Diploma in Environmental Science & Sustainability (N74)

ESS provides a robust foundation in environmental science and engineering, covering:

• Sustainable water management
• Resource management and circularity
• Environmental sustainability
• Environmental management and pollution control

This strong foundation prepares you for further studies and career opportunities in the growing sustainability sector.

You can score a bond-free PUB scholarship, which includes an internship placement, and a chance to vie for the prestigious Singapore Sustainability Scholarship. Alternatively, the NEA-Industry Scholarship offers a $15,000 annual study award and employment with the corporate sponsor.

Gain practical skills through field trips and learning journeys to Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, NEWater treatment plant and Sustainable Singapore Gallery.

In your final year, enhance your skills through a capstone project addressing real-world problems and a six-month internship with organisations such as PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, Sembcorp, Xylem Water Solutions, and Marchwood Laboratory Services. Additional opportunities include working with NP’s Centre for Environmental Sustainability (CfES) on green solutions, cutting-edge innovations in energy efficiency, waste valorisation, and circular economy solutions.

Students may also choose to pursue a vacation internship with CfES to further hone their knowledge and skills over the semester breaks.

Explore technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and machine learning, and their applications in environmental processes. Engage in environmental analytics and learn to deploy IoT. You will apply your knowledge in multidisciplinary projects and hands-on activities, including operating drones for environmental monitoring.

Enhance your portfolio by participating in competitions such as the WorldSkills Competition, PUB Splash Lab Competition, Xylem Global Student Innovation Challenge and Sembcorp Greenwave Competition. The course also offers opportunities to earn additional skills certifications, including bizSAFE Level 2, and noise monitoring and noise control certificates.

Engineering Mathematics 1 (6 Credit Units)

The module provides students with an adequate foundation of Engineering Mathematics that will enable them to acquire the necessary mathematical skills required in other engineering subjects. Students will also use a mathematical software package to solve mathematical problems.

Environmental Engineering Principles (3 Credit Units)

The module introduces students to basic engineering concepts and applications, for example, units and dimensions, mass balance calculations, and reaction stoichiometry. Upon completion of this module, students will be able to undertake basic engineering calculations.

Environmental Analytics & IoT (4 Credit Units)

The module provides an introduction to the use of emerging technology and innovations such as AI, remote sensory ecosystem, cloud data storage, dashboarding, drone ecological monitoring, sustainable power generation and smart energy monitoring to increase performance in water, air quality and the energy environment. maintenance/calibration of GIS equipment operations. The module also provides hands-on practice. Students will build remote sensory systems to monitor air quality and water quality from sustainable energy source.

Part 2 of this module provide students with basic data analytics skills which includes understanding of statistics, data processing, and data visualization. Students will also learn about the basics of programming in Python, understanding the types and sources of environmental monitoring data, analysis of data retrieved from sensors, descriptive statistics and visualizing environmental data.

Inorganic & Physical Chemistry (4 Credit Units)

This module covers the principles of physical chemistry as well as the reactions and properties of inorganic compounds. Students will study the structure of matter, chemical bonding, chemical calculations, electrochemistry and redox reactions, chemical equilibria, ionic equilibria, chemical kinetics, thermochemistry, transition metal chemistry and chemistry of solutions, including acids and bases.

English Language Express* (Credit Units - NA)

English Language Express aims to give you a better grounding in the English Language and to strengthen the written and oral communications skills that you will need in your academic and professional careers. You will be engaged in writing, reading, listening and speaking activities that will develop your ability to speak and write grammatically, coherently and clearly. You will also hone your reading and listening comprehension skills.

Innovation Made Possible^ (3 Credit Units)

Career & Professional Preparation 1 (1 Credit Units)

This module is part of the Education and Career Guidance framework to provide students with the tools and resources necessary for their career and/or further education. In this first module, students will undergo personal discovery and exploration of industry and career prospects. Students will learn how to plan and set achievable goals in preparation for their future. Students will also learn the importance of passion and professionalism, along with basic teamwork and interpersonal skills.

