Graduate Certificate in Computing Foundations

About the Programme

The Graduate Certificate in Computing Foundations (GC in CF) is an essential certification programme that is pivotal in meeting the needs of the working professionals who wish to embark on conversion to the computing field.

This certification programme provides a systematic pathway for applicants with insufficient computing background to acquire the core competencies in computing. By completing the Graduate Certificate in Computing Foundations, candidates can also better prepare themselves before formally joining the regular computing master’s degree programme. These candidates can acquire the necessary fundamental computing skills by reading a set of foundation courses that would serve as bridging courses. The courses offered in this graduate certificate programme are instrumental in either conversion to a computing career or career advancement even without embarking on the MComp programme.

In this programme, courses will be conducted by our faculty members who are scholars, researchers, and thought leaders in their field of expertise. Computing Foundation courses will be taught at an accelerated pace.

Certificate for Enrolment

Candidates who enrol in the Graduate Certificate in Computing Foundations I & II will need to complete three courses for each respective programme as indicated below. Candidates should complete the GC-CF I programme before they can continue with the GC-CF II.

  • IT5001 Software Development Fundamentals
  • IT5002 Computer Systems and Applications
  • IT5003 Data Structures and Algorithms
  • IT5004 Enterprise Systems Architecture Fundamentals
  • IT5005 Artificial Intelligence
  • IT5006 Fundamentals of Data Analytics
  • IT5007 Software Engineering on Application Architecture
  • IT5008 Database Design and Programming

Admission Requirements

The programme is open to those with a bachelor’s degree. Candidates with other qualifications and related work experience may also apply for the programme. Each application will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. The above are minimum requirements and do not guarantee admission.

Duration

Candidates who enrol for the certification programme must complete the programme within 36 months from the point of admission.

Workload

All candidates will be admitted to the graduate certificate programme on a part-time basis. The maximum and minimum number of courses a candidate can take per semester are three (12 units) and one (4 units) course(s) respectively.

Courses Offered and Schedule of Classes

All lectures, labs, tutorials, assessments/examinations will be held in campus and all students are required to attend in-person.

For details of the January 2024 intake (AY2023/2024, Semester 2) course schedule, please refer to the following Annex (SoC GC-CF).

For details of the August 2024 intake (AY2024/2025, Semester 1) course schedule, please refer to the following Annex (SoC GC-CF).

Award of Graduate Certificate

To be awarded the graduate certificate, the candidate must complete three courses (12 unit) listed in the respective graduate certificate course listing, and obtain at least a GPA of 2.5.

Students who have completed the certification programme may wish to apply for admission to the Master of Computing (General Track) programme.

Graduate Certificate in Computing Foundations I (GC-CF I)

Complete three courses listed here: 

  • IT5001 Software Development Fundamentals

Choose any two of the following courses:  

  • IT5002 Computer Systems and Applications; or
  • IT5004 Enterprise Systems Architecture Fundamentals; or

Students must pass IT5001 in order to continue with the below CF I course.

  • IT5003 Data Structures and Algorithms

Graduate Certificate in Computing Foundations II (GC-CF II)

Upon completion of GC-CF I, students may proceed to enrol for GC-CF II.

Complete three courses listed here:

  • Choose one (not taken in GC-CF I):
    • IT5002 Computer Systems and Applications; or
    • IT5003 Data Structures and Algorithms; or
    • IT5004 Enterprise Systems Architecture Fundamentals
  • Choose at least two courses from:
    • IT5005 Artificial Intelligence 
    • IT5006 Fundamentals of Data Analytics 
    • IT5007 Software Engineering on Application Architecture
    • IT5008 Database Design and Programming

Course Description

For details of the courses and its requisites, please refer to the following Annex (GC-CF).

Application Information

There are two application cycles in each Academic Year:

Intake Application Period Outcome Semester Period
January 2024 (AY2023/2024 Semester 2) 1 Oct – 31 Oct 2023 Mid – End Nov 2023 15 Jan to 11 May 2024
August 2024 (AY2024/2025 Semester 1) 1 May – 31 May 2024 Mid – End June 2024 12 Aug to 7 Dec 2024

^Please refer to the University’s Academic Calendar for details on the semester and examination period.

