How does the course bidding and timetable system work for incoming freshmen at Singapore Management University?

At SMU, you will not register for classes on a first-come basis, you will bid for them using BOSS, an auction-style system that gives you real control over your schedule. Your first term's foundation modules are pre-assigned, but everything else you actively bid for using a virtual currency called e-dollars.

How the Bidding Mechanics Work

Tips That Actually Save You e-Dollars

• Freshmen Protected Rounds mean you only compete against your own cohort, not seniors sitting on large e-dollar stockpiles.
• Review historical clearing prices in BOSS before you bid, instead of guessing how much a module is worth.
• Monday, Tuesday and morning slots are the most contested and expensive, while later-week or evening classes cost far less.
• A designated mutual class swap window lets you trade a pre-assigned slot with another student before bidding opens.

My Advice

Resist the urge to panic-bid e80 or e90 on one module in your protected round, since it leaves you with almost nothing for the semesters when you compete against seniors. Spread your budget across your target modules and lean toward slightly less popular time slots where the convenience trade-off is minor.