Why Overseas SEP

1. Why Overseas SEP • Unparalleled opportunities for personal development as a mature student, potential employee and better person • Exposure to different cultures • Enhance interpersonal skills and adaptability to new environments • Global networking opportunities • Opportunity to learn a new language • A chance to take modules not offered at NUS

2. Eligibility for SEP • National University of Singapore (NUS) full-time student • Have completed at least two semesters of study before applying for the exchange programme. For Poly direct entry students, required to have completed at least one semester of study before applying for the exchange programme. • Have a minimum CAP of 3.0 & no grade below C • Scholarships holder subject to approval by sponsor

3. Application Procedure • Apply online through OPAS : https://aces01.nus.edu.sg/VOPSEP/Login (each student has 5 choices from ), from 2 – 25 Oct 2013 (23:59 hrs). • Logon OPAS to accept/reject places upon offer. You are to be fully responsible to your own decision! • Avoid withdrawal after accepting the offer in OPAS system. Penalty of at least $300will be imposed for withdrawal of SEP. • Undergraduate Office will email you to submit Partner University application form and documents.

4. Before indicating your choice of up to FIVE (5) universities via OPAS, please ensure the followings: • 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. CEE students should avoid universities without CEE-related disciplines. Note that module code and title in Partner Universities may not be identical as those in NUS. • The Partner University's academic calendar is suitable for you. • You will have no problems with language of instruction. • You have sufficient funds to support your throughout the SEP period. 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 S$10,000 for students going on exchange to North America, Europe, Australia, & UK.)

5. Things to think about your FIVE Choices • You are advised to make at least five choicesof Partner Universities from at least three differentcontinents. Those who made few choices may have difficulties obtaining a suitable placement. • Most Partner Universities have 1 or 2 places only. The actual number of places may change at anytime 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.html

6. Place Allocation Criterion 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 followingin addition totheiracademic standing (i): • motivations for pursuing the SEP. • ability to be good “ambassadors” of NUS & Singapore. • ability to communicate & articulateideas 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’ (ii)section, accurately highlight the above qualities and be prepared to attend interviews (iii). Be prepared to substantiate any factual information provide in the application.

7. What courses (modules) can you take? • Students usually take 4 to 5 modules at the host university • These modules can be non-equivalent to NUS modules (“dummy codes”) or equivalent to NUS modules (“mapped to NUS modules”) and we recommend you do this planning for your top 5 SEP location choices before applying on OPAS • There are two ends of the spectrum: A PERFECT MAP to your NUS Major/Minor requirements: PROS – No “losing out” to your contemporaries in NUS. No delay in graduation from NUS. CONS – You may not learn anything special or different about your subject or SEP country. Would you be gaining anything extra or different from NUS? A TOTAL MISMATCH to your NUS Major/Minor requirements: PROS – You will gain an education that is very different from your major in NUS. This could complement and broaden your personal development. CONS – Your MCs earned during SEP will mostly be counted as Breadth or UE. You would not have contributed to the fulfillment of your Major requirements, and may face a delay in graduation. It’s about striking a balance and being flexible

8. CE Module SelectionIf mapping to CORE modules is not feasible, try to map to level 3 Technical Elective (ONE only) or higher. Minimum and maximum number MCs read during SEP period are 15 and 25 MCs respectively.

9. EVE Module SelectionMinimum number of programme requirement to be taken in each semester during SEP is 2 modules. Minimum and maximum number MCs to be read in a semester are 15 and 25 MCs respectively.

10. A few important issues • The number of contact hours, e.g. teaching, must be consistent with NUS’. • Avoid mapping SEP modules that have heavy lab components. If you want to map to a CEE UG level 1-3 module, there must be some lab component involved. • The SEP module level must correspond to that in NUS, i.e. avoid mapping Year 1 or Year 2 modules to NUS PG or Year 4 modules. • Do not take modules that you HAVE taken in NUS. → Approval of module mapping is with the assumption that you have never taken a similar module before! (eg. mapped a similar core module to UEM) • Avoid to take too many modules in mapping exercise. • If you directly come to Singapore from China, you are not allowed to go back for your SEP. However, you can do so if you have your JC, etc in Singapore. • Do your own homework in searching modules in the overseas university and design the mapping by yourself. CEE will provide you with suggestions.

11. Module Mapping • You will be notified to start planning your module mapping by the Office of Undergraduate Programme (OUP). • You are to submit initial SEP Study Plan to OUP. Initial Study Plan does not require CEE Department’s endorsement.

12. SAMPLE OF COMPLETED STUDY PLAN ENDORSEMENT IS NEEDED AFTER STUDY PLAN IS FINALIZED

13. Module Mapping • Module mapping is to be approved prior to your departure. Mapping after SEP is completed is not entertained. • Check that module contact hours (workload) is equivalent to NUS module. In some universities, you have to take 1 or 2 additional modules to map to an NUS module. • As a guideline, a module with at least 40 lecture hours may be mapped to a 4-MC module in NUS. More than 50 lecture hours may be mapped to a 5-MC dummy module. Note that every lab and tutorial (or field trip) hour is considered as 0.66 MC and 0.33 MC respectively.

14. Module Mapping (cont.) • Submit appropriate mapping forms to relevant authorities shown in the table at: http://www.eng.nus.edu.sg/sep/mapping.htm Note:CEE Module Mapping Request Form can be found in CEE UG website. Please submit mapping request in hardcopy together with PU module description. Incomplete information may delay mapping consideration. • Once all module mappings are approved, finalize your study plan in the SEP Study Plan and submit it to CEE Department for endorsement.

15. MODULE MAPPING FORM INDICATE THESE CLEARLY: WHETHER CREDIT SYSTEM IS ECTS MODULE LEVEL CONTACT HOURS PER WEEK. CONTACT THE UNIVERSITY IF INFORMATION IS NOT ON THE WEBSITE ATTACH: MODULE INFORMATION FROM UNIVERSITY’S COURSE CATALOGUE

16. MODULE MAPPING LIST FOR REFERENCE IS AVAILABLE ON CEE UNDERGRADUATE WEBSITE & WILL BE UPDATED EVERY SEMESTER

17. Modular Credit Transfer upon return:To start your credit transfer, please submit original transcript to CEE Department. Emails or photocopy is not accepted.Discuss: Rejection cases for choosing too high or too low level modules at exchange university!

18. SAMPLE OF COMPLETED CREDIT TRANSFER FORM

19. Thank you!