For AY2020/21 Semester 1, the following options are available:
1. Continue with your studies at NUS. Affected students would have been notified to
register for NUS modules as a back-up to their SEP plans.
2. Explore exchange at other universities in Singapore. We are working with other local
universities on this option.
3. Some affected students may be considering deferring SEP to Semester 2. However, this
is likely not possible for most of our Partner Universities. Like us, they also have capacity
problems and cannot accommodate too many
exchange students in one semester. The Global Relations Office is interacting with Partner
Universities on possible deferral of exchange to Semester 2. If this option turns out to be viable,
your Faculty SEP coordinators will certainly
let you know. Hence, please do not appeal at this point in time.
Your health and well-being is our highest priority. The COVID-19 situation is
still very fluid and there are still no updates on when a COVID-19 vaccine will be ready. Countries
will generally be very cautious about relaxing border controls
(e.g. when, who to allow, whether to phase gradual opening, etc) in the months ahead for fear that
an influx of foreigners would bring about a second wave of infection. Consequently, if a second wave
of infection does occur, then NUS
SEP students would have to be recalled. If that happens, disruptions to your studies would be even
greater, along with financial losses incurred.
Additionally, many of NUS' SEP partner
universities have also responded to
the COVID-19 pandemic by suspending student exchanges for AY 2020/21 Semester 1. This
list provides a reference to the partner universities who have suspended exchanges.
SEP applications and nominations have already been completed for the whole of
AY2020/21. Selection of students for both Semester 1 and Semester 2 would have been made and places
for Semester 2 have also been taken up. Most of NUS’
partner universities do not have the capacity to accommodate additional students from Sem 1 SEP
applicants in their Sem 2 classes and accommodation. A very small number of partner universities may
be able to take in a few more students
and discussions are being held with them to determine the maximum number of students they can host
in Sem 2. If additional places are available, your Faculty will contact you to discuss this option.
Yes, you can check with your home Faculty SEP coordinator if there are any
unfilled SEP places for Semester 2. (However, do set your expectations as, given the current
situation, it is unlikely that any university would have unfilled places
for Semester 2. Even if some become available, priority would be given to students who were
nominated to go to that university in Semester 1.)
SEP in AY2021/22 would correspond to a new application cycle, which begins in
end-August 2020. Look out for emails from your Faculties regarding this and then apply.
Please contact your Faculty SEP coordinator to register your interest by
15 May 2020. Please note that places for local exchange may be limited. More
information on exchange to local universities can be found in this
document.
Unfortunately, no. Mapping and credit transfer for such modules would not be
permitted.
The decision to disallow students from taking online courses offered by SEP universities in AY2020/21 Semester 1 was arrived at by Provost’s Office after consultation with Faculties. We are interacting with Faculties again to ascertain their current perspectives and concerns, and will inform students of the outcome of these discussions.
Refunds should be sought 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.
2. Other expenses such as airfare and accommodation deposits should not have been
committed so early, as emphasised in an earlier email regarding SEP application. If you have
incurred such expenses, please ask for a refund
from the service provider.
If you have already received an acceptance letter from your SEP host university,
please note that NUS has informed all Partner Universities of the cancellation of SEP for AY2020/21
Semester 1. Therefore, please take it that the offer is
no longer applicable. If the Partner University has been in touch with you, feel free to let them
know that you are unable to proceed with the AY2020/21 Semester 1 exchange due to the cancellation.
NUS will review the feasibility of Sem 2 SEP again in October 2020, and will keep the student body notified. Whilst selection / nomination is currently on-going, NUS will continue to keen a keen eye on the global situation, keeping in mind that the priority is the health, safety and academic progress of students.
Faculties will adopt the same assessment criteria for selection of students for SEP in AY2021/22.
Students are usually unable to participate in SEP during their final / graduating semester due to specific academic commitments that require them to be in NUS, e.g. FYP, Honours thesis, etc. Also, most SEP Partner Universities can only issue students a transcript 2 to 3 months after the final exams. If students are depending on the credit transfers to graduate, then they will have to delay their graduation. We would advise students who are considering SEP in their final semester to discuss this with their home Faculties