Journey Beyond Your Shores - NUS - Home

Journey Beyond Your Shores 

Student Exchange @ National University of Singapore 

NUS!

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Why NUS 

Why Singapore 

Exploring Singapore 

Exploring NUS 

Learning & Living at NUS 

How to apply to NUS 

Accommodation & other costs 

Immigration issues 

Support services for Exchange Students 

Quick links 

About IRO


Why NUS 

• A leading global university centred in Asia 

• Founded in 1905, the oldest university with 

the richest heritage in Singapore 

• Ranked among the best universities in the 

world and well-regarded for disciplines 

such as engineering, technology, 

biomedicine and social sciences 

• Numerous multi-disciplinary courses 

to choose from. At our Centre for 

Language Studies, there are courses 

available in 12 languages 

• A research-intensive culture that focuses 

on critical issues for humanity, with an 

emphasis on research excellence across 

a broad array of disciplines 

• Singapore’s first residential college system – 

University Town, an educational hub which 

offers a model of living and learning that is 

distinctively NUS 

• Yale-NUS College – Singapore's first liberal 

arts college that provides a new model 

of liberal arts education in Asia 

• State-of-the-art equipment and campus 

facilities are available for all to use 

• Convenient on-campus accommodation 

options for Singaporean and international 

students 

• Transformative education that features 

programmes such as student exchange, 

entrepreneurial internships and double 

and joint degree programmes with some 

of the world’s top universities 

NUS fast facts: 

2 nd in Asia 1 , 23 rd in the world 2 

All courses are conducted in English 

16 Faculties across 3 campuses 

7 NUS Overseas Colleges 

22 university-level research institutes/centres 

More than 37,000 students from 100 countries 

Student Exchange Programme with 300 top universities in 

40 countries around the world, hosting over 1500 students each year 

More than 9000 faculty & staff 

219,000 alumni worldwide 

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QS Asian University Ranking 2012 

2 

World Reputation Rankings 2012 for Teaching and Research, published by Times 

Higher Education (THE) magazine, 2012. 

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International Relations Office 

Why Singapore 

• A cultural melting pot with a cosmopolitan 

population where people of diverse ethnic 

and cultural backgrounds live together 

cohesively in a modern society 

• Strategically located at the tip of the 

Asian continent with extensive air, sea 

and land connections, Singapore is the 

gateway to the rest of Asia 

• A low crime rate which provides a safe 

living environment 

• A warm tropical climate that stays constant 

throughout the year 

• Lush greenery fills up to 50% of this Garden 

City and provides natural shade for all 

• English is one of four official languages and 

is the language of business, education and 

administration 

• An extensive and inexpensive public 

transport system for convenient travel 

50% of 

Singapore is shaded 

Snapshot of events throughout the year 

January: Join the rest of 

Singapore to ring in the New 

Year at Marina Bay, beneath 

the impressive cantilever of 

architectural marvel–Marina 

Bay Sands 

March: Visit the Esplanade 

– Theatres on the Bay for 

the Mosaic Music Festival, 

featuring an eclectic range 

of musicians that will satisfy 

concert-goers of all ages 

May: Experience the Great 

Singapore Sale, an eightweek 

mega sale featuring 

significant discounts and 

special promotions at many 

shopping centres in Singapore 

February: Celebrate the Lunar 

New Year and experience the 

Chingay parade, a massive 

street parade showcasing 

exciting cultural performances 

April: Sample delectable food 

crafted by world-renowned 

chefs at Singapore’s World 

Gourmet Summit, a festival 

celebrating the world’s finest 

cuisines 

June: Watch dragon boat 

teams from all over the world 

compete in the annual 

Singapore Dragon Boat 

Racing Festival 

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Exploring Singapore 

Cultural diversity 

Singapore’s population is 74.1% Chinese, 13.4% 

Malay, 9.2% Indian, and 3.3% other races, 

leading to a nation rich in multiculturalism and 

different languages, traditions, foods, and 

activities 

Singapore fast facts: 

