National University of Singapore

The National University of Singapore (Abbreviation: NUS) is one of the three largest public and autonomous universities in Singapore. Founded in 1905, it is the oldest institute of higher learning (IHL) in Singapore, as well as the largest university in the country in terms of student enrolment and curriculum offered. NUS is a research-intensive, comprehensive university with an entrepreneurial dimension.

From modest beginnings as a medical college with 23 students, the University now spans three campuses, enrols 38,000 students from more than 100 countries in many critical fields of study, and forges partnerships around the world. 

There are 17 Schools in NUS which include:

• Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
• NUS Business School
• School of Computing
• Faculty of Dentistry
• School of Design and Environment
• Duke-NUS Medical School
• Faculty of Engineering
• NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering
• Faculty of Law
• Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
• Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
• Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health
• Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
• Faculty of Science
• University Scholars Programme
• Yale-NUS College
• School of Continuing and Lifelong Education

NUS’ innovative research, through the Schools, three Research Centres of Excellence and 26 university-level research institutes and centres, focuses on cutting-edge discoveries and their translational impact to the benefit of people in Asia and the world. The University is especially renowned for research in engineering, science and technology, biomedical sciences, and the humanities and social sciences

• Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

  The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has a rich history (having celebrated its 80th Anniversary in 2009) as well as a strong international reputation for educational and research excellence. With 17 departments, 20 major subjects, a host of minor programmes and a Centre for Language Studies offering both Asian and European languages, we offer the most comprehensive education in the humanities, social sciences and Asian studies in this part of the world. We are well-endowed with talented professors and lecturers who are dedicated and passionate about research and teaching. Indeed, FASS has enjoyed phenomenal growth in terms of people, programmes, facilities and research in recent years and continues to be the Faculty of choice in Singapore and in the region.

• Faculty of Law

  The National University of Singapore Faculty of Law is widely regarded as Asia’s leading law school. Staffed by an outstanding permanent faculty diverse in origin and qualifications, NUS Law is dedicated to building a vibrant community and creating an environment that facilitates critical thinking and reflection on the fundamental legal issues confronting our interconnected world. 

  The strength of the NUS Law curriculum lies in the broad and diverse range of subjects it offers. In addition to a rigorous core curriculum, students can choose electives in areas ranging from Asian legal studies to banking and finance, from public international law to intellectual property, or from arbitration to jurisprudence. The aim is to provide a liberal education that enables our graduates to think critically and creatively, as globally-oriented lawyers with a strong sense of their role in society. 

• Faculty of Science

  The Faculty of Science has provided quality science education for over 85 years. Our success is grounded upon our excellent curriculum and driven by impactful research that has helped shape Singapore’s scientific landscape in education and research. This has contributed significantly to the University being recognised as one of the top universities in Asia and the world.

• School of Design

  From its humble beginnings 50 years ago, SDE remains the only Faculty or School in a tertiary educational institution in Singapore responsible for offering education in Architecture, Urban design, Building, Project and Facilities Management, and Real Estate. During this period, we have produced over 5,000 graduates who have contributed to the design, development and management of the built environment both locally and internationally. 

  For prospective students, the School offers relevant and challenging curricula in Industrial Design, Architecture, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Project and Facilities Management and Real Estate.

  Students can also enrich their academic experience and cultural exposure through our extensive student exchange programmes, field trips and close collaboration with the relevant industries and gain valuable hands-on industrial experience locally and overseas.

  For those keen on furthering your interests in research, the School looks forward to guide and work closely with you on your aspirations to achieve research excellence centred on the School's three key disciplines.

• Business School

  For over 50 years, NUS Business School has offered a rigorous, relevant and rewarding business education to outstanding men and women from across the world. The School remains distinctive among the world's leading business Schools by offering the best of global knowledge with deep Asian insights, preparing students to lead Asian businesses to the forefront of the world economy and to help global businesses succeed in Asia.

  Today, the School continues its tradition of attracting a diversity of smart and talented students to its broad portfolio of academic programmes, including BBA, MBA, Executive MBA, MSc and PhD programmes. It also offers a wide range of customised and open enrolment programmes in its Executive Education courses. Admission to NUS Business School is remarkably competitive, and we are proud of the exceptionally high quality of our students.

On 3 July 1905, the medical school was founded, and was known as the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School.

In 1912, the medical school received an endowment of $120,000 from the King Edward VII Memorial Fund, started by Lim Boon Keng. Subsequently on 18 November 1913, the name of the school was changed to theKing Edward VII Medical School. In 1921, it was again changed to the King Edward VII College of Medicine to reflect its academic status.

In 1928, Raffles College was established to promote arts and social sciences at tertiary level for Malayan students.

Establishment of the university

Two decades later, Raffles College was merged with the King Edward VII College of Medicine to form the University of Malaya on 8 October 1949. The two institutions were merged to provide for the higher education needs of the Federation of Malaya and Singapore.

The growth of UM was very rapid during the first decade of its establishment and resulted in the setting up of two autonomous divisions in 1959, one located in Singapore and the other in Kuala Lumpur.

