FAQ

Yes. Year 1 students may apply in Round 2, after completing at least one semester at NUS, subject to the applicable eligibility requirements.

No. Students cannot participate in SEP during their graduating semester. Students also cannot undertake their FYP or internship/industrial attachment during their SEP semester.

DDP students should apply through their home faculty, subject to the faculty’s SEP arrangements.

No. You may only apply for PUs with places allocated to SoC and listed in the relevant SEP application information.

Round 2 offers only places remaining after earlier rounds. A PU will only be available if places remain.

• Any Semester: You may indicate your preferred semester.
• Semester 1: Exchange must be in Semester 1.
• Semester 2: Exchange must be in Semester 2.

Some PUs operate on a quarter system. Check the PU’s academic calendar before applying.

Similarly, you can only go for exchange in semester 2, if the exchange place offered states “Semester 2”.  

Please note that there are some universities running on quarter system. Please check the partner universities’ academic calendars for more information.

No. Each SEP place typically covers one academic quarter or semester. Check the specific PU’s exchange arrangement.

No. Students cannot select their preferred UC campus. Campus allocation is determined by UCEAP. Please note that UCLA and UC Berkeley are not available to SoC students.

No. ETH Zurich has specific eligibility requirements for SoC students. Please refer to the latest PU-specific requirements before applying.

A study plan is no longer mandatory but highly encouraged. The study plan helps you research and assess your preferred PUs, including course availability, academic fit, teaching medium, restrictions and workload.

The study plan is an interim plan, not a course mapping request. Courses may be changed later based on availability and the latest information from the PU.

Yes. The pre-approved list is a reference only and is not exhaustive. All course mappings, including pre-approved courses require formal approval.

Do a preliminary check via SEP Mapper to ensure the courses are ≥70% content overlap, meet all prerequisite and preclusion requirements before submitting.

You should remain flexible. Course availability and enrolment are not guaranteed, and PUs may impose restrictions. Prepare suitable backup courses, including UEs, where necessary.

You may propose suitable courses for mapping, subject to SoC approval and PU course restrictions. Approved mappings do not guarantee that you will secure the courses during exchange.

There is no fixed GPA cut-off for SEP selection. Competition varies by PU and application round. Selection considers factors such as GPA, CCA achievements, study plan, SEP questions and PU requirements.

You may indicate up to five of your preferred PUs. As SEP is competitive, consider your choices carefully and remain open to different destinations.

Students are reminded to carefully evaluate the following factors: Academic Fit, Academic Calendar, Language Proficiency, Financial Feasibility, and Programme Research. 

No. An SoC SEP offer is an internal nomination/offer. You must still apply to and meet the admission requirements of the PU. The PU may have additional requirements, such as a higher GPA or language proficiency.

Please wait until you receive official admission from the PU before making major travel or financial commitments.

Check the PU’s academic calendar carefully before applying. You are responsible for ensuring that your SEP, NUS academic commitments and internships/attachments do not conflict.

Students are expected to resume their studies in NUS at the start of the following semester.

If examinations overlap, arrangements such as remote or alternative examination arrangements may depend on the PU. NUS will not grant short-term leave solely for the extension of exchange purpose.

Yes. You must meet any language proficiency requirements specified by the PU. Check the PU’s requirements before ranking your choices.

No. EduRec does not allow overlapping applications/offers for programmes such as SEP and NOC. If you wish to prioritise NOC, apply for NOC first and consider SEP in Round 2 as a backup, subject to available places.

Please note that we employ distinct notation for mapped courses from exchanges. It will be OVS (overseas satisfactory pass), OVU (overseas unsatisfactory), and OVI (overseas incomplete). Following the credit transfer, your official NUS transcript will only display the total credits acquired during the exchange.