Global E3: Nanyang Technological University-Singapore

 

Overview: 

Want to study engineering in Asia - in English?  Experience cultures and food from around the world?  Then Singapore is your city!  

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is a research-intensive university with globally-acknowledged strengths in science and engineering. ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) 2017 by the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, NTU College of Engineering has rankings of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (6th globally and 1st in Asia), Telecommunication Engineering (3rd globally and 2nd in Asia), and Automation and Control (17th globally and 2nd in Asia) – all subject programmes offered in NTU’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Courses are in English unless otherwise specified. 

This exchange program is College of Engineering (ENGR) specific, meaning only undergraduate ENGR students may participate. NTU and Pitt are members of Global E3, an exchange consortium of over 60 Engineering Schools from around the world. This consortium is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) 

You must apply to both the Swanson School of Engineering Global Experiences and Engagement Office (link on this page) and to the Global E3 consortium (link on Global E3 page). Prior to application, please review the Global E3 NTU website and the NTU website for application instructions, deadlines, course descriptions, academic calendar, etc. To complete your application, you will need to meet with the program manager. Make an appointment with Alicia here. In the past, application deadlines have been early September for spring semester programs and early March for fall semester programs.

NTU accepts students for Fall, Spring or Academic Year.

Typically, semesters are:

  • Fall (Semester 1): early August to early December
  • Spring (Semester 2): early January to early May

 

Learning Objectives: 

As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop: 

  • the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment. 
  • non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path. 
  • a global network of peers in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in Singapore.

 

Partner Information: 

Office Responsible for International Exchange Students
Office of Global Education and Mobility   |   GEM-Trailblazer@ntu.edu.sg

Location Description: 

CNN Travel lauds Singapore as the world’s greatest city – and they’ve got 50 reasons to back this claim.
Singapore is a cosmopolitan country located strategically and centrally at the southern tip of the Malay Archipelago.  Known as the “Garden City,” it boasts green and clean surroundings rivaled by few other modern cities and is home to more than 4 million people of various ethnic backgrounds - mainly Chinese, Malay, and Indian.
Singapore is the busiest port in the world. With over 600 shipping lines, it sends super tankers, container ships, and passenger liners into busy waters along with coastal fishing vessels and wooden lighters. In addition, Singapore is one of the world's major oil refining and distribution centers, a major supplier of electronic components, and a leader in shipbuilding and repairing. With more than 130 banks, it has become one of the most important financial centers of Asia; business dealings are facilitated by Singapore's superb communications network, which links the nation to the rest of the world via satellite and 24-hour telegraph and telephone systems.
English is the language of business and administration in Singapore. It is also the language of instruction in schools and at NTU. Most Singaporeans are multilingual, speaking English and at least one other language – usually Mandarin, Malay, or Tamil.
Being a food paradise, Singapore has a wide variety of Asian and Western cuisine, which can be found everywhere from food centers to expensive restaurants.  There are ample opportunities for foodies to savor both local and international cuisine.

Housing Description: 

Upon acceptance as an exchange student (for study only), you may apply for on-campus housing through the Exchange Student Portal.  NTU cannot guarantee the availability of on-campus housing. Students unsuccessful in their application for on-campus accommodation will be assisted with finding off-campus housing at hostels located near NTU.
Please refer to the GE3 NTU specific website for more information.

 

Academic Description: 

Use the links below to see if the specific departments offer the types of courses you would like to take while studying abroad.  We suggest you review courses available with yoru Academic Advisor prior to applying to the program. 

Academic Departments: 

Visit the University's website to learn more about course offerings and check the GE3 NTU specific website for general course information. The following disciplines are available: 

    • School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
    • School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
    • School of Computer Engineering
    • School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
    • School of Materials Science and Engineering
    • School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Minimum Requirements: 

  • SSoE student in good standing 
  • Minimum 2.75 GPA for engineering students 
  • For the NTU, students must have a B average
  • Sophomore standing or higher 

 

Of note: 

  • All courses must be approved by the Faculty Director of your department in the Swanson School of Engineering. A course approval form must be completed and submitted to SSoE’s Engineering International Initiatives Office. 
  • Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status here at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours.   
  • Courses taken at NTU will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. However, students must receive a C grade or higher in order for the credits to transfer. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university. 
  • Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers may be required to show evidence of English proficiency.      
  • Unless otherwise listed, courses are taught in English.

 

Students who have attended this program in the past have taken classes in the areas of:: 
Engineering
Grading: 

For information about the grading scale at NTU,  please see the Global E3 website 

 In order to gain Pitt credit, you must receive a C or higher for each course you will transfer back to Pitt for credit. 

Transcripts: Please request that your university send a hardcopy to the Engineering International Initiatives Office. Make sure that you follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of your grades are received. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: International Engineering Initiatives, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 152 Benedum Hall, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. 
Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received.
 

