Programme at a Glance
Intake and Application
Overview
The National University of Singapore (NUS) Master of Science (Building Performance and Sustainability) (MSc BPS) is offered by the NUS College of Design and Engineering.
As a multi-disciplinary educational programme, MSc BPS aims to offer graduates of different disciplines, who are engaged in design, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of building systems and services, an opportunity to acquire knowledge and practice in the broad field of Building Performance and Sustainability.
This awareness is vital for those engaged in such activities in the 21st century, as humanity is confronted by the consequences of climate change. This global phenomenon necessitates a paradigm shift towards creating buildings that are not only comfortable and healthy for their occupants, but which are also sustainable for the environment.
The MSc BPS programme was developed with an eye on the challenges that the building sector is facing, with emphasis on the rapid urbanisation that is occurring in the tropics, and on similar fundamental issues related to climates and cultures around the world—all issues with the potential to impact billions of people.
Why This Programme?
Join a university that is ranked among the top in the world for Architecture & Built Environment*.
Acquire a sound understanding of the importance of sustainability in building creation, as well as the operation and maintenance of building systems, through a multi-disciplinary approach.
Graduate with an internationally recognised degree and be qualified for practice in the broad field of Building Performance and Sustainability.
* QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
Application Period
An Academic Year (AY) at NUS consists of two semesters and a special term (which occurs during the Semester 2 Vacation, and is divided into two parts of six weeks duration each):
For the MSc BPS programme, there is one application period for each AY:
| Programme | Intake | Application Dates |
|---|---|---|
| MSc BPS | Semester 1 (Aug Intake) | Oct of the year preceding the intake year to Feb of the intake year |
Admission to the NUS MSc BPS programme is granted on a competitive basis as places in the programme are limited. Applicants should possess the following minimum requirements:
| Academic | Bachelor’s Degree (preferably with honours) in a relevant discipline |
| Skill/Experience | For holders of Bachelor’s Degrees with honours, relevant practical experience preferred For holders of Bachelor’s Degrees without honours, at least three years of relevant work experience |
| English Language | Applicants whose native tongue and medium of university instruction is not completely in English: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) minimum score of 85 (Internet-based), or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum Academic score of 6.0. Note: TOEFL / IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date and should not have expired at point of application. Expired scores will not be considered for the application. |
| Other | Not applicable |
Candidates may visit the official Educational Testing Service (ETS) website for scheduling of TOEFL/GRE tests.
Note: Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application information and all supporting documents are truthful and correct. NUS reserves the right to verify information provided as part of an application. False or misleading information in an application (including but not limited to test scores, resumes, certificates, transcripts, etc.) is grounds for admission rejection, revocation and/or dismissal from the University.
The NUS MSc BPS programme is offered on the following basis (with estimated time to complete the programme indicated below):
| Full-time | 12 months |
| Part-time | 24 months |
Note: International applicants must be accepted into an approved full-time course in Singapore to apply for a Student’s Pass. For more information, refer to the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website.
The MSc BPS is a 40-Unit coursework-based Master’s Degree programme comprising:
Core/essential courses (12 Units), and
Prescribed elective courses (28 Units);
or
Core/essential courses (12 Units),
Prescribed elective courses (20 Units), and
Unrestricted elective courses (8 Units);
or
Core/essential courses (12 Units),
Prescribed elective courses (20 Units), and
Dissertation (8 Units).
Core/Essential Courses
The courses listed here are required, regardless of whether a student chooses to take the prescribed elective course track, the prescribed and unrestricted elective course track, or the prescribed elective course and dissertation track (see above).
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BPS5111 | Integrated Building Design | 4 |
| BPS5112 | Green Building Integration and Evaluation Studio (taken over two semesters) | 8 |
Elective Courses
Students must complete between 20 Units to 28 Units of prescribed elective courses, depending on the track chosen (see above). If a student chooses to do 20 Units of prescribed elective courses, an additional 8 Units must be taken either from unrestricted elective courses or the dissertation.
Prescribed Elective Courses
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BPS5221 | Microclimate Design | 4 |
| BPS5222 | Indoor Environmental Quality | 4 |
| BPS5223 | Building Energy Performance – Passive Systems | 4 |
| BPS5224 | Building Energy Performance – Active Systems | 4 |
| BPS5225 | Building Energy Audit and Performance Measurement and Verification | 4 |
| BPS5226 | Smart Buildings and Facilities | 4 |
| BPS5227 | Maintainability and Green Facilities Management | 4 |
| BPS5228 | Advanced Building Materials and Structures | 4 |
| BPS5229 | Data Science for the Built Environment | 4 |
| BPS5300 | Topics in Building Performance and Sustainability | 4 |
Unrestricted Elective Courses
Complete any TWO approved graduate-level courses from any Department/Faculty, or BPS5000 Dissertation (optional).
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BPS5000 | Dissertation | 8 |
To graduate from the NUS MSc BPS programme, students must meet the following requirements:
| Programme and/or Specialisation | Read and pass a total of 40 Units, comprising: 12 Units of core/essential courses, and 28 Units of prescribed elective courses; or 12 Units of core/essential courses, 20 Units of prescribed elective courses, and 8 Units of unrestricted elective courses; or 12 Units of core/essential courses, 20 Units of prescribed elective courses, and 8 Units of dissertation |
| Course and/or Qualification | Pass BPS5112 Green Building Integration and Evaluation Studio Attain 40 Units within a maximum period of four semesters for full-time students, and six semesters for part-time students |
| Grade Point Average (GPA) | Minimum 3.0 (out of maximum 5.0)
Please see also the University’s minimum standards for Continuation and Graduation Requirements. Specific programmes may implement stricter or additional requirements. |
| Other | Not applicable |
The University reserves all rights to review fees as necessary and adjust accordingly without prior notice.
| Tuition | S$45,000.00
(excluding GST) /
|
| Application | S$109.00 (including 9% GST) Non-refundable and non-transferable |
| Acceptance | S$5,450.00 (including 9% GST) Payable upon acceptance of offer Non-refundable and non-transferable Will be credited towards tuition fees |
| Miscellaneous Student Fees | As published by Office of the University Registrar
Payable every regular semester |
Scholarships & Financial Assistance
CDE Global Fellowship Programme
Master of Science (Building Performance and Sustainability) Tuition Fee Rebate
NUS Master's by Coursework Enhanced Tuition Fee Rebate
SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme
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