Lee Kuan Yew School (LKY School), National University of Singapore (NUS)

[sspxs]

2 hours ago, KJP said:

Hey everyone!  

I was admitted this morning with a full ride + stipend!  I didn't have an interview, and submitted two weeks before the due date.  

I am trying to decide now between London School of Economics and NUS!  Any advice?  Anyone know of international MPP rankings or what sites would be good for seeing LSE and NUS's standing in the world?

Congrats!!! I submitted three weeks before the due date and haven't got an answer yet. Hoping for the best!

I reccomend the QS World University Rankings or the Times Higher Education. If I were you, I would not doubt it and opt for NUS. LSE does not give you such an economical support!

[KJP]

3 hours ago, sspxs said:

Congrats!!! I submitted three weeks before the due date and haven't got an answer yet. Hoping for the best!

I reccomend the QS World University Rankings or the Times Higher Education. If I were you, I would not doubt it and opt for NUS. LSE does not give you such an economical support!

Thank you!!! I hope you hear back (good) news soon.  I want to figure out if LSE is going to be better for a future career in international law but wow the funding from NUS makes it hard to say no. 

[vapra007]

Lse is a better name in the long run. Dont bother too much about funding at this stage of career. The brand will payoff in the long run

[IDMPP2019]

17 hours ago, hhxkk said:

Hi all I am from Indonesia. I just received an offer from LKY for MPP program with full scholarship. I received my offer by email this evening. I'm excited to see you guys di Spore! Best of luck for those who are still waiting, I hope you guys receive good news from LKY very soon!

Hi hhxkk! I'm from Indonesia too, receiving an offer with a full scholarship. Does your offer include accommodation or is it covered by the monthly allowance? Thanks!

[IDMPP2019]

5 hours ago, KJP said:

Thank you!!! I hope you hear back (good) news soon.  I want to figure out if LSE is going to be better for a future career in international law but wow the funding from NUS makes it hard to say no. 

Hi KJP! Congrats for your achievements at both LSE and NUS. Anyway, does your scholarship offer from NUS include the housing or is it part of monthly maintenance allowance? Mine does not come with housing so I will need to squeeze my budget. Thanks!

[Shubhs]

Hi, 

Congratulations to all the people who have been made an offer. 

Just wanted to know if anyone who applied for MPA programme has got an offer? 

Thanks 

[vapra007]

3 hours ago, Shubhs said:

Hi, 

Congratulations to all the people who have been made an offer. 

Just wanted to know if anyone who applied for MPA programme has got an offer? 

Thanks 

Even Iam waiting to hear on this. Not sure if they schedule the release like MPP first and MPA next. In such case we will only be hearing next week ?

LKY is not attending the calls from many days. Not sure if this is the experience for others as well

Edited April 5, 2019 by vapra007

[Shubhs]

I experienced the same. Called on two numbers, but no one answered. 

[Marky1985]

I think most of those who received the scholarship are from indonesia. The programs of LKYSPP focused on improving the government's policies of Indo country.

[KJP]

5 hours ago, Marky1985 said:

I think most of those who received the scholarship are from indonesia. The programs of LKYSPP focused on improving the government's policies of Indo country.

I am from the United States and got a scholarship offer!  So there is some geographic diversity in the scholarships. 

[KJP]

12 hours ago, IDMPP2019 said:

Hi KJP! Congrats for your achievements at both LSE and NUS. Anyway, does your scholarship offer from NUS include the housing or is it part of monthly maintenance allowance? Mine does not come with housing so I will need to squeeze my budget. Thanks!

Hi!  Mine does not include housing but I found some affordable housing across Singapore that would work with the budget.  I think it is a small but workable stipend! 

[Ensobila]

How much is their Monthly Stipend

[KJP]

1 hour ago, Ensobila said:

How much is their Monthly Stipend

S$1,350

[Repat Hopes]

On 4/5/2019 at 6:12 AM, KJP said:

Hey everyone!  

I was admitted this morning with a full ride + stipend!  I didn't have an interview, and submitted two weeks before the due date.  

I am trying to decide now between London School of Economics and NUS!  Any advice?  Anyone know of international MPP rankings or what sites would be good for seeing LSE and NUS's standing in the world?

Congratulations! LSE is is higher in terms of world ranking, but the scholarship and stipend make NUS the easy choice (IMHO). 

Further, the LKYSPP has an exchange program with LSE and several other schools around the world including SIPA, SAIS, Sciences Po and Hertie (if you qualify based on your academic performance in your first year). 

Though, I'm unsure of what happens to your scholarship and stipend if you do choose to do an exchange program. 

 

[hhxkk]

17 hours ago, IDMPP2019 said:

Hi hhxkk! I'm from Indonesia too, receiving an offer with a full scholarship. Does your offer include accommodation or is it covered by the monthly allowance? Thanks!

Whoa hello there! Congratulations! I think mine is covered by monthly stipend. Currently I’m still figuring out about the room rates at College Green hostel because if we rent there, we can share housing up to 4 people which probably cut down the budget. Anyway do you have any idea where to do med check in Indo that can translate the report to English? Or are you going to do the med check at NUS University Health Center?

