1. NTU has not been charging fees for Special Terms in the past. Why the decision to start charging only now?
The tuition fees that students pay over the duration of the degree programme do not take into account the additional resources needed to conduct Special Terms. Since Special Terms were introduced in 1998, the number of students taking courses has increased from less than 1,000 to about 4,000. The demand is actually higher and many students have had to be turned away. The University can no longer continue to absorb the increasing costs of Special Terms. The fees will help partially recover these costs. NUS and SMU have been charging fees for Special Terms for many years.
2. It was mentioned that additional resources were needed to conduct the Special Terms. What are they?
More teaching staff is required for the additional teaching load. Additional operating expenses such as utilities are also incurred.
3. Can the fees be made more affordable for students?
NTU has made every effort to keep the fees low for the students. The cost of $500 for a 3 AU course and $650 for a 4 AU course are lower than the fees charged by the other two universities.
4. Students who wish to accelerate their studies take courses during Special Terms. This would enable them to obtain their degrees faster. Would there be less incentive for students to take courses during Special Terms?
As Special Terms take up additional resources, students who do not take courses during the Special Terms should not continue to subsidize those who take courses. Those who accelerate their studies and graduate earlier by taking special terms would in general not pay more tuition fees.
5. Some students take Special Term so that it would ease their study load during the main Semesters. With the University charging fees for the Special Terms, students might not be able to make use of Special Terms for this purpose.
The curriculum is planned such that most students would not need to take courses during the special terms to complete their programme within the standard candidature period. As Special Terms take up additional resources, students who do not take courses during the Special Terms should not continue to subsidize those who take courses.
6. Since students will be paying for courses taken during the Special Terms, will they be allowed to read more courses?
The University will consider allowing students to read more courses. However, this will be subjected to the availability of places.
7. When fees are charged for Special Terms, more students may want to read the elective courses in the main semesters. Will the number of places be increased for the main semesters?
The University will continue to monitor closely the demand and supply of elective places in each semester. Overall, the supply of places for electives significantly exceeds the final take-up during the main semesters. There are several popular courses which are always over-subscribed, and the University will continue, as it has done in the past, to increase capacity where practical. However, as demand patterns do change over time, it is not possible to guarantee students a place in the elective courses of their choice. Students who want to be assured of a place in the electives should consider courses that are not oversubscribed and should also place more choices on waitlist.
8. Why is it that students reading minor in entrepreneurship courses are exempted from Special Term fees? What about the other minor programmes?
The minor in entrepreneurship courses are excluded from charging of Special Term fees because these courses are not offered during the main semesters.
9. Why are Singapore Permanent Residents (SPRs) and international students charged a higher fee than Singapore citizens for Special Terms?
This is in line with the announcement made by the Government in December 2006, that with effect from the AY2008-09 cohort, fees for SPRs and international students will be 10% and 50% higher, respectively than those for Singapore citizens.