19 May 2026 · 7 min read · NTUMods

How to Bid for a BDE at NTU (STARS Registration Guide)

Most BDE advice is about which module to take. Almost none of it covers how to actually get the module once you have decided.

For popular BDEs, this matters. A module that fills in the first round of bidding is gone regardless of how good your reasons are for wanting it. Knowing how STARS works and what to do when things go wrong makes a real difference.

If you are still figuring out which BDE to take, start with Most Popular BDEs at NTU or Easy BDEs at NTU. Come back here once you have something to bid for.

How BDE registration works at NTU

NTU uses a system called STARS (Student Allocation of Registered Subjects) for module registration. Your compulsory core modules are often pre-allocated by your school. BDEs are not — they are open bidding, which means every eligible student is competing for the same seats at the same time.

STARS runs in multiple rounds:

Round 1: First open bidding window. All eligible students can add modules. Popular BDEs can fill here.
Round 2: Second round. Remaining seats still available. Students can also drop modules they no longer want.
Add/drop period: Starts when the semester begins. Students drop modules, and those seats reopen immediately for anyone to take.

The exact dates change each academic year. Check the official NTU academic calendar for your semester's specific dates.

Before you bid: what to actually prepare

Going into STARS without preparation means making decisions under time pressure. Do this before the bidding window opens:

Check that the BDE counts toward your degree. Being able to register for a module in STARS does not mean it satisfies your graduation requirements. Some modules are available to all students but only count as a BDE for specific programmes. Open your degree audit or curriculum structure and confirm the module actually qualifies before you bid.

Check prerequisites and exclusions on [NTUMods](/mods). A prerequisite you do not meet will get your registration rejected even if seats are available. An exclusion you are not aware of can do the same. Two minutes of checking saves you the frustration of a failed bid after Round 1 closes.

Know which indexes fit your timetable. Most BDEs have multiple indexes — different session times across the week. You need to know which indexes work with your existing timetable before bidding opens, not after. If you have lab modules, lock in your lab indexes first (labs have very few index options), then identify which BDE indexes fit around them.

Shortlist at least two backup BDEs. If your first choice fills up, you need an alternative ready that you have already verified. Do not treat your backup as a fallback you will think about later — go through the same checks for backups before Round 1 opens.

Look at the assessment structure. A module you cannot realistically handle is not worth bidding for just because it has a good reputation. See Easy BDEs at NTU for an assessment-type breakdown if you are unsure what you are getting into.

Round 1 vs Round 2: what it means for BDEs

For core modules, the difference between Round 1 and Round 2 usually does not matter because seats are allocated. For BDEs, it can matter a lot.

In Round 1, popular BDEs fill. Japanese, Korean, and psychology-adjacent BDEs that have been in demand for years can be gone before Round 1 closes. If you want one of these, bidding in Round 1 is the only realistic option.

Less popular BDEs — many humanities modules, design modules, some communication BDEs — often still have seats in Round 2. If your shortlist includes something that is not heavily oversubscribed, Round 2 is still viable.

In Round 2, students who changed their plans drop modules from Round 1, so some previously-full modules may reopen. Check everything again when Round 2 opens, not just what was available at the end of Round 1.

Which BDEs fill up fastest

From consistent student experience across semesters:

Japanese and Korean (LJ5001, LK5001) — fill fastest of any BDE category, most semesters
[BC2406 Analytics I](/mods/BC2406) — broad demand from non-computing students, seats go quickly
[BU5501 Marketing for the 21st Century](/mods/BU5501) — business BDEs with clear career relevance fill reliably
Heavily recommended psychology modules — varies by module, but demand is consistent

Design, arts, and many humanities modules tend to have more seats relative to demand. Getting into these in Round 1 is usually not an issue.

If your first-choice BDE is in the high-demand category, bid Round 1 and have a genuine backup already shortlisted before Round 1 closes.

What to do if you do not get your BDE

Not getting your first choice in Round 1 is common. Here is what to do:

Check every index of the same module. Some BDEs have multiple indexes at different times. If one index is full, another might not be. Try all available indexes before concluding the module is gone.

Check again in Round 2. Students drop modules between rounds. A module that was full at the end of Round 1 might have seats available when Round 2 opens. Look again.

Check add/drop. This is where most people give up too early. When the semester starts and students realise their timetable does not work or their workload is too heavy, they drop modules. Those seats reopen immediately. Add/drop is a genuine second chance, and for some popular BDEs it is the main way students get in.

Fall back to your backup shortlist. If the module is unavailable across all rounds and you have checked add/drop, use the backup you already prepared. This is why preparing it in advance matters.

Consider whether you can take it next semester. Some BDEs run every semester. If you have the flexibility to defer your BDE requirement without affecting graduation, waiting for the next offering is a real option.

Add/drop period: the second chance

Add/drop starts when the semester begins, and it is more useful than most students realise.

In the first few days of add/drop, module seats change rapidly. Students who registered for BDEs they no longer want drop them. Those seats appear immediately for anyone to take. For popular BDEs with many students reconsidering, this can release a meaningful number of seats in the first week.

The practical implication: if you did not get your BDE in Rounds 1 or 2, check the module in STARS every day during the first week of add/drop. There is no formal queue — seats go to whoever adds the module first. If you check once at the start and once at the end, you will miss seats that appeared and disappeared in between.

This is not a comfortable situation, but it works. Students who actively use add/drop to pick up dropped BDEs are not doing anything unusual — it is just how the system works for popular modules.

Common mistakes

Bidding for only one BDE. If it fills up, you are scrambling with no prepared alternative. Always shortlist backups before Round 1.

Not checking timetable fit before bidding. Index selection matters as much as module selection. A BDE that clashes with your lab is not a BDE you can take. Know your available indexes before the bidding window opens.

Treating the BDE as less important than core modules. Students who finalise their core module plan and then add the BDE as an afterthought in Round 2 often find that popular BDEs are gone. Your BDE deserves the same preparation as the rest of your timetable.

Not verifying that the module counts for your programme. This is the one that hurts the most. You bid successfully, complete the module, and then discover it does not count toward your degree requirements. Check this before bidding, not after.

Choosing a BDE index first and then trying to fit labs around it. Labs have the fewest index options of any module type. Lock in your lab indexes first, then find a BDE index around them. Doing it backwards creates a problem that is hard to fix.

Final thoughts

Registration is a preparation game. Students who go into STARS with a shortlist, verified indexes, and confirmed programme eligibility get their preferred BDE far more often than those who decide during the bidding window.

Browse BDE options on NTUMods and build your shortlist before registration opens. For help with the broader module planning process, see How to Plan Your NTU Modules.