Edited April 5, 2019 by hhxkk
Avoid inaccuracy of information on previous post

[chickychix]

8 hours ago, KJP said:

Hi!  Mine does not include housing but I found some affordable housing across Singapore that would work with the budget.  I think it is a small but workable stipend! 

1350 is tight for sg unless you can get a hostel/hdb common room for 700. Then you will have 650 left. It will be a little miserable trying to spend only 20/day, although it is possible if you are disciplined. For an adult, usually you need to spend at least 400 more of your own money each month to have a normal life in sg.

Is the email offer from lkyspp or from nus?

 

 

 

[chickychix]

7 hours ago, Repat Hopes said:

Congratulations! LSE is is higher in terms of world ranking, but the scholarship and stipend make NUS the easy choice (IMHO). 

Further, the LKYSPP has an exchange program with LSE and several other schools around the world including SIPA, SAIS, Sciences Po and Hertie (if you qualify based on your academic performance in your first year). 

Though, I'm unsure of what happens to your scholarship and stipend if you do choose to do an exchange program. 

 

Lse is lower than nus in both qs and thes. I don't think lse opens more doors than nus unless you are interested in working in Europe, and even that is debatable, but wages in europe are usually quite low.

 

[Repat Hopes]

1 hour ago, chickychix said:

Lse is lower than nus in both qs and thes. I don't think lse opens more doors than nus unless you are interested in working in Europe, and even that is debatable, but wages in europe are usually quite low.

 

Ah yes, you are correct on NUS being higher than LSE - sorry, I should clarify. I meant LSE is ranked higher than NUS specifically for the social policy and administration program. 

[vapra007]

Anyone who applied for MPA got offer?

[IDMPP2019]

12 hours ago, hhxkk said:

Whoa hello there! Congratulations! I think mine is covered by monthly stipend. Currently I’m still figuring out about the room rates at College Green hostel because if we rent there, we can share housing up to 4 people which probably cut down the budget. Anyway do you have any idea where to do med check in Indo that can translate the report to English? Or are you going to do the med check at NUS University Health Center?

I've confirmed with the admission officer that we are eligible for subsidised housing rate although I couldn't find the rate for College Green. I think the rate in College Green is per person, not per unit house so it'll still be too expensive without subsidy. Besides, staying in UTown or PGP is a good option too, there's free shuttle bus departing to Bukit Timah campus every 30 mins from PGP, plus NUS internal bus system in Kent Ridge Campus is pretty reliable. It'll cost approx $600 per month to stay in UTown (non-AC), then we'll still have 750 which I guess is enough to live in SG. For the medcheck, I have no idea although good clinics like Pharamita Lab(?) may be able to provide us the results in English using the form. I read somewhere on LKYSPP website that we can do our medcheck in NUS UHC but still not sure. Totally prefer doing it in SG, assuming that we do not need to pay anything in advance.

14 hours ago, Repat Hopes said:

Congratulations! LSE is is higher in terms of world ranking, but the scholarship and stipend make NUS the easy choice (IMHO). 

Further, the LKYSPP has an exchange program with LSE and several other schools around the world including SIPA, SAIS, Sciences Po and Hertie (if you qualify based on your academic performance in your first year). 

Though, I'm unsure of what happens to your scholarship and stipend if you do choose to do an exchange program. 

 

Hi Repat Hopes, I asked this question during the interview. She said that we will still be entitled with the scholarship regardless the study option we choose, including exchange and even dual degree.

 

[chickychix]

12 minutes ago, IDMPP2019 said:

I've confirmed with the admission officer that we are eligible for subsidised housing rate although I couldn't find the rate for College Green. I think the rate in College Green is per person, not per unit house so it'll still be too expensive without subsidy. Besides, staying in UTown or PGP is a good option too, there's free shuttle bus departing to Bukit Timah campus every 30 mins from PGP, plus NUS internal bus system in Kent Ridge Campus is pretty reliable. It'll cost approx $600 per month to stay in UTown (non-AC), then we'll still have 750 which I guess is enough to live in SG. For the medcheck, I have no idea although good clinics like Pharamita Lab(?) may be able to provide us the results in English using the form. I read somewhere on LKYSPP website that we can do our medcheck in NUS UHC but still not sure. Totally prefer doing it in SG, assuming that we do not need to pay anything in advance.

Hi Repat Hopes, I asked this question during the interview. She said that we will still be entitled with the scholarship regardless the study option we choose, including exchange and even dual degree.

 

 

It is not feasible to live in SG without AC. As for living on $750 a month, probably doable if you are very disciplined, but I think you will need to touch a little of your savings.

Personally I would prepare to have at least 5k of extra money per year.

 

 

 

[KJP]

 

12 hours ago, IDMPP2019 said:

Hi Repat Hopes, I asked this question during the interview. She said that we will still be entitled with the scholarship regardless the study option we choose, including exchange and even dual degree.

