SMU Classification: Restricted

SMU EXCHANGE FACT SHEET AY2023/2024
OVERVIEWThe Singapore Management University is internationally recognised for its world-class research andteaching excellence.
Established in 2000, SMU is known for its highly interactive, collaborative and project-based approach tolearning, and for its emphasis on generating rigorous and high-impact multi-disciplinary research thataddresses Asian issues of global relevance.
Home to some 10,000 students, SMU comprise of six schools specialising in Accountancy, Business,
Economics, Information Systems, Law and Social Sciences, offering a wide range of bachelors’, masters’
and PhD degree programmes.
SMU’s city campus enjoys strategic linkages with business, government and the wider community
through its institutes, centres and labs.
This document highlights the administrative information of International Student Exchange Programme
2023/2024.

IMPORTANT DATES
Nomination Deadline
Application Deadline

Term 1 (Fall)
15 Apr
25 AprTerm 2 (Spring)
15 SepInternational Student
25 SepExchange Programme
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SMU Classification: Restricted

OVERVIEW
Established in 2000, Singapore Management University (SMU) is internationally recognised for its highlyinteractive, collaborative and project-based approach to learning. This unique pedagogy creates theopportunity for students to immerse themselves in an array of multi-disciplinary courses that addresses
Asian issues of global relevance.
Home to some 10,000 students, SMU comprises six schools specialising in Accountancy, Business,
Computing and Information Systems, Economics, Law and Social Sciences, offering a wide rangeof bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degree programmes. SMU has newly added two colleges – College ofIntegrative Studies and College of Graduate Research Studies to its academic suite in 2022.
SMU’s city campus enjoys strategic linkages with business, government and the wider community throughits institutes, centres and labs.

IMPORTANT DATESTerm 1 (Fall)

Term 2 (Spring)

Nomination Deadline
Application Deadline
Issuance of Acceptance Letter
Expected Arrival in Singapore

15 Apr
25 Apr
Mid-End May
11 Aug

15 Sep25 Sep
Mid-End Oct
5 Jan

Orientation Week (Mandatory)
Classes
Recess Week
Final Exams*
Expiry of Digital Student’s Pass**

12 - 18 Aug
19 Aug - 24 Nov
7 - 13 Oct
25 Nov - 8 Dec
15 Dec6 - 12 Jan
13 Jan - 20 Apr3 - 9 Mar
21 Apr - 4 May
11 MayMid MarMid Jul

Issuance of Digital Transcript*All students are required to take the final examinations in-person on campus as scheduled by theUniversity.
**Students are required to leave from Singapore before the expiration of the digital Student’s Pass.
Overstaying is a legal offence in Singapore.
Please refer to the detailed academic calendar here.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must have completed at least one academic year of undergraduate studies and must be aregistered undergraduate in their home university throughout the study term.
2SMU Classification: RestrictedEnglish Language Proficiency:
The language of instruction at SMU is English. Students from non-English-speaking countries or frominstitutions whereby the language of instruction is not English, must fulfil at least one of the following
English language proficiency certifications.

English Proficiency Test

Minimum Score

TOEFL PBT (paper-based test)
Min. of 5.5 (Test of Written) & 50 (reading)

583

TOEFL iBT (internet-based test)
Min. of 22 (reading) & 22 (writing)93

International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS)
Min. of 7.0 (reading) & 6.5 (writing)

7.0

C1 AdvancedMin. of 185 (reading) and 176 (writing)

185

NOTES:••IELTS/ TOEFL/ C1 Advanced scores are valid for 2 years. Scores from tests taken must be within
the validity period of two years at the point of application.
Due to COVID-19 testing restrictions, scores from the TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition and IELTS
Indicator will also be accepted.

NOMINATION
Partner universities shall receive information on nomination instructions via email and are required tocomplete a nomination form to nominate their students to SMU, for each term.

