NUS Bulletin AY2023/24

The roots of NUS can be traced to the founding of The Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School in 1905. The School was renamed King Edward VII Medical School in 1913 and was the first institution of higher learning in Singapore. It gained recognition and rose in status to become the King Edward VII College of Medicine in 1921.

In 1928, Raffles College was established to offer tertiary-level courses in Arts and Science. In 1949, it merged with the King Edward VII College of Medicine to form a full-fledged University, the University of Malaya. With full degree-granting powers, the University was a beacon of knowledge for both sides of the Causeway.

With the decision of the Governments of Singapore and the Federation of Malaya that the Singapore Division and the Kuala Lumpur Division of the University of Malaya should become autonomous national universities in their respective countries, the University of Singapore, with its campus in Bukit Timah, was established on 1 January 1962.

In 1955, Nanyang University was established from contributions and resources pooled from the Chinese community in Singapore. To the Chinese community, Nanyang University was more affectionately known as ‘Nantah’.

On 8 August 1980, the National University of Singapore was formed through a merger between the University of Singapore and Nanyang University. The sprawling 150-hectare Kent Ridge site became the new home for the University. The then President of the Republic of Singapore, Dr Benjamin Sheares, become NUS’ first Chancellor. The Kent Ridge site was developed over the years and the transfer of all the Faculties and Departments to the new campus was completed in 1986.

Chancellery
The President of the Republic of Singapore is the Chancellor of the University.  The Chancellor holds the authority to confer degrees and presides at Commencement when present.  The Chancellor may appoint such persons to be Pro-Chancellors as he/she may consider proper.  If for any reason the Chancellor is unable to exercise any of his/her functions, he/she may authorise any of the Pro-­Chancellors to exercise those functions on his/her behalf. There are currently six Pro-Chancellors appointed by the Chancellor. An up-to-date listing of the University Chancellery is available here.

Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees, appointed by the Minister for Education, is responsible for ensuring that the University acts in furtherance of its objectives in education and research and that the funds and assets of the University are properly accounted for and safeguarded. The Trustees are eminent persons of good repute and sound judgment, with considerable experience in public service, the private sector or academia. The Trustees are dedicated to the furtherance of the interests and good governance of the University. An up-to-date listing of the Trustees is available here.

Management 
The NUS President, appointed by the Board of Trustees, is the principal executive and academic officer of the University. The Board of Trustees, in consultation with the President, also appoints the Management team of the University. Together, this team develops and implements the strategic objectives of the University. An up-to-date listing of the members of the NUS Management team is available here.

Senate
The Senate is the highest academic body of the University. Chaired by the President of the University, the Senate meets regularly to deliberate on educational policy and other academic issues.

Some of the available resources and services at NUS are as follows:

Office of Admissions
The Office of Admissions oversees matters pertaining to full-time undergraduate admissions including recruitment and transfer of undergraduate degree programmes, student financial aid and NUS scholarships.

Campus Services
The Campus Services ( CS ), a unit under the umbrella of Campus Life Division, oversees the Retail and Dining Services and Mobility Services in NUS with the aim of delivering quality service and excellence to the stakeholders in campus.

NUS Information Technology
The NUS Information Technology spearheads the IT development on campus for teaching, learning, research and administration. We collaborate with the faculty, staff and students for innovative IT solutions to meet the diverse needs of the community. Our roles and responsibilities range from IT governance to modernization, digital transformation, Cloud adoption, system integration, campus network, research computing, student, mobile and enterprise applications, messaging, data analytics, cyber security and end user computing.

NUS Co-op
The NUS Multi-purpose Co-operative Society Limited (NUS Co-op) offers a wide range of products including books, course packs, stationery and sundry items, and computer hardware, software and accessories. It has a wide membership in the community. Among the various services it provides are a book assistance scheme and several community service schemes.

Office of Finance
The Office of Finance is responsible for the University’s financial policies and procedures, billing and collection of tuition fees, shared financial services, treasury, controllerships, financial reporting and stewardship of the University’s financial resources.

