FAQ
Curriculum
What is the curriculum like?
Incoming Freshmen (as of AY25/26) admitted to the College should complete the UTCP curriculum consisting of five modules:
- A Junior Seminar
- An Ideas & Exposition module
- Two Senior Seminars (one with a Singapore Studies focus and another with a Communities and Engagement focus)
- Students from Acacia College will read a fifth course on “AI and Machine Learning”
Is the UTCP a full degree programme?
The University Town College Programme (UTCP) is a residential programme offered at Acacia College. Designed as a more coherent delivery of general education, the UTCP emphasises multidisciplinary learning and active small-group learning. Through its multidisciplinary curriculum, the UTCP will help students develop effective communications and strong writing skills, critical thinking skills, and intellectual breadth and rigour to tackle the complex, inter- related challenges confronting the world today. A host of informal learning activities, such as talks by distinguished visitors, as well as social and sporting activities, complement the formal curriculum.
With effect from AY2021/2022, students from faculties in the modular system are required to complete six General Education (GE) courses under the enhanced GE curriculum.
About University Town College Programme (UTCP)
How many courses must I read to fulfil the UTCP requirements?
Incoming freshmen will be offered a two-year residency, during which they are expected to complete the UTCP curriculum comprising five courses:
- One Junior Seminar
- Two Senior Seminars
- One Ideas & Exposition course
- One Digital Literacy Pillar course offered by Acacia College (non-APC students) or one Data Literacy course offered by their home faculty (APC students)
If you are granted an exemption for CS1010%, you will not be required to take UTC2851 at Acacia College.
I am granted APC exemption for CS1010% under the Digital Literacy GE pillar, must I still read 5 courses to complete the UTCP requirements?
Yes. You may refer to the earlier question.
I am a CHS student, what are the pillars mapped under the UTCP?
For Acacia College, incoming Year 1 students from CHS who read the five UTCP courses (one Junior Seminar, two Senior Seminars, one Ideas Exposition course, and one Digital Literacy course) will be exempted from the following five CHS Common Curriculum Courses:
- Digital Literacy
- Communities and Engagement
- Writing
- Interdisciplinary Course I
- Interdisciplinary Course II
How many units can I S/U during my two years at Acacia College?
In general, students may exercise the S/U option for up to 32 units of courses in total. From the AY2025/26 intake cohort onwards, the first year 20 S/U units can be exercised on eligible courses completed in the first two years of study, instead of just the first year. This enhancement gives you greater flexibility and supports a smoother transition to university life, allowing more time and freedom to explore various disciplines and programmes in your first two years.
Timetabling and Course Availability matters
Can I take 6 courses in Year 1 Semester 1
According to NUS academic policies, students are not permitted to overload in Year 1 Semester 1. The maximum allowable workload is capped at 23 units. As such, students may only take one UTCP course in Year 1 Semester 1.
Can I take a Junior Seminar and Digital Literacy course in Year 1 Semester 1 How about in other semesters?
Aforementioned, this is not possible in Year 1 Semester 1. However, in other semesters, it might be possible We strongly encourage all students to distribute their UTCP courses evenly across all four semesters.
I am unable to read a UTCP course in Year 1 Semester 1 due to overloading What should I do?
Affected students will need to write to their faculty to request that one non-compulsory course (from the faculty) is dropped. This will help free up units, allowing them to take a UTCP course within the permitted workload.
Will seniors be allowed to take Junior Seminars?
Senior students are discouraged from taking Junior Seminars due to limited vacancies.
Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Law - What will the courses I take be classified under?
For Medicine, Dentistry, and Law, it is Enrichment. For Nursing and Pharmacy, it is Unrestricted Elective (UE).
Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Law - How many courses do I need to take and in which semester?
You only need to take 1 UTCP course per academic year. You may take in any semester though we strongly encourage Semester 1.
Pharmacy - How many courses do I need to take and in which semester?
You only need to take 1 UTCP course per academic year. You may take in any semester though we strongly encourage Semester 1.
Law - Must I declare to my faculty that I am taking a UTCP course at Acacia College? Is approval needed?
Law students please declare to your faculty that you are in the UTCP. Reading the second UTCP course (in Year 2 is subject to the Law Vice Dean (Academic Affairs’) approval.
What happens if I drop out of Acacia College halfway through the programme?
We discourage students from dropping out of the UTCP. If you must, please inform us in advance. We will submit a request for an exit mapping of your UTCP courses. Note that the outcome of the mapping is subject to the approval of the GE committee If any of the UTCP courses that you have read cannot be mapped to any GE Pillar, it will be counted as an Unrestricted Elective (UE).
UTCP Mapping
Can UTC2851 or UTC2852 be mapped to GEI GE Pillar?
UTC2851 and UTC 2852 can be mapped to the GEI (Digital Literacy) GE Pillar For more info, please click: https://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/academic-information-policies/undergraduate-students/general-education/list-of-courses-approved-under-the-ge-pillars
If UTC2851 can be mapped to CS1010%, can it serve as pre-requisites to higher level courses?
Yes it can!
I am a senior student joining Acacia College for one year. What courses can I take that will be mapped to any GE Pillars?
For AY2025/26 Semester 1 Acacia College has 4 UTCP courses that are mapped to the following GE Pillars
GESS (Singapore Studies)
- UTS2831
- UTS2891
GEI (Digital Literacy)
- UTC2851
- UTC2852
If you take other courses, they will be counted as Unrestricted Elective (UE).
In my faculty, I must read a couple of compulsory courses that have been mapped to the GE pillars Must I still read them at Acacia College?
Please consult your faculty to get clarification on whether the compulsory courses can be replaced by equivalent GE courses at Acacia College.
If your faculty states that the courses are compulsory, the equivalent GE courses at Acacia College will be counted as an Unrestricted Elective (UE).
CDE and SOC - Are ES2660 (SOC) and ES2631 (CDE) compulsory? If yes, do I still need to take a UTW (IEC) course at Acacia College?
Please consult your faculty to get clarification on whether the compulsory courses can be replaced by equivalent GE courses at Acacia College.
CDE: You must read a UTW course from Acacia College in place of ES2631.
SoC: For incoming Year 1 SoC students from AY2026/27 onwards, students will only need to complete one UTW course to fulfil the faculty's writing requirement. You are to read a UTW Courses at Acacia College in place of ES2660.
CDE - If I am required to take CDE2501 do I still need to take a GESS Singapore Studies course at Acacia College?
If you read a GESS Singapore Studies course at Acacia College (UTS2831 or UTS2891), you are not required to read CDE2501.
FASS - If I am required to take FAS 1101 do I still need to take a UTW (IEC) course at Acacia College?
You must read a UTW (IEC) course at Acacia College in place of FAS1101.
CHS - Can UTC1801 UTC1802 UTS2831 UTS2891 be mapped to Interdisciplinary course I and II in the CHS common curriculum?
The aforementioned 4 courses can be mapped to Interdisciplinary Courses I and II.