Singapore
MULT-UB 131: Economy & Business in Singapore | Explore the different facets of management, society, governance and the economy in the city-state of Singapore.
Stern Around the World in Singapore - FALL 2025
Learn how Singapore jumped from an emerging to a developed country in a generation. It is now often ranked as the world’s most competitive economy and a popular location as the headquarters for many global companies, as well as a hub for business across Southeast Asia. How did Singapore manage this feat?
This Fall 2025 semester course takes place in New York. Then from Sunday, January 4th – Saturday, January 10th, 2026, you will take a class trip to Singapore.
Learn firsthand: What are the key competitive strengths of Singapore from a business perspective? What are the social and economic challenges the country is facing? What are the management issues for executives in Singapore and the greater Southeast Asia region today? How has the government managed economic and foreign policy challenges it faces from the rise of China and regional tensions to COVID?
In short, this course and trip are designed to equip you to understand, invest and work in this dynamic country and region.
Course Overview
MULT-UB 131: Economy & Business in Singapore
3 credits | Tuesdays from 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Course: Full Semester | Travel: Required trip to Singapore in January 2026
Instructor: Professor Joseph Foudy (jfoudy@stern.nyu.edu)
From the country’s independence in 1964, we look at its unique development model focused on attracting foreign investment, an efficient bureaucracy focused on delivery world class services and state investment in the economy. We then pivot to understand specific industries in the country from finance and fintech to gaming, ports and infrastructure. This course includes a required trip to Singapore in January.
This 3-credit course can count towards:
- Business Economics Concentration Elective
- General Stern elective
*Please note: a max of one SAW travel course can be applied per concentration or minor
Eligibility
This course is open to NYU Stern students who meet the following prerequisites:
- Must be in good academic and judicial standing with Stern and NYU
- Must be enrolled at Stern in New York City during the semester you take the course
- Important Notes:
- This course is only open to NYU Stern students.
- Seniors who plan to graduate in January - the final grade for this course will not be available until after the January trip
- First Year students are not eligible to enroll in this course
- No application required! But attending or viewing an Info Session is required when enrolling in this course (requires Zoom sign-in via NYU SSO).
- Enrollment is done through Albert for this course. This SAW course has two registration periods:
- Priority Registration: During the first week of course registration, April 21-27, 2025, only Stern students who meet the requirements listed below, and also have NOT already completed or are NOT currently enrolled in a SAW course, will be able to register or waitlist for this course.
- Regular Registration: Starting Monday, April 28, 2025, the course registration and waitlist will open to Stern students who are currently or were previously enrolled in a SAW program - pending available space in the course and/or waitlist.
- Enrollment is open to NYU Stern Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors and is first-come, first-served, based on your registration time and the registration schedule listed above.
- If the course fills up, there will be a Waitlist. Set up ‘Edit Swap’ function on Albert to ensure you’re not stuck on the waitlist
- If you successfully enroll, you will be contacted via email with next steps. See additional details below.
Program Timeline
| Date | Event/Deadline |
|---|---|
| Week of April 21st | During registration for Fall 2025, you will register yourself via NYU Albert. (Enrollment/waitlist according to the Priority and Regular registration schedule listed above as long as space remains available). Attending or viewing an Info Session is required when enrolling in this course (requires Zoom sign-in via NYU SSO). |
| Mid-May | You will receive an email with next steps - including information on confirming your spot by submitting the program contract along with a copy of your valid passport (see passport information below). *All Stern undergraduate students who are registered for this course will be automatically evaluated for the need-based SAW: Singapore Stern Global Immersion Scholarship. You will be notified in the next steps email if you have received a SAW: Singapore Stern Global Immersion Scholarship - and if so, the amount. |
| End of May | Deadline to submit contract with copy of your valid passport |
| Mid-July | Fall NYU Bursar bills post - will reflect program fee and SAW: Singapore Stern Global Immersion Scholarship award if awarded (see "Estimated Expenses" below.) |
| Early August | Fall NYU Bursar bills due |
| September 2, 2025 | Class begins in NYC |
| October 1, 2025 | Deadline to purchase flights and submit travel information to the Singapore team |
| Early December | In class trip pre-departure session |
| January 4 - 10, 2026 | Required Singapore trip |
**You will arrange your own flights to and from Singapore. Please view the sample itinerary below, note the required program start and end times and plan your flights accordingly to account for customs and transportation to the hotel. You must plan to arrive into Singapore early enough in the day so that you can check in on time for the official start of the program at the group hotel. Late arrivals and early departures are not permitted. You will be expected to stay with the group until the official end of the program.
