Why Choose Nanyang Technological University in Singapore?
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is not only the second-ranked university in Singapore but also enjoys a prestigious reputation across Asia and globally. The university offers an excellent learning environment and abundant resources. Moreover, studying in Singapore provides a unique opportunity to experience both Eastern and Western cultures, as well as the diverse traditions of different ethnic groups!
What Courses Can Exchange Students Take at Nanyang Technological University?
Each year, NTU publishes a course list available for exchange students, offering a diverse range of options. Unfortunately, courses from the business school are not included. However, this isn’t a problem! NTU has nine colleges and offers 106 master's programs, so you’re sure to find courses that interest you!
Master’s courses are typically scheduled in the evenings or on weekends, making them more flexible for working professionals and providing a great opportunity to network with industry experts. From the course list, I selected "Procurement & Supplier Development" (offered by the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering) and "Shipping Insurance" (offered by the Maritime Studies master's program).
These two courses reflect NTU’s strong emphasis on practical, industry-oriented learning. For example, "Shipping Insurance" is designed to align with Singapore’s role as a global maritime hub, while "Procurement & Supplier Development" is structured based on real-world industry demands and job requirements. The curriculum closely mirrors actual business practices. Beyond theoretical knowledge of procurement processes, the midterm exam even involves a negotiation simulation, where students apply bargaining skills and strategies in a realistic setting.
In this procurement course, the professor provides four different products for price negotiation exercises. Students take on two roles: as a supplier, selling a specified quantity of two products, and as a buyer, purchasing two others from suppliers. The products include A4 paper and automobile parts, each presenting unique challenges.
For instance, A4 paper has a highly transparent pricing structure, but its bulkiness and storage difficulties become key negotiation factors. On the other hand, automobile parts are smaller and easier to transport, but their pricing is less transparent and closely tied to quality, making the negotiation process more complex and challenging.
During the negotiation simulation, we not only had to understand the characteristics of each product but also had to strategically apply communication skills and tactics to strike a balance between price, quantity, quality, and delivery terms.
After the midterm negotiation exercise, the professor provided each group with a detailed feedback report analyzing the entire negotiation process. Our group received an extensive 41-page feedback report, covering every aspect of the negotiation. The report highlighted areas for improvement in our negotiation strategy, communication techniques, and decision-making process.
For the final exam, the focus shifted to case analysis, where we examined real-world procurement strategies used by companies in the industry. This deep dive into procurement planning and execution gave us a comprehensive understanding of its crucial role in business operations. More importantly, it taught us how to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical applications, further enhancing our professional skills.
How is the Campus Environment?
Singapore is renowned for its exceptional urban greenery and planning, and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) follows this philosophy. The campus is filled with lush greenery, seamlessly blending modern architecture with nature, making it feel like a garden city within a university.
What makes NTU even more unique is the diverse wildlife that inhabits the campus. You can spot otters, monkeys, lizards, and occasionally even snakes! There's no need to visit a zoo—just strolling around campus offers plenty of opportunities to encounter these fascinating animals.
What Learning Resources Does NTU Offer?
NTU has seven libraries on campus, including a Business School Library and a Chinese Library, offering rich resources and a comfortable study environment. Each dormitory is well-equipped with dedicated study rooms, discussion rooms, a gym, sports courts, a pantry, a cooking kitchen, and a cafeteria, making student life both convenient and enriching. For those looking to improve their English-speaking skills, NTU provides free language practice sessions. These sessions are conducted one-on-one with students from the School of Education, helping participants enhance their language proficiency and communication skills.
Most importantly, NTU organizes a job fair approximately every two months, with event dates categorized by different professional fields. This ensures that students from various disciplines have the opportunity to connect with potential employers and find ideal job opportunities.
HR representatives from participating companies are very willing to engage with students. Even if there are no immediate job openings or internship opportunities, they enthusiastically introduce their company culture and future development plans. By attending the job fair, students can gain valuable insights into multinational companies’ talent needs and stay updated on Singapore’s industry trends.
NTU’s job fairs also come with fun surprises! I often received various giveaways, such as car-shaped computer mice, tote bags, and water bottles. The university even provides snacks like popcorn and ice cream, ensuring that students can stay refreshed and enjoy the event despite Singapore’s warm weather.
What Activities Can You Join at NTU?
To help students relieve stress beyond their academic studies, NTU truly goes the extra mile, offering a variety of creative and engaging activities.
