INTRODUCTION TO THE OVERSEAS STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMME (SEP)

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INTRODUCTION TO THE OVERSEAS STUDENT EXCHANGE
PROGRAMME (SEP)

• ECE Dept Coordinators
• Assoc. Prof Mohan Gurusamy (Applications)
• elegm_at_nus.edu.sg
• Prof. Wang Qing-Guo
• (Study Plan/Module Mapping)
• elewqg_at_nus.edu.sg

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What is SEP?

• Study 1-2 semesters (generally 1 semester) at
  another university
• ECE students go on overseas SEP during their 3rd
  year (Semester 5 and/or 6)
• Pay NUS tuition fees only! ( your own travel and
  living expenses)
• Awarded equivalent MCs for all modules passed
  while on SEP (up to 25 MCs for 1-semester SEP)
• Graded S/U basis appear in transcript do not
  count towards CAP
• Typically 15-20 MCs at the partner university
• Read http//www.eng.nus.edu.sg/sep/Policy.htm
  for MCs and policy rules

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What are the Popular Destinations?

• English Speaking Countries
• University of Birmingham
• University of Glasgow
• University of Leeds
• University of Melbourne
• University of Nottingham
• University of Newcastle upon Tyne
• University of Sheffield
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Pennsylvania State University
• Continental Europe
• Technische Universitat Munich
• Technical University of Denmark
• Linkoping University
• University of Oulu
• Ecole Supa Rieure D'Electricita (Supa Lec)

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Why Overseas SEP?

• CREATE A NEW AND IMPROVED YOU
• STRENGTHEN YOUR RESUME
• DEVELOP VALUABLE LANGUAGE SKILLS
• Study modules which are not offered in NUS
• Gain international perspectives in your area of
  study

• Improve foreign language skills or learn new
  languages
• Learn about new cultures
• Gain greater independence
• Make new friends from all over the world

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ECE Student Participation in SEP

Cohort SEP Yr cohort
2011/2012 2013/2014 85 students (31)
2010/2011 2012/2013 92 students (32)
2009/2010 2011/2012 80 students (25)
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Who is Eligible for SEP?

• Full-time undergrads who have completed at least
  2 semesters of Year 2 core specialization upon
  commencement of SEP

• CAP3.0 no grade below 'C' (grade point of 2.0)
  in any module

• Students of any nationality
• Scholarship holders, subject to approval by
  sponsor

• Have minimum financial resources of S6000
  -S15,000 per semester
• See ECE SEP web for more info
  http//www.ece.nus.edu.sg/sep

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SEP Early preparation

• Check on financial resources and obligations
  (e.g. to scholarship org/sponsor)
• Plan overall B.Eng programme early, esp. S/U MC
  budgeting, SEPoverseas IA, EE3 projects,
  co/pre-requisites for technical electives, etc.
• Students planning for SEP at non-English
  destinations start German, French language
  preparations (e.g. IRO LPP) as early as Yr 1
• See ECE SEP web for more info
  http//www.ece.nus.edu.sg/sep

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SEP Financial Support

• SEP Awards http//www.nus.edu.sg/iro/financial/ou
  t/nasa/index.html
• http//www.nus.edu.sg/iro/financial/out/others/ind
  ex.html
• SEP Loans http//www.nus.edu.sg/iro/financial/out
  /others/index.html
• See ECE SEP web General Info and FAQ for more
  info
• (http//www.ece.nus.edu.sg/sep)

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SEP Application Procedure

• Call for application to EE2 students around
  Sep-Oct (semester 3 of B.Eng programme)
• Register on-line during application period at
  IROs OPAS website
• Based on CAP and interview performance, each
  student is assigned a place from his/her list of
  choices

See ECE SEP web for more info (http//www.ece.nu
s.edu.sg/sep)
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SEP Application Procedure (contd.)