APPLICATIONSMU shall send the application instructions to the nominated students. Submission of application andsupporting documents are to be completed electronically via the online application system, together withthe required supporting documents listed below. Only valid documents in English will be accepted. Eachfile attachment should be less than 500KB.

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SMU Classification: Restricted

Passport

Photo identification page of the passport with a validity period of no lessthan six-months beyond the end-date of the study term.
If your new passport is being renewed and not ready at the point ofapplication, please submit your existing passport and email the renewed
one to us once completed. However, please take note that this may delay
the subsequent procedures.

Academic Transcript

Latest academic transcript bearing the University’s official letterhead or seal
– pls include the corresponding GPA legend of your university.

Passport PhotographPhoto taken within the last three months.

English language
proficiency certificate(if applicable)

Students from non-English-speaking countries or from institutions whereby
the language of instruction is not English must provide a relevant certificate.

ACADEMIC INFORMATION
Course Offerings

Only Bachelor/undergraduate-level courses are available for exchange
students, except for those on Themis programme.

Class Format & Size:

Interactive seminar-style comprising 35 - 45 students.

Course Load:

Full course load per term: 4.0 SMU credits.
Minimum course load per term: 2.0 SMU credits.
Students may be permitted to enrol for a maximum course load of 5.0 SMU
credits per term, subject to approval by the home university and SMU.

Credit Weightage:

Each full-credit course is equivalent to 1.0 SMU credit, and consists of 39
contact hours per term.
Each half-credit course is equivalent to 0.5 SMU credit, and consists of at least
18 contact hours per term.

Course Assessment:

Assessments can include, but not limited to (i) class attendance;(ii) class participation; (iii) individual project; (iv) group project;(v) presentation (individual/group); (vi) mid-term test; (vii) final examination.

Class Attendance &Participation:

Attendance and participation form part of the course assessment, hence
attendance is mandatory for all classes.
Absence from classes due to health/medical reasons must be validated by
medical certification. Absence due to other reasons require prior approval by
the course instructor.
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Mode of Delivery

Classes will be conducted in-person without any virtual alternative option.

Final Examinations

All exams are in-person. Students are required to sit for the final exams asscheduled by SMU. No rescheduling of exams will be allowed.

EXAMINATIONS & GRADING SYSTEM
Final examinations are held at the end of every term. Students are required to sit for the examinations on
the date and time scheduled by the University. Rescheduling of exam dates or special/early examinationarrangements will not be permitted.
All SMU courses are graded in accordance to a 4-point grading system, as tabled below.

GradeGrade Point

Mark Range

A+A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
F

4.3
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.7
1.3
1.0
0.0

86 and above
83 to 85
80 to 82
77 to 79
74 to 76
70 to 73
66 to 69
63 to 65
60 to 62
53 to 59
50 to 52
49 and below

COURSE ENROLMENT
Course enrolments are conducted via a bidding exercise in July (Term 1) and December (Term 2) eachyear. Only undergraduate courses from a prescribed list will be offered to exchange and visiting students(Course Codes 001-499, 1200-4038).
Students will be allocated 100 e-dollars (e$100) each term (one-time only), for bidding of all their required
courses. This empowers them to draw up their own timetable based on their recommended study plan(subject to constraints of curriculum requirements and the supply and demand of classes). Details andinstructions related to course bidding together with the list of courses offered, shall be made available tostudents two to four weeks before the course bidding exercise. It is important that students understandthe information, policies and procedures to ensure a smooth bidding process.
Demand could be high for some courses, e.g. fundamental freshmen courses. Students are encouraged to
be pro-active and flexible in their study plans to optimise their bidding opportunities.
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In preparation for the course bidding and enrolment, students are responsible for ensuring that they have:
1. Read the course-bidding guide and reviewed the prescribed list of course offerings for the intendedstudy term.
2. Obtained pre-approvals from the home university to enrol for their desired courses at SMU. Students
are encouraged to obtain pre-approval for more courses than necessary as contingency, in case their
desired courses are fully subscribed.
3. Fulfilled the necessary pre-requisites for the desired courses. Students are required to consult and seek
approval from the respective SMU course instructors on the fulfilment of pre-requisites (if any), before
bidding for their courses. Students will not be allowed to enrol for, nor to continue with the course ifthe pre-requisites have not been met.
Course Catalogue:
For planning purposes, students may refer to the Course Catalogue for undergraduate course offerings
from previous terms (Course Codes 001-499, 1200-4038). This catalogue serves as a reference only as not
all courses listed will be offered to exchange and visiting students.
IMPORTANT:•

