FAQ

Freshmen at NUS can apply for the NUS Student Exchange Programme (SEP) during the second application round. The second application round typically opens after freshmen have completed at least one semester of study at NUS. This allows freshmen to have some academic records and grades to be considered in their SEP application.

No, senior year students at NUS are not allowed to participate in the Student Exchange Programme (SEP) during their graduating semester. Instead, they are required to complete their final semester of study in NUS.

This policy is in place to ensure that students are complete any remaining coursework, final exams, and other graduation-related tasks to receive their degrees on time.

Additionally, please note that students are not permitted to do their Final Year Project (FYP) or any internship during their SEP semester. SEP is meant to be a dedicated academic exchange experience at a partner university, and students are expected to focus on their coursework and academic activities during this time.

No, DDP students must apply through their home faculty.  

The list in the PDF includes both School of Computing faculty‐level and university‐wide partner universities (where School of Computing has been allocated places). If you do not see the partner universities listed on the PDF or EduRec, then you cannot apply for it.  

Please note that all SEP places are offered in Round 1. Subsequent rounds would comprise SEP places left from previous rounds.  In other words, if there are still available slots in certain partner universities after Round 1, these slots will be offered again in round 2.

The available SEP places are categorised under “Any Semester”, “Semester 1” or “Semester 2”. If there is a place available in ” Any Semester”, you will be able to choose the semester that you wish to go for the exchange. You need to indicate your preferred semester in your application.  

If it is a “Semester 1” place, you can only go for exchange to that university in semester 1. Similarly, you can only go for exchange in semester 2, if the exchange place offered states “Semester 2”.  

Please note that there are some universities running on quarter system. Please check the partner universities’ academic calendars for more information.

No. each SEP offer typically corresponds to a single academic quarter or semester at the partner university. This means that students selected for SEP can usually embark on exchange for one quarter or one semester at the partner university.

Yes, you can still apply for partner universities whose exchange semester overlaps with NUS’ semester. In such cases, you may need to make arrangements with the partner university to take distance exams in Singapore or request to prepone your exams at the partner university. If these options are not feasible, consider selecting courses that do not have an exam component. It’s important to note that NUS will not grant a short-term leave of absence to take exams at the partner university if they coincide with NUS’ semester period. Therefore, it’s essential to plan your study and exam schedule carefully when applying for such partner universities.

Likewise, if you are planning to embark on a credit bearing internship (ATAP/SIP etc.) before/after your exchange, do check that the internship start and end dates to ensure that there is no overlapping of dates before you accept the SEP offer. No special considerations will be given to students returning/embarking on SEP if they are not able to meet requirements such as internship period, start dates, submissions etc.

It’s crucial to be aware of the language requirements of partner universities, especially if they use a language other than English as their primary teaching medium. Some partner universities may require a certain level of proficiency in the local language before offering admissions. To prepare for this, you may want to consider taking relevant language courses at NUS before your exchange. This will not only help you meet the language requirements but also enhance your overall experience and cultural immersion during your exchange period. It’s always better to be well-prepared and proactive in meeting the language requirements of your chosen partner university.

Students can list up to five universities in their application.

It’s crucial for students to understand that the SEP application process in the School of Computing is highly competitive. Many students may only be allocated their fifth choice of partner university due to the limited number of places available.

Popular destinations for SEP in School of Computing include countries like USA, UK, Sweden, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Switzerland. These locations tend to receive a high number of applications from students.

It’s also essential to note that approximately 90% of the SEP places are allocated in each round. This means that the majority of available spots are filled in the initial rounds, leaving limited options for subsequent rounds. Therefore, being flexible with partner university choices can also be beneficial, as it allows students to explore diverse and exciting exchange opportunities.

It’s important for students to understand that while there is no fixed cut-off GPA for SEP applications, the competition for certain partner universities can be intense. The cut-off GPA may vary depending on the number of applicants vying for the limited SEP places at specific partner universities.

The SEP selection process takes into account various factors, including the student’s SEP submission, academic achievements, CCA achievements, and the competitiveness of the available SEP spots. Both pre- and post-S/U GPA are considered during the evaluation process.

To enhance their chances of being selected for their preferred partner universities, students should aim to have a strong academic record and prepare a well-structured and thoughtful SEP submission. It’s also essential to explore a range of partner universities, considering both popular and less competitive options, to maximize the likelihood of a successful SEP application.

The study plan serves as a crucial tool for students to conduct the necessary research and groundwork for their chosen partner universities. It allows students to understand important details such as the teaching medium, course restrictions, and available courses at each partner university.

By referring to the partner universities’ factsheets on the Global Relations Office (GRO) website, students can gather relevant information about their preferred universities and make informed decisions about their exchange options. Taking University of California for example, UCLA and UCB campuseses do not offer Engineering and Computer Science courses for exchange students. therefore, students should adjust their study plan accordingly and focus on campuses that do align with their major.

Please note that the study plan is an interim plan and not a submission for course mappings. Students have the flexibility to modify their study plan as they approach their exchange semester, based on the latest information and availability of courses at the partner universities.