Civil Engineering Fundamentals (4 Credit Units)

This module explores the fundamental principles and practices of civil engineering. It provides students with an understanding of the main types of civil engineering structures and construction processes. It also covers the theory of statics and mechanics of materials, with applications to a range of environmental engineering projects and emerging trends relating to the field of civil engineering.

Engineering Mathematics 2 (4 Credit Units)

A continuation of the Engineering Mathematics I module, this module provides students with an adequate foundation of Engineering Mathematics that will enable them to apply the mathematical skills for their careers and/or further studies. The emphasis of this module is placed on their applications in solving engineering related problems. Students will also use a mathematical software package to solve mathematical problems.

Environmental Microbiology & Biotechnology (3 Credit Units)

The module covers fundamentals of microbiology and biotechnological methodologies to assess the well-being of ecosystems, transform pollutants to harmless substances, generate biodegradable materials from renewable sources, and develop eco-friendly manufacturing and disposal processes. Applications, including recent developments in the field of microbiology and biotechnology in aspects relating to the environment will be covered.

Hydraulics (4 Credit Units)

Students will learn the basic hydraulic principles and concepts which are essential for the study of water and wastewater treatment technologies. Students will be exposed to properties of fluids, manometers, hydrostatics and fundamental principles of fluid flow. Head losses in pipeline, design of pipeline, flow measurements and pipe network analysis will be covered. Students will also learn about open channel flow, the design of surface water drainage systems and pumping pipeline systems.

Confident Communication: Find Your Voice (VOICE)^ (3 Credit Units)

The VOICE module aims to empower students to become thoughtful and confident communicators able to tailor a message to suit audience, purpose and context. Students will learn how to use storytelling structures and techniques, persuasive strategies and effective visuals to connect meaningfully with their audience. Through a personalised growth plan, the module encourages students to reflect, set goals and take ownership of their growth and development as communicators. The module employs engaging teaching strategies such as games, thinking routines, masterclasses and workshops, and a celebratory showcase festival at the end to make learning fun and exciting.

Health & Wellness (1 Credit Unit)

This is a Level 1 Core module for all Year 1 students. The module will introduce students to the importance of maintaining both physical and mental health through the knowledge and monitoring of health indicators, and application through appropriate exercises. The aim of the module is to empower students with basic knowledge and skills to be independent and responsible in maintaining overall personal health. 

Air Quality Monitoring & Control (3 Credit Units)

This module covers monitoring and control of both outdoor and indoor air pollution. Students are taught the fundamentals of types of pollutants, and their environmental and health impacts. Dispersion modelling, indoor air quality audit, sampling and monitoring of pollutants, techniques of identification of pollutants, preventive and control measures, local environmental legislation and guidelines on air quality including PSI will be introduced.

Career & Professional Preparation 2 (2 Credit Units)

This module is part of the Education and Career Guidance framework to provide students with the tools and resources necessary for their further career and/or education. In this module, students will explore basic job search strategies, practice writing effective resumes and cover letters, and learn interview skills. Students will also learn professional and intercultural communication skills to prepare them for a dynamic and diverse workplace.

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (4 Credit Units)

This module introduces the fundamentals on global environmental issues, causes and impacts of climate change on the environment and community, hydrology, ABC waters management, national climate change targets and plans, adaptation and mitigation strategies. Strategies for coastal protection and enhancing flood resilience will also be highlighted. Besides national efforts, students will also learn about climate change adaption on the individual level.

Energy & Environmental Management Systems (3 Credit Units)

In this module, students gain an understanding on the various Standards, and learn about the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for Energy (ISO50001) and Environmental Management Systems (ISO14000). Students will learn the application of concepts and principles in energy and environmental management frameworks such as the fundamentals of environmental impact assessment (EIA), environmental baseline studies (EBS) and environmental auditing.

