National University of Singapore

 

Overview: 

Founded in 1905, the National University of Singapore is a vibrant English-speaking university in the heart of Asia. English is the medium of instruction at NUS, but you will also have a chance to learn Chinese, Malay, Tamil, French and countless other languages if you take a language class while there on your exchange. NUS has been consistently recognized as one of the top universities in Asia by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the QS World Rankings. As a comprehensive research institution, students studying at NUS may have a variety of disciplines to take classes. This program is university-wide, meaning any undergraduate Pitt student regardless of major may participate.

Fact sheet: 
File Click here to download. (772.05 KB)
Learning Objectives: 

As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop:

  • the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment.
  • non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path.
  • a global network of peer in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in Singapore.
Partner Information: 

Non-Graduating Programme

University Hall, Lee Kong Chian Wing

#UHL-04-01, 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road

Singapore 119077

(65) 6516 2301

http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/education-atnus/non-graduating-programme...

nghelp@nus.edu.sg

Location Description: 

Singapore is a generally hot and humid island located on the southeastern tip of the Malaysian Peninsula. Singapore has a diverse society in which various ethnic communities live and interact harmoniously. This diversity provides an opportunity for a blending and intermixing of cultures, religions, and languages. Festivals are celebrated annually to honor the various religions of the Singaporean people. Singaporean cuisine is also very diverse, including influences from China, India, Indonesia, Italy, Spain, France, Thailand, Malaysia, and Western societies. There are four official languages of Singapore - Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and English - and most people are able to speak one or more of these languages. Singapore's diverse society provides opportunities for multiple cultural experiences.

Housing Description: 

NUS offers options for university-affiliated housing or private accommodations. Although Pitt students are not guaranteed spots within university-affiliated housing, NUS will provide instructions on when and how to apply for housing. See NUS’s website for general housing information. 

Academic Description: 

At NUS, courses are in English. NUS offers courses to exchange students under the following departments: Business, Computing, Arts, Sciences, Engineering, Design and Environment, and Law, as well as a variety of language courses.
Credits taken at NUS will transfer to Pitt according to a 1:1 ratio. For example, 4 NUS credits will transfer as 4 Pitt credits. All credits taken at NUS require approval by both your academic advisor(s) and study abroad program manager. Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status here at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours.  
Courses taken at NUS will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university.
As a part of the cultural experience, NUS offers Italian Language Courses specifically designed for visiting students. These may be considered for credit or not for credit. Verify with the study abroad program manager regarding their transferability. 

Students who have attended this program in the past have taken classes in the areas of:: 
Bioengineering
Computer Science
English Literature
Physics
Legal Studies
Political Science
University Course Catalog: 
Step 3: Modules for Exchange Students
Grading: 

Like Pitt, NUS’s grading scale follows the practice of assigning letter grades, such as A, B, C, D and F. For more information about the grading scale at NUS, see their explanation. For Pitt transfer credit, in order to earn a grade of “S,” (satisfactory) at Pitt, you must make an equivalent to a grade of “C” or higher. An equivalent to a “C-” or lower will result in a grade of “NC” (no credit) at Pitt. Pitt students may utilize the following online resource to understand the grading scale within this host country.
NUS will provide hardcopy (or electronic transcripts) to the University of Pittsburgh’s Study Abroad Office. Make sure to follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of the grades is received. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: 3959 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. Electronic copies should be sent to the designated exchange program manager under “SAO Staff.” 
Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received.
 

Program Fees: 
Pitt students participating on an exchange program will pay regular Pitt tuition and fees, according to their in-state or out-of-state residency status. In addition to the Study Abroad Administrative Fee, this also includes all Mandatory Fees, such as the Student Activity Fee, Wellness Fee, Computing and Network Services Fee, and the Security, Safety, and Transportation Fee.  
 
Pitt Students on financial aid and/or tuition scholarships will need to consult the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or respective entity providing the funds to confirm coverage for study abroad. 
 

Items Billed by Pitt
  In-State Out-of-State
Tuition* $10,077 $19,260
Mandatory Fees $545 $545
Study Abroad Fee $400 $400
Total Billed by Pitt* $11,022 $20,205
 
*The tuition rate listed is defaulted to reflect the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. For Pitt students of another Pitt school or campus, the tuition rate will reflect the home school or campus. See posted rates on the Institutional Research page.