Total land area: 714.3 sq km 

Average daily temperature: 28°C 

Total population: 5.1837 million (2011) 

Population density: 7,257 persons per sq km 

Official languages: 

English, Chinese (Mandarin), Malay, Tamil 

Attractions in Singapore 

• Experience Singapore’s melting pot 

of cultures by visiting the various 

ethnic enclaves, including Chinatown, 

Little India, and Kampong Glam 

• Visit one of Singapore’s numerous hawker 

centres and sample Singaporean cuisine 

in a local atmosphere 

• Hit the beach and enjoy adventures at 

Resorts World Sentosa, one of Singapore’s 

brand new integrated resorts 

July: Delight in Singapore’s 

famous local cuisine 

during the Singapore Food 

Festival, an island-wide 

gastronomical celebration 

September: Visit Chinatown 

during the Mid Autumn Festival 

(also called the Lantern 

Festival). Savour mooncakes 

and other treats at street 

bazaars and enjoy lantern 

displays along the streets 

November: Visit Little India 

during the Hindu festival, 

Deepavali. Experience the 

sights and sounds of festive 

bazaars in Little India, and 

take part in cultural activities 

at the Festival of Lights 

August: Celebrate Singapore’s 

birthday alongside Singaporeans 

by watching the National 

Day Parade and fireworks on 

9 August, which commemorates 

Singapore’s independence in 

1965 

October: Admire glittering 

designs by eminent artists 

from Singapore and around 

the world at the Singapore 

JewelFest, featuring exhibits 

with jewellery of all kinds 

December: End the year with 

Singapore’s biggest outdoor 

beach party, Zoukout, held 

on the island of Sentosa and 

hosted by world-famous DJs 

Source: http://yoursingapore.com 

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Exploring NUS 

Exploring Singapore’s 

oldest university 

Outram Campus 

The birthplace of Singapore’s medical 

education (established in 1905) is now home 

to the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School. 

Bukit Timah Campus 

Raffles College was first established in 

Bukit Timah in 1928 to provide tertiary-level 

education in the arts and sciences. In 1962, 

the campus was home to the University of 

Singapore. The Bukit Timah Campus now 

houses the Faculty of Law, the Lee Kuan 

Yew School of Public Policy and several NUS 

research institutes. 

Kent Ridge Campus (main campus) 

Kent Ridge became the main campus 

when NUS was established in 1980. Most of 

the University’s academic, research and 

administrative facilities are located on the 

sprawling 150-hectare site. A bustling hub 

where students gather for social activities, it 

also houses student residences and a host of 

sporting and cultural amenities. 

University Town (UTown) 

A first in Singapore’s higher learning landscape, 

UTown redefines the way students live and 

learn on campus. Its Residential Colleges 

are open to NUS students and exchange 

students. UTown’s design integrates green 

concepts in its master planning and buildings, 

allowing living and learning to be intimately 

intertwined. UTown is connected to the rest of 

the Kent Ridge Campus by a link bridge that 

spans the Ayer Rajah Expressway. 

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Exchange students at NUS can take courses 

at the following Faculties & Schools: 

• Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences* 

• NUS Business School* 

• School of Computing 

• School of Design and Environment 

• Faculty of Engineering 

• Faculty of Law* 

• Faculty of Science 

Unique study options 

NUS offers a number of innovative 

study opportunities and multidisciplinary 

programmes which are open to exchange 

students. 

• General Education Modules (GEMs) emphasise 

intellectual broadening (as reflected in the 

General Knowledge modules) and critical and 

creative thinking (as reflected in the Modes of 

Inquiry modules). Many GEMs are available to 

exchange students. 

• Some faculties offer programmes where 

undergraduate exchange students are 

mentored by members of faculty on their 

research projects. These students work on 

their research while earning modular credits 

to fulfil their graduation requirements. 

