Singapore University of Technology and Design

Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) is the fourth autonomous university in Singapore, established in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  Undergraduate SUTDents are granted either a Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Science degree with a major in one of the four "pillars": Architecture and Sustainable Design (ASD), Engineering Product Development (EPD), Engineering Systems and Design (ESD) or Information Systems Technology and Design (ISTD).

School’s Main Website

Language of instruction:

English

Courses:

SUTD has a very unique pedagogy where all students go through the same courses in their Freshman year, after which they are split into their various pillars of choice. Click here to find out more about the courses taught during Freshman year. In each term, SUTDent is expected to take 3 pillar modules and one Humanities, Arts and Social Studies (HASS) module.

Information about the various pillars and the various courses that each pillar has to offer can be found here:

• ASD
• EPD
• ESD
• ISTD
• HASS Electives

Course registration process:

Course registration during the non-Freshman terms is done via the SUTD student portal (the user ID and password will be given once enrolled into the school). The process is fairly simple, just log in and apply for the course that interests you.  

Flying Chalks' recommendation: You can often try and arrange your timetable such that you have a 4 day week instead of 5!

Flying Chalks’ tip: Some of the courses (especially HASS modules) tend to be very popular and might be unavailable when you try to enrol yourself into these courses. However, fret not as once the term starts, you can always approach the professors and request them to accept you into their class!

Attendance policy:

There is no specific attendance policy. However, attending lessons is counted towards your class participation grades. Professors also often use learning catalytics – an online interactive platform used to engage students in class - to mark attendance!

Campus map:
http://www.sutdmap.appspot.com/

Selected facilities:

• Sports and Recreation Centre: Located at Hostel Block 61, the Sports and Recreation Centre has a wide range of facilities including a gymnasium, swimming pool, soccer field, synthetic track, tennis courts and dance studios! All these facilities are free for usage for SUTDents. The full list facilities can be found here.
   
• Library: SUTD library is three storeys high and is located in Building 1. The library has a very cosy environment with many spaces for students to read as well as hold group discussions. SUTD library has a large database of e-books. You can find out more about the library here.
  
  Flying Chalks' recommendation: Library Level 1 has various games such as LEGO, Scrabble, Blokus available for students in the library! Have a go at these games when you are bored of studying.
   
• Fabrication Lab and Satellite Lab: Fab Lab (short for Fabrication Lab) is located on level 1 and 2 of Building 5. These labs offer cutting edge machineries for students' usage such as Laser Cutting and Engraving Systems, 3D printers, Plastic Injection Molding machines, Vertical sanders, Water-jet machining centres etc. The list of various machines available at the Fab Lab can be found here.
  
  Flying Chalks' fun fact: SUTD has its very own chocolate 3D printer!!
   
• Students Activity Centre and Space Bar: These are the two student lounges in SUTD which are open 24x7 for usage! You can go to the Space Bar to play pool with friends!
   
• Booklink: Located at Building 2, Level 1, booklink is SUTD's stationary and book shop. Apart from stationary and books they also sell materials for that are frequently used for projects such as wood, acrylic etc. They even sell various snacks, ice creams, chocolates etc.
   
• Printing Rooms: Printing rooms are available at two locations on campus: Building 1 Level 5 and Building 2 Level 6.
   
• DBS Digital Branch: The Digital Branch offers various banking services and is located at Building 1, Level 1.
   
• Information about various other academic facilities can be found here.

Food on campus:

There are quite a few food outlets in campus. Students often go to the SUTD Canteen located at Building 2, Level 2 as it is the cheapest available option.

Flying Chalks' recommendation: Do try the chicken rice stall in the canteen!

Other food outlets on campus include:

• Aria - Building 2, #01-204
  Flying Chalks’ recommendation: Aria has several open mic nights all along the week! Have a fun night with friends with drinks and music!
   
• Owl Cafe - Building 2, #01-203
   
• GomGom - Building 2, #01-202A
  Flying Chalks' recommendation: Enquire on the Egyptian Special which isn’t written on their regular menu and is not always available, but it is really worth the price!
   
• Gourmet Habitat - Hostel Block 57, #02-51
   
• Tuckshop - Hostel Block 61, #01-106 (Sports Complex)

Flying Chalks' tip: After the end of a major event, there will always a lot of leftover food. Keep a look out for DSBJ (Don't Say Bo Jio) posts on SUTD Family Facebook page to be updated about such free food shout-outs by students!