 

How Much To Budget: 

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs
Travel Expenses: Airfare, Passport, Visa, Resident Permit  $2,000
Room & Board $4,150
Personal Expenses $2,600
 
The Estimated Costs reflect information provided by NUS and are reported to OAFA to calculate financial aid packages.The listed costs are defaulted to one semester. Multiply the costs by two for two semesters. 
 
Personal expenses vary with individual students. Review the NUS's website for more information, and visit our budgeting page for more information. 

Students studying abroad through Pitt Study Abroad are automatically provided health insurance coverage during the official program dates. However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the exchange university you will attend requires purchase of a specific health insurance coverage per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.

Program Dates: 

Pitt students enroll at NUS for either a full semester (fall or spring) or a full academic year (two full semesters). NUS's academic calendars may differ from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university. Like Pitt, NUS’s academic calendar follows a Fall-Spring progression, meaning Fall is the first semester followed by the Spring semester as the second. The dates listed above are estimated and therefore subject to change according to the host university’s schedule.

Dr. Shawn Alfonso Wells

Greetings! I manage the Arts and Sciences and Exchange and am the Pitt in Spain Program Manger. I have a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh and am an Adjunct professor of Anthropology who has taught in the Anthropology, History, Sociology, and Africana Studies departments at Pitt and CMU. I did my fieldwork on Color Classification in Cuba and have led many ground breaking experiential student trips to Cuba. I love learning about different cultures and want to help facilitate students being able to travel abroad to learn about the world. I look forward to assisting you to achieve your goals of a global experience.

 

Schedule a Zoom appointment with me below or get in touch with me through email to discuss exchange options and your future global experience.

 

E-mail: 
smwst20@pitt.edu

Schedule an appointment

Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways!

Appointment Link: https://pathways.campus.eab.com/pal/mT8JxcvuBG

 
 
Don't see a time that works for you? Just send me an email!

Application Instructions: 

Pitt sends a limited number of students per semester to NUS. In addition to applying to the Pitt Study Abroad application above, be sure to review NUS's website regarding their application requirements for incoming exchange students. A formal nomination from Pitt Study Abroad is required for Pitt students to be recognized as an exchange student at NUS. Therefore, Pitt students must complete all necessary Pitt Study Abroad steps in addition to NUS's requirements. In other words, acceptance by Pitt Study Abroad does not guarantee acceptance by the exchange university.  
The exchange university may require the following to be submitted through an online application. Requirements may include but are not limited to the following:  

  • Application Form 
  • Copy of Valid Passport 
  • Official Pitt Transcript 
  • Official Pitt Verification of Enrollment 
  • Statement of Intent or Purpose 
  • Resume or CV 
  • Official Language Evaluation 
  • Up to 2 instructor letters of recommendations 
  • Up to 2 passport photos 

 

Additional Information: 

Additional Fees: Although exchange students are not required to pay tuition to NUS, there are a few Miscellaneous Student Fees that incoming students will need to cover.  This includes the the compulsory NUS Health and Insurance Scheme (HINS).
 

Insurance Requirements: 

Students studying abroad through Pitt Study Abroad are automatically provided health insurance coverage during the official program dates.  

Visa Requirements: 

In order to study as a student in specific countries, a visa is required. A visa is formal endorsement by the host country to grant permission for an individual to enter, live or stay in that country for a specific purpose and period. In addition to a visa, some host countries may require a residency permit upon arrival. 

 

For those without Singaporean nationality, students must obtain a Student's Pass to study in Singapore. For an overview regarding the Student's Pass process, please review NUS's website. Also, check the Singaporean Embassy or consulate closest to you for additional information. NUS will provide general direction after formal admission on for how to apply for either the visa and/or residency permit. Pitt students should also research the visa and/or permit process through the specified country consulate website. In general visa and/or permit application requirements include but are not limited to the following requirements:  

  • Visa application 
  • Valid Passport 
  • Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university) 
  • Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.   
  • Passport photos 
  • Application fee 
  • Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly) 

You're seeing student-submitted photos from Singapore. There may be photos that do not necessarily represent this program or it's inclusions, but we hope you enjoy seeing what Panthers around the world are doing!