Singapore Management University

Singapore is a large modern city with a diverse population of over 5 million inhabitants. You’ll experience a bustling real estate and financial hub, while its proximity to other Southeastern Asian countries lends itself to weekend excursions.

Singapore’s history dates back to the 11^th century. As a port city, Singapore has a history of being conquered. The Portuguese destroyed the city in the 1600’s, and the British took control in the early 1800’s. During World War II the island was occupied by the Japanese, then control reverted back to the British, then the Malay, and in 1965, Singapore gained independence. Today, Singapore has a highly developed free market economy and has been applauded for its visionary development

Courses such as accountancy, corporate communication, economics and statistics, finance, operations, organizational behavior and human resources, and strategic management are offered at SMU.

Quick Facts & Links

GPA Requirement: 3.00
Program Options: Exchange
- On an Exchange program, students “trade” places with a student from another institution and pay UNC tuition and fees. Please thoroughly review the “program cost” section below for specific information. For additional information about program types, click here.
Language of Instruction: English
Program Dates:
- Fall: August 12 – December 8, 2025 (includes mandatory orientation and exams)
- Spring: January 6 – May 4, 2025 (includes mandatory orientation and exams)
Visit the SMU website and enjoy the SMU International Student Video.
Meet program alumni
Accessibility Resources

Application Information

	This Program’s Level of Competitiveness = 2 Level of Competitiveness (1 = least, 3 = most)
1	Chance of acceptance is probable if students meet the minimum requirements.
2	Most students are typically accepted.
3	This is one of the most competitive programs. We recommend having a back-up option in mind.

Apply for a Kenan-Flagler Global Program and Global Programs scholarship through the same application system using your Kenan-Flagler credentials. Click the Apply Now button below to learn more about application deadlines, requirements, and to start your application!

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Program Logistics

Academics

Please visit Global Academic Procedures for detailed credit and other academic information.

Singapore Management University offers a curriculum similar to Kenan-Flagler’s, with popular interactive course offerings in finance, management, and marketing. You can transfer a combination of business core and elective courses towards the undergraduate business major or minor. You will take 4-5 courses and transfer 12-15 UNC credit hours.

Courses taken at Singapore Management University will transfer back to UNC Pass (SMU grade of C and above)/Fail (SMU grade of C- and lower). Pass grades do not affect your UNC GPA. Fail grades transfer back to UNC as Fs, which will affect your UNC GPA. Though transfer credit for this program is Pass/Fail, future employers and graduate schools will also look at the SMU transcript, so grades are important.

You will transfer back 3 UNC credits for every 1.0-credit course. SMU also offers some .5 credit courses for which students can transfer 1.5 UNC credits. If you earn a C or better in all courses you will receive a total of 12-15 UNC credits for your semester abroad. View the ‘Credit Hour Conversions’ accordion on the ‘Academics Procedures‘ page for more information on credit hour conversion from SMU to UNC.

This program also fulfills the Experiential Education requirement or the High Impact Experience requirement (if you are under the new IDEAs curriculum). Full-time enrollment in this program is defined as a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Housing

Housing options in Singapore as a whole are limited due to supply. Singapore Management University does not provide on-campus accommodations for exchange students, but their office will sent out potential private housing options to accepted students. Private housing options do exist within walking distance to SMU’s campus, which is in the heart of the city. Please note that according to Singapore regulation, you may not rent private properties for less than three consecutive months.

Program Cost

We suggest you create your global program budget using our budget worksheet (xlsx) to help you think about your costs on this program:

Populate the figures from the tables below into the left side costs of attendance
Input your financial resources on the right

Your customized budget sheet can help determine your current financial status, and help you understand what additional funding you may need to help make this an affordable program option.

Cashier Billed Expenses*
Expense	Estimated Amount
UNC Tuition and Fees	Use the amount on the Tuition and Fees line and divide by 2 to get your cost
Fee UG Business Major/Minor	Based on major/minor enrollment
SMU Miscellaneous Fee (includes local insurance, ID card, student facilities, IT fee)	$227 (subject to exchange rate fluctuation)
Global Programs Administrative Fee	$700
GeoBlue International Medical Insurance	$180

*Cashier Billed Expenses are those charges billed directly to your UNC ConnectCarolina account.

Out of Pocket Estimates**
Expense	Estimated Amount
International Airfare	$2,200
Housing	$5000
Meals	$1650
Immigration Visa/Residence Permit	$120
Passport Application Fee	$165
Course Materials	$150
International Cell Phone Plan	$350
Personal Expenses
Travel Insurance	$400
Local Transportation	$600
Miscellaneous	$2,650


Other Personal Expenses***

Total Estimated Expenses (In State):	$19,896
Total Estimated Expenses (Out of State):	$36,001

Withdrawal Policy: Once a student accepts their offer/enrolls on a study abroad program, the spot will be considered filled and will not be offered to another student. Students who withdraw from UBP Global are responsible for non-recoverable costs including the Global Programs Administrative Fee. Your student account will be assessed charges to cover any/all amounts that Kenan-Flagler UBP Global programs has committed or paid on your behalf and are non-recoverable at the time of withdrawal. Such costs include, housing, meals, transportation and any expenses that may be associated with faculty and support participation on your program (if applicable).

**Out of Pocket Estimates are based on the cost of the program, which is determined by combining the average costs our previous students have spent in each of these categories, along with the costs our partner provides to us as their averages. These estimates are subject to change based on exchange rate fluctuations, bank fees, and individual variances in costs of living.

***Other Expenses: our budget worksheet (xlsx) also has a place for you to input other expenses outside of the out-of-pocket estimates that you may incur, such as attending concerts or sporting events.

Funding your global program

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Travel Documents

Do you have a valid passport? If yes, check your passport’s expiration date to ensure that your passport is valid at least 6 months after your program’s scheduled end date. If not, you’ll need to submit a passport renewal application.

Do you need to apply for a passport (first time or renew)? If yes, we recommend that you get started on your passport application right away as you’ll need time to collect documents like your birth certificate to include as part of your application. For complete instructions click here.

Will I need immigration documents? If you are accepted into this program you will need to obtain a Student Pass permitting you to study in Singapore. For the Student Pass application, you will need your passport along with other documentation from our office and the host university office. Please set up an appointment with your Global Programs Advisor to discuss.

Meet with an Advisor

UBP students can schedule a meeting to learn more about this and other programs by clicking on the “Schedule Appointment” link below.

Schedule Appointment

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Singapore: Singapore Management University

Quick Facts & Links

Application Information

Program Logistics

Meet with an Advisor