Outgoing Exchange Students

For NUS undergraduate students, the minimum criteria to be eligible for the NUS Student Exchange Programme (SEP) application are:

• be enrolled at the National University of Singapore (NUS) as a full-time student;
• have completed at least two semesters of study before embarking on the exchange programme;
• have a sound academic record, i.e. minimum CAP of 3.0, and should not have any grade below grade ‘C’ (grade point of 2.0) in any module;
• have sufficient financial means to cover the necessary expenses for the duration of the SEP;
• obtain the Faculty’s approval for the SEP;
• satisfy partner institution and host country entry requirements;
• check with the issuer of any scholarship he or she is receiving to ensure there are no restrictions involving overseas study (e.g. Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Education); and
• have a clean disciplinary record and be a strong ambassador for NUS and Singapore.

These are the minimum requirements and as each faculty does its own selection for SEP there may be additional requirements. Students should check with their home faculty for full SEP eligibility requirements.

The following categories of students are not eligible for overseas SEP:

• students in their final semester of their degree; or
• students scheduled for final year projects, internships or industrial attachments.

Should I go on SEP?

SEP is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a different academic environment and to see the world. It also offers opportunity for personal and professional growth. However, SEP is not for everyone. Students should consider their personality, maturity and adaptability. To participate in SEP, one must desire to interact and learn from foreign cultures, be flexible and take things in your stride when the going gets tough. Students on SEP must fulfil the role of an ambassador of NUS and Singapore.

NUS has existing SEP partnerships with top universities globally. The complete list of SEP partner universities is available in GRO Essential Guide to International Programmes. University-wide exchange partner universities are typically open to accepting students from more than one NUS Faculty/School; Faculty-level partner universities are open to accepting NUS students of specific Faculty/School.

Students can consult their home faculty/School for partner universities relevant to their NUS study programmes. When choosing SEP host university/host country, student should consider the cost of living at the host country or city and the course offering at the partner university.

SEP is designed so that NUS students can go on exchange for a semester or two and take courses for credit that transfers back to his/her NUS degree programme. The courses that students read while on SEP is a decision jointly made by the student and Faculty SEP Coordinator through “mapping” modules at the partner university to similar modules at NUS for credit transfer.

Most universities have their course catalogue online, or even a special list of courses available only for incoming exchange students. Use these lists to identify courses suitable to fulfil your NUS course requirements, paying special attention to any restrictions, credit limits and course prerequisites. Students are strongly recommended to save up free electives for his/her SEP semester to allow flexibility in their course selection at the partner university.

Students should work closely with his/her Faculty/Department SEP Coordinators when determining which courses to take while on SEP to ensure sufficient credits can be transferred back to NUS after the exchange semester. All questions about module mapping and credit transfer should be directed to the Faculty/Department SEP Coordinators.

When thinking about going on SEP, students should consider the following questions:

• Will my degree programme allow me to go on SEP? (Some more intensive programmes do not)
• Do I have enough credits earned to allow me to be flexible with the courses I take on SEP?
• If I do not get a certain course at the partner university, will I still be able to go on SEP?
• Are the courses I want to take offered at the university I want to go on SEP to? Is SEP at that university open to my faculty?
• If I am learning in a foreign language will that affect my quality of learning?
• Do the courses I want to take map back to NUS courses?
• How many credits are the courses I want to take? How does my faculty transfer credit?
• Does the university I want to attend have a maximum number of credits per semester? Will this affect my mapping?

Students only need to pay the normal NUS tuition fees during their SEP overseas. They are not required to pay any tuition fees at the partner university.

However, you are responsible for the other costs involved with going on SEP, including but not limited to:

• Round-trip airfare
• Visa fees
• Food
• Accommodation
• Daily transport
• Books
• Miscellaneous student fees at the partner university
• Insurance (in some countries it is required to purchase the insurance of the host country)
• Miscellaneous expenses such as travel, clothes, entertainment

Students must be responsible to ensure that they have the financial means to support their living cost during their SEP overseas and some countries require proof of adequate finances upon entry. The cost of living varies from country to country and among different cities in the same country. Students should research the SEP destination’s cost of living beginning with the estimate guide on the Where can I go? section of the site and then make realistic and sensible choices of partner universities they can afford to go to.

Students should also explore financial aid options offered by NUS and other local organisations to assist in covering the cost of their SEP. Please see the Financial aid section for more information on awards and scholarships and loans for SEP.

The SEP gives students the opportunity to study in an English-medium or foreign language university. If you intend to study in a university whose language of instruction is not English, we recommend you have a strong background in the language before going on SEP. Some partner universities may have a minimum language requirement to attend and students should be aware of this and prepare accordingly. Other partner universities may teach in English but have a different local language and we recommend students still study the language before going on SEP in order to integrate into daily life in the new country, as knowing some local phrases can greatly improve one’s experience in foreign countries.

Language courses are available through the NUS Center for Language Studies and through organisations like Alliance Francaise or the Italian Cultural Institute in Singapore. If you are thinking about SEP to China, there are two modules offered by CLS and the Department of Chinese Studies, one in science and technology (LAC3203) and the other in business and industry (CH2271) that are tailored to enhance your Chinese proficiency.

