Student Report
Name of the University: Nanyang Technological University
Exchange semester: Fall, 2014
I. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before leaving Norway
When and how did you receive information from the exchange university, and did you
encounter any difficulties?
The time before leaving Norway I received a lot of information. Applying for courses is a
hard process and I recommend to use a lot of time on it and apply for as many courses as you
can, as it really hard getting courses in general, and especially the courses you really want.
Use enough time to read through everything you get to make sure you got everything you
need before leaving Norway.
Applying for a visa
Applying for visa is a process you begin in Norway and finish in Singapore, read through the
information carefully and you will manage just fine, this is not a difficult process. You need a
passport picture and a copy of your passport among other things, this is good to get done
before you leave Norway.
Travel
The travel was by Qatar airlines, I booked a return ticket right away (that can spare you a lot
of money) and you may buy a flex ticket to have the opportunity to change it, or pay 750
NOK to change, which is a pain free operation, so I highly recommend buying both ways at
the same time!
Housing
Nanyang have campus living for students but the chance of Norwegian students to get that is
really low. Search up exchange Singapore and exchange NTU groups on Facebook and you
will find people to share apartments with.
I shared with five others, living two in each room. Lived with two from Sweden, one from
France, one from Spain and one from Finland. That was a great and fun experience!
We lived at place called Lakeside residences; it was a brand new complex and great place!
Full of exchange students, with a really great environment. With swimming pool, gym and
tennis court. Only two stops with the MRT to school.
Costs
- Approximately how much per month did you spend on rent, books, food,
transportation, and other personal expenses?
Rent
Books
Food
Transport
NOK 5000
NOK 1000
NOK 3500
NOK 700
Other
NOK 500
Culture and language
Did you have any language problems with the faculty or other students?
You may experience some languages problems as some of the people speak “Singlish”, which
is English with a Singaporean twist. This variets from person to person.
How were the possibilities to experience the country and the culture?
The Singaporeans are really nice, so you have a great chance of getting to know the culture, if
you make an effort. They will not interact to much if you don’t, and it is as elsewhere; people
are differt. Some are more open, and some are more introvert.
The possibilities to experience the country is at its best. It is a small country, with good public
transport and cheap taxi prices, in that way you can easylie move wherever and experience the
great variations of food, shopping and attractions.
II. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
The school is located quite far away from the city center, aproximatly 45 minutes, near the
borderline to Malaysia.
The study structure is different from ours, with a lot more mandatory; as quizzes, mid-term
and assigments.
Course registration
When and how did you register for courses?
I started by signing up for 10 courses in Norway. I think I got three of those, and when I
arrived Singpore the add/drop period started in something called the Stars Planner, where you
plan your wanted courses, and see that lectures and exams in different courses didn’t crash.
The add/drop was open from 10am to 10pm, inbetween that time you can remove courses you
got, and add courses you wish to get. Quite direct after closing, you could see if you got any
new courses.
When did the add/drop period end?
After two weeks.
I really recommend to send an email to the contact person for the add/drop period if you have
troubles getting courses. It is important for you as an exchange student to get the courses you
want, and they can be really helpful giving you a course (if available space) so you don’t need
to hope to get the space by the random selection.
Academic calendar
Arrival date:
First day of the semester:
Last day of classes:
Examination period:
Any special events/holidays:
Other:
04. August
11. August
14. November
17. Nov to 05. Dec.
Recess week: 29. Sept
to 03. Oct.
Orientation week 04.08. Aug.
Arrival
I spend the first week on hotels in the city center and didn’t get the chance to spend to much
time on school that week, as it was no lecture, I just joined a orientation meeting and finishing
my application for student visa.
The International Office
As an exchange student, did you receive sufficient and relevant information?
Yes, I got a good follow up, and always a quick response on my questions by email.
Promoting BI and Norway
What kind of activities were you involved in to promote exchange to Norway at your exchange
university?
Nothing
Social activities
How was the relationship with native students and that among exchange students?
Are there any special activities, student organizations, and gatherings for exchange students?
It is a lot of activites for everybody to join, I did not attend anything. But you got the
opertunity to join everything from squash to wine tasting.
III. ACADEMICS
In the classroom
Describe the teaching style (practical, theoretical, cases/lectures, formal/informal etc.)
Both practical and theoretical. A lot more practical than at BI, with interactions between
student and teacher all through the lecture.
How is the level and workload compared to that at BI?
The workload is totally different from BI, you must be prepared for a lot more to do
throughout the semester. In one course I got 7 assignments, mid-term, a group project with
presentation and final exam and in another I got cases almost every week, two quizzes, a
group project and a final exam.
Course materials
Describe the course materials used (books/literature, online articles, PowerPoint, level of
course material etc.).
Mostly books, articles/cases and lecture notes.
Exams
Was the exam based on the course materials or on the lectures?
Usually both, as the lectures and course material usually was alike.
How was the course evaluated?
- Final exam, written, in all my five courses
- Mid-term exam, in one of my courses
- In-class quizzes throughout semester, in one of my courses
- Small assignments and/or papers, in all five of my courses
- Presentations, in fours of five courses
- Group work, in four courses
-
Class attendance, in four of my courses
Class participation/debates, in four of my courses
Library and technology
Describe the facilities
The faculty got three different librarys, and a lot of computers to borrow.
Description of courses
Course code & name
Master/
Bachelor
Bachelor
Exam form
Prerequisites
3-hour written
exam
Economics
courses at BI
Approved
as
Finansiell
styring
LC9001 Chinese level
1
Bachelor
2-hour written
None
Elective
AB3601 Strategic
Management
BU8401 Mangement
Decision Tools
Bachelor
3-hour written
None
Strategi
Bachelor
4-hour written
MA8103 Human
Resource
Management
Bachelor
3-hour written
BF2207 International
Finance
Elective
None
Elective
Comments
Middle,
interesting
course
Hard, but
fun,
different.
Easy.
Hard,
requires a
lot of excel
skills. A
good
course.
Really
easy, but
not a good
course.
On a final note, how will you sum up the exchange experience?
A great opertunity to experience something different, to see the world and experience the
culture. It definatly was something I would recommend everybody to do. Met wonderful new
friends, had a fantastic time, and learned a lot. I loved Singapore.
(You can use my comments.)