Campus transportation:

The campus is pretty small and you can get around easily on foot.

Flying Chalks' fun fact: A lot of students penny board or ride scooters to various locations on campus. Some technically sound students have even motorised their scooters/penny boards!

All students are required to stay in SUTD hostel (six degrees) during their freshman year which allows them to have a very unique experience in SUTD. The school community is also very small, about 400-500 students per academic batch. This allows everyone to easily connect with a lot of people in school and form a much stronger community.

Orientation program:

All students go through a 4 days-3 nights Freshmen Orientation Camp when they are first enrolled into the school. This camp comprises of various unique games and activities that orientate students to not only the school but also the various places around campus!

International students will also be greeted by the International Student Orientation Committee when they are first enrolled. This group of people will help international students to settle in Singapore: applying for Student Visa, opening a bank account, getting a Sim Card etc.

Buddy program:

As of June 2016, there is no Buddy Program available. However, you can connect with both local and international students at SUTD on our Flying Chalks platform for any support you need.

Flying Chalks' Fun Fact: There is always Grumpy (SUTD's mascot cat) that can always give you company! 

Student clubs:

SUTD recognises anything that a student does outside of their core curriculum as "Fifth Row". Fifth Row days are every Wednesdays and Fridays, when school ends latest by 1pm! However, Fifth Row activities happen all around the week.

The list of various clubs and societies in SUTD can be found here.

You can easily initiate your own fifth row in school. More details can be found here.

University events:

SUTD organizes unique events all around the semester. The events listed below are some of the major events in SUTD:

• ArtsFest - ArtsFest is an annual event that happens during September-October. Various music/dance/art workshops, many of which are free, are organized during this period. Various performing arts clubs put up performances during this period. Visual arts clubs display their art works all around campus!
   
• Dance and Music Concerts
   
• Cultural Night - Cultural Night is a one day event where the various cultural groups come together to share their love and knowledge about the different cultures. Don't miss this event as cultural groups organize various cultural games and offer variety of culture specific food items! Also, there are free performances that you should not miss.
   
• Sports Fiesta - Sports Fiesta generally happens during January-February. It is 2-3 week long sports competition amongst the various cohort classes. The finale of the event is very exciting as all track and field events are held then!
   
• Holi - Holi, a festival of India, is an event where people throw water and powdered colour on each other. This event is generally ticketed - $5 per pax on average. Dinner is also provided at the end of the event.

Keep updated with events on campus here. Students will also often publicize their events on the SUTD Family Facebook page.

SUTD encourages students to organize their own events. The procedure is fairly simple. Click here for more information on how to organize your own event.

SUTD campus is located in the east of Singapore and is very close to the Changi Airport. This area is relatively quiet, which makes this place all the more special. At night, you may want to head down to the school track and field and observe the aeroplanes lining up in the air to start its journey!

For food:

There are quite a few malls and eateries around the campus:

• Changi City Point - Located opposite Expo MRT station (7 mins walk from school) is the closest mall to SUTD. There are many eateries at CCP; the full list of restaurants can be found here. Affordable local food can be found in Bagus or Koufu!
   
• Expo - Expo (7 mins walk from school) has various food outlets ranging from traditional Chinese food to thai food, Peranakan to delicious fast food like Burger King. It also often has food fair events all year long!
   
• Bedok Simpang - This is a very popular supper place in the East which opens till late at night (4am+). Take bus 2 or bus 24 from the bus stop outside SUTD (Opposite Tropicana Condo) and alight at Bedok Market Place (6 stops later). Bedok Simpang has many different shops that you can choose from.
  
  Flying Chalks' recommendation: Spize is one of the very famous food outlets at Bedok Simpang. Try the unique dessert pratas at Spize!
   
• East Point Mall - This mall is located at Simei. Take bus 5 from the bus stop outside SUTD (Opposite Tropicana Condo) and alight at Opposite Simei MRT station. The full list of eateries at Simei can be found here! If you feel like looking for more food outside of the mall, there’s a food court, 2 coffee shops and a bakery right beside the MRT station. The bakery serves Singaporean style waffles, which slathers chocolate/peanut butter/jam onto the waffles, definitely worth a try!
   