To apply, please submit your application via the Online Applications Portal. Candidates are required to upload the following supporting documents when submitting their online application:

  1. A copy of bachelor’s degree certificate
  2. A copy of official transcript for bachelor’s degree
  3. A copy of identification document/ citizenship certificate/ passport/ documentary proof of permanent residence status as well as valid work pass
  4. Any other supporting documents such as CV or professional certificates
  5. Brief statement/short paragraph of objective/purpose for applying to this programme 
  6. A copy of the Graduate Certificate in Computing Foundations I (GC-CF I) e-certificate and/or transcript (applicable to students who have completed GC-CF I programme)

Note:

  • All supporting documents must be in English or with English translation.
  • Candidates are required to produce originals of the submitted documents for the School’s verification during enrolment upon successful admission.

For enquiries, please contact socgradc@comp.nus.edu.sg.

Programme Fees

The fee for the following courses below is $5,014 each (inclusive of prevailing GST):

  • IT5001 Software Development Fundamentals
  • IT5002 Computer Systems and Applications
  • IT5003 Data Structures and Algorithms
  • IT5004 Enterprise Systems Architecture Fundamentals

Eligible Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents enrolled may be given tuition fee subsidy by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG). 

Per Course Basis

[Applicable to IT5001, IT5002, IT5003 & IT5004]

International Participants

Singapore Citizens

Singapore PRs

Enhanced Training Support for SMEs2

39 years old or younger

40 years old or older1

Per Course Fee, excluding prevailing GST

$4,600.00

$4,600.00

$4,600.00

$4,600.00

$4,600.00

Less: SSG Funding
Eligible for Claim Period 1 Jul 2021 to 30 June 2024

$0.00

$3,220.00

$3,220.00

$3,220.00

$3,220.00

Nett Per Course Fee

$4,600.00

$1,380.00

$1,380.00

$1,380.00

$1,380.00

9% GST on Nett Per Course Fee

$414.00

$124.20

$124.20

$124.20

$124.20

Total Per Course Fee Payable, including prevailing GST

$5,014.00

$1,504.20

$1,504.20

$1,504.20

$1,504.20

Less Additional Funding, if eligible under various schemes

$0.00

$0.00

$920.00

$0.00

$920.00

Total Per Course Fee Payable, including prevailing GST, after additional funding from the various funding schemes

$5,014.00

$1,504.20

$584.20

$1,504.20

$584.20

The fee for the following courses below is $6,322 each (inclusive of prevailing GST):

  • IT5005 Artificial Intelligence
  • IT5006 Fundamentals of Data Analytics

Eligible Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents enrolled may be given tuition fee subsidy by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).

Per Course Basis

[Applicable to IT5005 & IT5006]

International Participants

Singapore Citizens

Singapore PRs

Enhanced Training Support for SMEs2

39 years old or younger

40 years old or older1

Per Course Fee, excluding prevailing GST

$5,800.00

$5,800.00

$5,800.00

$5,800.00

$5,800.00

Less: SSG Funding
Eligible for Claim Period 1 Jul 2021 to 30 June 2024

$0.00

$4,060.00

$4,060.00

$4,060.00

$4,060.00

Nett Per Course Fee

$5,800.00

$1,740.00

$1,740.00

$1,740.00

$1,740.00

9% GST on Nett Per Course Fee

$522.00

$156.60

$156.60

$156.60

$156.60

Total Per Course Fee Payable, including prevailing GST

$6,322.00

$1,896.60

$1,896.60

$1,896.60

$1,896.60

Less Additional Funding, if eligible under various schemes

$0.00

$0.00

$1,160.00

$0.00

$1,160.00

Total Per Course Fee Payable, including prevailing GST, after additional funding from the various funding schemes

$6,322.00

$1,896.60

$736.60

$1,896.60

$736.60

For details of the various schemes, please refer to:

1Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy (MCES)
2Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS)

Note:
  • Eligible applicants may use SkillsFuture Credit to pay for the programme and eligible organizations (excluding government entities) may apply for the absentee payroll funding via SkillsConnect. For more information, visit absentee payroll funding. Please note that SkillsFuture Credit may not be used to pay for Student Services Fee.
  • Only courses taken on graded-basis are eligible for SSG funding.
  • SSG will only fund a course once per eligible student. In the event that a student wishes to retake a course, the student will not be eligible for SSG funding for that course.

The fee for the following course below is $6,322 (inclusive of prevailing GST):

  • IT5007 Software Engineering on Application Architecture
  • IT5008 Database Design and Programming

All enrolled candidates will also be required to pay the Student Services Fee of $25.70 (inclusive of prevailing GST) per semester.

The University reserves the right to review and adjust the course fees and make changes to the programme structure and requirements as necessary and accordingly without prior notice.