Most Popular BDEs at NTU
If you are a freshman at NTU, one of the first things you will eventually hear from seniors is some variation of:
Just take a popular BDE.
That sounds useful until you realise nobody explains what that actually means.
What makes a BDE "popular" at NTU usually comes down to one or more of these reasons:
- The workload is manageable
- The grading is predictable
- The content is genuinely interesting
- It helps balance a heavy semester
- It is useful outside university
A popular BDE is not always the easiest module. Usually, it is just a module that many students find worth taking.
Quick jump
If you do not want to read the whole thing and just want to skip to the BDE type you are considering, use this table.
| Section | Jump there |
|---|---|
| Language BDEs | Go |
| Psychology and social science BDEs | Go |
| Business and entrepreneurship BDEs | Go |
| Communication and writing BDEs | Go |
| Philosophy, humanities, and ethics BDEs | Go |
| Computing BDEs | Go |
| Design and creative BDEs | Go |
| Which BDE should freshmen take? | Go |
What makes a BDE popular at NTU?
Students usually call a BDE popular when it has one or more of these traits:
| Why students like it | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Easy to score | Grading is predictable and workload is manageable |
| Useful | Skills are practical beyond school |
| Interesting | Content is more engaging than most core modules |
| Low pain | Less stressful than typical exam-heavy modules |
| Good semester balancer | Pairs well with heavier core modules |
This is why popular BDEs tend to cluster around a few predictable categories.
The linked modules below are real modules that appear in the current NTUMods data as BDE-style offerings. Availability, prerequisites, exclusions, and programme restrictions can still change, so always open the module page and check the latest details before planning around it.
1. Language BDEs
Language modules are some of the most consistently popular BDEs at NTU.
Common examples students usually look at include:
- French
- German
- Japanese
- Korean
- Malay
- Arabic
- Chinese
Real modules to browse:
- LA5001 Arabic Language Level 1
- LF5001 French Language Level 1
- LG5001 German Language Level 1
- LJ5001 Japanese Language Level 1
- LK5001 Korean Language Level 1
- LM5001 Malay Language Level 1
Why students take them
- Clear weekly structure
- Useful outside school
- Easy to justify as a practical skill
- Different from typical academic modules
Language BDEs feel productive. Even if they are not always the easiest, students usually feel like they are learning something directly useful.
What to watch out for
- Attendance usually matters a lot
- Weekly participation is hard to avoid
- Language modules can become surprisingly time-consuming if you fall behind
Best for students who do not mind weekly consistency and want a skill they can actually use.
2. Psychology and social science BDEs
Psychology is one of the most popular "I want to take something interesting" BDE directions at NTU.
Students are usually drawn to modules related to:
- Human behaviour
- Decision-making
- Cognition
- Social behaviour
- Mental processes
Why students take them
- Interesting content
- Easy to stay engaged
- Feels very different from technical modules
- Useful for people, product, marketing, HR, consulting, and general curiosity
A lot of students like psychology because it feels intuitive, relatable, and less dry than many core modules.
Real modules to browse:
- AED10A Educational Psychology I: Theories & Applications for Learning & Teaching
- AED28R Developmental Issues in Childhood & Adolescence
- AED38A Motivating Pupils to Learn
- AED38E Psychopathology in Youths
- CS2056 Psychology & Communication
What to watch out for
- Some psychology modules are reading-heavy
- Essay and short-response components are common
- Popularity can make them harder to get
Best for students who prefer understanding people over memorising formulas.
3. Business and entrepreneurship BDEs
Business-related BDEs are popular even among non-business students.
Common areas students usually explore include:
- Marketing
- Finance basics
- Entrepreneurship
- Management
- Accounting fundamentals
Why students take them
- Practical for internships
- Useful for startups and careers
- Broad business exposure without doing a full business degree
These are usually seen as practical BDEs that are easy to justify during internships, interviews, and job prep.
Real modules to browse:
- BU5201 Business Finance
- BU5501 Marketing for the 21st Century
- BU5603 Negotiation: Strategy & Practice
- BU5604 Leadership in Organisations
- AB0603 Social Entrepreneurship
What to watch out for
- Class participation may matter
- Group projects are common
- Some modules are more competitive than students expect
Best for students who want practical workplace knowledge or business exposure.
