ASEM-DUO Scholarship

About the Award

The Asia-Europe Meeting's (ASEM) DUO Fellowship Fund aims to promote student exchanges between European and Asian ASEM member countries. Under this fund, the DUO-Singapore Exchange Fellowship is awarded by the Singapore Government to Singapore and ASEAN students studying in the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore Management University (SMU). The Award is also open to students from European ASEM countries (who come from universities with fee waiver arrangements with NTU, NUS and SMU)

The Award, based on merit, is for a pair of exchanges between a university in Singapore and its respective partner university in Europe in any academic field. Each student will be awarded a maximum of 4,000 Euros for one semester of up to four months, which covers airfare, accommodation and living expenses.

There is no bond imposed by the Singapore Government for the Award, which is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, Mr Goh Chok Tong made the following remarks on the importance of promoting Asia-Europe contacts:

"The process of developing mutual understanding (between Asia and Europe) will be complex and slow. Unlike cooperation in the economic sphere, progress cannot be measured in statistics and balance sheets. To succeed, this process must overcome misperceptions, prejudices and biases, often unconscious to the person who has them. Understanding cannot be fostered only through Government-to-Government negotiations. Nor can it be done through business contacts alone. A broader section of civil society needs to be involved. Intellectuals, cultural leaders, youth and the media have important roles to play. The intangibility of results may make it difficult to obtain resources and financial commitments. Hence, our first challenge is to develop a broad consensus that both sides have much to gain in this journey of cultural rapprochement and rediscovery between Asia and Europe. The process of networking, constructive dialogue and consensus building between Asia and Europe will gradually bring our societies closer together. The psychological and cultural differences will diminish...Even among business people there is now a growing understanding that without deeper knowledge of each other's cultures, economic relationships will not be smooth. Business relationships can be damaged by cultural misunderstanding."

Terms of Award

• The ASEM DUO Exchange Fellowship Award is tenable for one semester of up to four months.
• Each recipient will be awarded a maximum of 4,000 Euros that covers airfare, accommodation and living expenses. No additional assistance will be provided for other expenses.
• Recipients need not pay any tuition fees to the foreign university but continue to pay the normal fees to the university they are from.
• There is no bond imposed on the recipient by the Singapore Government.
• The Singapore Government may, at its discretion, waive any of the conditions of the Award.

Applicants should satisfy the following criteria:

• Singaporean students in NTU, NUS and SMU.
• Students from other ASEAN countries that are members of ASEM (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) studying in  NTU, NUS and SMU and who are not prevented by terms of their scholarship from going on exchange programmes.
• Students from European ASEM countries who come from universities in European ASEM countries which have tuition fee waiver arrangements with NTU, NUS and SMU
• Students have to be on full-time undergraduate or postgraduate course.

Applications should be:

• Submitted using the prescribed form, click here for the Application Form.
• Forwarded to the respective departments in the Universities

• NTU - International Relations Office
• NUS - International Relations Office
• SMU - Office of International Relations

You may wish to visit the following universities' websites for more information:

• Nanyang Technological University        
• National University of Singapore                      
• Singapore Management University

Please note that:

• The completed application forms must be submitted by the stipulated closing date.
• Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
• The National Selection Committee will decide which applications qualify for the Award.
• The decision of the National Selection Committee on the selection for the Award is final.

Participating in any Exchange Programme offers an excellent opportunity for the student to make friends, to build networks and learn about other cultures. It also gives the student a chance to experience the host country's cultural diversity, its stimulating cosmopolitan environment and explore the countries around it while still pursuing the undergraduate or postgraduate studies. The following students can attest to this:

"Participation in the student exchange programme was extremely beneficial, because on top of the subsistence (finance etc.), I learnt a lot about Asia, and particularly Singaporean culture, people, society and studying / business environment. I naturally also learnt a lot about myself during my five months stay abroad, and created many new contacts with both Asian and European people. It also made me consider Singapore as a potential future place to work and live."

-- Vesa Antero Uotila on Exchange at SMU, 2005-2006, from Helsinki School of Economics, Finland

"The programme was incredibly beneficial to me. The programme has given me experience with living in a big and exciting city, study with interesting people and being thought by fascinating teachers (and the list goes on). Singapore is a perfect place for an exchange in Asia because the culture in Singapore is like a Bridge between the West and the East."

-- Jelle Mattelaer, on Exchange at SMU, 2004-2005 from Ku Leuven, Belgium

"The exchange programme was really beneficial because I learned a lot from the courses and about the culture, got lots of new friends (local also). It will benefit me in the future to be able to combine the Eastern and Western ways to do teamwork and business."

-- Anna Palo, on Exchange at SMU, 2003-2004 from Helsinki School of Economics & Business Administration, Finland

"Having gone on this exchange has definitely helped in my self-development as well as enhanced my gregarious and independence personality, and inter-cultural communication skills. It was a great experience and exposure to study overseas for a period of time, having to live alone and learning to do everything on my own. Besides, it was a rare opportunity to be able to go on an exchange to Finland and experience the drastic cold weather, unique culture and composed lifestyle, which was certainly a contrast from Singapore. The exchange program has also broadened my international circle of friends and widened my perspectives in life.

