Undergraduates

Student Exchange Programme (SEP)

The Student Exchange Programme (SEP) allows NUS undergraduates to spend one semester at an overseas partner university, while earning credits towards their NUS degree. To have the opportunity to live and study in another country is an exciting and rewarding one, one that is irreplaceable. During their SEP, NUS students continue to pay tuition fees to NUS while the tuition fees at the host university is waived.

List of Faculty-level Overseas Partner Universities

Students can choose from over 180 universities in over 30 countries. On top of the many University-wide level partners, students can choose from the following FoS partners:

  • Australia: La Trobe University
  • Australia: University of Newcastle   
  • Austria: MCI Internationale Hochschule GmbH (Previously Management Center Innsbruck)
  • Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
  • Hong Kong: The University of Hong Kong
  • Germany: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
  • Germany: University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU) (Previously University of Kaiserslautern)
  • Ireland: University College Cork
  • Italy: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Catholic University the Sacred Heart)
  • Japan: The University of Tokyo
  • Netherlands: Leiden University
  • Netherlands: Leiden University Medical Center
  • Netherlands: Radboud University
  • Sweden: Karolinska Institute
  • Taiwan: Chang Gung University
  • United Kingdom: University of Dundee
  • USA: Colgate University
  • USA: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

SEP Application Details and Timeline

Faculty of Science SEP policy:

  • Due to an expected overwhelming number of applicants and limited places, priority will be given to Year 2 students going for SEP in Year 3.
  • Students who wish to participate in SEP in Year 4 Sem 1 will only be considered for partner universities where the academic calendar does not overlap with NUS and students are able to return to NUS on time to resume their studies in Semester 2.
  • Students should be aware that participating in SEP has its uncertainties (e.g. unable to map courses, unable to fulfil pre-requisites, unable to secure courses, etc.) and could result in a delay in graduation beyond normal candidature and this has fee implication. Refer to Annex A, Table A and Table B for details.

Important note for DSE-XDP, QF and PHS students (Refer to the SEP Briefing slides for more information):

  • DSE-XDP – Only allowed to participate in SEP in Semester 1
  • QF – Advised to participate in SEP in Semester 1
  • PHS – Only allowed to participate in SEP in Semester 2

Application period:

SEP application takes place one academic year in advance (i.e. students apply for SEP in AY2024/2025 to go for SEP in AY2025/2026).

SEP Application Round 1: 27 August 2024 – 10 September 2024

SEP Application Round 2: March 2025 (For Semester 2 exchange only, depending on availability of exchange places)

SEP Application Eligibility Criteria

Students should:

  • Be a full-time NUS student
  • Have completed at least 2 semesters of study at NUS
  • Participate in SEP only in the 4th to 7th semester of their study
  • Complete and pass SP1541 or its equivalent by Year 2 Sem 2*
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Have a good disciplinary record**
The following categories of students are not eligible to participate in SEP:
  • Students in their final semester of their degree; or
  • Students scheduled for year-long final year projects or year-long internships.

^The above are the minimum requirements. As SEP application is highly competitive, students will be evaluated based on academic and non-academic considerations.

*If you have not completed SP1541 or its equivalent by Year 2 Sem 1, you may still apply in Round 1.

**Good conduct from end-to-end (from application to return from SEP). Your internal offer may be retracted or credit transfers may be affected if your conduct becomes unbecoming.

SP1541 Equivalents

  • SP2271
  • For BES students: SP1541 or FAS1101
  • University Town College Programme: UTW courses
  • NUS College: NTW courses
  • Ridge View Residential College: RVRC Programme
  • Students who change from FASS primary major to FoS primary major: FAS1101

    SEP Briefing

    SEP Application Materials

    Key Application Information:

    Additional Materials:

    After SEP Allocation

    Credits Transfer

    Courses taken while on SEP will earn you credits towards your fulfilment of the graduation requirements.

    For more information on credit transfer, refer to the Credit Transfer Instructions.

    For the maximum number of units that can be excluded from GPA computation, please refer to the Office of the University Registrar’s website.

    Contact Details of Department SEP Coordinators and Administrators

    For major-related queries and course mapping to major code, please contact the department SEP coordinators/administrators.

    Refer to the list of contacts here.

    General SEP Enquiries

    For assistance with SEP and related matters, you can submit a query here or approach us in person at the Science Dean’s Office (Blk S16 Level 9).