Assisting Students Affected by UNSW Asia Closure

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1. Following the announcement on 23 May 2007 by University of New South Wales (UNSW) to close down its Singapore campus (UNSW Asia), UNSW has announced measures to assist affected students to transfer their courses of study to its campus in Sydney, Australia. The Economic Development Board (EDB) has been working closely with UNSW, the Ministry of Education (MOE), the three Singapore Universities and private education providers, to help the affected students who wish to remain in Singapore and provide options for them to consider for their university studies.

2. The three Singapore Universities – National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU) – have extended their deadline for application for academic year 2007 to 4 June 2007 for the affected students enrolled in or who have accepted offers from UNSW Asia. (The original deadline for application for NUS and NTU was on 1 Apr 2007, and that for SMU was on 10 Apr 2007.)

3. The three Singapore Universities will assess each applicant on his or her own merits and ability to meet the required standards of the university. The three universities have the flexibility to admit exceptional students with special talents and abilities (but who do not meet the requisite criteria) under their discretionary intake. This approach is consistent with the admissions exercise for other students who have applied.

4. Representatives from the student admissions offices of NUS, NTU and SMU will be present at the UNSW Asia campus at Kay Siang Road from 28 May 2007 (Mon) till 1 June 2007 (Fri). They will be on-hand to assist the students with their applications and to address their queries. Apart from the three Singapore Universities, UNSW has arranged with a number of suitable private education providers to also send their representatives to provide information and assistance to students at the UNSW Asia campus over the same period.

5. Representatives from the universities and private education providers will be at the UNSW Asia campus during the following hours:

28 May (Mon): 4 – 8 pm
29 May (Tue): 2 – 8 pm
30 May (Wed): 2 – 8 pm
1 June (Fri): 2 – 8 pm

7. The Government understands the uncertainty and anxiety faced by the affected students and their parents following the announcement by UNSW to close its Singapore campus. EDB, assisted by MOE, will continue to work with UNSW to assist them in the best possible way.