The DUO award was definitely beneficial as the living standard in Europe, particularly Finland, is high. Being awarded the DUO has helped lighten the financial burden on my family and myself. I could concentrate on my studies without having to worry about the finances incurred during my exchange. As a native from Singapore, I was able to promote my country to the people I met from around the world during my exchange. This is especially informative to those who have not heard much about my country."

-- Geraldine Goh Puay Jia, SMU student on Exchange at Helsinki School of Economics, Finland, 2002-2003

"The exchange in Austria opened my horizons. The education system is fundamentally different. There were courses where I only had an oral examination with the professor and even a course where I spent 3 days in a resort in the mountains. Memories I will carry with me include the skiing trips, the first day it snowed, great friends (who in turn came to Singapore for exchange!!), hearty and oily Austrian cuisines and the amazing road trips to the surrounding countries. I have much to thank the Asia-Europe Meeting's (ASEM) DUO Fellowship Fund (Singapore) for supporting me through this life-changing experience. "

-- Keng Seng Keat, NTU student on Exchange to Vienna University of Business Administration and Economics, Austria, 2005-2006

"Biological Sciences the Scandinavian Way was definitely a nostalgic experience.

Being one of the few Asians in Denmark, I actively participated in every activity ranging from project works to parties which proves to be utmost rewarding.

This life-changing experience was only made possible with the Asia-Europe Meeting's (ASEM) DUO Fellowship Fund (Singapore), and with the help of my university."

-- Daren Low, NTU student on Exchange at Technical University of Denmark, 2005-2006

"Studying in Sweden and backpacking solo across Europe has allowed me to taste the flavour of many cities. It was refreshing to be exposed to a different way of life. While interacting with other students and travellers, I got a sense of how their culture and socio-economic environment have shaped them. The four months away from home in Europe has definitely opened up a new dimension in my perspective and has made me wish I could have the best of both worlds!"

-- Foo Fang Wei, NTU Student, on Exchange at Lulea University of Technology, Sweden, 2004-2005

"My 5 months in Sweden was an enriching and exciting period. Everyday was a new experience and a chance to meet new friends. I am glad I made the decision to apply for INSTEP and the DUO scholarship."

-- Wong Jing Kai, NTU Student, on Exchange at Linkoping University, Sweden, 2004-2005

"Singapore is such a nice place to be. The weather is nice all year long. The food is diverse, good and cheap. The people are nice and friendly and the educational facilities are good. This has been a wonderful opportunity to broaden my horizon, both as a future engineer and as a human being. I almost don't want to go back!"

-- Hoa Nguyen, on Exchange at NTU, 2003-2004 from Delft University of Technology, Netherlands

"My Semester in Singapore was one of the best things I've ever done. Studying in a high educational university and still have Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia just around the corner is very exciting. I have lots of great experiences from my time in Singapore and I'm very grateful the way DUO-Singapore Exchange Fellowship Award helped me to achieve it."

-- David Schönström, on Exchange at NTU, 2003-2004 from Lulea University of Technology, Sweden

"Participating in an exchange programme in Singapore is a very exceptional experience to discover the Asian way of life and to learn about other cultures. The DUO-SINGAPORE fellowship Award had played a vital role in helping me to realize this project and also had offered me the opportunity to travel a lot in Southeast Asia, broadening my horizons. Finally, studying in Singapore represented for me a great opportunity to attend courses in domains which were not taught by my school in France. This exchange year has been an unforgettable one for me."

-- Nathalie Champier, on Exchange at NTU, 2003-2004 from INSA Lyon, France

"I've really enjoyed my time here so far, though I'm now in the midst of exam preparations. Lectures have been the most difficult part about studying here, especially due to the technical language....but it does feel good to actually be able to converse with the locals in German! And the fact that I'm actually able to understand them never fails to surprise me!! The DUO has certainly helped a lot, as the cost of living here is pretty steep, but I'm really pleased to be given this opportunity to come here for exchange, to gain this experience and for the many friends I've made so far. This has definitely provided me with a different perspective and I'm glad of this chance to be able to embark on this totally new and enriching experience."

-- Ms SHIH E'Shan, 3rd year NUS Faculty of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering), Exchange at Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, 2004-2005

"During my first semester here in Singapore I got to know and study with people from many different cultures and backgrounds, cultures which would be hard to get in contact with in my home country. This is very inspiring!  Inter-cultural relationships are very important, especially in the political world of today. I hope that my own and all other exchange students' presence is beneficial not only for ourselves but also for the people we meet while being on exchange."

-- Mr Erik UNEMYR, on exchange at NUS Faculty of Engineering (Electrical Engineering), 2004-2005 from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

Thank you for the overwhelming response.

You may wish to note that one of the main considerations for selection is the pairing of students from the corresponding institutions.

Click on the following for the list of successful applicants.

• AY 2009/2010
• AY 2008/2009
• AY 2007/2008
• AY 2006/2007
• AY 2005/2006
• AY 2004/2005
• AY 2003/2004
• AY 2002/2003

Singapore has established excellent educational facilities that mould its people who determine the future of the nation. This has led to the development of three modern and vibrant universities (Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University) with world class standards of teaching and research.

Click here for a list of ASEM member countries' partner universities that Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University have agreements with.