Saying yes to Singapore

At Nanyang Technological University, Selene Villaluna swapped comfort zones for campus adventures, new friends and a fresh love for science.

Selene Villaluna

Why I chose my host uni:

Initially, I chose NTU because of its strong academic reputation and global ranking. Looking through photos of their campus, I was amazed at their unique architecture and beautiful scenery – it was like a tourist attraction in itself. Studying in Singapore was very appealing as the location is known to be safe and convenient at any time of day, which made it a great environment to live and study in.

How I found applying to my host uni:

Applying to NTU was quite straightforward; the process was similar to applying at AUT, where you submit standard documents like your passport or ID for personal identification and your current transcript.

I didn’t need to apply for a visa because I’m a Singaporean PR. However, most international students will need to apply for a Student Pass visa (STP). This can be done through the NTU student portal within a specific application timeframe, and the process is clearly guided by the university.

How I found learning in a different academic system:

Studying at NTU was a bit different from what I was used to at AUT. Lectures tend to be longer and more content heavy, and for science majors, tutorials and laboratory classes were unfortunately not available to exchange students. As someone who learns best from hands‑on experience, I found the lack of practical work a little disappointing.

However, passing the courses is very easy if you attend the lectures consistently. It’s important to manage your time well and maintain a good balance between studying and enjoying your exchange experience. I found it really helpful to review material in my free time and watch additional videos outside of the provided resources. Making friends in your classes also helps a lot since you’ll have others to keep you motivated when learning starts to feel challenging.

What I gained from this experience:

Academically, studying at NTU exposed me to a lot of advanced content that helped me as I returned to AUT. Despite their intense coursework, it pushed me to develop stronger study habits overall, and coming back, I found lessons were easier to grasp as I gained a greater appreciation for the academic system that I have.

Personally, the experience helped me grow the most. I learned to step out of my comfort zone and take every opportunity to create lasting memories. Saying yes to events, meeting new people and making the first move to start conversations felt intimidating at first, but it was always worth it in the end. Through my time on exchange, I also became more independent. I am now able to manage my own time, finances and daily life while making the most of every moment. Looking back, I can confidently say I made the most of my exchange with no regrets.