SMU has introduced a requirement that students must participate in at least one overseas exchange or perform overseas community service before graduating. This new requirement affects new students entering the university from August 2018. This is to encourage students to venture overseas, so as to broaden their horizons. SMU Vice-Provost Lim Kian Guan pointed out that close to 90 per cent of SMU students already have the opportunity to participate in at least one overseas exchange, but they wish to ensure that all students would be able to do so going forward.