Course enrolment strictly adheres to the SMU academic policies and guidelines. It is subject to thevacancies available, fulfilment of course pre-requisites (if applicable) and bidding outcome of thestudent.

•Course enrolment is not guaranteed. It is strongly advised that students should not be completing
their final term of studies during their study abroad at SMU. Their graduation may be at risk should
they fail to secure their required courses.

TRANSCRIPT
A digital transcript will be emailed to the student’s SMU campus email, within three months after therelease of the final examination results, i.e. mid-March (Term 1) and mid-July (Term 2). The transcript
will include the course title, course code and grade of the respective courses enrolled. No hardcopy of thetranscript will be issued.
SMU does not send the digital transcript to any third party including the student’s home university.
Therefore, students are responsible for providing the transcript to their home university for credit
transfer.
SMU is unable to accommodate requests for early release of the official digital transcript under any
circumstances including students’ graduation and higher education plan. Therefore, students areresponsible to communicate and make their own arrangements with their home university based on thetimeline stated above.

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It is important for students to maintain their access to the SMU email account after they finish theprogramme. This is to ensure that they can retrieve the digital transcript before the email account expires.
Charges are applicable if students need their digital transcript to be re-issued.

STUDENT’S PASS (VISA)
All international exchange and visiting students are required to hold a valid Student’s Pass (STP) during
their study term in Singapore. The Student’s Pass is a legal document that enables the student to live andstudy in Singapore, as well as serves as a multiple-entry visa into Singapore (subject to terms andconditions). The cost for the STP ranges between S$105 and S$135 and includes the application fee,issuance fee and multiple-entry visa fee (if applicable).
SMU will initiate the application of the Student's Pass. Nevertheless, students bear the responsibility tocomplete and fulfil the application requirements for the STP before their arrival in Singapore. Moreinformation on the STP application process will be provided two months before the start of the study
term.
IMPORTANT:
By regulation, STP holders (exchange and visiting students) are strictly not permitted to undertake any
form of internship or work (paid or unpaid) including virtual engagements during their study term inSingapore.

COVID-19 VACCINATION
Singapore has lifted the vaccination requirement against Covid-19 for all travelers including Student’s Passholders.
It is students’ responsibility to keep yourself updated of the latest regulations on the border and COVID19 measures and as information is subject to change without prior notice.

ENTERING SINGAPORE
There are no longer any COVID-19 measures for travellers arriving in Singapore from 13 Feb 2023,
regardless of vaccination status or traveller profile, even if their In-principle Approval (IPA) letter has
stated so. Travellers must ensure that they fulfil all other general entry requirements as stated on the ICAwebsite.

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HEALTH & SAFETY
It is mandatory for all students to purchase the SMU Medical Insurance, for coverage during their study
term in Singapore. It is included as part of the miscellaneous fee*, which is applicable to all students.
Students are strongly advised to purchase additional travel insurance at their own cost and discretion asnecessary, for personal travel or leisure trips overseas. The SMU Student Travel Insurance only applies tostudents on official travels approved/sanctioned by SMU.
SMU has engaged the services of International SOS (ISOS) to provide 24-hour assistance for students.
Students are encouraged to download the ISOS mobile app. In case of an emergency, students may seek
assistance via the app or contact the ISOS 24-hour hotline at +65 6337 6517, or the SMU Campus Security
at +65 6828 0343.
NOTE: The miscellaneous fee* is approximately S$250 per term or S$400 per year and covers registration,matriculation, medical insurance, IT services and student activities. This fee is mandatory and nonrefundable under any circumstances, regardless of the outcome of the Student’s Pass and other border
entry applications.