4. Communication and writing BDEs
These are popular among students who want something useful but less technical.
Common areas include:
- Professional communication
- Presentation
- Writing
- Media and communications
Why students take them
- Directly useful in internships and work
- Improves presentation and writing skills
- More practical than many theory-heavy modules
Most students eventually realise communication is one of the most transferable skills they can build.
Real modules to browse:
- CS2021 News Reporting & Writing
- CS2026 Media Presentation & Performance
- CS2033 Corporate Communications Management
- CS2101 Public Relations Writing
- CS2408 Misinformation & Media Literacy
What to watch out for
- Participation often matters
- Presentations may be graded
- Not ideal if you dislike speaking in class
Best for students who want practical career skills and do not mind participation-heavy classes.
5. Philosophy, humanities, and ethics BDEs
These are popular with students who want a break from rigid problem-solving modules.
Common areas include:
- Philosophy
- Ethics
- Culture
- History
- Literature
Why students take them
- Interesting discussions
- Different way of thinking
- Good change of pace from technical modules
These modules often feel more intellectually refreshing than technically demanding.
Real modules to browse:
- BU5341 Practical Ethics: Thinking About Right & Wrong
- HR1001 Ways of Seeing: Exploring Visual Culture
- AAE28B Introduction to Children's Literature
- AAF08B Appreciating Multiculturalism Through Story
- AAE18B Language in Context
What to watch out for
- Usually reading-heavy
- Essays are common
- Very dependent on whether you enjoy discussion-based learning
Best for students who like ideas, discussion, and open-ended thinking.
6. Computing BDEs for non-computing students
Computing-related BDEs are popular because many students want technical exposure without fully committing to computer science.
Common areas include:
- Programming basics
- Data literacy
- Digital tools
- Analytics
Why students take them
- Useful in almost every industry
- Practical and career-relevant
- Good for building technical confidence
Many students see these as high-value BDEs because even basic technical literacy pays off later.
Real modules to browse:
- AB0403 Decision Making with Programming & Analytics
- BS1009 Introduction to Computational Thinking
- BC2406 Analytics I: Visual & Predictive Techniques
- SC5002 Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals & Applications
- CS2024 Web Design & Technologies
What to watch out for
- Workload can ramp up quickly
- Not always beginner-friendly even when advertised that way
- Demand is usually high
Best for students who want practical technical skills and do not mind problem-solving.
7. Design and creative BDEs
Design-related BDEs are popular with students looking for something less conventional.
Common areas include:
- Visual communication
- Design thinking
- Creative work
- Media design
Why students take them
- Creative outlet
- Different from traditional lecture modules
- Often project-based
They feel refreshing compared to exam-heavy modules and can be genuinely enjoyable.
Real modules to browse:
- AAA18E Drawing
- AAA18H Painting with Oil & Acrylic
- AAA28C Digital Media & Visual Arts: Still Imaging
- ADP16A Introduction to Theatre & Performance
- AAU28C Twenty-First Century Learning Through Theatre & Drama
What to watch out for
- Project work can be time-consuming
- Grading can feel subjective
- Not always as light as students expect
Best for students who prefer creative work over exams.
Which type of popular BDE should freshmen take?
This depends less on what is best and more on what kind of semester you are trying to build.
| If you want | Consider looking at |
|---|---|
| Something practical | Business, communication, computing |
| Something interesting | Psychology, philosophy, humanities |
| Something useful outside school | Languages, business, communication |
| Something less painful | Structured coursework-based BDEs |
| Something different from your major | Psychology, design, humanities |
The best freshman BDE is usually not the most famous one. It is the one that fits your timetable, fits your workload, fits how you learn, and still interests you by week 10.
What freshmen often get wrong
Popular does not mean easy
Popular usually means manageable, interesting, useful, or all three.
Easy for someone else may be painful for you
A senior who loves essays will recommend very different BDEs from someone who hates writing.
Popular BDEs fill fast
If everyone wants it, registration gets more competitive. Always shortlist backups.
The best BDE is the one that fits your semester
A good BDE in one semester can be a terrible BDE in another.
Final thoughts
When NTU students talk about popular BDEs, they usually do not mean a secret list of free grades. They usually mean modules that are manageable, useful, interesting, or survivable.
Do not just ask what is popular. Ask what fits your semester best.