Student Exchange Programme

The Student Exchange Programme (SEP) allows students to enhance their academic experience and cultural exposure with leading architecture and landscape architecture schools, preparing graduates to engage in the global practice of design through student exchanges.

For more information about the Student Exchange Programme please click here and here.

 

SEP Application procedure:

A decision to go on SEP requires careful research and planning and should not be taken lightly. Before you decide to apply for SEP, there are some important steps to consider:

Step 1: Eligibility

To be eligible for the NUS Student Exchange Programme (SEP), undergraduate students should:
– 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 GPA of 3.0, and should not have any grade below grade ‘C’ (grade point of 2.0) in any course;
– have sufficient financial means to cover the necessary expenses for the duration of the SEP (if receiving any scholarship, ensure there are no restrictions involving overseas study);
– satisfy partner institution and host country entry requirements (do not apply for SEP to your home country);
– have a clean disciplinary record and be a strong ambassador for NUS and the BLA Programme.

The following students are not eligible for overseas SEP:
– students in their final semester of degree; or
– students scheduled for final year projects, internships or industrial attachments.

Step 2: Application

Due to the specificities of the BLA curriculum, the duration of SEP should be of ONE semester only and take place in either Year 3 Semester 1 or 2 or in Year 4 Semester 1. Therefore, each year, SEP applications are open to BLA Year 2 and 3 students who are interested in going on exchange during the following academic year, either in Semester 1 or 2.

Students who have:
– confirmed to be eligible to apply for SEP;
– researched and found suitable courses to read at the chosen five SEP partner universities;
– adequate funds to cover the cost of SEP (including regular NUS semester fees payable);
– and completed the Travel Preparedness Course on Canvas
are ready to begin the SEP application procedure.

Placement in exchange programme requires successful application and acceptance by BLA Programme Director and host universities (such as language requirements for courses not taught in English). Students will be able to view places available and submit their applications via EduRec, Academics > Global Education > External Study Application.

Late applications will not be accepted.

There are 2 rounds of applications at DOA:

· Round 1*
o August: Call for applications
o September: Application deadline
o October: Interviews with BLA Programme Director
o November: Offers sent to students for acceptance through EduRec

· Round 2 (only if places remain available after Round 1)
o December: Application deadline
o January: Interviews with BLA Programme Director
o February: Offers sent to students for acceptance through EduRec

*All students who are planning to embark on SEP in Semester 1 of the following year must apply during the first round.

Application requirements:

On top of the EduRec requirements, all BLA students’ applications should include:
– A statement of motivation for studying abroad
– A portfolio of creative and design works

Applications will be reviewed by Programme Director based on the following criteria:
– academic performance (including GPA but not limited to)
– motivation for studying abroad
– interview performance

Step 3: Accept the offer

Students selected for SEP will be notified (by email) of an SEP ‘internal offer’ 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.

Step 4: Course Mapping

Only credits from courses pre-approved for mapping by the BLA Programme Director and passed at partner universities (with Overseas Satisfactory) will be transferred back to NUS. Mapping approval for all courses intended to read at the partner university should be obtained prior to the start of the SEP semester to ensure that students have enough credits and meet relevant requirements during the exchange. The timeline for course mapping is May to July.

To ensure smooth approval of course mapping applications BLA students should:
1. Submit a proposed course mapping (template provided by Neesha) with proper justifications, full course syllabus, and/or links for approval by the BLA Programme Director at least 3 weeks before the EduRec deadline.
2. Revise the proposed course mapping based on the Programme Director’s feedback.
3. Once the proposed course mapping is approved, then submit the official course mapping requests via EduRec. The outcome of the mapping request is final. No appeal is allowed. Any revisions after approval (e.g. due to changes in course offerings or add/drop process at PU) should be resubmitted through EduRec before the end of the SEP semester.

Please refer to the CDE Course Mapping Guide.