• Bedok Mall - Bedok Mall, located at Bedok, has a number of restaurants. Check out the full list of restaurants here. You can take bus 2 from outside SUTD (Opposite Tropicana Condo), alight at Bedok MRT. If looking for some cheaper food, the small coffee shops near the bus interchange serve pretty filling meals for cheap! The selections here are mainly chicken/duck/roasted pork rice and Chinese soups. These coffee shops also sell local Chinese snacks; you can try out soon kueh (rice flour stuffed with various vegetables), popiah (wrap with various vegetables, sweet sauce and peanuts), buns and ang ku kueh (pastries with green bean filling).
  ​
• Changi Airport - A nice cool place to chill and relax, Changi Airport offers a good variety of food alongside nice scenery. It is a 14 minutes’ ride (bus 24) from the bus stop opposite SUTD (Bef Tropicana Condominium). It houses an impressive number of restaurants across its 3 terminals. A complete list can be found here. Popular food places: Astons, kopitiam, staff canteen (T1, for cheap food), Swensons, Ya Kun Kaya, Samsui Ginger Chicken.
   
• Hawker Centres near SUTD - Hawker centres are open-air, free-seating food centres.
  Flying Chalks' recommendations: At any hawker center you will be able to find BBQ chicken wings, satays (meat on a stick), BBQ Stingrays (spicy), sambal KangKong (really spicy vegetables), fried carrot cake (black carrot cake is sweeter compared to white; this isn’t a dessert!), Char Kway Teow (fried sweet noodles with cockles) and Hokkien Mee (Fried prawn noodles). For drinks, a big jug of sugar cane water or Teh Tarik (milk tea) is fantastic for washing down all the food!This is where you will find most of local Singaporean food.
  
  There are two famous hawker centres near SUTD:
   
  • Bedok 85 - Apart from the recommendations below, there is also a rather well known Bak chor mee stall (noodles with minced pork and meat/fish balls). As a general guide, simply look for the stall with the longest queue!
  • Changi Village - A hawker centre close to the beach, stop by for some food after a few hours of beach activities! This hawker centre serves fantastic chicken chop noodles and has fantastic Indonesian snacks such as Goreng Pisang (fried banana). A good choice of appetizer can be Rojak (mixed fruits and vegetable salad dish) whereby it’s sweet peanut-y flavour is a great way to start a meal!
     
• UE BizHub - This place is the industrial hub of the east and has many food outlets!
  
  Flying Chalks' recommendations: Knead to Eat has delicious sandwiches! Vegetarians can give Ananda Bhavan a try. It prepares delicious, traditional South Indian dishes. Mr Teh Tarik is a good food court at CBP. Try the Bak Kut Teh at Song Fa Bak Kut Teh.       

For nightlife and entertainment:

There are cinemas at Tampines Mall (Golden Village) and Century Square (Shaw Towers)! There are two easy ways of getting there:

1. Walk to the Expo MRT and take the train to Tampines MRT. (You will have to transfer at Tanah Merah and board the train towards Pasir Ris).
2. Take bus 5, from bus stop outside SUTD (Opposite Tropicana Condo), to Simei MRT and then take the train to Tampines MRT.

Route 2 is generally faster!

For a vibrant nightlife scene, you can take the MRT to Clarke Quay Station (North East Line) – a place with many bars and pubs by the Singapore River!

Flying Chalks’ recommendations:

• Places near SUTD
  • Aria: In SUTD
  • Slackers Bar and Cafe: 4 Changi Business Park Avenue 1, UE Biz Hub East #03-11 Convention Centre Tower, 486016
  • Five Izakaya Bar: Changi City Point

