FAQs

The BSc (Econ) programme is a full-time four-year direct meritorious programme. Students may be able to complete the programme in less time through the granting of credits or course exemptions or fast-tracking by taking more courses during the regular terms or during summer terms.

On average, students read 4 to 5 courses in a regular term. Students on good academic standing can enrol up to a maximum of 5.5 course units (CUs).

No, the BSc (Econ) programme is a full-time programme.

Eligibility for exemptions will be assessed by the Dean's Office after an applicant receives an offer of admission into SMU and accepts the offer. Successful applicants are eligible for exemptions in Calculus and Writing and Reasoning. Depending on their pre-university academic qualifications, students may qualify for exemptions in other curricular components, such as Major Requirements (including Major Core and Major Electives) and Free Electives.

To be eligible for direct entry into the double degree programme, applicants must have excellent academic results.

Freshmen who are offered direct entry into the double degree programme are deemed to be provisionally enrolled. Provisionally enrolled students will be required to fulfil the stipulated double degree requirements by the end of their Year 2, failing which they will be asked to withdraw from the double degree programme and pursue a single degree. Therefore, direct entry does not guarantee enrolment as a double degree student for the duration of the studies at SMU.

Subject to availability of double degree places, freshmen who are not offered direct entry into the double degree programme may enrol as single degree students and will be eligible to apply for the double degree programme at the end of their first or second year if they have done well in SMU and fulfil stipulated course and GPA requirements.

Students aspiring to do a double degree at the School of Law must be offered admission into the Law programme. Admission into the double degree programme will be decided by the School of Law.

The expected duration is 4 years for non-Law double degree students. Law students who are enrolled in a double degree programme can expect to complete the programme in 5 years.

All students must declare their first as well as second (if any) major or major with track within their first 4 regular terms of study (inclusive of term on leave of absence and/or external study programme such as international exchange programme).

BAcc, BSc (Econ), BSc (IS) and LLB students automatically have Accounting, Economics, Information Systems and Law as their first Major respectively. They do not need to make a first major declaration.

SMU SOE offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics while NUS and NTU offer degrees in Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Economics and Bachelor of Arts in Economics (Hons) respectively.

SOE’s Economics degree programme is designed to provide a strong understanding of modern economic theory, inculcate independent thought about economic policies and problems, develop the capacity for quantitative research, and provide descriptive knowledge about the local and global economy. It is broad based, offers flexibility in the choice of subjects, and at the same time, allows the student to pursue Double Degree or Double Major programme.

Minors are not offered but the School offers second majors in Actuarial Science, Data Science and Analytics, and Health Economics and Management. Tracks such as the Quantitative Economics Track and Real Estate Track are available as well.

BSc (Econ) students are required to take 9-10 compulsory Economics Core courses offered by the School of Economics:
Introduction to Statistical Theory
Mathematics for Economics
Microeconomics 1
Microeconomics 2
Macroeconomics 1
Macroeconomics 2
Introduction to Econometrics
Economic Development in Asia
International Economics or International Trade AND International Macroeconomics
The School also offers electives such as Game Theory, Labour Economics, Data Science with R, Development Economics, Economics of Ageing, Health Economics, Public Sector Economics, Real Estate Economics, Statistical Inference for Data Science, Urban Economics and Policy, etc.

SMU students who have completed at least one year of study and have obtained a cumulative GPA of 2.00 can participate in exchange programmes and be granted approval to transfer credits from approved institutions back to SMU. Such approvals must be obtained before students embark on these external study programmes, which include:

• International Exchange Programmes
• Local Exchange Programmes
• Summer Study Programmes
• Other External Study Programmes (non-exchange and self-arranged by students)

Students will not be allowed to go for any external study programmes in their final term of coursework.

Students must complete a minimum of 10 weeks of internship during their course of study as part of their graduation requirements.

The Dato’ Kho Hui Meng Career Centre (DKHMCC) manages all internship placements for students at SMU. The centre maintains a searchable database, OnTRAC II, of internship listings covering virtually every career field. Students can access this database to apply for internship positions sourced by DKHMCC staff.

Students may also create their own internship experience through their personal networks or prospecting for opportunities directly by writing into organisations for an internship opportunity.