In 1960, the governments of then Federation of Malaya and Singapore indicated their desire to change the status of the divisions into that of a national university. Legislation was passed in 1961 establishing the former Kuala Lumpur division as the University of Malaya while the Singapore division was renamed the University of Singapore on 1 January 1962.

Present form

The National University of Singapore was formed with the merger of the University of Singapore and Nanyang University in 1980. This was done in part due to the government's desire to pool the two institutions' resources into a single, stronger entity, and promote English as Singapore's only main language. 

NUS began its entrepreneurial education endeavours in the 1980s, with the setting up of the Centre for Management of Innovation and Technopreneurship in 1988. In 2001, this was renamed the NUS Entrepreneurship Centre (NEC), and became a division of NUS Enterprise. NEC is currently headed by Professor Wong Poh Kam and its activities are organised into 4 areas, including a business incubator, experiential education, entrepreneurship development, and entrepreneurship research.

Today, the National University of Singapore has 16 faculties and schools across three campus locations in Singapore – Kent Ridge, Bukit Timah and Outram – and provides a broad-based curriculum underscored by multi-disciplinary courses and cross-faculty enrichment.

NUS has been ranked among the best in the world by two UK ranking systems, the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

The QS World University Rankings 2015-16 ranked NUS 12th in the world and 1st in Asia, while the independent QS Asian University Rankings 2015 also considered it to be the first. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015–16 placed NUS at 26th in the world and 1st in Asia, while its 2014-15 reputation rankings placed it at 21st globally. Conversely, the ARWU that measures universities academic achievements and research performance placed NUS in the range of 101–150 worldwide and the best in Singapore in 2015.

In 2015, The Economist ranked NUS Business School as 87th globally and 2nd in Singapore, behind Nanyang Business School. In 2015, the Financial Times placed the NUS MBA at 31st in their global MBA ranking tables.

Cost of Living

The annual costs below have been derived based on a conservative estimate for a reasonably comfortable lifestyle, excluding the vacation period. The actual amount could be higher or lower depending on each student’s expenditure and lifestyle.

• On-Campus accomodation (single/double occupancy)*: S$2,625 to S$7,000
• Meals: S$2,600
• Personal expenses: S$2,200
• Transportation within Singapore: S$800
• Average cost of books / supplies: S$400

Total estimated costs including accomodation: S$10,000

* Students are responsible to source for their own accommodation in Singapore. Off campus accommodation are available at market rates, and students will need to independently source for such accommodation.

Life, Culture and Leisure in Singapore

Singapore is highly urbanised due to the lack of landspace. Its skycrapers make up the famous skyline. Despite this, Singapore also boasts a thriving ecosystem of nature and wildlife, rainforests, wetlands and nature reserves are all easily accessible.

For those of you favouring city sights, you can choose from many of its shopping malls, museums and dining, along a thriving arts and cultural scene. The nightlife is varied with themed nightclubs, clubs (on an enormous scale!), live music bars, pubs and beach bars. Singapore is also a food-lover paradise and the hardest thing to do will be to choose which cuisine (Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan ) you want to try first.

Transport

Island is well-connected and transport is mostly by land. Mostly all of Singapore has high accessibility through road. Rail is another major form of transport. To get to the other islands from the main one, you can use a ferry.

University Accomodation

Undergraduate

Full time NUS Undergraduate students may apply for a place in the Halls of Residences, Student Residences or Colleges (applicable only to students who are admitted to the UTCP, USP or RVRC).

There are different types of residential options for full-time NUS undergraduate students to choose from.

Graduate

Full-time NUS Graduate students may apply for a place in selected Student Residences. The Residences offer independent living in a communal setting with opportunities for cross cultural interaction.

Some rooms have been designed specifically for students with special needs. If you have special needs due to a serious medical condition, you should indicate them clearly in your application form so that we can allocate the most appropriate room available.

Student Organization

 National University of Singapore Students' Union (NUSSU) Secretariat is a dedicated team of student leaders working hard to advance the student cause on campus.

NUSSU strives to be a relevant and visible member of the University community, and is supported by its constituent bodies which fall under two broad categories, faculty and non-faculty clubs. They are: 

Faculty Club

• Arts and Social Sciences Club
• Business Club
• Computing Club
• Students' Dental Club
• Design & Environment Club
• Engineering Club
• Law Club
• Medical Club
• Science Club
• University Scholars Club

Non-Faculty Club

• Cultural Activities Club
• Community Service Club
• Political Association
• Sports Club

Campus Services

Other campus services include:

• Healthcare and Counselling Services
• Library
• Centre for Future-ready Graduates
• Sports
• Student Service Centre
• Society and Clubs
• IT
• Security
• Art and Culture
• NUS Coop

As a world-class university, NUS offers you an exciting curriculum combining breadth and depth with a distinct global and Asian perspective, the freedom to explore across discipline and a plethora of extra-curricular and overseas study opportunities. We believe that active immersion in such a rich intellectual environment helps nurture students to become thinking individuals with questioning minds.

We have a wide spectrum of programmes whick offer you many routes to getting that world-class education that you want. The flexibility of our programmes provides you the versatility to work in different fields when you graduate. As a leading research-intensive university, there are opportunities for you to interact and work with faculty and graduate students at the cutting edge of knowledge creation in a wide range of fields.