5 Differences Learners Need to Know About Heicoders Academy and NUS AI Courses

Heicoders Academy or NUS AI Course?

Not all AI courses are built for the same purpose. NUS AI courses emphasise academic depth, theory, and prestige, while Heicoders Generative AI course focuses on immediate workplace application and flexibility. The real question is: which is right for you?

In this article, we’ll explore five key differences between the NUS AI course and Heicoders’ Generative AI course, so you can decide which path best matches your career goals and learning style.

Overview of NUS AI Courses

The National University of Singapore (NUS) offers a wide spectrum of AI programmes. These include:

• Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees such as the Bachelor of Computing in Artificial Intelligence and Master’s in AI.
• Professional and Executive Development programmes for working adults, including the Professional Certificate in ChatGPT, Advanced Chat Models, and Generative AI.
• Specialised short courses, targeted modules designed for professionals who want to upskill in specific AI-related topics within a shorter time frame. 

For this comparison, we focus on the Professional Certificate in ChatGPT, Advanced Chat Models, and Generative AI, a six-day, in-person programme designed to help professionals understand and apply the latest in Generative AI.

1. Learning Logistics: Schedule & Format

The NUS Approach

The Professional Certificate in ChatGPT, Advanced Chat Models, and Generative AI is delivered as a full-time, classroom-based programme. Participants commit to six full days of in-person learning on campus (9:00 am to 5:30 pm). In practice, the course is often organised into three two-day modules, each covering a core area:

• ChatGPT and its Applications
• Generative Artificial Intelligence
• Chat Models and Natural Language Processing

It’s an intensive, immersive programme best suited for learners who can dedicate time away from work.

Best for: Professionals who can take a block of leave and prefer structured, face-to-face training.

The Heicoders Approach

Heicoders Generative AI course is built with working professionals in mind. Instead of demanding full-time attendance, the programme runs part-time across six lessons, typically held in the evenings or on weekends. This allows learners to upskill while continuing with their jobs.

Learners can also choose their preferred mode of study:

• In-person classes, for those who value direct engagement and networking.
• Online live classes, for those who prefer the convenience of joining remotely.

This choice ensures accessibility for professionals with diverse schedules and learning preferences.

Best for: Busy professionals and mid-career learners who want to gain AI skills without pausing their careers.

2. Curriculum Philosophy: How AI Is Built vs How AI Is Used

Inside the NUS AI Course Curriculum

NUS’ curriculum is designed to show learners how generative AI models and chatbots are built behind the scenes. Learners will:

• Understand ChatGPT’s architecture and functionalities.
• Use ChatGPT for predictive analysis, decision-making, and virtual assistant applications.
• Customise and fine-tune ChatGPT for business contexts.
• Explore generative models like GANs, VAEs, and Transformers (e.g., GPT).
• Learn NLP techniques and build chatbots or other applications.
• Recognise strengths, risks, and ethical considerations of ChatGPT and Generative AI.

Best for: Learners who want to go under the hood — building or fine-tuning chatbots and generative models with strong conceptual and technical depth.

Inside Heicoders Academy’s AI Course Curriculum

Heicoders’ course is designed to teach learners how to apply today’s best AI tools to real business problems. Instead of focusing on model development, the emphasis is on integration and automation. Over six lessons, learners progress from foundation to advanced application:

• Prompt engineering — Master prompt engineering and advanced techniques like chain-of-thought across tools such as ChatGPT, Midjourney, Copilot, and Claude.
• Workflows & Agents — Build multi-step workflows and use AI agents (e.g., Manus AI) that can reason and act autonomously.
• Automation with n8n — Connect apps and automate business processes like reporting, expense tracking, and chatbot deployment.
• RAG for Business Data — Combine AI with company data to create reliable chatbots and knowledge bases.
• Integration & Risk — Link AI to business tools securely and apply compliance frameworks using concepts like Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Learners graduate with a WSQ-accredited certificate and a portfolio of hands-on projects, proving their ability to apply AI directly to business needs.

Best for: Professionals who don’t need to build AI tools themselves, but want to integrate, automate, and extract real business value from them immediately.

