Course + Year: NUS Civil Engineering Y4
To me, Civil Engineering is the study of infrastructure design to ensure that human needs can be met. Civil Engineering entails not only the typical concrete and steel structures we have in our urban jungle, but also geotechnical engineering, transportation planning, water resources and project management. It is a highly human-oriented and practical discipline.
I took Physics, Chemistry, Math and Economics back in JC. I always had an interest in physics and mathematics, particularly in the areas of classical mechanics so my original intention was to read Civil Engineering. However, Chemical Engineering seemed like the “cool” engineering discipline at that time since the petrochemical industries were booming. Moreover, being the typical overly academic JC kid, I did not know enough about Civil Engineering.
However, I soon realised that it was a frightening thought to jump into career decisions based on bandwagon logic so I started to explore opportunities to explore engineering on a more practical level.
During the holidays of J1, I applied and somehow with a stroke of luck, got into an internship programme at a statutory board. It was an eye-opening experience to be able to work on an actual construction project and interact with working Civil Engineers. What really appealed to me about the course aside from my academic interest was how human-centric the problems were and that if they were not addressed, the effects can be devastating to the very infrastructure you rely on in your daily lives.
If you have a strong interest in the technicalities of the built environment, Civil Engineering will likely be a good fit for you. Civil Engineering is also unique in a way where a strong sense of engineering judgement (basically your gut feeling but justified with engineering experience) will come in handy since very often, the solutions that we obtain can be highly varied depending on assumptions. Thus, it will be very helpful if you are flexible in your thinking and comfortable with uncertainties.
I elaborated on the former question above. Both NUS and NTU Civil Engineering are very well recognised by local employers although there are slight differences in the way the curriculum is structured which made me choose NUS over NTU. I feel that NUS offers a more detailed and rigorous undergraduate curriculum (examinations are harder and very realistic). Also, NUS has a better brand name in the academic market which can be more beneficial for graduate school applications. Lastly, NUS has exchange ties with Oxbridge, Imperial College and the University of California (UC) but I believe NTU has ties with the UC system now as well.
The course structure for Y1 has consistently been revamped frequently over the years to cater to technological advancements in the market so what I experienced is outdated. Instead, I will focus on the foundational and core modules (Y2 and Y3) that are unique to Civil Engineering.
In NUS/NTU CEE, there seems to be a consistent aim to produce highly capable engineers skilled in a variety of sub-disciplines namely:
It deals with the design of most reinforced concrete (RC) and steel structures. In Y1, there is some exposure to concepts pertaining to structural design but are largely isolated to statically determinate (basically simple and largely solvable by hand) structures. As you go to higher level modules, the calculation intensity quickly becomes apparent especially in modules such as CE3155 Structural Analysis where we learn how to use virtual work and other higher level theories to resolve solutions. Structural engineering is probably one of the more “structured” aspects of civil engineering owing to how the materials involved in it are largely regulated and controlled by strict requirements (e.g. steel and concrete) but it is very important to master to become a good civil engineer.
In essence, it deals with subsurface stability. At the undergraduate level, focus is on basic soil mechanics which subsequently escalate into the design of common ground features such as slopes, earth retaining walls, shallow and deep foundations. While geotechnical engineering is certainly far more than just design of these structures with many aspects such as ground improvement, site investigation and even geophysics being taught at graduate levels, it is very much a rabbit hole to address them at the undergraduate level due to the fact that ultimately, geotechnics deal with very natural materials—soil. Together with structural engineering, these two disciplines are commonly regarded as the bread and butter of a civil engineer.
As the name suggests, it deals with water related disciplines. In Y2, basic hydraulics is introduced which is subsequently built on in higher level modules that deal with pipeline and open channel (essentially canals) design as well as flood management. There will also be an introductory class to water quality treatment which focuses on the general aspects of treatment processes.
This focuses on teaching students the importance of proper scheduling of construction activities on site to ensure they run smoothly in the most cost-efficient manner.
This introduces concepts such as queueing theory and subsequently pavement design.
At the undergraduate (UG) level, it is mandatory to take classes in all these areas. This differs from many CEE degrees abroad, especially in the US, which often offers the option of specialising at the UG level.
Finally in Y4, everything comes together in the CE4103 Design Project, a capstone module aimed at combining all the know-hows from the past three years to design a real project. Students typically work in groups of 4-6 depending on the professor in charge of the chosen topic. There is also a Final Year Project where students work on varied research topics.
Currently, there are two main specialisations: digitalization of infrastructure and offshore engineering. The former is very new and was introduced around two years ago but is very popular among my juniors. The latter specialisation is being revamped so it is not offered at this time but it may change over the next few years. So, I didn’t specialise, as did most people until recently since the digitalization one is pretty new.
Assignments are predominantly individual. Midterms are usually closed book quizzes with varying difficulties depending on the module and the lecturer so it really depends, especially with COVID these days. However, the finals are notorious for their intensity, difficulty and tendency to test the application skills of students since they are typically open book. In essence, the lecturer will likely not be sparing many marks for definition type questions.