Since NTU is located in a relatively remote area, all students are eligible to apply for on-campus housing. However, to secure a dormitory spot for the following year, students must earn points by participating in dormitory and club activities.
As a result, the university frequently organizes various dorm events, allowing students to participate in activities such as cooking, yoga, badminton, basketball, and more. Some dorm areas are even equipped with BBQ facilities, giving students the opportunity to enjoy a barbecue right on campus. NTU also has a well-maintained PU running track, where students often form running groups and exercise together.
At the beginning of each semester, NTU hosts a Club Fair, featuring over 30 different student organizations. Additionally, the university has various online chat groups, making it easy for students to connect and exchange information.
NTU also celebrates festivals with exciting cultural events. For example, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, students can participate in free lantern-making and mooncake-making workshops, providing a wonderful opportunity to share the festival’s significance and traditions with international friends.
Beyond social events, NTU frequently hosts lectures and academic conferences, which often include delicious catering. To make these events even more memorable, photo booths are set up, allowing students to capture fun moments with friends while enjoying the experience!
At the end of the semester, NTU organizes a special "Graduation Ceremony" for exchange students, where each student receives a graduation cap as a keepsake, marking the perfect conclusion to their exchange journey!
Beyond its vibrant extracurricular activities, NTU also places great emphasis on students' mental well-being. Exchange students can schedule one-on-one meetings with staff from the Office of International Affairs, where they will receive warm support and assistance with any challenges they may face during their stay. The university also regularly hosts mental health seminars and pop-up events to help students understand and manage their psychological well-being.
During midterm and final exam weeks, dormitories distribute "care packages" filled with snacks and drinks, ensuring that students can relieve study stress through food while preparing for exams.
Another unique feature of NTU is its dormitory cats—each dorm has its own resident feline and an associated chat group where students can track the cats’ whereabouts. This means that anytime, anywhere, students can enjoy "cat therapy", bringing comfort and joy to their daily lives.
With so many activities on campus, there’s never a dull moment at NTU—every day can be exciting and fulfilling!
Food is Life – Is the Student Cafeteria Good? Is It Expensive?
Aside from higher dormitory costs, the cost of living in Singapore, including food, transportation, and entertainment, is actually quite comparable to Taipei. Currently, NTU has over 14 student canteens, offering meals at prices cheaper than outside the campus while maintaining a diverse selection of dishes—ensuring that students can enjoy different cuisines every day.
Breakfast:
- Classic Singaporean Kaya Toast Set – Includes kaya toast, two soft-boiled eggs, and a drink, priced at SGD 2–3 (around TWD 46–70), depending on the canteen.
- Pancakes – Only SGD 1.8 (around TWD 41), available in various flavors such as kaya, blueberry, ice cream, peanut, and more—all absolutely delicious!
Lunch & Dinner:
The student canteens serve a wide variety of cuisines, including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Southeast Asian, Indian, and local Singaporean-Malaysian specialties. Some canteens even offer Taiwanese food!
For example, for just SGD 3 (around TWD 69), you can enjoy one of Singapore’s classic dishes—fishball noodles!
Other Off-Campus Activities
In addition to participating in on-campus events, I also took part in off-campus activities, such as visiting various historical sites and exhibitions.
1. Singapore Botanic Gardens
Established in 1859, the Singapore Botanic Gardens covers 54 hectares and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With a student ID card, visitors can enter the National Orchid Garden for free.
2. Deepavali (Diwali)
From October to November each year, the Indian community celebrates Deepavali, also known as the Indian New Year. Besides the on-campus celebrations, I also joined the festivities in Little India. The streets were adorned with colorful lanterns and intricate decorations, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere. It was an amazing experience that gave me a deeper appreciation of Indian culture.
3. Studio Ghibli Exhibition
During my exchange, I was fortunate to attend a free Studio Ghibli music concert and art exhibition. The exhibition showcased rare hand-drawn sketches by Hayao Miyazaki, allowing visitors to appreciate his artistic mastery up close. It was unbelievable to learn that a seemingly simple Totoro sketch was valued at NT$12 million—truly astonishing!
- DBS Sailing Experience
At the beginning of each month, there is an opportunity to sign up for the DBS sailing event, where participants can experience sailing for free. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that should not be missed!
References:
- NTU Chinese Information Page: http://www.ntu-sg.cn/
- NTU Official Website: https://www.ntu.edu.sg/
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