Solid & Hazardous Waste Management (3 Credit Units)

In this module, students will be taught how solid and hazardous waste is generated, methods of collection, handling, treatment, disposal of waste and related pollution impacts. Concepts of waste minimisation such as recycling, reuse, reduction and waste exchange will be highlighted as effective tools for sustainable waste management and resource circularity. Students will also learn about issues relating to hazardous waste with emphasis on biomedical waste generation, collection and treatment, plastic, food and e-waste. Local legislation for solid and hazardous waste will be emphasized and explained in relation to the overall waste management system and circularity of resources

Water Supply Technology & Design (4 Credit Units)

This module introduces the concepts of water treatment technologies for treating raw water from various sources and dhow it is important in closing the water loop in Singapore. The focus in this module is to impart knowledge of conventional and emerging water treatment technologies. Topics covered include pre-treatment, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection techniques for the treatment of potable water.

Adverse effects of hardness and hardness treatment using chemical methods and the use of ion-exchange processes are covered in detail. Practical problems associated with the operation and maintenance of water treatment plants including mechanical & electrical equipment and possible solutions for these problems will be emphasised.

Circular Economy & Environmental Sustainability Management (4 Credit Units)

This module will provide students with the background, governmental and international regulations, and awareness on environmental issues and national/ international initiatives. It will focuses on 4 main pillars of sustainability, namely carbon footprint management, sustainable water management, circular economy and alternative/ clean energy.

Health, Safety & Environment (4 Credit Units)

This module covers the relevant legislation and standards pertaining to workplace safety and health. Students will be taught to identify the various types of workplace hazards and the means of protection and control against these hazards. Topics include risk assessment and control, safety management systems, job safety analysis, accident reporting and investigation. Students will be issued WSHC recognised bizSAFE Level 2 certificates upon completion of this module.

Noise Monitoring & Control (5 Credit Units)

Singapore’s rapid economic growth towards an industrialised and urbanised society coupled with an affluent population has resulted in a greater need to control noise in the general environment. The control of noise pollution is essential in all aspects of work and students will be taught the fundamentals of how noise pollution arises, health impacts of noise, measurement and monitoring of noise levels, preventive and control measures and local environmental legislation. Students will also learn about noise mapping using relevant design tools. The module provides for two Skills-Framework aligned certifications under Competency unit of Monitor Noise and Vibration and Competency unit of Control Noise and Vibration.

Water & Environmental Chemistry (5 Credit Units)

This module introduces students to key aspects of environmental and water chemistry for application in pollution control, resource recovery, and water and wastewater treatment. Students will learn quantitative measurements and analysis of solid wastes, water and wastewater. Principles of measurement, instrumentation and analysis are emphasised using an application-oriented approach.

World Issues: A Singapore Perspective^ (2 Credit Units)

Capstone Project (8 Credit Units)

In this module, students are given the opportunity to work with industry-linked project to solve real-world problems. They are expected to integrate the knowledge they have gained in the earlier semesters to undertake an environmental project on a related topic in the field of sustainability, water, environmental science and technology.

Industrial Wastewater & Membrane Technology (5 Credit Units)

Characteristics of industrial wastewater vary with the industrial process and Advanced Oxidation Processes. Treatment methodology adopted varies with the type of wastewater. Membrane applications are taking an edge as a treatment option. Topics that will be covered include unit processes and treatment technologies applicable to industrial wastewater treatment and specific industrial wastewater case studies. Students will be introduced to membrane science and applications in environmental engineering. Membrane applications in water reclamation, recycling and reuse including desalination technology will be taught. Case studies will be used to illustrate specific industrial applications.

Water Pollution & Reclamation Technology (4 Credit Units)

This module introduces students to sewage characteristics, sewer design and maintenance and unit operations in a conventional and updated wastewater treatment systems It covers the fundamentals of sewage collection systems for domestic wastewater, wastewater treatment technologies, monitoring and operation of wastewater treatment systems and the code of practice relevant to sewerage and wastewater treatment. Students will be given an overview of water pollution and impact of pollution on different types of waterbodies. Students will also learn about sludge treatment, gas production and disposal technologies. Emerging technologies in water reclamation and water recycling will be emphasised.

Project ID: Connecting The Dots^ (4 Credit Units)

6-Month Internship (Local / Overseas) (20 Credit Units)

Students will be attached to organisations for a period of six months. This module will prepare them for future employment in their particular discipline of study. During their internship, they will undertake projects and tasks assigned by the organisations. This allows them the opportunity to take initiatives as well as to develop their soft skills.