Student Report
Name of the University: National University of Singapore
Exchange semester: Spring, 2014
I. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before leaving Norway
- I had to apply online in October to the university after being nominated by BI. It was
not very complicated, just simple information with picture and grades.
Visa
-
I had to apply for student visa online. It was one form I had to fill in, together with
sending a picture. When arriving to Singapore I got a tourist visa at the airport,
because we needed to check in at the school and pay some fees before we could get
the student visa. It took a couple of weeks before we got it. The student visa is a green
card you have to carry with you at all time.
Travel
- I flied from Oslo-Copenhagen and from there to Singapore with Singapore Airlines, a
very nice airway company. I ordered through SAS and the cost was 7500 NOK all
together.
Housing
- There is housing opportunities at the university area. I stayed in University Town with
around 1700 other students. It was new in 2011 and is extremely nice. There are two
food courts, one pool, a training centre, a Mac room, a computer room, food stores and
more. My roommates were one Norwegian guy and two Swedish guys.
Costs per month in average
Rent
Food
Transport
Other
2500 NOK
2000 NOK
100 NOK
3000 NOK
Culture and language
- Singapore is a very multicultural country, and it doesn’t matter where you’re from.
They have four official languages, and English is the main one.
II. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Please describe:
- The school was about 10 kilometres outside the city centre, and it takes about 30
minutes with the train. The school is rated as top 30 in the world, and it’s very
prestigious to study business in that school. Its shuttle buses all over the university
area, which goes every 15 minutes. The business faculty is a little old.
Course registration
- I applied for courses when I applied for the university last October. I only got three of
my wishes and had to apply for more modules the second week in Singapore. Then I
got two more courses. I needed five modules, and got the last one in the last
registration round in the third week. The add/drop period lasted from 13-26 of
January.
Academic calendar
Arrival date:
First day of the semester:
Last day of classes:
Examination period:
Any special
events/holidays:
6. Jan
13. Jan
17. April
26. April – 8. May
Chinese New Year
Arrival
- In the first week at stayed in a Hostel in the city for 125 NOK per night. I had to meet
up at the school two days for information meetings.
The International Office
- I got all the information needed before arrival from the International Office at BI and
NUS. In Singapore we went to the bachelor office at the business faculty if we needed
help.
Social activities
- In Singapore there are around 150 Norwegian students. At the business faculty at NUS
there were around 300 exchange students. In the first week there were social activities
at the school and easy to meet other exchange students. Most exchange students stayed
at University Town and that made it very simple to meet new people every day.
III. ACADEMICS
In the classroom
- Three of my courses were small classes with around 25 people. These courses were
very practical. We had to read articles before class, and discussed it in class. Two of
these courses didn’t even have books. The two other courses were inn big classes with
around 300 people and more traditional learning with lecturers like in BI.
- The time estimated by the school was 10 hours a week per course, which I think was
an overestimation. It’s very competitive, but if you are good at discussing and
presenting you can study a lot less, and still get good grades.
Course materials
- The course materials were mostly articles, which was discussed in class. In two
courses there were books.
Exams
- The exams were based both on the readings and on the lectures.
- The courses were evaluated by:
o Written final exam
o Mid-term exam
o In-class quizzes throughout semester
o Small assignments and/or papers
o Presentations
o Group work
o Class attendance
o Class participation/debates
o Activities outside of the classroom
I liked the way we were evaluated, because of the training in speaking and presenting.
Library and technology
- There was a big library at the business faculty. It was easy to find a seat, and print
paper if needed.
Description of courses
Course code &
Master/
name
Bachelo
r
DSC 2006
Bachelor
Operation
Management
BSP 3001a Strategic Bachelor
Management
DSC 3213 Strategic
Information System
Bachelor
BSP 2005 Asian
Business
Environment
Bachelor
MNO 3323
Bachelor
Exam form
Tutorials, midterm, and final
exam.
Participation,
class
discussion,
group work
with
presentation,
and final
individual
assignment.
Participation,
class
discussion,
group work
with
presentation,
and individual
learning
journal.
Tutorials,
group
presentation,
weekly quiz
and final
exam.
Participation,
Employee relations.
class
discussion,
group work
with
presentation,
and final
individual
assignment.
My exchange experience
- Singapore was clean and hot. The public transport was easy and cheap.
- The school was different from BI. In the small classes we learned to get ready for
work and not to get ready to the final exam.
- The nightlife was very good. There were a lot of good bars and clubs. I stayed a lot at
“the bridge” which is a public walking bridge where people are meeting up to drink.
Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday there were hundreds of students at the bridge
drinking.
- I travelled to Thailand, Myanmar and Macau. The travel opportunities are great from
Singapore.
- I got to know a lot of new people from all over the world.
- No regrets.