Student Exchange Programme (SEP)
NUS Economics students have the opportunity to study abroad in over 180 universities around the world through the Student Exchange Programme.
Pictured here is Mihika Ashutosh Joshi (left) who studied for a semester at the University of Virginia. She is pictured here with her friends in front of the Washington Monument.
WHAT IS SEP?
NUS SEP is a global study programme where NUS students can choose from over 300 Partner Universities all around the world, and spend up to one year studying there. This programme is highly competitive here in NUS because students are very keen in being able to travel somewhere else and take up the opportunity to experience a glimpse of life and education in another country, where everything from culture, climate and infrastructure is all different compared to here in Singapore.
Why participate in SEP?
As a student, you should strongly consider participating in SEP because it can be a life-changing experience that not only enriches a student's education but also broadens their horizons, enhances personal development, and prepares them for an increasingly interconnected and diverse world.
Cultural Immersion: Exchange programs offer students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a different culture. This firsthand experience will help you gain a deeper understanding of other cultures, traditions, and ways of life.
Personal Growth: Exchange programs often take students out of their comfort zones. This can lead to personal growth and development as they learn to adapt to new environments, handle challenges, and become more independent. Here in Singapore, most of us live with our parents and they take make sure many things are settled for us like meals and laundry. When you actually get to live on your own in a another country, you will definitely feel the weight of these responsibilities you did not have to bear before, but it will allow you to take ownership of your personal well-being, leading you to the pinnacle of personal growth.
Educational Enrichment: The partner universities offer a myriad of courses for every faculty, lot of which are not offered here in NUS.This means you may get to study interesting courses that, access different teaching methods, or gain insights from professors and students in another country, which will help you gain more knowledge in whatever field of study of your interest. You could also choose to study subjects that are not related to your major and are not offered in NUS, which is a great opportunity.
Networking and Relationships: Exchange programs provide opportunities to make international friends, build global networks, and develop lifelong relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. These connections can be extremely valuable. Professionally speaking, if you were to ever venture for opportunities overseas, these friends that you make during exchange could be of a really big help to you.
Travel Opportunities: Being in a different country often makes travel to nearby regions more accessible. Students can explore new places and have unique travel experiences during their exchange. There is nothing more memorable than having the chance to travel with your friends in your youth.
FAQ
-
1. Who is eligible for SEP?
For a student to be eligible to participate in SEP, they must 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 minimum GPA of 3.0, and should not have any grade below grade ‘C’ in any course;
have sufficient financial means to cover the necessary expenses for the duration of the SEP;
obtain your faculty’s approval for the SEP;
satisfy partner institution and host country entry requirements;
ensure that there are no restrictions involving overseas study if you are holding a scholarship; and
have a clean disciplinary record and be a strong ambassador for NUS and Singapore.
Must take a minimum of 12 MCs worth of courses at the host university.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. When does the SEP application open?
Round 1 of the SEP application for AY2027/28 runs from 10 September to 24 September 2026, 2359 hrs.
Depending on the partner university, students may apply for:
Semester 1
Semester 2
A full academic year
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. How many universities can I apply for?
You may rank up to five partner universities, with 1 being your most preferred choice.
Before ranking your choices, conduct sufficient research on each university, including its course offerings, course mapping opportunities, academic calendar, costs and housing arrangements.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. How should I choose my partner universities?
Do not choose partner universities based on rankings alone.
Before submitting your choices, consider:
Course offerings and mapping opportunities
Academic calendar
Cost of living
Housing availability
Location and lifestyle
Academic requirements
Most importantly, ensure that you can find suitable courses to fulfil your graduation requirements.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Do I need to meet any GPA or module requirements?
Students must:
Have successfully completed at least one semester upon application and two semesters upon admission to the assigned partner university.
Have a minimum GPA of 3.00, with preferably no grade below C.
These are the minimum requirements. Some partner universities, particularly more popular ones, may have higher GPA requirements. Students must also satisfy the specific admission requirements of their chosen partner universities.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. How competitive is SEP? Are there GPA cut-offs for different universities?
SEP allocation is competitive, particularly for popular partner universities with limited places.
There is no fixed GPA range that guarantees admission to a particular university. Allocation depends on factors such as:
Your application
Your university preferences
Available places
Demand from other applicants
Your ranking under the FASS selection criteria
FASS has also provided a List of Oversubscribed Partner Universities based on 1st choice, which can help students identify universities that tend to be more competitive.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. How are exchange universities allocated to students?
For FASS students, applicants are ranked based on:
50% GPA
30% Seniority
20% Personal Statement and answer to the Additional Information question
Following the ranking exercise, students are allocated a partner university based on their 1st to 5th ranked choices, subject to available places.
Students must also meet the requirements of their chosen partner universities. These requirements can be found in the relevant partner university factsheets.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Do I need to secure my courses and housing before applying?
No. You do not need to secure your courses or housing before submitting your SEP application.
However, you should research both before ranking your partner universities.
Course demand and housing availability at partner universities can be highly competitive. Therefore:
Keep your course choices flexible.
Consider retaining some Unrestricted Elective (UE) space.
Be prepared to explore off-campus accommodation.
Do not assume that your first-choice courses or on-campus accommodation will be available.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. What is the “1+1” programme?
Under the 1+1 programme, eligible students may apply for a second SEP at selected partner universities.
The second SEP is not guaranteed. However, students applying for the second SEP will be treated as though they had not previously applied for SEP.
Students interested in the 1+1 programme should indicate their interest under the relevant question in the Additional Information section of the application.
There are two categories:
Category 1: First SEP offer in Southeast Asia/Mainland China
Students who received their first SEP offer to Southeast Asia/Mainland China may apply for a second SEP to:
Southeast Asia/Mainland China; or
Other selected countries.
Please refer to the FASS email for the list of eligible partner universities.
Category 2: First SEP offer in other countries
Students who received their first SEP offer outside Southeast Asia/Mainland China may apply for a second SEP to selected countries.
Please refer to the FASS email for the list of eligible partner universities.
Priority: Category 1 students will be prioritised over Category 2 students for the second SEP.
For specific programmes, such as the Minor in Chinese Media at Tsinghua University (School of Journalism and Communication), please refer to the relevant FASS information and eligibility requirements.
-
For a student to be eligible to participate in SEP, they must 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 minimum GPA of 3.0, and should not have any grade below grade ‘C’ in any course;
have sufficient financial means to cover the necessary expenses for the duration of the SEP;
obtain your faculty’s approval for the SEP;
satisfy partner institution and host country entry requirements;
ensure that there are no restrictions involving overseas study if you are holding a scholarship; and
have a clean disciplinary record and be a strong ambassador for NUS and Singapore.
Must take a minimum of 12 MCs worth of courses at the host university.
-
Note that the credit transfer has to be initiated by you, it is NOT automatic.
You are required to submit a Unit Transfer Form (link is found in this webpage)
Only courses that are graded as pass or better at the partner university are eligible for transfer.
Note that grades from the exchange do not affect your NUS GPA. Only the credits are transferred.
-
We have compiled a list of financial aids and scholarships here
-
Generally, NUS does not explicitly prohibit students from working abroad while on SEP.
However, you need to ensure that you do not violate the visa policies in your PU (Partner university) country.