NUS academic calendar 1 

Dates 

Total 

Semester 1 August – December 18 weeks 

Semester 2 January – May 17 weeks 

Accommodation 2 

1. Halls of Residences 

(S$1,660 to S$2,200 per semester, including meal plan) 

• Eusoff Hall 

• Kent Ridge Hall 

• King Edward VII Hall 

• Raffles Hall 

• Sheares Hall 

• Temasek Hall 

2. University Town Residential Colleges 

(S$2,800 to S$3,200 per semester, including meal plan) 

• Angsana 

• Cinnamon 

• Tembusu 

Each hall and residential college has 

evolved its own distinct culture. The halls 

promote student bonding through their 

sports and social events. The residential 

colleges provide integrated learning and 

living environments. Both types of residences 

encourage the formation of close knit 

student communities and provide platforms 

for students to build long-lasting friendships. 

3. Student Residences 

(S$1,260 to S$3,240 per semester) 

• Prince George’s Park Residences (PGPR) 

PGPR is a residential complex which offers 

students single room accommodation 

within a communal setup. While maintaining 

their privacy, students have opportunities to 

interact with others via communal kitchens, 

study areas and lounges which serve as 

common meeting places. 

Special Term 1 Beginning May – mid June 6 weeks 

Special Term 2 Mid-June – End July 6 weeks 

* These faculties and school offer a limited number of modules for non-graduating exchange students. For more information, 

please refer to page 8 of this booklet. 

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Student exchanges can be for a single semester or a full year. For a detailed breakdown of the academic calendar please visit 

http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/calendar.html 

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For detailed information including cost of accommodation, please refer to 

http://www.nus.edu.sg/osa/housing/nongraduating 

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Campus life 

International students are welcome to 

participate in more than 70 clubs and 

societies while they are on exchange at NUS. 

They may choose from recreational sports 

to cultural performances and community 

engagement. 

For a full list of co-curricular activities, please 

refer to: 

• http://www.nus.edu.sg/osa/sports/ 

• http://www.nus.edu.sg/osa/activities/ 

svcs/societies.html 

Rag and Flag is an iconic NUS tradition that 

marks the start of each academic year 

in August. The entire student community 

participates in this fund-raising event by 

coming together to build colourful floats. 

On-campus living is highly preferred by 

exchange students who wish to have easy 

access to the variety of sports and social 

events organised by the numerous student 

clubs in NUS. There is no better way to 

experience the energy and vibrancy of the 

NUS culture than being at the heart of action 

on campus. 

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Transportation 

Getting to NUS 

NUS campuses are conveniently linked to the 

rest of Singapore by the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) 

and a public bus network. 

Getting around NUS 

Free NUS internal shuttle buses ply the main 

Kent Ridge Campus, with one shuttle serving 

the Bukit Timah Campus. These distinctively 

bright blue and orange buses provide 

students with hassle-free transportation in 

and around the hilly campus. 

Bukit Timah 

Clementi 

Kent Ridge 

Buona Vista 

Outram Park 

Singapore is the gateway 

to Asia 

East West MRT Line 

North South MRT Line 

North East MRT Line 

Circle MRT Line 

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How to apply to NUS 

Requirements 

• Currently a student registered at a partner university of NUS 

• Completed 2 or more semesters at the home university 

• Obtained formal approval and official nomination for 

exchange from the home university 

• Proficient in the English language 

Application procedures 

• Be officially nominated by the home university through the student exchange/study 

abroad coordinator 

• Apply online at http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/edu/ng.html 

• Prepare a study plan that includes a list of modules intended to be taken at NUS. 

• Print a copy of the completed online application and submit it with the required supporting 

documents by mail to the NUS mailing address listed on the online application form. 

PLEASE NOTE: 

1 To be enrolled as a full-time student at NUS, one must read a minimum semester workload of 12 

modular credits (MCs), approximately 3 modules, OR pursue full-time research work. 

2 Students must first check that their selected modules are offered in the semester they wish to study 

at NUS. A list of available modules can be found on the NUS Non-Graduating Programme site at 

http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/edu/ng.html approximately 1 month before the online application ends. 

3 Students can refer to NUS Bulletin http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/nusbulletin/modulesearch.html for 

the module descriptions of their selected modules. Note that not all modules in the NUS Bulletin 

are offered every year or open to exchange students. Exchange students should choose 

modules from the list mentioned in point 2. 

