Get the lowdown on NTU’s subject rankings from Hailey, our AI-generated news presenter.

“I applied to only one university course, NTU’s communication programme. I’ve always been interested in media, so it was a natural choice for me. NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information was impressively ranked 1st in Asia and 6th in the world back then, and attending NTU’s open house excited me even more.

I hope to work in marketing, advertising or content creation. My lecturer, Ms Wong Pei Wen, not only exposed me to industry practices in public relations and advertising, she’s become like a mentor, pushing me to come up with better ideas and to network widely. Two of my best memories include travelling to Vietnam to film a heritage documentary and going to France for a festival dubbed the “Oscars of creativity”. Incredibly, I will return to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June.

This time, I’ll be representing Singapore at the prestigious Roger Hatchuel Student Academy and taking part in workshops and coaching sessions with world-class brands and leading creatives. Only 30 students are hand-picked to join this Cannes programme globally, and I was nominated after my project clinched two Golds and the Best of Show prize at the Crowbar Awards, a major creative competition.”

“Materials are the fundamental building blocks of our world. Materials engineers shape our future with technology. NTU’s materials engineering programme is consistently ranked among the top in the world, so I’m confident my world-class education will prepare me for a bright future. 

I had fun using computer-aided design software to model, design and 3D-print a small launcher in my industrial design lab class. The highlight was a contest to see which team’s launcher could propel a chocolate M&M’S candy the farthest. I’ve picked up in-demand 3D printing skills and learnt how to use high-performance materials for different purposes. 

As part of the Materials Science & Engineering Club, I applied my knowledge and leadership skills to initiate Singapore’s first materials innovation competition for pre-university students. We challenged them to design a sustainable, insulating backpack for food delivery riders using safe and durable materials.” 

“I’ve always enjoyed math and picked NTU’s data science and artificial intelligence (AI) programme as it has a good mix of math and computing modules. When I enrolled in 2020, the programme was two years old. 

Since then, it’s been thrilling to see my course ranking 2nd for AI in another varsity ranking and being recognised alongside Harvard University and MIT by Forbes among the world’s 10 best AI and data science degree programmes. 

In my classes, such as on neural networks and deep learning, I get to go ‘under the hood’ of powerful AI models like ChatGPT to learn the complex math and algorithms that enable computers to process data like the human brain. The potential of machine learning is limitless. I’m eager to apply my knowledge once I start working in this field. 

It was a bonus to intern as a data engineer at a retail pricing startup in Sydney through NTU’s Overseas Entrepreneurship Programme. I had the best time of my life there, gaining technical skills in a different work culture.” 

“After junior college, I wasn’t sure where to go. I visited the computer science booth at NTU’s open house and met a professor who explained that NTU’s Computer Science programme covers both hardware and software, and that this holistic approach is vital as a deep understanding of hardware helps us build better software. That resonated with me.  

Now, I’m specialising in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) as they can complement each other. For example, AI can make the fight against malicious activities faster and more efficient. In a cybersecurity module on malware analysis, I got to examine actual malware samples with industry-standard tools. 

Another core memory is my internship at automotive manufacturer Continental, where I designed and tested car software made for brands such as Volkswagen and Nissan, to ensure they are bug-free.” 

“At a session for prospective students, Assoc Prof Raymond Lau from the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology inspired me to join NTU. He shared what we’d be learning in chemical engineering at NTU, and I heard about the good career prospects of graduates in diverse industries from petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals to perfumes and nuclear energy. 

I really appreciate professors like him and Asst Prof Tej Choksi who challenge us to be creative, adaptable and critical when applying our knowledge in unfamiliar situations.  

“I aspire to be an engineer in the built environment industry, focusing on coastal protection and green buildings. I was drawn to NTU’s impressive rankings in this area, and my classes have given me a good foundation in designing and making buildings that co-exist with the environment. 

I enjoy putting my knowledge to the test and joined five competitions last year. It was hectic and challenging, but so rewarding.  

For an urban innovation competition organised by Temasek, my team designed a smart urban water management system and clinched the top prize. We won a trip to Helsinki, Finland, to learn about smart energy consumption, renewable materials, inclusive urban planning, and more. The visit sparked some cool ideas that we’re now exploring. 

In Taiwan, we built a wooden structural model that can withstand different levels of earthquake intensity. I’m grateful to Assoc Prof Li Bing for training us for the competition.”

“I’ve always been interested in chemistry and wanted to further my skills and knowledge in this field. Besides NTU Chemistry’s high rankings and new, well-equipped laboratories, what sealed the deal for me to study here was the University’s CN Yang Scholars Programme for undergrads passionate about science and engineering research. 

It covers my school fees, guarantees accommodation in a hall, and offers multiple research opportunities, both locally and overseas. So I did my final-year project at York University in Toronto, where I synthesised organic molecules that can be used in sustainable organic semiconductors.”

“When I was exploring higher education options, I learnt that laboratory and hands-on sessions are a core part of NTU’s electrical and electronic engineering course. This was the clincher, as I had enjoyed practical learning in polytechnic and I didn’t want to just study theory in university.  

I also like the flexibility of the curriculum as I can pursue varied interests. I can specialise in communications engineering, as well as take courses that cover artificial intelligence. 

In a wireless system design course, my professor covered real-life aircraft applications of radar systems and I came up with calculations to determine the amount of power a radar needed to successfully detect an object’s distance from the aircraft. It was eye-opening to apply my skills to an actual industrial use case.”

“I want to help youth appreciate their heritage and cultural identity, and I think the best way to do that is through learning their mother tongue. To be a teacher of the Malay language, I enrolled in the National Institute of Education (NIE), which has many acclaimed Malay writers, educators and scholars. My journey has been incredibly transformative.  

Through four NIE teaching stints, I’ve taught at two schools with starkly different student profiles and school cultures, so I not only practised classroom management strategies but also experimented with teaching approaches picked up in university. NIE’s curriculum ensures we’re up to date with the latest teaching methods that leverage technology and artificial intelligence to enhance learning.

My Malay civilisations module brought me to Cape Town, South Africa, where I learnt about the Cape Malay community and their struggles with identity and language. This strongly impacted my perspectives on identity and expression.”