I’m Shashank, and I attended Neev Academy, a small IB school in Bangalore, India. While enrolling in the IB Diploma Programme, I knew fairly early on that I would likely pursue engineering in university. The IB curriculum is rigorous, and combining it with preparation for Indian entrance exams would have been extremely difficult. Realistically, managing both properly would have been close to impossible. Hence, I decided early that I would apply abroad.

When thinking about where to apply, I considered the UK, Canada, and a few Asian universities. I chose not to apply to the US due to concerns about the visa situation, political uncertainty, and the overall cost. My initial top choice was the UK—specifically Cambridge. I applied through the UCAS portal, but unfortunately, Cambridge did not work out.

However, I received strong offers from other universities: The University of Toronto, The University of Waterloo, and the University of Hong Kong, which also offered me a scholarship. In the end, I chose the National University of Singapore (NUS). The deciding factors were proximity to home, strong global rankings, and the fact that I was offered a 50% tuition grant, which made it financially very attractive.

Academic Background:

My academic journey from Grades 9 to 12 was somewhat unconventional. I completed Grades 9 and 10 at an IB school in Dublin, doing the IB MYP Program. Academically, those years were not taken very seriously— there were no significant assessments as my school did not opt for the IB MYP E-Assessments, and grades did not carry much weight. I scored around 52 or 53 out of 56 through my internal grades, but those numbers were not meaningful in terms of academic rigour.

For university applications to NUS, what truly mattered were my IB Diploma results after grades 11 and 12.

Unlike the UK system, where conditional offers are made based on predicted grades, NUS decisions are made only after final IB results are released. While you declare predicted grades during the application, the university waits for your official results before making a decision.

My IB subject combination was:

Higher Level: Mathematics AA, Physics, Economics

Standard Level: Chemistry, English Language & Literature, French B

I scored a 44 overall, with all 3 core points, as I got an A in my Extended Essay (Physics) and a B in TOK. Ultimately, these final grades were the most important factor in my admission to NUS.

Why Engineering?

I realised I enjoyed math and physics around Grade 9 or 10. I especially like the hands-on application of physics, particularly through lab work. That interest naturally pushed me toward engineering.

In Grade 11, I did not do extensive formal internships, but I explored programming through online courses and YouTube resources. The most impactful experience was a shadowing opportunity at a robotics firm. This wasn’t a formal internship, but it allowed me to observe engineers working collaboratively across disciplines.

That experience helped me clarify what type of engineering I wanted to pursue. Initially, I was undecided between mechanical and electrical engineering.

After seeing the work environment and the kind of problem-solving electrical engineers engaged in, I realised electrical engineering aligned more closely with my personal interests. Which is why I strongly recommend shadowing or internships if possible, not just for your CV or resume, but to truly understand what you’re committing to before choosing a degree.

Applying to NUS: Process & Essays

The NUS application deadline was around mid-February. The application itself is straightforward and can realistically be completed in a day.

There are short-answer questions rather than long essays, where the questions are quite general, for example:

• Describe a challenge you faced and how you overcame it.
• Describe an experience that reflects a quality like resilience.

They are not particularly demanding. If you are applying to other countries like the UK and the U.S. that require essays, you can likely repurpose or slightly restructure existing responses. From what I’ve observed and heard, these essays are not heavily weighted compared to academic performance for NUS admissions. There is also an activities section, but it is capped at four entries. Unless you have something truly exceptional (such as Olympiad medals), extracurriculars do not play a major role.

I listed fairly standard school sports and other such activities, nothing extraordinary. In short, NUS primarily cares about grades and your final performance.

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Scholarship Structure: MOE Tuition Grant

Singapore offers government-supported tuition grants through the Ministry of Education (MOE) to attract international students.

There are two main options:

1. 50% Tuition Grant (3-Year Bond): You receive a 50% tuition reduction but are required to work in Singapore for three years after graduation. This is the option I chose, as it also provides post-graduation job security in the current job market.
2. Full Scholarship (6-Year Bond): Some high-performing students (for example, IB 45 scorers) may be invited for interviews for a full scholarship. However, this requires a six-year work commitment in Singapore.

The 50% grant is commonly offered to international students. It’s a trade-off between reduced tuition and a commitment to work. It also provides job security after graduation, which many undergraduate students in other countries do not have.

Academic Life at NUS

Each semester at NUS lasts approximately 13 teaching weeks, followed by an exam period, bringing the total to around 15 weeks.

