NTU Study Abroad Office for Exchange Students
Guide to NTU - Learn helpful tips about NTU from a Rensselaer student perspective.
Due to limited course availability and high demand, NTU is unable to accept Computer Science students. Students may no longer select/apply for NTU's School of Computer Science and Engineering (SCSE) courses until further notice. Depending on your requirements, you may be able to find suitable alternatives offered under the other 5 Engineering Schools instead.
University and Location
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), is a research-intensive university with globally acknowledged strengths in science and engineering. Ranked among the top 20 technology universities in the world, NTU provides a high-quality global education to more than 30,000 students, including 7,000 international students. With twelve schools organized in four colleges, NTU is an excellent choice for engineering, science, business and the humanities and social sciences. An island city-state, Singapore is a dynamic mix of ethnicities and cultures including ethnic Chinese, Malay and Indian. Singapore has a population of 4.5 million, a thriving commercial and financial center and is the busiest port in the world. The NTU campus is situated on nearly 500 acres of greenery and offers a wealth of student activities. With it’s central location in Southeast Asia, travel to Bali, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam or even Australia are all within easy flying distance.
Available Fields of Study
NTU offers an extensive array of academic programs including: Engineering (aeronautical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, materials, mechanical); Business; Communication; Sciences; Art, Design and Media; Digital Animation and Filmmaking. Additional information can be found on the
NTU website.
Program Dates
Fall: early August- December
Spring: late January-late May
Courseload
NTU's courses are assigned credits based on the Academic Unit (AU) System. One hour of lecture or 3 hours of lab per week are each the equivalent of 1AU. A maximum of 20 AUs can be taken per semester (approximately 4-5 courses). A four-AU NTU course is typically worth 4 Rensselaer credits. Exchange students are advised to select 10 courses during the application process in order to avoid scheduling conflicts.
Course Selection
Course offerings and descriptions are available on the NTU website. Students may also refer to the online
Transfer Course Guide to see if any courses you are interested in taking have already been evaluated and approved. Please note that courses listed on the Transfer Course Guide are not necessarily offered every semester. Please be sure to check NTU's course offerings to see if the course will be offered during the semester you intend to go. Updated course information for semester 1 (fall) and semester 2 (spring) are made available towards May and November respectively. Therefore, students may need to refer to the course offerings for same semester of the previous year. For example, students would refer to Academic Year 2018, Semester 1 (“Acad Yr 2018 1”) which is the equivalent of Rensselaer's fall 2018 semester, or Academic Year 2018, Semester 2 (“Acad Yr 2018 2”) which would be Rensselaer's spring 2019 semester as a reference for courses to be offered in the same semester.
Students should be sure the courses they wish to take are not on the list of
restricted courses that are not open to exchange students. Keep in mind that course approval does not guarantee that the course will be offered during your semester abroad.
Grading and Academic Evaluation
NTU uses a 5 point grading scale. Rensselaer students will only receive credit in courses where a grade of 2.0, or the equivalent of C or better is earned. All classes must be taken for a grade and not on a pass/fail basis. The final grade is typically based on an assessment component (i.e. work done throughout the semester) and a final exam component. The weighting of these two components varies by course. Students are strongly advised to keep up on their work throughout the semester and to seek assistance if they having difficulties with their academic programs.
Accommodation and Meals
Students generally live in one of sixteen NTU student residences. Upon acceptance to NTU, students will be required to apply for housing using an on-line application, although it is
not guaranteed. Meals can be purchased in one of the many campus restaurants and cafes. Additional information is available on the
NTU website.
Estimated Expenses and Cost of Living
Semester students pay regular Rensselaer tuition as well as airfare, accommodation and living expenses. Campus housing and meals cost between US$350 and US$500 per month. Individual student expenses will vary according to lifestyle and travel. Detailed estimates are available at the
NTU website.
Application Requirements
Students must be nominated by the Office of International Programs (OIP). Applicants should have a GPA of 3.3 or above. Those who do not have a 3.3 will be considered on a case by case basis.