS course, you will need to be officially enrolled, complete all assessments and have it reflected on your transcript. There is no option to read the course on a non-credit-bearing basis.