4 Certain modules are restricted, or subject to fulfilment of pre-requisites, time-tabling and availabiltiy. 

Business, economics and law modules are high in demand and low in supply. Exchange students 

whose majors are not in business, economics or law should avoid applying for these modules as the 

chances of securing them are extremely low. Students are advised to read the information on module 

restrictions found at https://share.nus.edu.sg/registrar/info/info/Non-Graduating-Module-Restrictions.pdf 

before they select the modules. 

5 Students are strongly encouraged to select 10 modules on their application to increase their 

chances of obtaining the minimum requirement of 12 modular credits in order to secure the 

exchange opportunity. Extra modules can be added or dropped during the ‘add/drop’ period at 

the beginning of each semester. 

Application period and deadlines 

Programme 

(A) Online application period 

(B) Supporting documents submission deadline 

Semester 1 (August) Semester 2 (January) Special Term (May to July) 

Coursework 

(A) 21 March to 15 April 

(B) 1 May 

(A) 1 September to 1 October 

(B) 15 October 

(A) 1 February to 1 March 

(B) 15 March 

Research 

Application 

Outcome 

Apply and submit documents at least 3 months before start of programme 

1st week June 1st week November 3rd Week April 

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Accommodation & other costs 

Accommodation policy 

In order to be eligible for university housing, students must first 

be accepted as a full-time undergraduate exchange student. 

Students must request for NUS housing when they submit their 

online student exchange applications. 

Students who have been offered NUS housing would have 

to register online with a non-refundable fee of S$26.75. Upon 

acceptance of a housing offer, students are required to make 

an advance payment of S$200 for their accommodation. 

Fees 

Fees payable for 1 Semester 2 Semesters 

NUS tuition 

Waived for exchange students 

Mandatory miscellaneous 

fees (MMF) 

Health & Insurance 

Scheme 

S$63.29 

S$58.85 

S$97.53 

S$117.70 

Total fees payable S$122.14 S$215.23 

*Fees are current as of June 2012 and are subject to change 

http://www.nus.edu.sg/uhc/clinic/insurance/local&international 

Cost of Living (per month) 

Accommodation on-campus S$280 to S$720 

Accommodation off-campus (private) S$500 to S$1000 

Meals (3 meals a day) S$400 to S$800 

Books, stationery supplies 

(depends on course of study) 

S$200 to S$300 

Public Transport (buses / trains) S$100 to S$150 

Personal expenses 

(Toiletries, clothings, groceries, entertainment etc) 

Estimated total cost (per month on campus) 

S$200 

S$1,180 – S$2,170 

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Immigration 

issues 

Visas & Immigration 

• Once students are accepted at NUS, the Registrar’s Office will send an 

official letter of acceptance via email together with the information 

on visa matters. NUS Registrar’s Office will request for the In-Principle 

Approval (IPA) letter from Immigration and Checkpoints Authority 

(ICA) of Singapore on behalf of all exchange students. All exchange 

students are required to fill in the online eform 16, print a copy of the 

form and bring the hardcopy with them to Singapore. 

• Exchange students who do not require entry visas to Singapore would 

need to show their passports and disembarkation cards at the point 

of entry. 

• For exchange students who require entry visas to Singapore, NUS 

Registrar’s Office will send them the IPA letter via email after the 

application has been approved by ICA. The IPA letter will serve as 

a single-trip entry visa to Singapore. Students need to produce the 

IPA letter, their passport and disembarkation card at the Singapore 

immigration. 

• Upon arrival at NUS, the Registrar’s Office will arrange for all exchange 

students to collect the stamped IPA letter. Students would need to 

produce the stamped IPA letter to collect their student passes from ICA. 

For enquiries on student pass applications, please visit 

http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/event/studentpass.html 

http://www.ica.gov.sg 

Part-time employment 

Generally, exchange students are not permitted to engage in part-time 

employment. Students may do an internship or industrial attachment 

(IA) if the internship or IA is part of the course requirement. 