ACCOMMODATION
Nestled in the bustling city center, the SMU campus benefits from excellent connectivity throughSingapore's efficient transportation systems. Positioned within walking distance of key subway stations
like Bras Basah Station (Circle Line), Bencoolen Station (Downtown Line), City Hall Station (Interchange),and Dhoby Ghaut Station (Interchange), SMU provides seamless access to cultural attractions andamenities. As a result, there is an abundance of private housing options available, catering to a wide rangeof budgets and preferences.
Upon successful enrollment at SMU, students will be provided with a list of alternative private housing
options that extend corporate discounts exclusively to SMU students. This resource will also include acomprehensive housing guide with tips and advice. Students have the flexibility to source and arrange for
their own accommodation based on their needs and preferences. Arrangements are at the sole
responsibility and discretion of the student.
For those considering the rental of private apartments/condominiums, it is important that students readand understand Singapore’s governing policies on rental/leasing of accommodation, from the Singapore
Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) website.
Students are also strongly advised to read and understand all terms and conditions of the leasing
agreement before committing to the lease. Once the lease has been accepted and signed, the signatories
have a legal obligation to fulfil all the terms stated in the agreement. Please note that Airbnb is stronglydiscouraged as residential properties in Singapore are not allowed to be used for short-term
accommodation under the law.
SMU does not act as a representative for either party in the event of disputes arising from the rental/leaseof the property.
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CAMPUS LIFE & FACILITIESSMU has a vibrant campus life with many activities for students to complement their formal studies aswell as to help build lasting friendships and global networks. SMU is also equipped with the following oncampus facilities that are available to students.
❖❖❖❖❖❖

Food court/Eateries
Student Locker
Gymnasium & Fitness Centre
Swimming PoolSports Hall
Student Services Hub❖❖❖❖❖❖IT Help Centre
Learning SpacesLibraries
BankClinic & Dental Clinic
Student Wellness Centre

Find out more about SMU’s campus life and facilities here. View our Campus Map and its surroundings.

SPECIAL NEEDS & SUPPORT SERVICES
SMU provides facilities, care and services for students with special needs/disabilities to support their wellbeing while studying at SMU. The support services available at SMU may differ from those received at thehome university/country. Hence, students are encouraged to declare information on any special
needs/assistance they may require, in the SMU online application form.
Alternatively, students may write to us at isep.inbound@smu.edu.sg or to their home university’s Study
Abroad Office or equivalent, for further enquiries. Visit SMU’s website on our Student Accessibility
Support and Student Wellness Centre, to find out more about the care and support services available oncampus.

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LIVING EXPENSES
The estimated monthly living expenses for an exchange/visiting student in Singapore is approximately
S$2,000–S$3,500. Listed below are some expected monthly expense items.

Item

Amount / monthAccommodation(subjected to type of accommodation)

S$1,000 – S$2,000

FoodTransportation
Telecommunications
Book and Stationery
Personal Expenses (entertainment etc.)

S$700 – S$900
S$150 – S$200
S$30 – S$50
S$20 – S$50
S$100 – S$300

Actual expenses will differ depending on the choice of accommodation and lifestyle of each individual.

CONTACT US
isep.inbound@smu.edu.sg
isep.inbound@smu.edu.sg
smusummer@smu.edu.sgInternational Student Exchange Programme
Visiting Student Programme
Global Summer ProgrammeCentre for Global Education and Opportunities (GEO)
Singapore Management University
Administration Building, Level 10
81 Victoria Street
Singapore 188065

geo.smu.edu.sg@sgsmu.geo

Information is correct as of 15 August 2024.
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