3. Instructor Profile: University Trainers vs Industry Practitioners

NUS: Academic Experts at the Helm

The course is taught by NUS School of Computing lecturers, such as Dr. Ai Xin, an academic with expertise in AI, deep learning, optimisation, and data mining. Instruction is formal, seminar-style, and academically rigorous.

Best for: Learners who value formal university-level teaching from seasoned academics.

Heicoders Academy: Practitioners Who Build With AI Daily

Heicoders’ trainers are active industry practitioners; engineers, product managers, and data scientists using AI daily in top companies. They combine technical expertise with first-hand industry case studies, offering insights into the latest tools and workplace applications.

Best for: Learners who prefer insights from practitioners on the front lines of AI adoption.

4. Primary Outcome: University Certificate vs WSQ Certification & Portfolio

The Prestige of NUS AI Course Certification

Graduates earn a Professional Certificate from the National University of Singapore. The credential carries global recognition and prestige, valuable for career advancement and academic applications.

Best for: Professionals who prioritise the reputation of a university-branded credential.

Heicoders Academy’s Nationally Recognised WSQ-Accredited AI Course 

Heicoders’ Generative AI course delivers two outcomes:

• A job-ready project portfolio showcasing tangible AI workflows and automations.
• A WSQ-accredited certificate, under Singapore’s Workforce Skills Qualifications framework. This national recognition validates practical skills and qualifies for local subsidies.

Best for: Professionals who want proof of both employability (portfolio) and government-backed certification.

5. Target Audience & Accessibility

Who Is the NUS AI Course Designed For?

The Professional Certificate in ChatGPT, Advanced Chat Models, and Generative AI is part of NUS’s Professional & Executive Development programmes. It’s targeted at working professionals across industries who want to gain structured knowledge of generative AI. The immersive, full-time format suits learners who can commit a focused block of time to upskilling.

Best for: Professionals seeking structured, in-depth learning from a university environment, whether they come from business, technology, or other fields.

Who Is Heicoders Generative AI Course Designed For?

Heicoders’ AI course is intentionally beginner-friendly and highly accessible. No coding is required, making it suitable for marketers, operations staff, entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals at all career stages. With flexible scheduling and the choice of online or in-person delivery, it integrates seamlessly into busy lives.

Best for: Any professional, especially those new to AI, who wants to gain practical, work-ready skills they can apply immediately.

A Quick Note on Funding & Subsidies

Both programmes are supported by Singapore’s funding schemes:

• The NUS Professional Certificate in ChatGPT, Advanced Chat Models, and Generative AI is eligible for SkillsFuture Credit, SSG subsidies, PSEA, and Enhanced Training Support.
• The Heicoders Generative AI course also qualifies for SkillsFuture, PSEA, UTAP, and EIS, offering broad accessibility for different learner groups.

How the Two Courses Can Complement Each Other

These two programmes don’t have to be competitors, they can be complementary. Many learners begin with the Heicoders Generative AI course to gain confidence and hands-on skills, then move on to the NUS Professional Certificate in ChatGPT, Advanced Chat Models, and Generative AI or even a master’s degree for greater academic depth.

This pathway ensures immediate ROI in the workplace while keeping doors open for advanced academic study later.

Comparison Between NUS AI Course & Heicoders Academy’s at a Glance

Conclusion: Making Your Choice

The choice between NUS and Heicoders Academy depends on where you want to sit in the AI value chain.

• Choose NUS if you value academic rigour, want to understand architectures, and aspire to build or fine-tune chatbots and generative models yourself.
• Choose Heicoders Academy if you need flexibility, want to learn from practitioners, and prefer to focus on applying AI tools to deliver measurable outcomes in the workplace.

The distinction comes down to career goals. If your role requires designing and fine-tuning AI systems, NUS provides the upstream knowledge base.

If your role is about driving efficiency and outcomes with existing AI tools, Heicoders Academy’s Generative AI Course helps you build practical skills to do that effectively.

Whichever path you take, one thing is certain: investing in AI skills today will future-proof your career for tomorrow.

Related Reads

• 15 Best AI Courses in Singapore (2025): A Complete Guide

• 10 Generative AI Tools that Are Powering the Best Professionals

• Why Taking an AI Course is a Must for Career Growth in Singapore

• How to Know If an AI Course Will Get You Hired in Singapore