Founded in 1905, NUS is a leading global university today and widely known for its innovation and rigorous education which has nurtured generations of leaders and luminaries across industries, professions, and sectors in Singapore. As Singapore’s flagship university, NUS welcomes more than 2,000 international exchange students every year.
Learn more about the university from the About NUS webpage.
Singapore is an island city-state, located in the heart of Asia, at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It is consistently recognized to be a global business hub with its developed infrastructure, political stability, and open business policy. The island republic’s tropical climate, easy accessibility, safe and green environment attracts business and leisure travelers all year round. With its English speaking environment, affordable and integrated public transport system, you may discover the garden city easily by yourself and explore the blends of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Arab, and Western foods, cultures, and religions.
Academics
Curriculum
English is the primary language of instruction at NUS, so a wide variety of modules (courses) are available. Exchange students must take at least 16 modular credits (approximately 4 modules) per semester in order to transfer the minimum 12 credits required back to UVA (credits transfer back at a 4:3 ratio), and no more than 20 MCs (approximately 5 modules). Certain modules have limited access for exchange students. See below for instructions about how to find courses offered at NUS.
View the list of NUS Modules for Exchange Students
- Each module is labelled with a 2 or 3 letter prefix that denotes the discipline and 4 digits, the first of which indicates the level of the module (e.g. 1000 to 4000 indicate Level 1 to Level 4 modules in NUS undergraduate degree. Kindly note that 5000 & above indicates graduate-level modules (these modules are not open to undergraduate students).
- Refer to the Incoming Exchange Students webpage under Step 3: Modules for Exchange Students to see information about module restrictions, module descriptions, and class and examination timetables.
- If you have questions or would like to find a specific course, ask your Education Abroad Advisor for help.
Terms
Semester 1: August - early December
Semester 2: mid-January - mid May
Accommodation
Exchange students at NUS are not guaranteed on-campus housing. Students interested in on-campus housing must indicate that preference when applying to NUS after being nominated by the ISO. Descriptions of the various campus housing options can be found on the NUS Hostel Admission Services website. Some students may have to consider staying off-campus if on-campus accommodations are not available to them. The NUS accommodations site has more information about off-campus options.
UVA Student Experience at nus
“I assisted in a coral resilience laboratory at the National University of Singapore aimed at understanding how coral in the South China Sea has responded to various climate stressors historically. Additionally, I was able to create experiences for myself directly relevant to my passion for marine science. I saw firsthand the wonder of the coral triangle in person, scuba dived its waters and practiced Pacific reef fish identification. I gleaned knowledge of environmental issues specific to the region of Southeast Asia through my Water and the Environment coursework and witnessing waste and water management techniques in a country renowned for its sustainable policies.”
-Sarah Cox, Environmental Sciences major at UVA, NUS exchange student Fall semester 2019
This program is open to students from any major, but below is a list of the top five majors at UVA who choose to study on exchange at NUS.
- Foreign Affairs
- Computer Science and Computer Engineering
- Economics
- Systems Engineering
- Psychology
Would you like to contact a UVA student who has studied on this program? See our list of study abroad returnees who want to help you!
Costs and Expected Expenses
There are a variety of associated costs and expenses when studying abroad. The information provided below is a guide to help you plan and budget. Additional resources are available on your host university’s website, including the
NUS Incoming Exchangers website. Look for the heading "While in NUS - Step 5: Costs of Living. Contact your Education Abroad Advisor with questions.
Tuition and Fees: You will pay your regular tuition rate and fees to UVA for the term you are on a UVA Exchange Program. Tuition and fees will be billed to your SIS account and can be paid as normal.
Housing and Meals: You are responsible to pay for accommodation and any required or preferred meal plan. You will pay the host institution or make your own arrangements for accommodations. Check the host institution web site for accommodation and meal plan choices, cost, and application procedures.
More information about accommodation and meal plan rates can be found on the
NUS Student Affairs website.
Travel and Travel Documents: You are responsible for booking and paying for your own international airfare, as well as researching and obtaining any required visa(s) or residency permits. You should also budget for in-country transportation costs.
Insurance: UVA students are required to purchase CISI emergency medical and accident insurance. More information can be found on the
Insurance web page.
All students participating in the Exchange Program at NUS will also be required to subscribe to the NUS insurance scheme for non-graduating students for their duration of study at NUS. The insurance scheme is mandatory for all exchange students and exchange students will be responsible for payment of the applicable premium in full prior to their arrival at NUS. The rationale behind this is so that exchange students and the University do not encounter difficulties with claims in times of need and especially in an emergency.
Additional Expenses: You should be prepared to purchase required books and supplies. Also budget for additional personal expenses, including laundry, phone costs, personal travel, meals out, etc.
Education Abroad Expense Form
If you are required to complete an Education Abroad Expense Form, you can use the links above to identify costs and expected expenses to complete the form. If you are studying abroad for a semester, to calculate costs, divide annual costs in half.
If you are not able to find cost information you need in order to prepare for your study abroad program, please contact your Education Abroad Advisor.
Financial Aid
You can find detailed information regarding financial aid and study abroad on the following websites:
Accessibility
The University of Virginia believes in providing reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities on an individual and flexible basis. If you believe that you would require adjustments in order to fully participate in this program, please contact the Student Disability Access Center at 434-243-5180 as early as possible in order to begin this dialogue.
Passport and Visa
All participants will need a valid passport in order to participate in the program. Students must ensure that their passport is valid at least six months past the program return date. US passport holders will need a visa to participate in this program. Once accepted by NUS, the NUS Registrar's Office will send more information about how to apply for the Student's Pass (student visa in Singapore). International students should meet with their International Student Advisor and Education Abroad Advisor in the International Studies Office as part of the application process.
Health and Safety Information
All students considering Education Abroad should consult the Students Abroad section of the U.S. Department of State’s web-based travel resources and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Traveler’s Health web resources to research health, safety, and security conditions; visa requirements; immunization requirements; and recommendations on staying healthy and safe in their target destination(s). Students should also carefully review the UVA Education Abroad Health & Safety Abroad web page. Parents and guardians are strongly advised to review all of these resources, as well. UVA students and visiting students enrolled in UVA Education Abroad programs are subject to the University of Virginia’s Policy on Student International Travel.