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Support services 

for Exchange Students 

Registrar’s Office 

The Registrar’s Office assists all incoming exchange students 

in the following matters: 

• Application and admission 

• Registration 

• Facilitating the issuance of student passes 

• Add/drop modules exercise 

• Issuance of transcripts to all exchange students 

http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/ 

Office of Student Affairs 

The Office of Student Affairs is dedicated to assisting exchange 

students in their adjustment and integration into the NUS 

community and Singapore. Services and programmes which 

cater to international students include: 

• On-campus accommodation 

• Meet and greet services 

• International student orientation 

• Host family programmes 

• i.Care student projects 

http://www.nus.edu.sg/osa/ 

Peer Advising Programme 

The Peer Advising Programme is a student-led programme 

spearheaded by the International Relations Office that aims 

to meet the needs of exchange students. Throughout the 

semester, events ranging from dragon boat races to Southeast 

Asia travel clinics to casual barbeques, are organised to 

provide platforms for exchange students to interact with each 

other, and NUS students. 

http://www.nus.edu.sg/iro/sep/pals 

University Health Centre (UHC) 

The University Health Centre offers comprehensive health care 

to staff, students and visitors of NUS. The range of services offered 

by UHC are available to exchange students. 

http://www.nus.edu.sg/uhc 

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Quick links 

General Information 

About NUS: http://www.nus.edu.sg/ 

Exchange to NUS: http://www.nus.edu.sg/iro/sep/in 

Non-graduating programme: http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/edu/ng.html 

Registration guide: http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/edu/ng.html 

Important dates: http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/calendar.html 

Campus map: http://www.nus.edu.sg/campusmap/ 

Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/faqs/ng-applnfaq.html 

Academic Information 

NUS Bulletin: http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/nusbulletin/index.html 

Faculties and Schools: http://www.nus.edu.sg/education/academic/faculties-and-schools 

Awards & Scholarships 

Financial assistance opportunities: www.nus.edu.sg/iro 

Accommodation 

Accommodation for non-graduating students: 

http://nus.edu.sg/osa/housing/ 

http://nus.edu.sg/osa/housing/nongraduating/index_new.html 

International Student Services 

Peer Advising Programme: http://www.nus.edu.sg/iro/sep/pals 

Office of Student Affairs: http://www.nus.edu.sg/osa/international/ 

Student Life 

Campus life: http://www.nus.edu.sg/campuslife/ 

Sports at NUS: http://www.nus.edu.sg/osa/sports/ 

Clubs and societies: http://www.nus.edu.sg/osa/activities/svcs/societies.html 

NUS Student Union: http://community.nus.edu.sg/nussu/ 

In and Around Singapore 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: http://www.mfa.gov.sg 

Tourist information: http://yoursingapore.com 

Local transport services information: 

http://www.smrt.com.sg, http://www.sbstransit.com.sg 

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About IRO 

The NUS International Relations Office (IRO) fosters partnerships with premier institutions 

around the world to enhance NUS’ standing as a world-class institution. In tandem with NUS’ 

vision of becoming a leading global university centred in Asia, IRO (established in 1996) has 

developed meaningful international engagements with many peer institutions and fostered 

interactions and collaborations in education, research and technology that benefit our 

students, staff and stakeholders. Our partners are higher education leaders from all over 

the world, with whom we share international standards and best practices in order to foster 

a sustained culture of excellence on our own campus. Besides the Student Exchange 

Programme, IRO also works with NUS Faculties and Schools on other overseas attachments 

including international summer programmes (i-SP), international internships (i-Intern) and 

international research attachment programmes (i-RAP). 

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National University of Singapore 

3 rd Storey, Unit 03-03, Shaw Foundation Alumni House 

11 Kent Ridge Drive, Singapore 119244 

Tel: (65) 6516 4356 

Fax: (65) 6778 0177 

Website: www.nus.edu.sg/iro 

Email: sep@nus.edu.sg 

Information is accurate as of August 2012.

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