 

Program Fees: 
Items Billed by Pitt
 
Pitt students participating on an exchange program will pay regular Pitt tuition and fees, according to their in-state or out-of-state residency status. In addition to the Study Abroad Administrative Fee, this also includes all Mandatory Fees, such as the Student Activity Fee, Wellness Fee, Computing and Network Services Fee, and the Security, Safety, and Transportation Fee.
Pitt Students on financial aid and/or tuition scholarships will need to consult the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or respective entity providing the funds to confirm coverage for study abroad. 
 
 
Items Billed by Pitt
 
Tuition and mandatory fees: Check Pitt's website to verify current costs: https://www.tuition.pitt.edu/undergraduate/tuition?campus=30 
 
Study Abroad Fee $400 
 
Total Billed by Pitt: Estimate your Pitt expenses based on current tuition and fees.
 
 
How Much To Budget: 
Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs
 
Travel Expenses: Airfare, Passport, Visa, Resident Permit  $2,000 
Room & Board $3,000 - 5,000 
Personal Expenses $1,000 - 5,000 
 
The Estimated Costs reflect information provided by exchange partner and are reported to OAFA to calculate financial aid packages. The listed costs are defaulted to one semester. Multiply the costs by two for two semesters.
 
Personal expenses vary with individual students. Review the program's page, as well as our budgeting page for more information. 
 
The University of Pittsburgh provides comprehensive health insurance as a part of studying abroad. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the Engineering International Initiatives office.  However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.  
 

For global scholarship opportunities, check out:

  • the Pitt GEO scholarship page for links to national, provider and private scholarship samples
  • PittFund$Me  for Pitt sponsored funding including Pitt wide global scholarships, Nationality Rooms, VIH, etc.
  • PittFund$Me  for the SSOE Global Experience Scholarships!

 

 
Program Dates: 

Pitt students enroll at NTU for either a full semester (fall or spring) or a full academic year (two full semesters). NTU’s calendar may differ from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university. Like Pitt, NTU’s academic calendar follows a Fall-Spring progression, meaning Fall is the first semester followed by the Spring semester as the second. Typically, NTU’s semesters are: Fall (Semester 1): early August to early December & Spring (Semester 2): early January to early May

Alicia JF Olalde, M.A.

Hello! Konnichiwa! I am the Director for Global Experiences and Engagement in the Swanson School of Engineering.  After working for the JET program in Japan for just over two years, I decided to pursue a career in international education. I returned to the US via a few months of travel -slowing making my way west with many stops in stunning locations and with amazing people. Whenever possible, I continue  explore new countries and cultures and have had the good fortune to work, study and travel all over the world. I have been fortunate to work both as an administrator and as a classroom educator in higher education; my areas of interest are international, adult and comparative education.  I enjoy assisting engineering students seize global opportunities! 

Schedule an appointment

SSOE students: schedule an appointment with me using Pathways via this link!

non-SSOE students-- send me an email and we'll set up a time to meet!

 

Application Instructions: 
SSOE sends a limited number of students per semester through the Global E3 exchange consortium.  In addition to the Pitt GEO application (at the right), be sure to review the Global E3 consortium application instructions and the host institution information.  A formal nomination from the Swanson School of Engineering Global Experiences and Engagement Office is required for Pitt students to be recognized as a study abroad student at NTU. Therefore, SSOE students must complete all necessary Pitt steps in addition to NTU requirements. In other words, acceptance by SSOE Global experiences does not guarantee acceptance by the exchange university.  
 
Prior to being accepted, please visit the Global E3 consortium website and read the application instructions and application deadlines. (In the past, Global E3 application deadlines have been mid-September for spring semester programs and early March for fall semester programs.) 
 
Minimum Requirements: 
SSoE student in good standing 
Minimum 2.75 GPA for engineering students 
For NTU, students must be in their third or fourth year of study during the exchange period
 
Additional Information: 

Questions about funding? Check out our funding pages and note that SSoE has funding specifically for engineering students! There are many other national scholarships you can review. One place to is the Institute of International Education website.  
 
Academic Calendar:

  • Fall (Semester 1): early August to early December
  • Spring (Semester 2): early January to early May

 

Insurance Requirements: 

 The University of Pittsburgh automatically provides international health and accident insurance for students participating in study abroad during the official program dates.  More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the GEO office.  However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program. 

 

Visa Requirements: 

In order to study as a student in specific countries, a visa is required. A visa is formal endorsement by the host country to grant permission for an individual to enter, live or stay in that country for a specific purpose and period. In addition to a visa, some host countries may require a residency permit upon arrival. 

 

Your host institution will provide general directions after formal admission on how to apply for either the visa and/or residency permit. Pitt students should also research the visa and/or permit process through the specified country consulate website. In general visa and/or permit application requirements include but are not limited to the following requirements:  

  • Visa application 
  • Valid Passport 
  • Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university) 
  • Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.   
  • Passport photos 
  • Application fee 
  • Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly)

 

Failure to follow the visa/permit instructions fully may result in additional costs beyond the visa application fee or visa denial.