FASStrack Asia: The Summer School 2020 (22 JUNE TO 24 JULY 2020)


Welcome From The Vice DeanThe National University of Singapore with the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) is delighted to offer FASStrack Asia: The Summer School in June 2020, which will take place in Singapore, one of the most modern and dynamic cities in the world. As a leading university centred in Asia, NUS has ranked consistently as one of the top universities in the world that places a strong emphasis on a high quality, globally-oriented educational experience. As a Faculty, FASS is among the largest faculties at NUS with a rich history spanning over 85 years. We offer the most comprehensive education in the humanities, social sciences and Asian studies in this part of the world. Our strong international reputation for education and research excellence is a result of close to 500 highly respected professors and lecturers who are dedicated and passionate about their research and teaching. And they bring all their knowledge and expertise to bear in the courses to be taught at FASStrack Asia. With Asia in the world’s spotlight as it undergoes rapid growth, the summer programme will tap into our research strengths in the region and offer students an enriching knowledge and understanding of various Asian-related topics and issues. Taught over a 5-week summer period, students will attend classes, participate in active discussions and learn from academic experts specializing in their area of study. In 2020, FASStrack Asia will also continue to offer courses and field trips that will complement each another for a more holistic summer experience. Besides NUS students, FASStrack Asia also welcomes university students from Singapore and all over the world to join us for the summer so as to enhance the cultural exchanges and diversity of the programme. We look forward to seeing you at FASStrack Asia: The Summer School in June 2020. A/Prof Chen Yi-Chun International Relations & Special Duties Division, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
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Highlights
Programme OverviewFASStrack Asia started in 2013 and was developed with the rigorous academic standards which NUS is known for. You will be attending classes held in a dynamic and multi-cultural learning environment with NUS and international students from various universities from all over the world. FASStrack Asia comprises courses from the Faculty’s Asian Studies Division, Humanities Division and the Social Sciences Division. Courses are focused on Asia, and some of these courses will feature a 5-9 days’ field trip to the country of study. Our Centre for Language Studies will also offer relevant Asian language courses that will complement the field trips for a comprehensive learning experience and in-depth cultural immersion. You can read up to 2 courses, including one that offers an extended overseas field trip. Other courses may also offer local day trips in Singapore or to nearby overseas location over the weekend in order to facilitate experiential learning outside the classroom. FASStrack Asia will be based at the University Town (UTown for short) at NUS. This recent campus expansion of NUS is a high-tech, modern educational hub that integrates environmental-friendly building features with the learning, social and cultural aspects of the NUS community. Besides classrooms, UTown is also well-equipped with IT and multimedia facilities at the Education Resource Centre, seminar rooms and study clusters, and a world-class research and innovation hub. For recreation, there are also sports and performing arts facilities, as well as a wide array of dining and retail outlets. Students staying on-campus at the residential colleges can live, study and play in NUS as part of an exciting summer programme experience. |
Admission & ApplicationApplication Period: 16 December 2019 to 16 March 2020 |
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![]() Click here to apply online. Admission Criteria:
If you choose a module with field trip, please send a CLEAR softcopy of your passport (showing your personal details) with the following details to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. :
Housing Subsidy For NUS students who want to stay at UTown during the summer school, there are some housing subsidy offered towards the cost of the stay if you volunteer as student assistants (also known as FASStrack buddies). Students will be required to help out with room check-ins, social events or as buddies to incoming international students during the summer school. You may This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Ms Letitia Thng/ Ms Jane Toh if you are interested. |
![]() Click here to apply online. Admission Criteria:
Application fees of S$200 is applicable for non-NUS students. Fee-paying international students who apply by 14 February 2020 will enjoy the early bird application fees of S$100. Invited fee-waived international exchange students who apply by the application deadline will enjoy the application fee of S$100.
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Modules for FASStrack Asia 2020
Please note that you can only read up to 2 courses in the following combinations:
- 1 Field Trip course & 1 Non-Field Trip course
- 2 Non-Field Trip courses
Click on the respective module title for syllabus and view the class schedule here (subject to changes):
S/N | Module Code | Department | Module Title | Field Trip | Remarks |
1 | EC3880F | Economics | N.A. | ||
2 | GEH1002/ GEK1018 | Economics | Economic Issues in the Developing World | N.A. | To be confirmed |
3 | LAJ1201 | Centre for Language Studies | Japanese 1 | N.A. | |
4 | LAK1201 | Centre for Language Studies | Korean 1 | N.A. | |
5 | MS2210 | Malay Studies | Malay Culture and Society | N.A. | |
6 | SC2211 | Sociology | Medical Sociology | N.A. | |
7 | SC2212 | Sociology | Sociology of Deviance | N.A. | |
8 | SC2215 | Sociology | Sociology of Food | N.A. | |
9 | SE2218 | Southeast Asian Studies | Changing Economic Landscape of Southeast Asia | N.A. | |
10 | SE2880A | Southeast Asian Studies | Southeast Asia’s Cultural Mosaic | Indonesia (Jogjakarta) | |
11 | SPH2201 | Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH) | Health of the Poor in Asia | Cambodia |
- Courses listed above are correct at time of update, but may be subjected to changes.
- There may be further updates to the curriculum of the courses listed and new courses may be added.
- FASS reserves the right to cancel any modules if there is insufficient enrollment to start a class.
Classes, Credits and Assessments |
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Field trip courses will offer 4 weeks of 3-hour classes twice a week. Courses with a field trip component will be travelling within the period of 4 to 12 July 2020, although some trips may be shorter. Non-field trip courses will offer 4 weeks of 3-hour classes thrice weekly. There are no formal classes during the field trip week but there may be additional assignments, local fieldtrips in Singapore or e-learning options for students.
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Courses are graded based on assessments and class participation, and there are no final exams. We expect each course to have a class enrollment of 20 - 50 students; less for fieldtrip modules and more for non-fieldtrip modules. Each course carries 4 Modular Credits awarded by NUS; which is the equivalent of a 3-credit hour course under the North American credit system or 6 ECTS under the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System. Formal contact hours per course are a minimum of 36 hours. For courses with field trip, this excludes the contact hours for the field trip component and which can be as much as 5 or 6 hours per day for a 9-day trip. Courses with no field trip component will offer 36 contact hours with additional assignments during field trip week. *Please contact your home university for credit recognition of NUS courses. |