No, students are not allowed to select their preferred UC campus; you will be assigned to a University of California campus by UCEAP. Please note that UCLA and UC Berkeley are not available for School of Computing students. You can refer to NUS’ Global Relations Office for more information and earlier answer in question 14.

No, to be eligible for an exchange to ETH Zurich, students must be Computer Science majors and have a strong foundation in Computer Science, demonstrated by at least 2 years of full-time studies in relevant courses (approximately 15 to 20 CS courses). Other courses like math or science are not counted towards this requirement.

Therefore, if you wish to embark on an exchange to ETH Zurich, you must:

• Have a GPA of at least 4.00 and above; and
• Consider going for your exchange only after year 3 semester 1 (i.e. earliest at year 3 semester 2). 

Yes, there is a pre-approved list of courses for you to refer to. This is mentioned in the Course Mappings section. This list provides information on the possible courses that have been previously mapped by other students during their SEP experiences.

However, it’s important to note that the pre-approved list is only a reference and not an exhaustive list of all possible courses available for mapping. You should conduct further research to prepare your study plan and explore other courses offered by the partner universities.

If you come across a course that is not on the pre-approved list but you believe it could be a suitable mapping option, you should ensure that at least 70% of the content covered in the course offered by the partner university aligns with the NUS course you want to map it to. If you are confident about the similarity, you can add that course to your study plan. Please remember that the actual course mapping request will only take place after you have been offered a SEP place.

In summary, while the pre-approved list is a helpful starting point, it should not limit your exploration of potential courses for mapping. You are encouraged to conduct thorough research and consider the alignment between the partner university’s courses and your NUS degree requirements before finalizing your study plan.

It is important to be flexible with your study planning. Partner universities (PU) and NUS cannot guarantee that you will be able to secure all the courses you want during your exchange, especially in popular programmes like Computer Science.

Seniors who have returned from SEP have shared that it can be challenging to enroll in preferred courses during exchange, which is why having backup courses is crucial. It is common for students to take courses that fulfill unrestricted electives requirements during their exchange.

Additionally, some partner universities may have restrictions on the courses available to exchange students. It is essential to review the partner universities’ websites to understand their course offerings and any limitations that may apply.

Flexibility and careful planning are key to a successful exchange experience. Be prepared to explore a range of course options and have backup plans in place to make the most of your exchange opportunity. Remember that the exchange experience itself, the cultural exposure, and the opportunity to broaden your academic horizons can be equally valuable, even if you cannot take all the core courses you may have originally hoped for.

It is possible to plan and obtain course mapping approvals for courses that align with your second degree/major or minor. However, it is important to note that the approval of course mappings does not guarantee that you will be able to secure those specific courses during your exchange.

Partner universities may have specific course restrictions, and some courses may have limited availability or be exclusive to certain faculties or departments. For instance, some partner universities may have established exclusive agreements with NUS Business School, meaning that students nominated via NUS Computing (under the University-wide exchange agreement) may not be allowed to enroll in certain management courses during their exchange. While having approved course mappings can be beneficial, it is equally important to remain flexible and have backup courses in mind during the course registration process at your host university. 

At the same time, you may want to be mindful of the university’s minimum residency and units requirements. You can find out more from here: https://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/academic-information-policies/undergraduate-students/continuation-and-graduation-requirements#ResidencyRequirement.

It is important to note that receiving an internal offer from NUS for the Student Exchange Programme (SEP) does not guarantee your final acceptance into the exchange program. There are several stages involved, and the acceptance process includes assessment by the partner universities.

Upon receiving an internal offer, students will be required to submit an application to the partner university they have been allocated to. During this application process, partner universities may have additional requirements, such as stricter GPA requirements or language proficiency tests like IELTS or TOEFL. Each partner university has its own admission criteria and process, and they reserve the right to reject applicants if they do not meet their specific requirements.

It is crucial to be cautious with making any major financial commitments, such as booking flight tickets, until you receive formal admissions packages and visa documents from the partner university. Only after receiving official acceptance from the partner university should students proceed with their travel and accommodation arrangements.

Please note that we employ distinct notation for mapped courses from exchanges. It will be OVS (overseas satisfactory pass), OVU (overseas unsatisfactory), and OVI (overseas incomplete). Following the credit transfer, your official NUS transcript will only display the total credits acquired during the exchange.

No, students cannot hold both offers simultaneously. Both programmes have their own selection processes, and having an offer from one programme will reduce the priority in the selection process of the other.

Therefore, you should carefully consider your preference and choose the programme you are more inclined towards before accepting the offer. If you have received an offer for SEP but later decide to participate in NOC or vice versa, you will need to withdraw from the initial offer.

It is essential to be fully committed to the programme you choose, as there will be administrative processes and arrangements involved, and changing your decision may lead to complications and inconvenience for both you and the university.

Additionally, if you choose to withdraw from the SEP after accepting the offer, please be aware that there is a withdrawal fee of $300. This fee is applicable to students who wish to withdraw from the SEP after they have accepted the internal offer from NUS.