The Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading option allows a student to take a course on an ungraded basis (i.e. no letter grade e.g. A, B etc). For a course opted to be graded on S/U basis, a student will receive AU for the course only if he attains a 'Satisfactory' (S) grade. A course will be indicated as 'S" if the final grade obtained is a 'C' or better (i.e. grade point of 2.0 and above). Similarly, if the final grade is lower than a 'C', an 'Unsatisfactory' (U) grade will be assigned to the course. The descriptor 'Satisfactory' or 'Unsatisfactory' will appear in the result slip and the transcript issued by the University.
NTU requires its students to declare the courses taken in the current semester to be graded S/U, before the examinations. This is the practice of many top universities around the world that implement S/U Option or similar system. Among them are Cornell University, Stanford University and the University of Chicago.
The exact period for declaration will be made known during the semester. Only those courses that are allowed an S/U option will be listed for declaration. Students who do not wish to exercise the S/U option are not required to declare this intention online.
Eligibility and S/U Quota
1. Only students who follow the GPA system may exercise the S/U option. The following categories of students are eligible to exercise the option:
- Students admitted to Year 1 wef AY 2005-06
- Students admitted directly to Year 2 wef AY 2006-07
- Students admitted to Year 1 of the Economic programme in AY 2004-05
2. Students may exercise the option for up to:
- 12 AUs for a 4-year programme (9 AUs for students admitted directly to the second year of a 4-year programme)
- 9 AUs for the Biomedical Sciences programme
- 12 AUs for Accountancy and Business programme
3. Students must fulfill the following minimum number of AUs of graded courses in order to be awarded their degree:
- 77 AUs for a 4-year programme (66 AUs for students admitted directly to the second year of a 4-year programme)
- 66 AUs for a 3-year programme
- The balance AUs may consist of AUs earned from Pass/Fail courses including AUs earned through participation in exchange and/or other similar programme (such as GIP, overseas summer programme).
Declaration Periods
| 2009-2010 |
Semester 1, AY2009-10 |
28 September 2009 (Mon) 9.30 a.m |
1 November 2009 (Sun) - 10.00 p.m. |
| 2009-2010 |
Special Term 1 |
Not available |
Not available |
| 2009-2010 |
Special Term 2 |
Not available |
Not available |
Programmes and School's Advisors
Do browse through the Frequently Asked Questions for answers to questions such as these:
Ø Why are students not allowed to exercise their S/U option after their examination results are released?
Ø If a student is absent on compassionate or medical grounds from the examinations of the course that he has opted for S/U grading, will the AU for this course still count towards the total AU that he has opted under the S/U policy?
Ø I am sure that I have opted for S/U grading for my course but I am given a letter-grade instead. The system fails to capture my declaration.
Please click on the link below if you opt to exercise the S/U Option:
Declaration of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Option