• Prepare study plan and get approval by Prof. QG
  Wang
• (Refer Study Plan guide at ECE SEP website)
• Submit relevant documents (transcript, ,
  scholarship award endorsement, reference letters
  etc) (Jan-March)
• Receive official confirmation from the partner
  university
• Plan and finalize travel, accommodation etc
  (before 3-4 months of your SEP departure)

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SEP Selection Procedure

• Selection is based on academic performance and
  interview
• Interview Assessment criteria
• Knowledge about partner university, country
• Leadership qualities
• Passion, Motivation
• Ambassadorial Qualities

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Guidelines from Faculty of Engineering

• Things to think about

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Before indicating your choice of up to FIVE (5)
universities via OPAS, please ensure the
following

• you have gone through our SEP website at
  http//www.eng.nus.edu.sg/sep/ for more
  information on SEP.
• the partner University has an identical/similar
  course/discipline as yours e.g. Mechanical
  Engineering (ME) students should avoid
  universities without ME-related disciplines.
  However,  please note that faculties/departments
  at some universities may not have identical names
  as those here in NUS. (Eg. Technical University
  of Eindhoven does not offer courses in
  Bioengineering)
• the partner University's academic calendar is
  suitable for you.
• you will have no problems related to the
  language of instruction at the partner
  University.
• you have sufficient funds to support your SEP at
  the partner University. Students will pay NUS
  tuition fees for the regular semesters while on
  exchange and will be fully responsible for their
  own airfare, visa, accommodation, living and
  other expenses. (e.g. estimated costs of at least
  S10,000 for students going on exchange to North
  America, Europe, Australia, UK.)

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Things to think about

• You are advised to make at least four choices of
  partner universities of interest to you from at
  least two different continents. Many in the past
  who made few choices, had difficulties obtaining
  a suitable placement.
• Most partner Universities have 1 or 2 places and
  the actual number of places may change anytime
  from now to early 2012 based on decisions by the
  partner University or IRO.
• Links to information on our partners can be
  found at
• http//www.eng.nus.edu.sg/sep/universities.htm
• http//www.nus.edu.sg/iro/sep/partners/pu/index.ht
  ml

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Things to think about

• Students will be assessed holistically during the
  allocation process not just based on academic
  standing i.e., CAP alone.
• Students will be assessed on the following in
  addition to their academic standing
• motivations for pursuing the SEP.
• ability to be good ambassadors of NUS
  Singapore.
• ability to communicate articulate ideas
  effectively.
• exhibit interests abilities beyond academics
• evident through active involvement in various
  special programs in the last 1 to 2 years (e.g.
  FoE Enhancement Programs / clubs / societies /
  sports in the University and/or general
  community.)
• In the Personal Statement section, accurately
  highlight the above qualities and be prepared to
  attend interviews. Be prepared to substantiate
  any factual information provide in the
  application.

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International Relations Office (IRO)

• Information on Financial Aid

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Financial AidAwards, Scholarships and Loans
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Financial Aids for SEP

• NASA (Exchange Awards) - 1000 awards valued at
  S2,500
• each
• NUS Alumni Student Exchange Awards - 18 awards
  of S2,500
• TF Leadership Enrichment and Regional Networking
  (LEaRN) Award
• - 130 awards of S 4,250 for SEP to ASEAN,
  China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan,
• India Taiwan
• Overseas Student Programme (OSP) Loan Between
  S3,000 to
• S10,000, subject to familys monthly per
  capital income

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Financial Aids for SEP (contd)

• Country-specified scholarships
• Additional top up from IE Singapore on NASA
  awards for China (excluding Beijing, Shanghai,
  Guangzhou and Shenzhen)
• JASSO Scholarship for Japan
• 80,000 per month and one time settling expense
  of 15,000
• DUO-Singapore Exchange Fellowship Awards for
  Europe
• 4,000 per semester
• DSTA ACE Scholarships for Czech Rep, France,
  Germany, Hungary, Poland, Sweden or Netherlands
• Up to 1 year SEP plus final year scholarship at
  NUS
• Open to undergraduates from FOS, FOE SOC with a
  passion for science and technology with a short
  bond period
• University-specified scholarships
• http//www.nus.edu.sg/iro/nus/students/awards/i
  ndex.html

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Overseas Trip Safety Guidelines

• Refer http//www.ece.nus.edu.sg/sep

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Thanks. Q and A