International Student Exchange Programme

The NTU International Student Exchange Programme (INSTEP) challenges undergraduates to take the leap and experience the world to develop global perspectives in their area of specialty. NTU partners some 200 partner universities in more than 30 global cities to offer this programme.

To apply, students should have:

a)       a B grade average (GPA of 3.5)

b)       ambassadorial qualities and be enthusiastic about telling new friends about NTU and Singapore - a positive attitude towards studying and living abroad (a statement on this will be requested in the online INSTEP application)

c)       Those with no previous participation in NTU's global programmes will be given preference.

Please visit http://global.ntu.edu.sg/global/Documents/instep%20broch_8pp.pdf to download the INSTEP brochure and the range of exchange opportunities and learn about info-sessions, financial aid schemes and important updates.

Says Mr Keng Seng Keat, who went on exchange at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration in Austria: "Memories I will never forget include the first day it snowed, great friends (who in turn came to Singapore for exchange!), hearty and oily Austrian cuisines and the amazing roadtrips to surrounding countries."

Global Summer Studies

Global Summer Studies offers short term (three to eight weeks) 'study-and-play' summer sessions in Asia , Europe , the United States and Mexico during the vacation period.

With the diverse range of opportunities available, there's bound to be a session to suit individual budgets, interests and preferences.  All students are encouraged to apply regardless of their year of study. Summer sessions are available in:

Asia: China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan

Europe: Austria, France, Germany, Norway

Americas: Mexico, the United States

Participants may:

- earn up to eight academic units (AUs)

- experience a stimulating learning stint during the vacation period

- acquire a global network of contacts

- incur minimal disruption to their GPA (letter grades earned are not transferred back)

Please access http://global.ntu.edu.sg/global/globalsummerstudies/Pages/default.aspx for a copy of the brochure, and details on the range of opportunities available. For details on financial assistance schemes, please refer to http://admissions.ntu.edu.sg/undergraduate/financialassist/Pages/overseasexchange.aspx.

Says Mr Benzei Chen (MSE, Year 2) on his stint at the University of California (Berkeley), in the United States: "The new friends I made, many explorations as well as the unique school environment made my Global Summer Studies stint a most memorable chapter in my life. The unforgettable lessons gained through laughter and tears will stand me in good stead in all future endeavors."

Global Immersion Programme

An integral part of a complete educational experience at NTU, this specially-tailored programme goes beyond providing a simple academic education centred on technical skills and knowledge. It offers a unique multi-country experience of scholarship, industry and entrepreneurship to groom future leaders to excel in the global environment. Since its launch, close to 1,000 students have benefited from the Global Immersion Programme, with more than half having gone to China .

GIP: China, India, Vietnam

Students will be professionally attached to MNCs, leading local companies, start-ups or other established organizations.  They will also attend a specially tailored course at one of these leading universities: Peking University, Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Soochow University, Fudan University, Symbiosis International University and Vietnam National University. Students stand to earn academic units (AUs) for both the attachment  and their study immersion.

GIP: France, India, Switzerland and the United States

Students will read subjects at a top university and stand to earn academic units for completing subjects that match subjects offered at NTU.

GIP: France

Students will enjoy research attachments at reputable French universities like UTT, UTC and INSA Lyon. Proficiency in French is not required but preferred.

Attachment programmes

In their second or third year of study, students will enjoy attachments designed to equip them with real-life working experience and enhance their employability.

The attachment programmes, which are built on the university's strong ties with industry, provide students with a unique learning process. Students may choose from a pool of industry partners in Singapore, Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. To promote a broader and more engaging education and prepare our graduates for new challenges and lifelong learning, students will get to set their own learning objectives based on the attachment programmes provided by the organisations.

For more details, please visit the Career and Attachment Office's website: http://global.ntu.edu.sg/global/Pages/overseas.aspx.

Undergraduate Research Experience on CAmpus

The Undergraduate Research Experience on CAmpus (URECA) programme is now in its fifth year after a successful launch in 2004.

The programme enables undergraduates - top 5% - to immerse themselves in research in their second and third years while earning benefits such as a stipend and academic credits. These undergraduates are given the coveted title "NTU President Research Scholars" (PRS) and will receive a certificate of participation.

URECA develops the imagination of aspiring researchers by guiding them through a chosen research project over a period of ten months (September to June) under the guidance of professors.

Scholars enjoy the flexibility of working on any research project in any discipline at NTU, external research institutes or national laboratories. In the last academic year, some 300 President Research Scholars had a choice of over 1,500 research projects in the areas of engineering, biological sciences, business management and accountancy, communication studies, the humanities and the arts. By undertaking these projects, they:

-  gain a good appreciation of research, including the need for rigour and independence,

-  experience the open-endedness of research, as well as the formulation and approach to research problems

- appreciate what makes researchers as they work closely with their professors.

The scholars spend about 10 hours a week for 10 months on their research though some have opted to immerse themselves full-time during breaks and vacations. This substantial research immersion gives them a deeper understanding of their research problem and facilitates more significant research findings.  

As a testimony to its effectiveness, URECA has since evolved to encompass collaboration with external research agencies. DSO-URECA was launched in collaboration with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO) and SIMTech-URECA in collaboration with Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech-A*Star).  Professors and senior research staff at these organizations provide the ideas for the research projects.

Today, President Research Scholars may also pursue research-based final-year projects under FYP-URECA.

Some of the research undertaken were so outstanding, they clinched prizes when presented at premier international conferences. The scholars' participation at these conferences was sponsored.  

Others were also featured in the local media and international journals.

NTU hopes that through such exposure to research, President Research Scholars will consider pursuing a higher degree by research and embark on a career in research.