STEM

Can I take a STEM course in University if I wasn't in the Science Stream?

• It's possible! 

  • • It's easier in some countries than in others.

      • • In Singapore and UK, many STEM courses come with A-Level subject pre-requisites. 

          • • eg. for NUS Physics, as of April 2023, "the admission criteria is good H2 passes (or equivalent) in Physics and Mathematics/Further Mathematics (or equivalent). You may wish to note that for all first year physics modules, the pre-requisite is a H2 pass (or equivalent) in Physics."

            • No guarantees, but if you're really very determined you try to appeal. Sometimes universities may be open to alternatives such as taking some kind of bridging course.

        • The US doesn't have A-Level subject pre-requisites for STEM courses, so it's a lot easier for you to take STEM classes and maybe even a STEM major. 

          • • It's very possible to enter a US university with an undeclared major, so you don't need to have a long list of STEM activities to be admitted.

    • It's easier for some STEM courses and in some universities than others.

      • • Every university and every course has different requirements, and the requirements can change each year, so always check the official university websites for the most accurate and updated information.

Science Disciplines

• Chemistry

• Chinese Medicine

• Environmental Science

• Food Science

• Life Science

• Mathematical Sciences

• Pharmacy

• Physics

• Statistics

Science Careers Brochure by NUS

NUS Science Prospectus 2020

Science Careers Talk by NTU CoS

College of Science (CoS) from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) invited prospective students to tune into an online Career Talk via livestream and to bring with them their burning questions on university life in NTU, an academic path in Science, and what career prospects they could have with a Science degree.

Livestreamed on its YouTube channel, the event was organised by CoS in conjunction with its four Schools: Asian School of the Environment (ASE), School of Biological Sciences (SBS), School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS), and the new School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CCEB). Several CoS alumni were invited to share their experiences of university life and the career paths they have taken.

If you missed the livestream, you can find each of the sessions’ recordings at the NTU CoS YouTube channel:

Asian School of the Environment

School of Biological Sciences

School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology

School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Follow CoS on social media for the latest updates:

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Book Recommendations

• Food Science, Nutrition, Dietetics

  • • Technically Food: Inside Silicon Valley’s Mission to Change What We Eat by Larissa Zimberoff 

      • • This book is the first comprehensive survey of the food companies at the forefront of this booming business. Zimberoff pokes holes in the mania behind today’s changing food landscape to uncover the origins of these mysterious foods and demystify them. These sometimes ultraprocessed and secretly produced foods are cheered by consumers and investors because many are plant-based—often vegan—and help address societal issues like climate change, animal rights, and our planet’s dwindling natural resources. But are these products good for our personal health?

        • Through news-breaking revelations, Technically Food examines the trade-offs of replacing real food with technology-driven approximations. Chapters go into detail about algae, fungi, pea protein, cultured milk and eggs, upcycled foods, plant-based burgers, vertical farms, cultured meat, and marketing methods. In the final chapter Zimberoff talks to industry voices.

    • We Are What We Eat: A Slow Food Manifesto by Alice Waters 

      • • Alice Waters urges us to take up the mantle of slow food culture, the philosophy at the core of her life’s work. When Waters first opened Chez Panisse in 1971, she did so with the intention of feeding people good food during a time of political turmoil. Customers responded to the locally sourced organic ingredients, to the dishes made by hand, and to the welcoming hospitality that infused the small space—human qualities that were disappearing from a country increasingly seduced by takeout, frozen dinners, and prepackaged ingredients. Waters came to see that the phenomenon of fast food culture, which prioritized cheapness, availability, and speed, was not only ruining our health, but also dehumanizing the ways we live and relate to one another.

        • As Waters makes clear, every decision we make about what we put in our mouths affects not only our bodies but also the world at large—our families, our communities, and our environment. We have the power to choose what we eat, and we have the potential for individual and global transformation—simply by shifting our relationship to food. 

Alumni Stories: Science

• Studying for free: Neuroscience, Psychology & Applied Statistics in U of Toronto on Lester B. Pearson Scholarship (Wee Ai Lee Ginnie)

• Chemistry, Forensic Science, Korean, and Asian Studies in NUS (Teo Jing Jing)

Myth: All Tech Careers Require Coding

• 16 Tech Careers You Can Land - No Coding Required on Forbes gives a good overview

• Examples: 

  • • Product Manager

    • Project Manager

    • Technical Writer

    • User Experience Designer

    • User Interface Designer

    • Information Architect

    • Mobile Designer

    • SEO/SEM Specialist

    • Marketing Automation Manager

    • Business Analyst

    • Technical Recruiter

    • Operations Manager

    • System Administrator

    • Software Quality Tester

    • Tech Support Specialist

    • Software Sales Representative

Tech Disciplines

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Business Analytics

• Computer Science

• Data Science & Analytics

• Information Security

• Information Systems

Engineering Disciplines

• Aerospace Engineering

• Biomedical Engineering

• Chemical Engineering

• Civil Engineering

• Computer Engineering

• Electrical & Electronic Engineering

• Environmental Engineering

• Industrial & Systems Engineering

• Information Engineering

• Materials Engineering

• Mechanical Engineering

Alumni Stories: Tech & Engineering

• Transferring courses & schools: From RISD Industrial Design to Cambridge Manufacturing Engineering (Shang Ke, Alex).

• Don't be limited by your capabilities in JC: From Humanities to Data (Elliot Choo).

• Zeng Fan Pu, Carnegie Mellon University, Computer Science.

• Studying Information Security in NUS (Zeng Jingjie, Jackie)