Details

• Singapore
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

A helpful strategy during the application process is to realistically assess your GPA and estimate how competitive your ranking might be. Based on this estimate, I would recommend ranking your preferred universities by a combination of their popularity and overall university rankings, rather than only aiming for the most competitive options. Many friends got disappointed cause they couldnt get their preferred spot. It is also very important to prepare thoroughly for the interview, especially in case specific or personal questions come up. In my case, the interview was quite relaxed and conversational. I spoke with one professor, and we mainly discussed my personal motivation for choosing Singapore, my academic ambitions, and my future career plans. However, with the new exchange application process at WU, the interview accounts for 50% of the final evaluation. Therefore, performing well in the interview is crucial and should not be underestimated. The course selection process takes some time, and overall the application process can feel quite bureaucratic. It is important to start early, stay organized, and be patient throughout the process.

2. Accommodation

I applied for on-campus housing and relied on the recommendations and experiences of former exchange students from NUS. The application process for accommodation takes a long time, and for quite a while it is unclear whether everyone will actually receive on-campus housing. In the end, all exchange students from WU did receive accommodation, although we were spread across different parts of the campus. Since the campus is very large, commuting between residences and faculties can take up to 15 minutes by bus. I was assigned to Residential College 4, which is located directly in University Town (UTown), the main university area. This location is very popular and extremely convenient. During the housing application process, you can indicate your preferences, but you do not know in advance whether or which type of accommodation you will receive. The final accommodation decision was communicated only two weeks before my departure. This can be stressful and make some students nervous due to the short notice. However, I would strongly recommend staying calm and trusting the process, as everything worked out well in the end.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus infrastructure is very modern, clean, extremely safe, and visually impressive. The university offers countless food options, sports facilities, and very active student communities. Overall, campus life is vibrant, and students can easily spend most of their time on campus. Academically, especially at the business school, the structure and level are quite similar to WU Vienna. One advantage is that course changes are possible during the first weeks of the semester, which allows students to adjust their schedules after attending initial classes. I intentionally selected relatively easy courses in order to have more free time. I scheduled all my classes from Monday to Wednesday, which allowed me to travel from Thursday to Sunday almost every week. In the courses I attended, around 50% of the students were exchange students from all over the world. It seemed that exchange students were often grouped together in less demanding courses, which made it easier to connect with other international students and build friendships quickly.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport in Singapore is very efficient, reliable, and easy to use. However, commuting from campus to the city center, such as the Marina Bay area, usually takes around 45 minutes. In addition to public transport, ride-hailing services like Grab are very popular. When sharing rides with others, Grab is relatively inexpensive and significantly faster than public transport, especially late at night or when traveling in groups. Singapore is extremely safe, and I never felt uncomfortable at any time of the day or night. There are countless social activities and leisure options, especially on campus. The university offers many student clubs, sports halls, tennis courts, swimming pools, and frequent special events organized by the residential colleges. These activities make it very easy to meet new people and stay active alongside academic life. Most of my close friends were other international exchange students. Local students tend to be more reserved and often stay within their existing social circles, which can make it slightly harder to build close friendships with them. Nevertheless, the international community is very open and diverse. The city itself offers endless opportunities to explore, and it never becomes boring. From food and culture to nature and city life, there is always something new to discover. Additionally, Singapore is an excellent starting point for traveling around Southeast Asia, with many affordable and easily accessible travel options to nearby countries.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester at National University of Singapore was truly special. I arrived with very high expectations, and they were fully met in every aspect. The combination of academic quality, campus life, and the opportunity to live in such a unique city made this experience unforgettable. I would not want to miss the memories I made during this time. The exchange gave me the space to reflect, explore the world, and grow both academically and personally. It was a defining chapter of my studies, and I would choose to go to NUS again without hesitation.