Program Overview

NUS Enterprise Summer Programme in Entrepreneurship

Overview

The NUS Enterprise Summer Programme in Entrepreneurship is a two-week program designed for students currently enrolled in university, majoring in any discipline. The program aims to provide a comprehensive educational experience, fostering social and academic bonds between local and international students, and esteemed speakers and ecosystem builders.

Programme Details

• Programme Dates: 7 July to 18 July 2025
• Application Period: 15 February to 31 March 2025
• Programme Fee: SGD 5,600 (before 9% Goods and Services Tax)
  • Includes on-campus accommodation and selected meals at NUS for the duration of the Summer Programme.
  • Does not cover airfare, transportation cost, health insurance, and all other costs and expenses incurred or to be incurred by the participant.

Target Participants

• Students currently enrolled in university, majoring in any discipline and will remain enrolled at the university throughout the summer programme.
• Priority consideration will be given to students with a basic interest in entrepreneurship.

Course Units and Application Procedure

• Course Units: 4 units
• Application Procedure:
  • Applications are to be submitted via the NUS Online Application Portal from 15 February to 31 March 2025.
  • Items to submit:
    1. A link to an introduction video of no more than 2 minutes.
    2. An A4 paged Business Plan to articulate an idea you are working on/ plan to pursue.
    3. A copy of your latest Curriculum Vitae (CV).
    4. Other relevant softcopy documents as stated in the application guidelines.

Eligibility Criteria

• Be enrolled in an accredited college or university at the point of application and throughout the duration of the programme.
• Be proficient in the English language.

English Proficiency

• If English is not your home university’s primary language, you are required to upload your English proficiency document during your application.
• Minimum acceptable scores:
  • IELTS: 6.5 overall with 6.5 in Reading and Writing components.
  • TOEFL: 100 for the Internet-based test.

Programme Structure

• The program broadly covers the following topics:
  • Business and Socio-Cultural context of Singapore and ASEAN:
    • Singapore’s Economic Development Model and the Changing Role of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
    • The Heart of Singapore’s and ASEAN's Startup Ecosystem.
    • Understanding IP and Innovation in Singapore and ASEAN.
    • Understanding the ASEAN Relationship, Language and Culture.
    • Experiential Introduction to Singapore.
  • Practical Insights and Skills for Aspiring Entrepreneurs:
    • How to be an Entrepreneur: Opportunity Recognition and Entrepreneurial Mindset.
    • Business Model Innovation.
    • Value Proposition and Business Model Design.
    • New Venture Creation.
    • Pitching and Fund Raising.
  • Themes in Entrepreneurship:
    • Technology Entrepreneurship.
    • Social Entrepreneurship.
    • Corporate Intrapreneurship.

Learning Outcomes

• Understanding the core concepts of entrepreneurship from opportunity recognition and customer/market validation to value proposition/business model design, team formation and lean launch.
• Acquiring knowledge of the diverse startup ecosystems and socio-cultural environment of Singapore and Southeast Asia, and the importance of the role of social networks in resource acquisition.
• Gaining hands-on experience in the entrepreneurial process from ideation to pitch preparation and presentation of startup idea(s) through a practical hackathon.

Withdrawal Policy

• To withdraw from the NUS Enterprise Summer Programme in Entrepreneurship, you must submit a written request and receive written confirmation of your withdrawal.
• Programme fees will be refunded according to the terms outlined below:
  • Date of Withdrawal | Tuition Fee Refund (%)
    • At least 30 calendar days before the Commencement Date of the NUS Enterprise Summer Programme in Entrepreneurship | 90
    • 14-29 calendar days before the Commencement Date of the NUS Enterprise Summer Programme in Entrepreneurship | 30
    • Less than 14 calendar days before the Commencement Date of the NUS Enterprise Summer Programme in Entrepreneurship | No refund

FAQs

• 1. I am a high school student / graduating senior / working adult. Am I eligible for the programme?
  • The NUS Enterprise Summer Programme in Entrepreneurship is designed for undergraduate and post-graduate students currently enrolled in a university (from any discipline).
• 2. (For Non-NUS/International Students) What documents do I need to submit during application?
  • A copy of your Passport page which shows your name and nationality.
  • A copy of your Academic Transcript with grade legend issued by your Home University (with English translation, if applicable).
  • A letter from your Home University indicating your expected graduate date/month and current student status in the University.
  • A copy of your English Language requirement, if your Home University medium is not in English.
  • Financial Documentary Proof in English.
  • Self-financing student: Submit a bank statement (original, certified true copy or electronically generated statements will be accepted).
  • Scholarship holder: Submit an official letter from the sponsoring organization(s) with details of the sponsorship over the period of study/research at NUS.

Testimonials

• “From this program, I've picked up 2 major insights that have really filled in the gaps and connected the dots in my venture creation journey. Learning how to stay financially viable and make a social impact (Prof. Wong). Integrating social impact into your business model from the start and weaving it into your vision. 'Why YOU? Why this Issue? What values do you have inside yourself?' Having strong answers to these questions isn't just important; it is a key to creating a powerful brand for yourself and the company, engaging initial customers, and getting investors on board. With these learning in mind, together with everything else I've learned, I feel much more confident in myself. Now I can clearly see what I want to do, who I want to serve, and I can image the values and impacts that I want to bring to them along the way.
• Ino Saki, Japan, 2024 participant
• “At first I didn't really know what to expect for this program. Having learnt Entrepreneurship prior to joining program made me curious to what the curriculum would be. However, after attending the clan, fireside, lectures and various activities, I would say that this is the most fun summer I have ever had. I had the privilege to stay with one of the best clan, with amazing people and leaders from different backgrounds. There were so many amazing moments that I will remember for a long time.”
• Viriyasuebphong Apichai, Thailand, 2024 participant
• “The one word to summarise my experience is: fun. I genuinely enjoyed the lectures, the amazing race, meeting all the international students from all walks of life, getting to know stuff about their home countries, as well as getting to know the entrepreneurial community within NUS. It was an action-packed 2 weeks that I will miss and recommend to my friends.”
• Victoria Wong Xinru, Singapore, 2024 participant
• “The programme was an enriching and transformative experience for participants. Throughout the programme, budding entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds came together to learn, collaborate, and innovate. The programme was well-structured, offering a mix of workshops, mentorship sessions, and networking opportunities. During the workshops, I gained valuable insights into various aspects of entrepreneurship. The programme also encouraged collaboration and teamwork. I had the opportunity to understand the different cultures from the various countries as well.”
• Reasey Serei Neath, Cambodia, 2023 participant
• “I had the opportunity to visit unicorn companies, listen to inspiring talks on innovation and interact with business leaders. I was left in awe in every learning journey. It showed me the overall potential of a small startup idea in a less intimating, and far inspiring manner. Somehow, it gave me the confidence to start my own company and make it a unicorn as well.”
• Lapinid Jericho Albert Gahi, Philippines, 2023 participant
• “I made tons of new international friends during the program and made a bunch of new core memories. The program was insightful (gave me lots of lessons about entrepreneurship and how to build a startup, as well as a deep dive into tech companies in Singapore), super fun, and gave me a broader view of how the culture in Singapore is, and other Southeast Asian countries. It was such a great experience, though it lasted for only 2 weeks (I wished it had been longer).”
• Michale Tjandradjaja, Indonesia, 2023 participant