 

18 hours ago, Repat Hopes said:

Ah yes, you are correct on NUS being higher than LSE - sorry, I should clarify. I meant LSE is ranked higher than NUS specifically for the social policy and administration program. 

Thank you all for the help!  Just to clarify, I think NUS is an amazing school and is higher ranked than LSE in a lot of categories.  Coming from the US, however, LSE still has that name recognition I am worried that NUS doesn't (yet!) have.  But, there are also a LOT of positive sides to NUS I am considering as well and I am completely torn.  

It is interesting to hear about the dual-degree scholarship thought!  I applied as a dual degree student from another university, so while I can't do a triple-degree and go to LSE through NUS, I emailed them asking about my program and if it will cover that! 

Does anyone know how the grading works at LKY SPP?  I haven't been able to find anything out on that. 

[IDMPP2019]

38 minutes ago, KJP said:

 

Thank you all for the help!  Just to clarify, I think NUS is an amazing school and is higher ranked than LSE in a lot of categories.  Coming from the US, however, LSE still has that name recognition I am worried that NUS doesn't (yet!) have.  But, there are also a LOT of positive sides to NUS I am considering as well and I am completely torn.  

It is interesting to hear about the dual-degree scholarship thought!  I applied as a dual degree student from another university, so while I can't do a triple-degree and go to LSE through NUS, I emailed them asking about my program and if it will cover that! 

Does anyone know how the grading works at LKY SPP?  I haven't been able to find anything out on that. 

NUS uses bell-curve grading, so only students in the top percentile (probably up to 10%?) will get a straight A. Even if you score 91 while the average score of your cohort is 90, you will probably only get A- or even B+. It is what makes Singaporean students very competitive I guess. I did my undergrad exchange semester in NUS five years ago with the same grading system, it is still possible to score great in class but it is harder when your cohort is really strong academically. Anyway, I am sure you know that LKYSPP has an Asia focus, so I guess there are a lot of excellent scholars specialising in Asia that we can learn from. So, deciding between LSE and NUS will really depend on your area of specialisation, I suppose.

[chickychix]

5 hours ago, IDMPP2019 said:

NUS uses bell-curve grading, so only students in the top percentile (probably up to 10%?) will get a straight A. Even if you score 91 while the average score of your cohort is 90, you will probably only get A- or even B+. It is what makes Singaporean students very competitive I guess. I did my undergrad exchange semester in NUS five years ago with the same grading system, it is still possible to score great in class but it is harder when your cohort is really strong academically. Anyway, I am sure you know that LKYSPP has an Asia focus, so I guess there are a lot of excellent scholars specialising in Asia that we can learn from. So, deciding between LSE and NUS will really depend on your area of specialisation, I suppose.

MPP is a professional degree, grades dont matter much .

Edited April 7, 2019 by chickychix

[qqwertyy]

Information on: Scholarship - Housing - Dual Degree and Exchange Program

Hey Everyone! 

First of all congratulations to all of those got their confirmation letters! 

I noticed few questions which were repeated and considering I was in the same position as you 1 year ago, I will just share my experience at LKY till now. 

1) Between LSE and LKY. As someone pointed it out, if you want to stay in Europe, LSE makes more sense. Further, if it is for work with multinational organizations like UN, WB etc, I would still recommend LSE. The International World Order is still very euro-centric and even in Asia, the kind of value that a LSE degree has, is better than a LKY one. Honestly, you have 6/8 courses (core courses) in 1st year which dont even provide you any Asia specific context so you will not be losing out on much by not coming here. But just in terms of better job prospects and name recall, I would recommend LSE. 

2) Housing - For all those who are on scholarships which do not cover housing (~ SGD 1350), you dont need to worry much. 
CG accommodation costs around 960 SGD per month + your utility charges (usually 20-50 dollars per month based on your usage). 
CG is honestly preferred because easier to do group work, 10 minute walk from school and a fantastic place to live in. 

CG also has an RA system for which 2 juniors (that is your cohort) members will be selected. The mail will come to you sometime in June. Basically as a CG RA, you will get 50% off your CG rent so that should take care of it. 
I dont think the hassle of staying outside CG is worth it honestly. Yeah well you might spend some more out of your pocket or have to live on frugal spending, but the constant 1/2 hour or 40 minute travel to school and having to come over if there are meetings and stuff, is not worth it. Also, you will be missing out on so many fun gatherings and parties! 

3) Dual Degree and Exchange - LKY sadly doesnt have an exchange with LSE but it does have a dual degree program partnership. Exchange as someone mentioned, is with Science Po, John Hopkis, Hertie and a bunch of other schools. If you are on exchange, you continue getting your full scholarship amount. However, if you go for double degree, the school stops your scholarship and you have to finance your education at the new institution. 

4) Grading - Yes LKY follows a bell curve. 33% of the class gets between A+ to A. The curve tapers off at C so most of the class lies in the B- B+ range. You should honestly not worry about this much. 

Hope this helped! 

If you have any other questions, just tag it on this thread and I will get back to you soon.

Congratulations again!