Time

Event Happened

2004 9 11

-Received email from ISE SEP coordinator, I started to research on the possible universities

Remark:

It was as early as September of my first year in University, I attended an International fair about IRO to introduce NUS’s student exchange program (SEP). My first choice was the United States at that time, but later I successfully went there in the Summer Holiday. So when I received an email from my department exchange coordinator, I am pretty sure Europe is my choice

2004 10

-Attended Exchange Day organised by IRO and talked to Engineering SEP coordinator about choice of universities in the Netherlands

2004 mid of 10

- ISE announced the list of Universities avilable to us, a discussion within the class started

Remark:                               

As most people know, ISE has the top of the top students from Engineering and the competition will be ferocious. However, the bloody scene didn’t happen. As smart people, my classmates fully realised the impact of a negative competition and we discussed the matter openly in the class forum. In the end, we coordinated our first choices and most people go to the places they wanted the most.

2004 11 5

- First round of selection finished, I didn’t get my choice TU/e.

Remark:

Whether I can go for Exchange is in doubt

2004 11 15

- Department emailed me that an extra vacancy is avilable in TU/e.

Remark:

My exchange status from NUS side is almost confirmed.

2004 12 1

- Filled in application of SEP on NUS side and submited to ISE department

- Talked to Pro Chew about module mapping immediately after final exam paper

2004 12 19

- Finished first draft of Study Plan during holiday

Remark:

TU/e is changing from Trimester to (two) semester so most information not available until Jun.

Also it has both a system engineering and technology management faculty, I was confused to find the corresponding department for ISE

2005 3 19

- Because I know PRC is always difficult with VISA application, so I send V1 an email together with the application forms. Asking about acceptance letter from TU/e so that I can start VISA application.

- Check Singapore Dutch Embassy website, tourist visa takes 4-6 weeks to process, so I planned to start latest by mid of Jun if I want to arrive by 15^th Aug

2005 3 20

- Receive official confirmation letter from NUS about exchange status

2005 4 30

- submit alumni exchange award application documents

2005 mid of 5

- Alumni exchange award interview

2005 6 6

- V1 send the new course information 2005-2006 but timetable will only be available early Jul

2005 6 13

- Confirmed alumni exchange award to me

2005 6 17

- Finally receive official acceptance letter from TU/e.

- Called NL Embassy in Singapore and first time heard about MVV and that it has to be done by the school because I am PRC – not allow to apply on my own as for other nationalities

- called V1 about detail of applying to MVV 

2005 6 21

-request bank statement from DBS

2005 6 22

- V1 sent me the list of things needed for MVV application, first time heard about NESO certificate

- email V1 if NESO is needed for my case, could I use O’level and A’level certificate instead

2005 6 25

- recevied bank statement from DBS

2005 6 27 –

7 3

- Alumni attachment for graduation gown collection

2005 6 27

- gettign alumni SEP award letter

2005 6 28

- Sign SEP loan

2005 6 29

- getting Scholarship status letter

- faxed to V1 all documents needed for MVV (bank statement, scholarship status letter, SEP award letter, loan contract) except NESO certificate,

- V1 recevied the documents, case transferred to International office V2 for MVV application

2005 6 30

- meeting prof for second draft of study plan

2005 7 6

- receive V2’s email that NESO is not avoidable

2005 7 7

- called NESO beijing office to enquire about the procedure

- faxed relevant documents to NESO beijing office for the application of the NESO certificate together with a letter (English/Chinese) to explain my situation and appeal for exemption of IESL tests

- received confirmation email that fax received, precedure may take up to 2 months

2005 7 8

- called NESO Beijing office to enquiry, no date of when result of appeal will be out is given

Remark:

I feel very depressed and worried that it will take 2 months to get the certificate as stated on their official webisite. Considering 90 days tourist visa option

2005 7 9

- posted 2^nd study plan (deadline Jul 15)

2005 7 11

- call NL Embassy Singapore to enquiry on 90 days visa procedure

2005 7 15

- receive NESO Beijing office email that certificate has mailed out to TU/e

2005 7 21

- receive housing confirmation from V1, but ending date is wrong

2005 7 29

- email NL Embassy Beijing regarding documents need for Visa collection

2005 8 1

- emailed V2 from interntaional office whether they received the NESO certificate already

2005 8 3

- emailed NESO Beijing office regarding whom they sent the NESO certificate

- NESO Beijing office replied the Document is sent through express and already received on 18^th Jul by Sandra. They prefer the school to enquiry if there is any further doubts, not me

2005 8 8

- enquiry embassy in Beijing any particular agency required for medical check-up and notorisation

2005 8 9

- V2 found the document 2 WEEKS after it was received by her colleague in the same office and sent in the MVV application to IND.

Remark:

Email from V2 “I have found the NESO Cerificate from you. I will apply as soon as possible for the visa.”

2005 8 10

- Email from V2 “Dear Student, We have applied for your MVV (visa). The procedure takes about 4 - 6 weeks, so we will contact you again as soon as we hear something from the IND (Dutch Immigration Service). We would like to advise you, not to book your flight until you've picked up your MVV at the Dutch Embassy in your country.”

2005 8 11

- went to collect info about medical check up and notorisation of birth certificate

2005 8 15

- From NL embassy

“The legalisation of your birth certificate should be done at a local notary office. You will then have to get the document legalised by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The health certificate you will have to get at the local health and quarantine hospital.”

2005 8 16

- medical check-up ( collect on 19^th) and send in birth certificate notorisation ( collect 23^rd)

- enquire about legalisation from ministry of foreign affair

2005 8 23

-collect medical check-up result and notorised birth certificate

2005 8 29

- IND required for specific date on financial documents from NUS

2005 8 30

- called NUS Registrar office and Office of Alumni relations from Beijing to get amendments done

2005 8 31

- alumni office send out new letter and email

2005 9 1

- registrar office sent out new scholarship letter and email

2005 9 9

- IND approved VISA and sent out electronic mail to Embassy in Beijing

2005 9 12

- TU/e received letter mailed by IND

2005 9 13

- called Embassy in Beijing to enquiry about receiving the VISA

2005 9 14

- send notorised birth certificate for legalisation at Ministry of Foreign Affair, collect on 16th 

2005 9 15

- receive embassy email about collecting the VISA

- receive password to access studyweb, equilavent of IVLE

- copleted thrid draft of study plan with new info about timetable

2005 9 16

- collect notorised birth certificate and submit all required documents to Embassy

- bought airticket

2005 9 19

- collect passport with VISA