High standards, higher gains

Jessica Bickford’s exchange at Nanyang Technological Universityin Singapore challenged her academically, opened her world view and built confidence for life.

Jessica Bickford

Why I chose my host uni:

I chose Nanyang Technological University because it is ranked in the top 15 globally and, as a business student, Singapore felt like the perfect place to study given it is a major global hub for business, innovation and opportunity. I had also visited before and completely fell in love with the city, so returning to live and study there just felt like the right choice.

How I found applying to my host uni:

The application process for Nanyang Technological University was overall fairly straightforward, with the usual requirements like transcripts and standard exchange paperwork. I didn’t need too many extra documents beyond that.

One thing to be aware of is that you do need to nominate your courses as part of the application. These are first approved by AUT and then sent on to NTU for confirmation. Once your application is processed, NTU will let you know which courses you’ve been approved for ahead of time, although final enrolment happens once the semester begins.

You also apply for a Student Pass, which acts as your visa. Once that is approved, most of the major admin is essentially done and you’re set for arrival.

At the start of semester, there is a two‑week add drop period where you can finalise your timetable. During this time, you enrol in your approved courses, select class times and make any adjustments if needed. Some classes can be competitive and may involve waitlists, but there’s time to adjust and settle into a schedule that works.

My biggest tip would be to enrol early once add drop opens and stay flexible with your course choices. You may need a little back and forth with your home university if you take courses not initially pre‑approved, but it’s all very manageable once you’re in the system. It might feel a bit unfamiliar at first, but it settles quickly and works out well in the end.

How I found learning in a different academic system:

Studying at Nanyang Technological University was quite a shift from AUT. As a top 15 global university, the academic environment felt much more formal, challenging and competitive.

One of the biggest differences was the grading system. Unlike AUT, where around 50% is typically considered a pass, NTU uses a bell curve system, which means your performance is ranked against other students.

What I gained from this experience:

Studying abroad at Nanyang Technological University was honestly one of the most life‑changing and eye‑opening experiences I’ve ever had.

I got to immerse myself in an entirely new culture and way of life and, at first, it felt overwhelming, but in the best possible way. I had to figure things out on my own, adapt quickly and really trust myself in situations that were completely unfamiliar. Over time, that became where I grew the most.

Beyond academics, what I’ll really take away is the people and the perspectives I was exposed to. Living and studying alongside people from all over the world made me realise how much there is beyond what I’ve always known and it completely shifted how I see things.

I came home more independent, more confident and with a real sense of pride in how far I pushed myself. It’s an experience that will genuinely stay with me for life.