Estimated Expenses
Please note: Although you will register for this 3-credit course as part of your Fall schedule, NYU tuition and registration fees do not cover the additional fees for the trip to Singapore.
| You are Responsible For: | Estimated Expenses: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|
| Housing & Program Fee | *$2,200 Estimate TBD | Does not include flight. Global Immersion Scholarships available (see below). |
| Round Trip Flight | *$1,500 | *Estimate. You will make your own flight arrangements. |
| Passport Renewal/Visa | *$150 – 175 | *Estimate. Your passport must be valid for six months after the trip concludes. Visas are not required for US Citizens. |
| Vaccinations/Travel Medication | *$50 – 200 | *Estimate. Vaccinations are not required for US Citizens, though recommended by the CDC. |
| Personal Expenses | *$400 – 500 | *Estimate. |
The Housing & Program Fee will be required of all participants* (see scholarship info below). It will be added to your Fall 2025 Bursar bill, which will be due in early August. Please check the NYU Bursar’s website for the Fall 2025 payment deadline. Please note: the Housing & Program Fee is non-refundable after the Fall 2025 drop/add period unless the trip is canceled by NYU Stern.
The Housing & Program fee covers:
- Group Hotel in Singapore
- Daily breakfast in hotel, other meals as listed on itinerary
- Group local transportation
- Group excursions
Need-based Travel Scholarships
*All Stern undergraduate students who register for this course will be automatically evaluated for a Stern Global Immersion Scholarship.
- This need-based award is to help cover the additional travel cost of participating in this program. Awards granted to eligible students with demonstrated financial need will cover up to the cost of the Housing & Program fee for the travel portion of the class. Following is the SAW: Singapore Housing & Program fee and (if awarded) the allocation for the air travel (Travel allocation) for Fall 2025:
- Housing & Program Fee (does not include flight): Singapore: $2,200 - ESTIMATE TBD
- Travel allocation (if awarded): Singapore: $1,500 - ESTIMATE TBD
*You will arrange your own flights to and from Singapore.
- Students must have a current FAFSA or CSS Profile application on file with NYU to be considered for an award. Students will be notified if they will receive a Stern Global Immersion Scholarship - and if so, the amount - according to the schedule above.
- *Note: Only one SAW Global Immersion Scholarship will be granted per qualifying student. If you have already applied a Global Immersion Scholarship to a different SAW course you will not receive any Global Immersion Scholarship funds for this course.
Passport and Visa Requirements for All Participants
Passports: You must have a passport valid for more than six months beyond the dates of the trip. More information on how to renew or obtain a U.S. passport can be found on the U.S. Department of State's website. If you are an international student please contact your Ministry of Foreign Affairs. All NYU students are welcome to contact the NYU Office of Global Services (OGS) for assistance as well.
Visas: U.S. passports valid for more than six months beyond the dates of travel do not need a visa to enter Singapore. If you are not a U.S. citizen, please consult Singapore’s visa requirements. If you have questions, please contact the NYU Office of Global Services (OGS).
It is your responsibility to apply and receive the appropriate visas for your passport in a timely manner for the trip. Trip Program Fee refunds are not provided if you fail to secure your visa.