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Institution Profile

2009 as a collaboration venture between the government, SCHOLASTIC OPTIONS AT SUTD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Zhejiang
University (ZJU), China. It was officially inaugurated by the SUTD specialises in offering degree programmes in the dis-
island republic’s President Tony Tan Keng Yam in 2012. ciplines of design, AI and technology. They include:
Initially sited on the campus of the Institute of Technical Undergraduate. Architecture and Sustainable Design, Design
Education, in 2015, it moved to its own campus in Upper and Artificial Intelligence, Engineering Product Develop-
Changi. In the initial year, MIT helped to develop SUTD’s ment, Engineering Systems and Design, Computer Science
curriculum and research programmes and established an & Design
International Design Centre to serve as an incubator for Postgraduate. Design and Artificial Intelligence for Enterprise,
design research and experimentation. Innovation by Design, Urban Science, Policy & Planning,
Singapore. Once a British colony and untidy port, over the Architecture, Security by Design, Dual Masters Programme
past six decades Singapore (pop. 6 million) has evolved into in Nano-Electronics Engineering and Design, Technology &
an independent island republic, globally renowned for its Design (Cybersecurity/Robotics & Automation/IC Design,
spick ’n span environment, transformation into Southeast Failure Analysis and Reliability/Human-centred Design/
Asia’s business and financial entrepot and most prosperous, HealthTech Innovation/Data Science/Advanced IC Design
modern and well-administered country notable for civic and Technology)
discipline and high per capita income (US $49,000). The Tuition fee (per year): S$30,650-62,076
island republic hosts an excellent public transport system, Living expenses: S$12,000-24,000 S$=Rs.64
public parks, museums, restaurants, nightclubs and tour-
ist destinations including the verdant Botanic Gardens — a
Unesco World Heritage site. cluding badminton, basketball, floorball, handball, netball,
Singapore’s climate is tropical — warm and wet most of volleyball, tennis and squash courts, soccer field, swimming
the year. December is the coolest month and May the warm- pools, synthetic athletics track, dance/aerobics studios, fit-
est, with average temperatures ranging between 22-33°C. ness centre, and music rooms.
English is the language of administration, business and Admission. The minimum eligibility requirements for admis-
technology. The country hosts over 79,300 foreign students sion into SUTD’s undergrad programmes are completion of
mostly from the neighbouring countries of Malaysia, Indo- class XII and English language proficiency. Shortlisted stu-
nesia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, India, and South Korea. dents are required to write the SUTD University Entrance
Campus facilities. The futuristic SUTD campus features in- Examination (UEE). Applications must be submitted on-
terconnected buildings with open spaces enabling collabo- line, supported with class X and XII exam result transcripts
ration and interaction. Academic facilities include state- and documentary evidence of leadership, involvement in
of-the-art classrooms, hi-tech labs, studios, a 1,200-seat research/internship/entrepreneurship programmes, com-
auditorium and digital libraries. The university’s unique munity service, and any other significant achievements.
Cohort Classrooms are reconfigurable learning spaces that For admission into postgraduate programmes, the mini-
can be used for various interactive projects, self-study and mum requirement is a bachelor’s degree in addition to
group discussion. Similarly, the Architecture Studios func- programme-specific admission criteria. For further infor-
tion as classrooms, work rooms and at times, even bed- mation, please visit https://www.sutd.edu.sg/admissions.
rooms for students. Accommodation. SUTD’s on-campus accommodation is
SUTD’s library is sui generis providing vast digital learn- contiguous to academic blocks and sports facilities. All
ing access and essential printed books. It also hosts the Ma- first-year undergraduate students are obliged to reside on
terials Collection — 900 different metals, woods, polymers campus during their first two terms. Students wishing to
and tiles — to complement material science and architec- continue to reside on campus after Term 2 must apply dur-
ture degree programmes. ing the main housing application exercise, held in February.
Another campus highlight is the university’s Fab Lab, SUTD provides rooms of various configuration with ev-
a double-storey, 3,000 sq. m facility equipped with high- ery room furnished with a bed, wardrobe, study table, and
performance machines such as laser cutting and engraving chair. Common areas within the housing blocks include
systems, 3D printers, plastic injection moulding machines, shared kitchens, lounges, laundry facilities, recreational,
vertical sanders, water-jet machining centers, vertical injec- study and discussion rooms.
tion moulding machines, etc. Additionally, the Industrial Degree programmes. SUTD offers undergrad and graduate
Design Studio (IDer Studio), Innovative Digital Arts Lab degree programmes in design, artificial intelligence and
(IDiA Lab), Information Systems Lab and Systems Design technology (see box). However study of the Humanities,
Studio offer students great opportunities for experiential Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) is compulsory to “elevate
learning. inquiry, analysis, interpretation and presentation skills”.
Modern academic facilities apart, the SUTD campus
provides a wide range of sports and recreation facilities in- RESHMA RAVISHANKER

32 EDUCATIONWORLD FEBRUARY 2025