Fast Facts
- Semester: Fall or Spring
- Housing: Student housing (lottery system)
- Language of Instruction: English
About the Program
As the gateway to Southeast and East Asia, NUS draws students from around the globe, and particularly Asia. Established in 1959, The Faculty of Law at NUS is the only law school in Singapore, with approximately 750 students. Located about 12 km from the city center, the University's main campus at Kent Ridge occupies approximately 150 hectares of one of the most scenic areas in Singapore.
Up to two NYU Law students may study at the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law per academic year. The program is open to second- and third-year students only who have spent at least one full year at NYU School of Law. All courses at the National University of Singapore are taught in English.
Students may elect to take courses from a wide range of upper-class electives, including courses on Maritime Law, Trade and Investment Law, Human Rights Law, Singapore, Chinese and International Law and International Corporate and Commercial Law. It is recommended that students take elective subjects that will provide an Asian or Singapore perspective on legal issues. In recent years, students have been able to take advanced subjects in International and Comparative law (especially those with a Singapore or regional perspective), in Intellectual Property and Technology law and in subjects offered as small-group seminars.
Located in Singapore, which has been a major international commercial center for almost 200 years, the NUS Law School is very much Asia’s global law school. Since its establishment in 1957, the teaching of law at NUS has been conducted against the backdrop of legal developments in other parts of the world. Today, virtually all faculties at the NUS Law School incorporate global perspectives from civil law or other common law jurisdictions in their teaching. In addition, each year the law school plays host to a dozen visiting faculty and students from more than 40 exchange partners, all of whom add to the vibrant and stimulating intellectual environment of NUS by bringing their own unique perspectives to legal education. All this reflects the strong belief of the law school that with the increasing demands globalization places on legal practice, it is essential for legal professionals to approach the study of law from a broad, multi-jurisdictional perspective. Further information about NUS can be accessed here.
Singapore is made up of not just one island but a main island with 63 surrounding islets. The main island has a total land area of 682 square km, but its compact size belies its economic growth. As a thriving center of commerce, industry and finance, Singapore is the busiest port in the world with over 600 active shipping lines in residence and more than 130 banks.
Singapore is an incredibly clean city where nothing is allowed to dull the shine—even down to the banning of chewing gum. Its strategic location, excellent facilities, fascinating cultural contrasts and tourist attractions contribute to its success as a leading destination.
Dates
The program dates are roughly as follows:
Fall
Fall Orientation: Early August
Fall Semester: Early/Mid August – Early/Mid November
Recess Week: Late September
Reading Week: Late November
Fall Exams: Late November – Early December
Spring
Spring Semester: Mid-January – Mid-May
Recess Week: Late February – Early March
Reading Week: Late April
Spring Exams: Late April – Mid-May
The Complete University Academic Calendar can be found here.
There is an add/drop period during the first two weeks of teaching and also a compulsory consultation session with the academic staff on the course selection. During this period, students are allowed to add and/or drop subjects that they have selected. This will be subject to availability and other relevant policies.
Courses and Credit
NYU School of Law students will be expected to take a minimum of 16 modular credits which can include one intensive at the National University of Singapore in order to earn 12 credits towards their NYU Law degree. Additionally, in order to ensure compliance with all ABA regulations, NYU School of Law requires that all courses be approved by our office before your schedule has been finalized.
The program focuses on international and comparative law topics related to Asia and the Pacific Rim.
NYU School of Law students will be able to select from the course offerings in either the LLB or the LLM curriculum. Students may also request permission from the conveyer of the course to enroll in the survey “The Singapore Legal System.” Among the many courses that are offered, a few that might be of interest for NYU School of Law students include:
- Chinese Contract Law
- Chinese Public Law
- Globalization and International Law
- World Trade Law
- Maritime Law
- Law, Governance and Development in Asia
- Environmental Law in Singapore and Southeast Asia
- Human Rights in Asia
- Introduction to Indian Business Law
- Commercial Law in Vietnam
- Introduction to Indonesian Law
- International Labor Law
- Comparative Environmental Law
- Chinese Intellectual Property Law
Courses generally meet in either one or two three-hour sessions during the week. For a list of further programs and courses, please refer here.
NYU Law exchange students will receive credit for courses taken at NUS. However, these courses will not count towards the student's GPA. They will only appear on NYU transcripts as credits earned through the exchange program, rather than as individual courses at NUS.
Tuition and Living Expenses
Because this is a revenue-neutral exchange program, participating NYU Law students will pay New York University the normal tuition for a 12 credit-hour semester at NYU Law.
Singapore ranks just ahead of New York City in terms of the cost of living. NUS has informed us that students can expect to pay the following per month:
- On-Campus Accommodation: S$400 to S$732
- Off-Campus Accommodation: S$350 to S$1,000
- Meals 0n Campus: S$400 to S$800
- Personal Expenses: S$250 to S$350
- Academic Expenses: S$200 to $S300
Students should therefore budget about S$1,000 to S$2,000 per month for on-campus dorms and living expenses. If you plan to travel around Singapore and further afield, you should budget more for additional expenses.
Housing
Exchange students are welcome to apply for on-campus housing at NUS. However, due to the number of requests they receive, NYU Law students are not guaranteed to be granted a place in on-campus housing.
NYU Law students can apply for on-campus accommodation in either one of the six Halls of Residence or Prince George’s Park Residences by submitting an application form to the Office of Housing Services, preferably two months before their arrival. The application form can be downloaded from Student Residential Services' website and should be submitted together with your NUS application. Rooms are granted based on availability. Living in one of the six Halls of Residence will be similar to living in an undergraduate dorm. Students will be required to participate in social activities including sporting events and community service and obtain a meal plan.
Living in the Prince George’s Park Residences will afford students more of an independent lifestyle. Single and double rooms are in a cluster and there are shared kitchens and bathrooms. Taking part in social activities within the Residence is not compulsory and meal plans are not available for those students. Both the Halls of Residence and the Prince George’s Park Residences are located in walking distance to the campus facilities.
Passport and Visa Requirements
US citizens do not require a visa to study in Singapore, but must obtain a Student’s Pass before arrival in Singapore. The International Students Office will apply for a Student’s Pass on student’s behalf, once a student’s application has been approved. Once the Student's Pass application has been approved, the student will receive an In-Principle Approval [IPA] letter, which will be given to you during the registration exercise at NUS.
Access for Persons with Disabilities
The National University of Singapore Law School facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you are interested in the program and will need some special assistance due to a disability, please speak with the Office of Global Programs who will make contact with NUS to obtain information about the availability of needed services.