Course Mapping
For outgoing students on exchange from AY2026/2027 onwards
Mapping Request
All course mapping requests are to be submitted via EduRec to ensure that your proposed mappings can be forwarded to the respective course host departments for review. The outcome of the mapping request is final. No appeal is allowed.
Mapping approval for all courses you intend to read at the Partner University (PU) should be obtained prior to the start of your Student Exchange Programme (SEP) semester to ensure that you have enough credits and meet relevant requirements during the exchange. Any revisions after approval has been given (e.g. due to changes in course offerings or add/drop process at PU) should be resubmitted through EduRec before the end of your SEP semester.
Please refer to the Course Mapping Guide.
At Partner University
Course restrictions: Some courses at the PU are not available to exchange students because of over-subscription by their own students. This also occurs for courses in popular programmes such as computing and business. The PU has the prerogative to impose such restrictions at any time, without prior notice to NUS, such that a course that was previously available can become unavailable – NUS is unable to help you to appeal to the PU for special consideration.
Defined/limited scope of exchange programme: For example, if NUS Mechanical Engineering Department has an agreement with the Mechanical Engineering programme of a PU, but not with their Aeronautical Engineering programme, you may not be able to read courses from the Aeronautical Engineering programme at that university. You should always check the details provided by the PU and never make assumptions.
At NUS
Non-mappable CDE courses
The list serves as a reference and will be reviewed and updated periodically. Mapping requests to these courses will be rejected.
Mapping requests to all other courses not listed below are subject to review by the respective course host departments.
List of Non-mappable CDE courses (Last updated: 30 December 2025)
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
| BN3101A | Biomedical Engineering Design | 4 |
| BN4101 | B.Eng. Dissertation | 8 |
| CDE2501 | Sustainable Systems for Liveable Cities | 4 |
| CDE3301 | Ideas to Proof-of-Concept | 12 |
| CDE3301C | Complex Systems Design: From Mission to Prototype | 12 |
| CDE4301 | Innovation & Design Capstone | 12 |
| CDE4301A | Ideas to Start-up | 12 |
| CE4104 | B. Eng. Dissertation | 8 |
| CN4119 | Final Year Design Project | 8 |
| EG3611A | Industrial Attachment | 10 |
| EG3612 | Vacation Industrial Attachment | 6 |
| ESE4501 | Design Project | 4 |
| ESE4501R | Design Project | 8 |
| ESE4502R | B. Eng. Dissertation | 8 |
| IE3100R | Systems Design Project | 8 |
| IPM1102 | Infrastructure and Project Management Law | 4 |
| IPM4103 | Contract and Procurement Management | 4 |
| MLE4101B | B.Eng.Dissertation | 8 |
| MLE4102A | Design Project | 8 |
| PF3207 | Project Management Law | 4 |
| PF3306 | Facilities Management Law and Contract | 4 |
| SH5003 | Fundamentals in Environmental Protection | 4 |
| SH5407 | Sustainable Energy and Environment | 4 |
In general, Final Year Projects (or equivalent) are not eligible for mapping. Students embarking on year-long SEP can approach their home department for advice.
CDE Courses with Conditional Mapping Approval
Please consult your home department SEP coordinator/administrator for more information.
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
| CN3104 | Computer-Aided Chemical Process Simulation | 4 |
| CN4102 | Chemical Engineering Lab | 4 |
| PF4203 | Project Dispute Management | 4 |
For cohorts admitted before AY2021/22: link
Please note: "Courses read from overseas/partner universities while students are on Student Exchange Programmes/Summer Programmes/Winter Programmes/Study Abroad Programmes cannot be used to fulfil the General Education requirement."
For cohorts admitted from AY2021/22 onwards: link
Please note: "Students who have been granted transfer credits from Student Exchange Programmes towards a course that satisfies a GE pillar, will be granted exemption from the GE pillar and will be considered to have fulfilled the GE pillar."
Click here for the list of courses approved under the six GE pillars and read the FAQ for more information.
Please adhere to NUS Business Course Mapping Processing Timeline.
Click here for more information on mapping to language-related courses at the Centre for Language Studies.
Credit Transfer
Credits are transferred only for PU courses completed successfully (i.e. enrolled and passed) with approved mappings to NUS courses. The official transcript from the PU must be submitted to your home department via the email/link provided in the contact list to process the request and finalise the credit transfer.