There is:

• A week-long break around Week 6 (before midterms)
• A break before final exams

Courses are structured with:

• Lectures: Large halls with potentially hundreds of students. These focus on delivering content.
• Tutorials: Smaller groups of about 25–30 students led by teaching assistants (often Master’s or PhD students). These are problem-solving-focused and require preparation beforehand. These are fruitful sessions where you actually engage with the subject, due to the smaller teaching environment.

Weeks 1 and 2 are relatively light because tutorials begin around Week 3. The semester starts with introductory content but ramps up significantly after midterms. The workload becomes much heavier and more application-based. University-level questioning is far more challenging than high school — even compared to IB—because of the depth and analytical focus required, especially for a STEM degree.

Initially, I managed academics and extracurriculars comfortably. However, after midterms, the difficulty increases substantially. The good thing is that after completing a course in a semester, you never go back to the previous content in your next semester, hence starting from “introductory-level” information again, for the new class you are taking.

Flexibility in Majors

I initially enrolled in Electrical Engineering and planned to take Computer Science as a second major, as that is a unique option NUS provides, similar to the U.S system and unlike the UK system, where your degree is fixed.

However, during my first semester, I discovered I really enjoyed my mathematics courses. After discussing this with a friend, I decided to declare a second major in Mathematics.

Now, I am planning to switch from Electrical Engineering to Computer Engineering as my first major to gain greater access to computer science courses within my core curriculum, due to my shift in personal interest. Within the time frame of the first 2 years, students have the opportunity to do this.

NUS is extremely flexible:

• You can declare second majors and minors.
• Major changes are possible during the first two years, as you are not bound to any degree specifically.
• Many second majors are open-access, hence you can just declare them without an application approval needed.
• Competitive majors (like Computer Science) require an application, but the process is straightforward, and most applicants are accepted.

This flexibility was one of the biggest advantages of NUS for me, and many students here.

Innovation and Design Programme (IDP)

NUS offers something called the Innovation and Design Programme (IDP), which engineering students often pursue as a second major or minor. Many engineers I know opt into this program because it is a unique hands-on opportunity that the college provides. IDP focuses on long-term project building and hands-on innovation. By graduation, students complete a substantial project, which is highly valuable for resumes and even general exposure to the subject. Many engineering students chose this programme because it emphasises practical design and real-world application.

Student Life & Residences

NUS has around 40,000 students, so there are extensive extracurricular opportunities.

Student housing varies:

Halls are traditional student residences with strong extracurricular cultures. To secure housing retention for the following year, you must accumulate participation points through activities. These may include:

• 8–10 sports
• Cultural committees
• Event organisation committees

Selection processes can be competitive, and there are attendance requirements.

Residential colleges and houses offer a more relaxed environment through “interest groups.” These are casual, flexible, and do not require formal commitment. You can join and participate as you wish; it is essentially like getting together with your friends.

Retention is often based on engagement — as long as you attend events and are active in the community, staying on campus is usually manageable.

Visa Process for Singapore

The Singapore visa process is straightforward but expedited, especially for IB students.

Since IB results are released in early July and the term starts in early August, there is only a short window.

The steps for applying include:

1. Apply online and receive an In-Principle Approval (IPA)—essentially a single-entry visa.
2. Travel to Singapore and attend an on-campus appointment to submit documents.
3. Receive your Student Pass (the official student visa).

The IPA usually takes 3–4 days to process. Compared to countries like the US, there is no appointment competition or complex interview process.

Advice for Applicants

If you are applying to Singapore, do not overthink it.

NUS primarily cares about your grades. Extracurricular overload will not compensate for weak academics. If you are already applying to other countries, your existing activities will be more than sufficient.

For any student (even though I did not follow this strictly):

• Stay on top of deadlines.
• Do not procrastinate internal assessments and project work.
• Work consistently from Grade 11.
• Avoid leaving everything until February–April, when submissions pile up rapidly (especially in the IB).

Consistency matters far more than last-minute effort and helps a lot to enjoy your last 2 years of high school. Trust me, last-minute work can get overwhelming.

Choosing NUS for me came down to academic quality, flexibility, financial feasibility, and geographic proximity to home. The university offers strong engineering training, extensive flexibility in academic paths, unique extracurricular opportunities and a vibrant student life.

For students considering Singapore, focus on your grades, explore your interests early, and seek exposure through shadowing or internships to clarify your academic direction before committing.