Freshmen without prior knowledge of French, German or Korean and would like to go on SEP to Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Korea or Switzerland are strongly encouraged to apply for the Language Preparation Program (LPP).

Students who have :

• confirmed he/she is eligible to apply for SEP;
• researched and found suitable courses to read from at his/her top five SEP partner university choices; and
• adequate funds to cover the cost of SEP

are ready to begin the SEP application procedure.

NUS students apply for SEP through the Education Records System (EduRec) , under Global Education - External Study Application.

Each faculty has different application periods for its students to apply through the system. In general, the application system is open from late August to June for SEP application in the following academic year, either in Semester 1, Semester 2 or for Full Year exchange. Students should consult the SEP Administrators at their home faculty for the application dates and details or check their email for notices from their home faculty. Kindly note that late applications will not be accepted.

The SEP application periods for AY2023/24 are indicated in the table below.

Students’ home faculty will review the SEP applications and manage the SEP selection processes. Students selected for SEP will be notified (by email) of an SEP ‘internal offer’ by the home faculty and be given approximately a week to decide whether or not to accept the offer. Offers not accepted will be rescinded and given to another student on the waiting list. Students are advised to think carefully before accepting the internal offer, since there is a considerable monetary penalty for withdrawing from SEP after accepting the internal offer. Withdrawing from SEP after accepting the internal offer will also prevent another student from utilising the SEP place resulting in an unused SEP place.

Students are reminded to update mailing address and contact details at Education Records System (EduRec) as student may be contacted via phone (if required) on SEP application matters. In addition, the SEP certification letter will be mailed to student as per mailing address in Education Records System (EduRec) after the acceptance of SEP internal offer. Students may require to submit the SEP certification letter when applying for student’s visa.

Students may start sourcing for financial support after accepting the internal offer for SEP. However, please note that SEP is not confirmed until students have applied and are accepted by the host university.

The Financial Aid page provides a list of NUS and external awards for outgoing exchange students, as well as loan options. Students are also encouraged to check with home Faculty on faculty-specific scholarships which supports SEP. Students who are existing scholarship recipient may check if the existing scholarship includes support or provision for SEP.

Once you’ve accepted the internal offer you will be prompted by your faculty to prepare your application to the partner university. Your faculty will share with you a link which contains the partner university’s fact sheet and useful information regarding application with the partner university or you can also refer to the partner university’s website for incoming exchange students for the application process.

Most partner universities have their applications online while some universities have hardcopy application forms that need to be submitted. Official transcripts are normally required as part of application and students are responsible for acquiring their own transcripts for application to the Partner University unless informed otherwise. You may request for your official transcript here. If a Partner University requires submission of hardcopy documents for application, please submit your official academic transcript along with the other supporting documents to your Faculty SEP administrator.

Different partner universities have different application procedures and deadlines so students will have to follow the respective procedure and date to submit their documents to their faculties.Please submit your application materials by the deadline or risk a delay in receiving your offer letter and possibly a delay in arriving at your SEP location.

Once your exchange application is submitted to the partner university, you may not hear anything from the partner university until two months before the start of the partner university’s semester. If you haven’t hear anything from the partner university two months before the start of the partner university's semester date, please contact your Faculty SEP Administrators or Contact Us.

While waiting for the acceptance from the host university, you may start preparing for your SEP by finding out more about your exchange destination and knowing what to do next.

Please also ensure to:

• Check the visa requirements for your host destination and get the supporting documents ready;
• Research on your travel arrangement (including flight options to your host destination, local transport, accommodation etc.);
• Once you received the acceptance package from your host university, read through the document carefully and follow the instructions on the things to do. It is your responsibility to complete all necessary procedures and meet the deadlines;
• Apply early for your visa or once you have received your acceptance as the visa processing time may take a few months. Do not make any financial commitments until your visa is approved;
• Apply for accommodation at your host university. Most universities will provide information on how to apply for accommodation either at the point of initial application or upon acceptance. Read your acceptance packages carefully for instructions or refer to the partner university website. The accommodation for exchange students may be assigned based on first come first serve basis. Submit your housing application earlier to stand a better chance of securing a room;
• Read the Pre-Departure Guide for information about the things to prepare before you go, what you need to do upon arrival, settling in (cultural adjustment, safety matters) and preparing for home.
• Attend the Pre-Departure Briefing conducted by NUS Global (Apr/May for Sem 1/Full Year SEP; Nov/Dec for Sem 2 SEP), as well as any held by your faculty or department and take the opportunity to network with other outgoing exchangers and meet with the SEP returnees. Invitations will be sent via email;
• Download the International SOS App (refer to slides on how to download and use the International SOS App here). NUS has engaged International SOS to manage the travel and security risks for all students and staff on NUS-endorsed programmes/trips;
• Complete the Overseas Travel Preparedness (OTP) Module by deadline. Instructions will be sent via email.