Travel to higher risk countries/regions, that include Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar is still not permitted until further notice. This list is subject to change.
Yes, submission of a copy of your vaccination certificate is required before you can embark on any overseas programmes. MOH has revised its travel advisory, to allow residents of Singapore who are fully vaccinated with vaccines authorised under the Pandemic Special Access Route (PSAR) by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and used under Singapore’s National Vaccination Programme (i.e. Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty and Moderna vaccines) and any vaccine in the World Health Organisation’s Emergency Use Listing (this includes Sinovac-Coronavc, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca’s Vaccine) may travel overseas. [Updated on 13 Sep 2021]
# Fully vaccinated individuals would have received both doses of the vaccine, with an additional two weeks after the second dose for optimal protection.
The additional requirements include the completion of the Overseas Travel Preparedness (OTP) module on LumiNUS, submission of a copy of your vaccination certificate, submission of the Risk Acknowledgement and Consent Form and registration with MFA. Please check the email from your faculty SEP coordinators for detailed information.
Students should
not make any travel or housing arrangements for their SEP
before receiving the required visa(s) for their host country. Given the fluidity of the COVID-19 situation, it is advisable to purchase air tickets from full-serviced airlines which have flexible amendment or cancellation policies. Please check the terms and conditions of your air ticket carefully and consider the following:
- Does the ticket allow for date change?
- Does the ticket allow for rebooking? What are the rebooking fees?
- Does the ticket allow for a refund in the case of a cancellation?
With regard to accommodation, please check the terms and conditions of any housing lease carefully before signing. Be aware of the conditions or penalties associated with a change of check-in or check-out dates, or an early lease termination should the COVID-19 pandemic worsen and an early return to Singapore be required.
Students who opted to proceed with SEP in AY2021/22 Semester 2 will bear all costs and expenses incurred in the event that SEP has to be cancelled due to any prevailing law or regulations or government directive or advisory, health and/or safety concerns arising from the COVID-19 situation at the Host Country.
For expenses incurred, students should seek refund from the relevant parties:
1. If it is an expense that the SEP university mandated, please seek a refund from that university using the SEP cancellation email you received from your Faculty.
2. Other expenses such as airfare and accommodation deposits, please seek refund from the respective service provider.
Given the fluidity of the COVID-19 situation, students are advised to purchase air tickets from full-serviced airlines and book accommodation which have flexible amendment or cancellation policies. Please check the terms and conditions of the air ticket and accommodation booking prior to purchase or signing of rental/leasing agreement.
Students participating in SEP will be fully responsible for any medical fees, travel expenses, quarantine accommodation costs, COVID-19 tests or other costs related to the measures imposed at that point of time, both in the host country and Singapore in relation to COVID-19.
You should seek medical treatment, isolate yourself in accordance to the local advisories, notify and keep NUS as well as your SEP host university informed of your condition.
NUS students on Official NUS Student Trips are covered by the NUS Student Travel Insurance Policy. Expenses for COVID-19 medical treatment is covered under the policy. Please visit https://myportal.nus.edu.sg/studentportal/student-insurance/all/ for the Summary of Policy Cover.
You are also strongly encouraged to purchase additional insurance coverage for overseas medical expenses as well as evacuation or repatriation expenses in the unfortunate event that you contract COVID-19.
There is a number of ways you can prepare for your SEP:
- Keep yourself updated with the COVID-19 situation at your SEP host country through MOH, MFA, the SEP host country Embassy and SEP Host University websites
- Complete the Overseas Travel Preparedness (OTP) module in LumiNUS by 1 November 2021 (2359 SGT)
- Register with MFA or your home country’s diplomatic mission prior to departure
- Download the International SOS app onto your mobile device and subscribe for email alerts of your SEP Host Country
- Research and familiarise yourself with the border control measures applicable to you for entry to your SEP Host Country (e.g. quarantine and COVID-19 test requirements upon arrival etc.) and pre-book the necessary test or quarantine facility, if necessary
- Attend the country/region-specific SEP Pre-departure briefing in Oct/Nov 2021 organised by GRO
- Organise and prepare, in advance, the necessary documents (e.g. vaccination certificate, acceptance letter from Host University, accommodation booking confirmation/receipt etc.) for entry to your Host SEP country
Although MOE has granted approval for overseas programmes to proceed in AY2021/22 Sem 2, travel to countries currently classified as higher risk, including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka is not permitted.
As the COVID-19 situation may change rapidly, the list of higher risk countries may be updated from time to time, affecting the country/region-specific travel advisory. The border control measures of SEP host countries are subject to change depending on the COVID-19 situation in the country. Travel for SEP in AY2021/22 Sem 2 is therefore not guaranteed.
Students are advised to monitor the travel advisories on MOH website, MFA website and the SEP host country/region Embassy website or visa application centre website (for border control measure, visa issuance restrictions etc.) when planning for SEP travel.
No, parent/guardian consent is one of the eligibility criteria to proceed with AY2021/22 Sem 2. If you have not received the consent from your parent(s)/guardian, you will not be able to proceed with SEP in AY2021/22 Sem 2.
We understand that students and parents may be concerned about the risks involved in travelling overseas during a pandemic. Students who decide to withdraw from SEP will be allowed to do so without penalty. Please inform your Faculty as soon as possible so that your application with the SEP university may also be withdrawn.