Student Exchange Programme – Application Process
Student Exchange Programme
The Department recognizes Singapore’s strategic location and its networks and aims to prepare its graduates to engage in the global practice of design. In line with this aim, the Department creates opportunities and provides support for its students to enhance their academic experience and cultural exposure through its extensive student exchange programmes (SEP) with leading Architecture and Industrial Design schools.
To enable students to proceed on SEP, student exchange agreements are signed with reputable overseas universities allowing for reciprocal exchange of students. Exchange agreements can be signed at the University-level, School-level or Department-level. SEP places arising from University-level Exchange Agreements will be designated University Wide places and administered by Registrar’s Office while those from the Department-level Exchange Agreements will be administered by the Department.
School/Department Level Exchanges are established with the following Universities
| Department Level Exchange | |||
| Partner University | Country | Level/ Semester to embark on Exchange | Remarks |
| Tianjin University | China | BA (Arch) Level 4 Semester 1 | Sufficient Chinese language proficiency required |
| Tsinghua University (China) | China | BA (Arch) Level 4 Semester 1 | Sufficient Chinese language proficiency required |
| Czech Technical University in Prague | Czech Republic | BA (Arch) Level 4 Semester 1 | |
| Ecole Speciale d’Architecture (France) | France | BA (Arch) Level 2 Semester 2/ Level 3 Semester 1 | Opened to students in French LPP or with sufficient proficiency in French only |
| Technical University of Munich | Germany | BA (Arch) Level 2 Semester 2 | |
| Chinese University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong SAR | BA (Arch) Level 2 Semester 2/ Level 3 or Level 4 Semester 1 | |
| Meiji University | Japan | BA (Arch) Level 4 Semester 1 | |
| Ewha University | South Korea | BA (Arch) Level 4 Semester 1 | |
| University of Seoul (Korea) | South Korea | BA (Arch) Level 3 Semester 1 | |
| Polytechnic University of Turin | Italy | BA (Arch) Level 3 or 4/ Semester 1 | |
| University of Navarra | Spain | BA (Arch) Level 3/ Semester 1 | |
| Tunghai University | Taiwan | BA (Arch) Level 3 or 4/ Semester 1 | |
| Chulongkorn University | Thailand | BA (Arch) Level 3 Semester 1 | |
| Strathclyde University (UK) | United Kingdom | BA (Arch) Level 3 or 4/ Semester 1 | |
| School Level Exchange | |||
| Partner University | Country | Level/ Semester to embark on Exchange | Remarks |
| Chongqing University | China | BA (Arch) Level 3 Semester 1 | Sufficient Chinese language proficiency required |
| Kyoto Institute of Technology | Japan | BA (Arch) 4 Semester 1 | |
| Hanyang University | South Korea | BA (Arch) Level 3 Semester 1 |
1) Eligibility
Students have to fulfill the following requirements in order to be considered for the exchange program:
- Minimum CAP of 3.0
- Minimum C grade in all modules taken
- Satisfactory performance in Design modules
Architecture students can participate in SEP in Semester 2 of their 2nd year OR Semester 1 of their 3rd or 4th year of study.
Students are only allowed to participate in one round of SEP of one semester only.
2) Application
Application Period
Applications for SEP are opened in September each year.
Second round of application for exchange (subjected to availability of places) would be opened in December to January
Application Process
The application process takes place in 2 stages.
Stage 1: Selection as an Exchange Student
NUS students apply for SEP through Education Records System (EduRec) (https://myedurec.nus.edu.sg), under External Study.
Students need not submit the online study plan at this stage.
Stage 2: After SEP Allocation
Upon offer and acceptance of the placement, students would be required to submit the following:
- Copy of Passport particulars page
- Certification of Financial Resources issued by bank
- Assigned Partner University’s application form (if applicable)
- Study Plan
- 2 Letters of recommendation (original). One referee is an NUS lecturer or tutor
- Endorsement letter for SEP (Original) if applicable from Scholarship Awarding Organization.
- Any other documents as required.
- Full NUS result transcript (Original).
For Enquiries on SEP application, please contact Ms Lyn Chua (akiclp@nus.edu.sg)
FAQ on SEP
Administrative Matters:
Am I qualified to apply for SEP?
All full-time coursework undergraduate students (Singaporean & non-Singaporean) are eligible to apply, except:
- Foreign nationals receiving a scholarship financed or administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (e.g. Singapore Scholarships, etc.).
- Students in their final semester of study
- International students are not allowed to participate in SEP at Partner Universities that are located in their home country.
How do I apply for SEP?
Students would be notified of the application period via email. Interested applicants can then submit their application via the online through Education Records System (EduRec) (https://myedurec.nus.edu.sg), under External Study.
Is there a quota for SEP applicants?
There are limited places allocated for the exchange, students therefore compete for a placement in SEP. Choose the universities wisely so as to increase your chances of success.
How will I know if I’ve been selected for SEP?
Students would be notified via email of the result of their SEP application. Students who have been offered a place would need to accept or reject the placement via EduRec System.
What is the financial cost of going on exchange?
Students on SEP continue to pay tuition fees and other related fees to NUS for the semester they are abroad. Additional cost of SEP includes airfare, accommodation, books etc.Students should also note that they may be required to participate in fieldtrips which are part of the respective studio programmes during their exchange. Hence they would need to prepare additional funds for these trips.