• Other areas in Singapore:
  • Holland Village is the to-go place if you are in search for live music and bars at night.
  • Apart from Holland Village, you can take the Downtown Line towards Telok Ayer MRT. Across the street from Telok Ayer MRT is Club Street that links up to Cross Street and Ann Siang Hill where an alcove of bars and restaurants can be found.
  • Bistro bars with good food, drinks & music: Timbre, Switch
  • Affordable bars: FIV五 Izakaya Bar (16 Collyer Quay #01-05B or 25 Cuppage Road, Cuppage Terrace); Harry’s @ Boat Quay (28 Boat Quay); Orgo Bar & Restaurant – more pricey but with an Alfresco concept on the roof terrace of The Esplanade (8 Raffles Avenue #04-01 Esplanade-Theaters on the Bay, Roof Terrace)
  • Clubs: Zouk Club (17 Jiak Kim Street); Attica (3A River Valley Road #01-03 Clarke Quay); Club Kyo (133 Cecil Street); Home Club (20 Upper Circular Road), The Butter Factory (1 Fullerton Rd)
  • Karoke: Teo Heng KTV Studio @ 9 Bras Basah Road #02-03 Rendezvous Hotel Gallery is highly popular amongst students for its affordability. It has outlets located all around Singapore.                          

• Top ten Clubs in singapore
• Top ten Rooftop bars in Singapore

For daily necessities and groceries:

Check out these stores for daily necessities and groceries:

• Nearest supermarkets to SUTD: NTUC Fairprice Supermarket @ Changi Business Park (7 min walk from school), NTUC Fairprice Supermarket @ East Point Mall (Simei MRT, open 24x7), Giant @ Bedok Simpang
• Nearest pharmacy: Watsons @ Changi City Point

Flying Chalks’ recommendations:

• For cheap daily necessities, you can check out Tokotokuya @ Changi City Point, Value Dollar store @ Changi City Point and Daiso @ East Point Mall (Simei MRT).
• Should you need any furniture or electrical appliances, check out IKEA Tampines.

For shopping:

You can go to Changi City Point, East Point Mall or Bedok Mall for shopping.

If you are looking for products at discounted rates, you can check out the events at Expo to see if the products you desire will be on sale any time soon!

Flying Chalks’ recommendations:

• For more shopping outlets, head down to the heart of Singapore – ORCHARD! It is a paradise for all shopaholics out there. From clothes to shoes, bags to accessories, there is definitely something out there for you! Starting from ION Orchard shopping mall, you can go via underground walkways to other malls like Wisma Atria, Ngee Ann City, 313@Somerset and Orchard Central.

To get to Orchard, take the line to City Hall (from Expo MRT) and then the line to Orchard.

• Bugis street is the shopping haven for youths, especially if you are on a tight budget! It features the latest and trendiest fashion at affordable prices and is easily accessible via the East West line.

SUTD is located in the East and is easily accessible by the MRT (alight at Expo MRT) or buses that go to SUTD from Tanah Merah (bus 2 or 24) /Simei MRT (bus 5).

Getting from Changi Airport to SUTD:

• Private Pickup Service (Limousine & Large Taxis)
  If you have a larger group, private pick-up services are available from the 24-hour Ground Transport Desks located at the arrival halls of all Changi Airport Terminals.
  
  The rates are as follow:
  4-seater limousine: SGD 55.00* per departure from airport
  7-seater large taxi: SGD 60.00* per departure from airport
  *Top up SGD 15.00 per additional stop
  
  More information on the above can be found here!
   
• Taxi Services
  Although taxi is the most comfortable and convenient mode of transport (especially when you have lots of luggage), it also the most expensive. Taxi services can be acquired from the Arrival Halls of any airport terminal. Fares are metered and there is an additional Airport surcharge for all trips originating from the Airport:

• By Train (Mass Rapid Transit, MRT)
  
  Taking the MRT is the most affordable option to get around Singapore. Expo MRT is only one train station away from Changi Airport.
  
  Rides can be paid through a stored-value EZ-Link Card which can be purchased from ticketing counters in train stations. Otherwise, single ride tickets can be purchased at all train stations.
  
  After alighting at Expo you can walk to SUTD.
  
  Flying Chalks’ recommendation: This option is recommended for students who are on a tight budget but it might get burdensome with luggage as you are not assured a seat on the train. Do also note the train timings in order not to miss it:
   

• By Bus
  
  You can take bus 24 to SUTD from Changi Airport and alight at Opposite Tropicana Condominium (5 stops later). The journey should take about 10-12 minutes and costs about $1.10.  
  
  You can use this link to estimate the cost of your ride.
  
  Directions: Head down to the basement of Terminals 1, 2 and 3 to the bus bays where the bus stops are located.
  
  Flying Chalks' recommendation: This method is recommended for those who are lazy to walk from the Expo MRT to SUTD with their heavy luggage!