Message to Incoming Freshmen on Change in Start of Term

17 April 2020

Dear Students

This year, SUTD will be pushing back the start of its Academic Year (AY) from 18 May to 14 September for the AY2020 intake cohort in response to the COVID-19 situation.

In accordance with the national efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, SUTD has put in place heightened safe distancing measures, including full Home-Based Learning (HBL). Given the evolving COVID-19 situation, SUTD has decided to push back the start of its AY for the incoming AY2020 cohort to September this year, so that students can fully experience SUTD’s signature hands-on and design-centric curriculum, as well as its unique cohort-based first-year pedagogy that emphasises peer learning. We are doing this to ensure that we can deliver the best undergraduate experience possible to you.

This initiative of shifting the academic calendar has been in the works for over a year. We had hoped to have a few years to make the transition, but the COVID-19 situation made it necessary for us to bring our plans forward.

Under the new academic calendar, students will still take the required eight terms of undergraduate coursework commencing from 14 September 2020, and will graduate in May 2024 instead of September 2023. The new calendar structure will cater for more and longer breaks, with opportunities for SUTD students to take up more or longer internships and participate in multiple overseas experiences, immersion programmes, pursue minors on top of the major, and much more. More details will be forthcoming soon of this rich educational experience made possible by the calendar change.

Students who opt to enrol earlier, in May or June 2020, will be able to participate in a range of Special Summer Programmes up till September at no extra cost beyond the usual university tuition fees. These activities range from e-learning classes to research programmes. In addition, those wishing to brush up on specific subjects can now look forward to more extended bridging programmes to better prepare themselves before the start of term in September.

SUTD will continue to be a home for bold innovation and educational excellence. We are preparing a wonderful educational journey for you, at the expense of a short delay. Stay safe and anticipate a fresh start this coming September.


Yours Sincerely,
Professor Chong Tow Chong
President, SUTD