The NUS equivalent units for transfer for each PU course will be derived from the SEP Credit Transfer Calculator (NOT the units indicated on the approved course mapping requests). Your home department will make necessary unit adjustments during the credit transfer stage.
All mapped courses selected for credit transfer are graded ‘OVS’ (Overseas Satisfactory Pass) and excluded from the computation of your Grade Point Average (GPA).
Please refer to the Credit Transfer Guide.
FAQ
M1. Can I get my courses approved after I return from exchange if I didn’t map them beforehand?
You may submit a post-exchange course mapping request via EduRec. However, be aware that some course host departments do not permit retrospective mapping, so it may not be possible. Approval is also not guaranteed, especially for non-CDE courses. If your courses are not approved, the credits taken on exchange cannot be applied toward your degree requirements. This may require you to overload in future semesters at NUS or could potentially delay your graduation.
M2. If the PU doesn’t provide details on assessment, how should I handle course mapping?
Since universities release course details on varying schedules, you should check the PU’s website regularly for updates or reach out to them for more details.
M3. I’d like to take a course at the PU, but there’s no NUS-equivalent. What should I do?
- Always attempt to find a matching or similar NUS course. If no appropriate course exists, continue with the next step.
- Kindly consolidate all relevant course information (e.g. syllabus, course assessments) and write to cde_exchange@nus.edu.sg for advice. As the review process may take longer than usual, please remain flexible and include alternative course options as backups. We will advise you of the outcome and the next steps required.
C1. Is the credit transfer process automatic?
No. You need to initiate this process yourself. Please refer to the Credit Transfer Guide and submit your credit transfer request as soon as possible, as any delay may result in the relevant prerequisites not appearing in your academic record, which could prevent you from enrolling in higher-level courses, taking part in course registration, or even graduating.
C2. After returning to NUS, I haven’t received my transcript. What actions should I take?
Please email the PU to confirm the status of your transcript, whether it was sent directly to NUS, and the exact recipient/location it was addressed to. If transcripts are sent to OUR or CDE, we will notify you by email to collect them once they arrive.
C3. What’s the maximum number of units I can transfer from my SEP?
- For students on exchange in AY2025/2026 and earlier: Please check with your department SEP coordinator/administrator.
- For students on exchange in AY2026/2027 and beyond: Credit transfers are capped at 24 units for semester-long exchange. Students must use the SEP Credit Transfer Calculator to derive the NUS equivalent units for each PU course. Refer to Course Mapping Guide for more details.
C4. Do courses taken overseas impact my GPA?
Only the units from overseas courses taken during your SEP are transferable. As a result, courses taken on exchange do not affect your GPA.
C5. Can I choose not to transfer some of the credits back?
Yes, please notify your department SEP administrator via email and support the request with reason(s). You may also wish to note the NUS residency requirement and minimum unit requirements for the major/special programmes.
C6. Does the SEP calculator apply to summer/winter exchange programmes?
- The calculator also applies to Summer/Winter Exchange Programmes (SWP) from AY2026/2027 onwards.
- Students can map up to 10 units for each Summer Programme and up to 5 units for each Winter Programme. All course mappings must be approved by the relevant Faculty/School.
- You may request an NUS tuition fee waiver for units transferred from up to two Summer/Winter Programmes, capped at a total of 12 units over the course of your NUS candidature. Beyond this cap, NUS Special Term tuition fees apply in addition to host university fees. For queries, contact your Faculty/School SEP coordinator or your academic department. For more information, refer to GRO’s i-SP Application Guide.
S1. How is SEP managed if the PU’s academic schedule does not match NUS?
Universities may use different academic calendars and semester names from NUS. Students are advised to choose the semester at the PU where you can return to NUS in time for the following semester or with minimum overlap.
S2. Do I have to cover the PU’s tuition fees?
Students pay their regular NUS tuition and not the partner university’s tuition. However, they are responsible for exchange-related charges at the PU (such as medical insurance and facility fees).
S3. Which funding or financial support schemes are offered for SEP?
Students who receive a SEP offer from a PU may apply for GRO scholarships and awards. Eligible students will be considered for the Opportunity Enhancement Grant which they can apply to offset SEP expenses.


