NUS vs. NTU IV: Chemistry

Perhaps it is time to update this age-old competition between the 2 unis. Also, I was prompted by some recent queries to reopen this topic.

NTU CBC has finally rolled out its first batch of graduates in 2009. Ahhh, one more criterion to the 2 players to duke it out in the ring.

Back to seriousness. How to rate NUS chemistry vs. NTU CBC? If I were a potential student (from polytechnic or otherwise), I would look at these. (Please accept the caveat that all my comments are based on anecdotal evidence from my graduates' feedback. I have yet to see any statistics to pit 1 uni against the other. This means... you still have to make your own decision.)

I assume that you are first and foremost interested in chemistry to even consider these 2 courses.

1. Job prospectsI know of NTU CBC graduates facing difficulty in finding jobs in line with their degree. But 2009 is not a rosy year so the same goes for NUS graduates. I guess industry is more interested in employing lower paid poly grads to do the same work. Therefore, no real difference in this area between the unis despite NTU being a new kid on the chemistry block.
2. Stuff learned in the 2 degree courses
   NTU has its concentrations (or specialisations) while NUS has its minors. And chemistry is chemistry, be it organic, inorganic, analytical, physical, applied or whatnot. Oh, quite a few staff in NTU were from NUS so figure out for yourself.
3. Staff in the 2 degree courses
   In terms of teaching ability, same comment as in previous posts. Little differentiation. You can find good, bad and ugly wherever you do.
   
   BUT there appears to be warmer reception to poly grads in NTU. The staff there are more receptive and less critical of poly grads. NTU is more aggressive its marketing its course to polys. Not surprisingly, more poly grads chose NTU and a higher percentage of undergrads there were from poly.
4. Duration of the 2 degree courses
   This point has been touched on in my previous posts but I thought I should emphasise it here again. NTU is 4 years straight with a shot at honours but honours is NOT guaranteed. In contrast, NUS is a 3 year course leading to a B.Sc with an additional year offered to strong students to attain honours. If you are not interested in honours (or maybe you are not confident of getting honours), NTU will charge you 1 more year of opportunity and financial costs.
5. Grades
   This may be important but it seems NTU is more lenient in giving good grades :-)

Good luck in your choice.