Fees |
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A. NUS Students Please refer to the Registrar Office website for Special Term fees: http://www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/education-at-nus/undergraduate-special-term.html Please note that fieldtrip costs will apply if you read courses with an overseas fieldtrip component. The estimated cost of the trip is set out in the summary table below. While we encourage NUS students to stay on-campus as part of the summer school experience, this is not a compulsory option for you. If you wish to stay, the on-campus accommodation fees listed below will apply. Some housing subsidies are available if you volunteer as students assistants in social activities or buddies to international students during the summer school. Please also note that these costs will still apply:
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B. International Students (i) Exchange (By Invitation Only) For international students who are nominated by their home university under an exchange arrangement with NUS, the tuition fee of S$2,985 (all other modules) or S$3,820 (SPH2201) per module will be waived. All other costs will still apply. (ii) Non-Exchange If you are coming under a non-exchange arrangement, the tuition fees of S$2,985 (all other modules) or S$3,820 (SPH2201) per module will apply, together with all other costs.
For international students, please note that the above costs do not include:
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Summary of Costs (Applicable to NUS & Non-NUS Students) |

Accommodation |
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You will stay on-campus at the UTown residential colleges in single 1-bedroom along corridors with your peers. Each room comes furnished with furniture, air-conditioning and internet access (via ethernet cable). In addition, each residential college has shared facilities within the building such as kitchenettes and laundry rooms that encourage social, educational and cultural interaction. The residential colleges are also located within close proximity to classrooms, study areas, sports facilities and dining amenities within UTown. |
Students can check in from 2pm on 20 June 2019 and must check out by noon on 27 July 2019. There will be a Welcome and Registration Session on 21 June 2019. Social activities will also be organized during the summer school such as local tours in Singapore on weekends, and a Farewell Dinner on 26 July 2019. Cost of the accommodation is based on the check-in and check out dates indicated in the table. |
*For NUS students who wish to stay on-campus for FASStrack Asia, the same accommodation costs above will apply. However, NUS students who volunteer as student assistants for FASStrack Asia may be entitled to housing subsidy for the summer. |