Most civil engineering classes (classified 2k and above) are conducted in traditional lecture-tutorial settings. Emphasis is placed on self initiative when learning. Professors are also open to consultations if necessary. In terms of general focus, there is a good mix of theory and practical knowledge where useful engineering design software will be introduced as well.
It does get pretty gruelling at times, especially since we have projects for almost every core module. Personally, the heaviest workload comes from the projects (especially structural module projects) due to the tight timeline and the need for hands-on construction of models. Also, if you are interested in non-compulsory activities such as the Student Exchange Programme (SEP) or NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC), you very likely would have to overload in the first two years of college which can further exacerbate the workload.
My favourite was CE2407 Engineering & Uncertainty Analysis. This module covers numerous numerical methods that engineers (as well as some of our softwares) use as well as ways to measure uncertainty and risk. I absolutely enjoyed the class, especially the MATLAB assignment which I feel is a great way to visualise and present our knowledge in a structured way. My least favourite class is CE1102 EPP (rebranded as CE2102 now). While the classes and content are interesting, the project was highly ambiguous in nature and I could feel the gaps in my knowledge since I was only a first year at that time. I probably would have enjoyed the class more if it was introduced in a later year.
Familiarity with Computer-aided Design (CAD) modelling will be very useful for projects and internships since ultimately, engineering designs are produced through such softwares. Also, don’t forget your calculus. Familiarity with mathematical procedures and manipulations is always advantageous in an engineering course.
Someone I knew once said to me that “Civil Engineering is a rabak course for bottom feeders, why did you go there?”. While I was annoyed with the comment, it is unfortunately a stereotype conceived from the low Indicative Grade Profile (IGP) requirement due to its relative unpopularity among Singaporeans. I have also met a handful who only came to Civil Engineering with the intention to transfer to another course by the end of the year. However, it is definitely NOT a slipshod course. The CEE faculty is one of the most established in the world and the academic exposure available here is fantastic. I won’t deny that there are some who entered Civil Engineering not out of interest but simply as a last resort but my advice would be to try and give the classes a shot! Who knows, you might end up liking it. 🙂
I spent quite a fair bit of my time in NUS focusing on academics as well as competitions and research related to professional development in the built environment sector. Looking back, it was a bit of a pity as I would have also liked to explore more multi-disciplinary areas. However, I believe I have done my best so I have no regrets. 🙂
I believe that in my four years at NUS, I tried my best to make use of the plethora of opportunities available to me as an NUS undergraduate. To the freshmen out there reading this, do keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to get free credits while doing something useful! Aside from the Centre for Future-ready Graduates (CFG) courses, there are many many modules which can contribute to the Unrestricted Elective (UE) requirements without entailing significant academic rigour. One such example is Design Your Own Module (DYOM), where you can take interesting edX Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) on a credit bearing basis!
I spent my industrial attachment semester in Y3 with a consultancy which I thoroughly enjoyed thanks to the hospitality of my mentors. I was exposed to the design process behind a great variety of construction works such as earth retaining walls. I also had the opportunity to design a few walls myself! As I had mentioned in an earlier part, I sincerely believe that internships are an excellent way to learn more about what you wish to do and also, what kind of knowledge you wish to gain to further develop your skills. For myself, the internship here was an excellent opportunity for me to find out more about practical geotechnical design problems that the industry faces which I eventually explored during my final year thesis.
With regards to skills not so related to civil engineering, I was also fortunate in a way as I joined during a time when automation was starting to gain traction. This was an area rarely delved into in the undergraduate curriculum since it is a rather context-based skill. Thus, I had the opportunity to use Python to write routines for automated data extraction and compilation which was something I never thought I would have the chance to do in a Civil Engineering internship. Data science is an increasingly important skill even in traditional engineering fields such as Civil Engineering.
While I was fairly certain that I wanted to develop myself professionally as a civil engineer, I was quite unsure of which sub-discipline I wanted to go into or whether I should stick to being a generalist. It took some time to experiment and ask around before I settled so don’t hesitate to try new things!
I have elaborated quite a fair bit in previous sections on internships even at the pre-college level. As a student, it is perfectly normal to feel unqualified when applying for such roles. However, enthusiasm and persistence are important virtues that convey your interest in your correspondences with various Human Resources (HR) companies. Always reply to emails, even if they are rejections.
Hopefully, I can become a more experienced civil engineer and ideally pursue doctoral studies in a specialised field of my interest.
JC was definitely far more stressful to me. While the content at the uni level was tougher, it does not span for a whole year unlike in JC, where the A levels condense knowledge from the past two years. Additionally, I chose my own course in uni out of interest which certainly made a difference in making the whole studying process a much more enjoyable process.
For the SEP programme, there are certain universities which are very popular within the department such as the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign (UIUC) and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. There are also universities with vacancies for all faculties such as the University of California, McGill University, University of New South Wales and many more. You can check out NUS’s Global Relations Office (GRO) website which also includes reviews by students who had attended those schools.
I stayed at Prince George’s Park Residences (PGPR) in my first year. It was really convenient especially since many classes required in-person attendance then.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the interviewees and do not reflect the official policy or position of any institution. They are also not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, class, individual or organisation.
The information contained in this website is intended to provide general guidance only. It should not be relied upon as professional advice and does not 100% guarantee admission into any course.
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