Application walkthrough for post-grad engineering degree in NUS and NTU

Preparation

Browse through the university websites, read the requirement and download the application from and booklet. For your convenient, the following table listed mainstream program. Please note the web links. This is not complete list and beware of accuracy. Most M. Sc program also offer as post-grad diploma with lower entry requirement or not so related educational background. In fact post-grad diploma can easily upgrade to M. Sc program by maintaining grading to M. Sc program during the study. Print five copy of referee request form from the application. You can also request several copies of application form and booklet from the university. The packages are really nice and encouraging.

Program Who Application period/deadline Application fee Tuition fee
NUS M. Sc Engineering Engineering graduate 1) Jan/Mar 3 2) July/Sep 3 S$ 30 S$ 6,720 per year
NUS M. Eng / Phd Engineering graduate with good class ranking 1) May/- 2) Nov/- free Waive for scholar
NUS Building Science Civil engineering and architect graduate 1) -/Nov 15 2) -/May 15 S$ 30 S$2,395 per semester
NUS M. Sc Computer Science Computer Science, electrical engineering and science graduate 1) -/Nov 15 2) -/May 15 S$ 30 S$ 6,720 per year
NTU M. Sc Engineering Engineering graduate, B. Tech 1) Jan/Feb 2)  S$ 21 S$ 6,000 per year
NTU M. Eng / Phd Engineering graduate with good class ranking 1) -/Jan 31 2) /Jan 30 free Waive for scholar
AGS Scholarship Outstanding graduate Same as NUS and NTU  - Waive for scholar
SMF scholarship Outstanding graduate Open - Waive for scholar

Get ready your documents

As soon as final results come out; go to the registration office request degree certificate, grading (for all years) and academic transcript. The process is not as strain forward as it should be. It is not just filling the form and waits for a few days to get the requested documents. You have to consider who will type and sign your documents. The process goes smooth, if you get help from one of the officer in the registration office in return for a token of appreciation. Some regional universities might not know what is ‘academic transcript’ and may insist there is no such document issued by the university. In this case, please print this copy, show them and ask to produce similar one. Always check the document for error and correction. There should be any correction in these documents. In case you see correction, you should request new document instead. You can also request recommendation for English Language proficiency from the English department. Before you request you have to print out similar to the following form and get the sign and seal form the department. Request two referees letter from your two professors. Preferably strongly recommended be commended. In the application requirement, you will see statement of S$12,000 financial support is requested. It is not serious and not always necessary. There are several ways to get financial statement. One easiest and doable ways is write your ask your parent that they have far more than S$12,000 in their pocket and get translated in good notary service. People also ask their friend in Singapore to get statement of financial support letter and a copy of passbook with balance of over S$12,000. In fact the official way is to request statement of financial standing to the bank, which cost S$20. Thought little fanny, if you have 100,000 kyats in your Myanmar bank account, why not convert it according to official rate and make a statement. After you get all the document make five original copy. You have to get and sign and seal form the university on the copy to make authentic. Alternatively you can request five original set. Two set of copy is not enough and 10-sets is over kill. Five-copies is optimal.

Apply

You should apply as soon as document are ready and there is no reason to wait for the last minutes to submit document in DHL. You will apply as many programs as you can reasonably afford. In number of successful applicant, NTU score consistantly higher, so if you are tight in budget, you may want to skip NUS.

You can apply online from the web or offline (see web links in the above table) by filling out the form. Do online if possible. Some difficult was reported when applying online. You can use without SSL online application form to reduce the bandwidth. You will apply full-time program not part-time program even if you are working in Singapore. You will supply your contact address in the acknowledgement card. Make sure post office deliver to the address. Do not use the address that post office never delivers before. It is note that the address is not necessarily your address but it is your contact address. If you don’t receive the acknowledgement letter within one month, you should enquire by email.

Application fee payment

Generally, you get help from one of your brother or friend’s friend’s friend in Singapore to pay the application fee. It is quite easy to pay the fee from ATM if you give your application number. Note: you will get application number only if you apply online. For offline application, you will send the application package and pay the fee on the application reception counter. Of you are in great difficulty, please contact us.

It is also not true that your application will not be processed without application fee. I got successful application in NUS M. Sc coursework program without paying application fee. It is also note that some program such as MBA application waive application fee for those who has outstanding GMAT record.

Submit supporting documents

Even if you apply online, you still need to submit printed application form from the online. Most economical and safest way is to parcel one of your friend going from Myanmar to Singapore. It is also fine to send registered mail from Yangon main post office. Make sure you go through document scrutiny and get the seal in the post office. As always there are people welling to help you for 500 kyats for this process. But do not trust them for posting. Keep the registration number, it is 7 digits.

You should received acknowledge letter. Check the acknowledge card carefully whether they are asking additional document that you miss in the application package. In a rare event that, there is ambiguous statement, you will receive your application package back with their request in red ink. You can to correct and send them back.

Enquiring application status

If you apply online, you can get instant application status online in the same web page as you apply the application form. Finally you will received the result via email and mail. The application status flag is somewhat encrypted during processing. Selection process approach elimination procedure that is why unsuccessful applicant will get the result first. ‘RESERVED’ means you application is considered they university requirement and they are willing to accept, but they received a number of applicant they can accommodate. However if the applicant do not take the offer (since they already got offer in other program) and seats are available you will get it. Finally you will get ‘SUCCESSFUL’ or ‘UNSUCCESSFUL’ flag. Since intermediate result has some inside about your selection process, it is worthwhile to check online during application selection process.

To do lists before going to Singapore

Do full medical check up and get the certificate with chest X-ray film. It is even better if you can fill up in the medical checkup form for student pass application which comes with enrollment package. In fact, you can download the form from ICA web site here. This not only solves one unforeseen issue but also save small amount of cost. It is not true that Hepatitis B carrier is not allowed entering to Singapore. This common misconception probably comes from medical world because medical professionals are required to do so. The only two important medical checks are HIV and Tuberculosis. Properly filled medical checkup form by authorize doctor with chest X-ray in Myanmar is accepted for student pass application.

One common medical problem with the student is related to dental. Do all necessary dental reconditioning such as patching tooth holes. Carry as many as you can when entering to Singapore. Maximum allowable language weight in air line is 20 kg, but student get at least 30 kg and no problem until 40 kg. Hand-in carry limit is 7 kg officially but carry as if not limit until you can walk normally. One excellent hand carry is 20” inches polo trolley bag. Must sure heavy thing are in the hand-carry since it is not weighted. Food is one of the main things you have to bring.

Foods containing viable seeds are not allowed to transfer from one country to another for maintaining natural ecological systems, but people seem to pay little in this respect. But don’t bring live pet or plant. When accepting friend parcel, ask what are inside and open it if necessary. Do not carry expensive item like jewelry or foreign currency. They are illegal to export other countries.