University Health Centre
The University Health Centre (UHC) consists of two Units, each handling different aspects of health and wellness for the NUS community:

• Health Service provides comprehensive medical care
• Wellness Outreach promotes a healthy and balanced lifestyle

Global Relations Office
NUS Global Relations Office develops meaningful international engagements with institutions around the world to foster collaborations in education and research that benefit our students, staff and stakeholders. Through our extensive global network and close partnerships with internal stakeholders, we facilitate global programmes such as the Student Exchange Programme, International Summer Programmes, International Research Attachment Programmes, Study Trips for Engagement and EnRichment (STEER), and SEA Friendship Initiative.

NUS Libraries
NUS Libraries plays a pivotal role in partnering the NUS community in advancing scholarship and research. It comprises seven libraries, with the Central Library being the largest and C J Koh Law Library and the Medical Library serving as the de facto national law and medical libraries in Singapore. It is the largest academic and research library in Singapore with a rich collection of more than 3 million volumes covering multidisciplinary subjects in architecture, business, engineering, humanities and social sciences, law, medicine, science, and other disciplines.

NUS Libraries is a steward and repository of national and regional heritage, hosting a collection that includes treasures that date as far back as the 14th century, irreplaceable material saved from the Japanese invaders during World War 2, the world-renowned Singapore/Malaysia collection, and rare Southeast Asian Chinese materials.

Registrar’s Office
The Registrar’s Office oversees the administration of academic matters including freshmen registration, course enrolment, curriculum, examinations, award of degrees, and commencement. The Office is committed to service excellence and makes use of the latest technology to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in its administrative operations.

NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates
The NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates (CFG) is the National University of Singapore’s dedicated career centre.

Our mission is to support NUS students to be career-ready through a wide suite of offerings throughout their time with the university. This support extends to NUS alumni as they journey through their careers, and also to adult lifelong learners at NUS. In addition, CFG works closely with our employer partners to build a pipeline of talent for their organisations.

What We Do

Signature career programmes to equip participants for career success
- Build foundational career skills with Career Catalyst
- Explore emerging and global trends across industries with Industry Insights
- Learn advanced interview and workplace skills with Career Booster
- Establish early career success with Career Advancement
- Develop life skills with Roots and Wings 2.0 and Financial Wellbeing

Personalised Career Advisory
- Meet certified CFG Career Advisors for career advice and coaching

Access to Jobs and Internships
- Easy access for students and alumni to full-time roles and internships
- Build effective recruitment strategies with employer partners

Digital Career Resource Library
- Learn valuable career tips anytime, anywhere with CFG’s digital how-to guides

AI and Technological Tools
- Continuous development and deployment of specialised digital platforms to empower the delivery of career services

Office of Student Affairs
The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) is committed to provide a rich and memorable student experience in NUS. OSA considers students’ perspectives and creates opportunities to enrich their campus life. OSA endeavours to develop a student-centric environment and administration through a wide range of support services, educational, cultural, social programming, and resources.

The type of services, programmes and activities OSA offers include:

• Arts
  Embrace interdisciplinary learning, and explore new frontiers through art; create opportunities for innovative collaborations with faculty members and established arts practitioners through various platforms;

• Community Engagement
  Promote and support student engagement with the community within the university, and with society beyond the university;

• Student Wellness
  Support students’ wellbeing and strengthen mental health services in a safe and inclusive space as they navigate their journey in NUS;

• Student Leadership and Development
  Provide a framework of governance for NUS student organisations to thrive and contribute to student life and campus vibrancy;

• Student Accessibility Unit
  Provide an inclusive and nurturing academic environment to students with disabilities and special education needs to achieve their fullest potential;

• Sports
  Promote a healthy lifestyle through sports and recreation, and sports excellence;

• Student Service Centre
  A convenient contact point for students to obtain information and services related to academic/administrative student records, tuition fees and financial matters;

• Hostel Admission Services
  Manage student housing, application eligibility and procedures;

• Residential Life
  Assist students to settle in and experience a positive and vibrant residential life through social, cultural and sports activities, and enrichment programmes.