The estimated budget is approximately between S$6000- S$15,000 per semester The cost of living varies from country to country, even between different cities of the same country. You should access Global Relations Office website and the websites of the different universities to ascertain the estimated living expenses for the time that you will be away. You can also speak to other students who have done SEP at the same university or city where you will be heading.
What if I receive scholarship or tuition grant?
NUS students who receive scholarships, or who won awards/grants to finance their University studies, must obtain permission from the awarding bodies before applying for the SEP. This is to permit them to continue the scholarships or awards for the duration of the SEP. This requirement is waived for those receiving NUS Scholarships, and it is inapplicable to those receiving tuition grants, tuition fee or study loans.
Is financial assistance available for students going on exchange?
Various forms of support in the form of scholarships/ awards and Overseas SEP Loan are available. Please refer to GRO website under “Financial Aid” for the details.
What about accommodation?
Some universities will arrange accommodation for students; others require students to make their own arrangements. You should refer to the partner universities’ websites for information on accommodation.
Accommodation would be provided for students participating in exchange at Hanyang University (South Korea) under Faculty Level Exchange MOU.
Can I withdraw from the SEP upon successful application?
Yes, however withdrawals after the acceptance of internal offer will be liable to a $300 penalty. Student must email akiclp@nus.edu.sg citing the reasons for their withdrawal. Once it is approved Registrar’s Office will be informed accordingly. Student must also inform Partner University of the withdrawal if student has been accepted by Partner University.
What should I do if I cannot return on time from my exchange for the new academic semester?
Students are to inform the Department (via email to akiclp@nus.edu.sg ) as soon as possible if they anticipate that they cannot return on time from their exchange for the new semester. Students are expected to resume their studies in NUS by Monday of Week 2 of the academic semester
Delays in returning from exchange could affect students’ studio allocation (especially if overseas fieldtrips are involved) as well as their participation in workshops that are scheduled in the beginning of the semester.
Academic Matters
What are the programmes available to prepare me for exchange to Austria, Belgium, France, Germany or Switzerland which requires good knowledge of French or German?
Please refer to the Language Preparatory Programme hosted by Centre for Language Studies.
What are the modules that I can read during exchange and how are modules taken during exchange mapped back to NUS?
Students should try to complete the essential modules specified for the semester of exchange. This is to avoid overloading of modules when students return from exchange which may delay their graduation.
It is the students’ responsibility to research on the modules offered by the Partner University (PU) and find a match for the NUS module(s) which they intend to read during exchange. Students may find information of the modules offered at the Partner University’s website.
Students have to submit the study plan for the SEP Coordinator to review the suitability of the modules as possible match to NUS architecture modules.
For mapping of Breadths or Unrestricted Elective where there is no exact match to any NUS modules, a dummy code would be given to the approved Partner University’s module for credit transfer purpose.
Once the modules are approved offline, you can submit your SEP Study Plan via the EdurRec System (Navigation: Self Service > External Study > External Study Application) for the approval to be lodged in the system.
For mapping of non-architecture modules, please submit your mapping request directly through the NUS EduRec System using the navigation as above
What are the procedures for obtaining approval if I want to read a GEM module during exchange?
For students admitted before AY2015/16, please refer to http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/general-education/pre2015/guidelines-for-sep.html for the application procedures.
For students admitted from AY2015/16 onwards, they are not allowed to read modules from the overseas/partner university while on the above Programmes and use them as GEMs to fulfil the GE requirement.
Will all modules read through the SEP be factored into the CAP?
No, there will only be credit transfer for such modules. Modules read during exchange have to be approved by the SEP/ Programme coordinator for credit transfer back to relevant NUS modules.
What is the maximum number of modular credits that that I can credit back from my exchange?
For students admitted from AY2014/2015 onwards, a minimum 60% of Programme/Major/Second Major credits must be earned from NUS modules which are defined as all modules taught, co-taught, supervised or co-supervised by one or more NUS faculty members. These would consist of graded modules with assigned grade points, or modules with an ‘S’ or ‘CS’ grade. The other 40% of credits may be earned through credit transfers, advanced placement and exemptions, provided these MCs are earned from modules deemed relevant to the particular Major/Programme.
Minor Programmes: A minimum 16 MCs of the Minor requirements must be earned from NUS modules which are defined as all modules taught, co-taught, supervised or co-supervised by one or more NUS faculty members, unless indicated otherwise by Faculties/Departments for specific minors. These would consist of graded modules with assigned grade points, or modules with an ‘S’ or ‘CS’ grade. The other 8 MCs may be earned through credit transfers, advanced placement and exemptions, provided these MCs are earned from modules deemed relevant to the particular Minor programme.
For cohorts 2013/14 and before:
To protect the integrity and value of the NUS degree, a limit is placed on the number of MCs that may be excluded from the computation of CAP. In other words, a minimum number of MCs must be based on graded modules with assigned grade points. The following are general university level guidelines:
- A student registered for a Bachelor’s degree must do the greater of (a) 50% of required MCs for the degree programme or (b) 80 MCs at NUS. These MCs must be earned from graded modules with assigned grade points.
- A minimum 60% of Programme/Major credits must be graded and factored into the CAP.
- A minimum 16 MCs of the Minor requirements must be graded and factored into the CAP.