Overview

In this Engineering exchange program, students enroll directly at the Faculty of Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS), one of Vanderbilt's partner institutions. This program is a good option for students wishing to study Biomedical, Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Computer Engineering as well as Engineering Science. It is not a good option for Computer Science majors. NUS Exchange is best suited for those who are independent, proactive, and self-motivated.

Location

Singapore, the world’s only island city-state, is one of the cleanest, safest and economically prosperous cities in Asia. Predominantly English speaking, Singapore has four official languages, and offers a blend of cultures with strong influences from its Chinese, Malay, and Indian populations as well as the multitude of other ethnic groups who call this city-state their home. Located 1° above the equator, Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinct seasons. Expect it to be hot and humid all year round. If you are a foodie, then you are in for treat, as eating is a national pastime in Singapore! The Hawkers Centers offer a variety of foods at very affordable prices. Singapore also happens to have the best airport in the world and one of the largest transportation hubs in the region, making Singapore a dynamic gateway to Southeast Asia.

NUS is Asia’s #1 university and NUS Engineering is highly regarded and ranks among the top 10 in the World University Rankings by subject. NUS Engineering, one of the 17 schools at NUS, is almost as large as the entire Vanderbilt undergraduate body. NUS’s main Kent Ridge campus is located on the west side of Singapore, about an hour from downtown on MRT. Given the sizeable campus, students generally will rely on shuttle bus to get around on campus and to the MRT line. At NUS students will find clubs and organizations, a lively arts community complete with new performance and museum facilities, top notch sports and recreation venues, state of the art IT infrastructure and high speed network, an impressive number of on-campus dining options, as well as comprehensive student support services. NUS has rigorous academic programs, strong focus on research and rich learning atmosphere, and appeal mostly to academically serious applicants.  

Academics

At NUS, the undergraduate curricula are based on a modular system. Under this system, workloads are expressed in terms of Modular Credits (MCs), and academic performance is measured by grade points on a 5-point scale. Students in this program MUST register for 12-20 NUS modular credits (approx. 3-5 courses) to maintain visa eligibility. Students can choose courses from the list of modules available to undergraduate exchange students, but at least 70% of the modules must be taken from NUS Engineering.  Module restrictions apply. Once accepted, students will receive an email indicating pre-approved courses. Course registration takes place upon arrival at NUS. More information on available modules and module restrictions here.

Housing

NUS offers on-campus housing to exchange students, but it is not guaranteed. There are six halls of residence, five residential colleges and two student residences providing on-campus accommodation at NUS. On NUS’s online application, students will be asked if they would like to be considered for NUS on-campus accommodation. Interested students must select “YES”, and will receive further instructions to apply for on-campus housing in the offer letter. Per Vanderbilt’s Housing Policy, students interested in off-campus housing must sign the Vanderbilt University Study Abroad Housing Waiver form. For more information on housing options at NUS, visit the Housing website.

Visa

All exchange students are required to apply for a Student’s Pass to study in Singapore. Offer of admission to NUS is conditional upon successful application of Student’s Pass. Full-year exchange students are required to do a medical examination as part of the Student’s Pass application. In addition to applying for a Student’s Pass, an entry visa may be required to enter Singapore depending on the nationality of the traveler’s passport. Students traveling on U.S. passport may enter Singapore by showing their passport and disembarkation card to get through immigration. NUS will assist with the entry visa and Student’s Pass application, and further instructions will be provided by NUS’s Registrar’s Office. There is a fee associated with visa and Student’s Pass application. Upon arrival to NUS, students will receive official immigration documents during registration period, with which students will collect their Student’s Pass in Singapore. More info here. 

Application

Students must complete an application with GEO by the GEO application deadline. Eligible applicants will be reviewed by the School of Engineering for nomination. Once nominated to NUS, students will complete an online application directly with NUS. Final acceptance comes from NUS.
Spots are limited for the NUS exchange program. Students are highly encouraged to identify and apply to viable back-up programs. For students applying to the NUS exchange in the Fall semester, please note that acceptance notice is issued in June.

Useful Links

NUS Engineering 
NUS Global Relations Office – Incoming Exchange Students page
NUS Registrar’s Office – Non-graduating Program page