The Student-Athletes Who Do It All

Sports or studies? No matter the sport, every young Singaporean athlete must confront this question.

National gymnast Emma Yap faced it during her GCE A-Levels year, when major international competitions kept clashing with her exams. Faith Ning Koy was 12 when she joined the national sailing team and immediately had to balance training while preparing for her Primary School Leaving Examination.

“Like many student-athletes, I had to ask myself a difficult question: if I couldn’t give 100% to both, which mattered more to me—sports or studies?” Faith recalled.

Both Emma and Faith chose to pursue sports alongside their studies, but this decision came at a cost. It meant a life that looked nothing like an ordinary teenager’s: a year of studies deferred while watching peers move ahead and time with friends given up for extra hours of training.

The balancing act did not disappear when they entered the National University of Singapore (NUS). But at the University, they found the NUS Sports Scholarship, specially built to lighten the load for outstanding student-athletes.

Student-Athletes Soar with Support

The NUS Sports Scholarship covers tuition, living expenses and on-campus accommodation, ensuring that student-athletes receive the support they need to excel in both their disciplines.

“Beyond the financial support, the Scholarship has given me peace of mind in balancing both my academic and sporting commitments,” shared Emma, who is a second-year Psychology major at the Faculty of Arts and Social Science. “It has also provided me with a place to stay, introduced me to a supportive community at NUS and given me greater flexibility in academic choices that fit around my schedule.”

With her day-to-day student life in order, Emma is free to chase success in her sport. In her freshman year at NUS, she clinched a silver medal at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games.

Emma’s (first from left) routine in the Women’s Artistic Floor Final clinched a silver medal for Team Singapore at the 33rd SEA Games in December 2025.

But what most people didn’t see behind the win was the recovery work behind it, work that matters just as much as the hours spent perfecting every gymnastic routine. Thanks to the Scholarship, Emma can go for physiotherapy sessions more often, keeping her injuries in check and ensuring the longevity of her sporting career.

For Faith, a third-year Pharmaceutical Sciences student, the Scholarship has given her a trusted mentor in her sports manager: someone who helps her figure out how sports and studies fit together.

“She’s always been someone I know I can turn to whenever I need advice, whether it’s about balancing academics and training, navigating administrative matters or simply talking through a challenge,” Faith explained.   

Under her sports manager’s guidance, Faith has grown into a leader in her own right, having served as Captain of the NUS Varsity Sailing Team from 2025 to 2026. “Knowing that I have someone looking out for my well-being has given me a lot of confidence to focus on both my studies and my sport,” she said.

Finding a Campus Community

The Scholarship also allowed Emma and Faith to stay on campus to train and study. More than a place to stay, they have also found a community of their own and built many precious friendships.

At Valour House, NUS’ first sports-themed hostel, Emma found her people among fellow student-athletes. “It has been an exciting and enriching experience, meeting new friends who share similar interests in the realm of sports,” she said.

Studying alongside people with that same drive has motivated her to work harder too. And when the work is done, they play just as hard. They bond over foosball, ice baths and dinners cooked together.

Emma (utmost right) treasures the friendships she has built with fellow student-athletes at Valour Hall.

At Sheares Hall, Faith’s world expanded beyond sailing. Her hallmates turned out to be a diverse mix of musicians, artists and performers pursuing entirely different disciplines. “Being surrounded by people with such different passions and perspectives has broadened my horizons and made my university experience much richer,” she said. 

Somewhere along the way, they stopped being just hallmates. They became close friends, and eventually, her greatest support system throughout university. 

“Balancing academics, competitive sport, and leadership commitments can often feel isolating, and I honestly don’t think I would have been able to navigate the past two years as well as I did without them,” she shared.

Faith (bottom row, second from right) is grateful for the support and camaraderie she experienced with her Sheares Hall friends.

Support Comes Full Circle

Thanks to the Scholarship, Emma has been able to enjoy the headspace to focus on both her sport and her studies. Now, she’s ready to pay forward this support to her own teammates.

Her next major competition is the Commonwealth Games. This time, she wants to help her younger teammates adjust well to the new environment and manage the pressure.

“One lesson I would like to share is to be patient, trust the process and trust yourself,” she said. “While it is a long and difficult journey, I would like to tell young gymnasts to give themselves more credit for showing up even during the tough times, and all the effort will not go to waste.”

Faith (utmost right) together with the NUS Varsity Sailing Team.

Faith shares a similar desire to pass on the encouragement and belief she has received—by mentoring younger athletes and students. “Throughout my own journey, I’ve benefitted immensely from coaches, seniors, teammates, mentors and programmes like this Scholarship,” she said. “I’d love to pay that forward by encouraging others and helping them navigate the challenges that come with balancing sport, academics and life.”

Belief that Opens Doors

Every year, the NUS Sports Scholarship extends belief to a new generation of student-athletes. For each recipient, the Scholarship is the reason they never have to choose between their sport and their studies. That’s how Singapore grows its sporting talent, one scholarship at a time.

Most importantly, the Scholarship is creating a generation of athletes who will look out for those around them, and give back with gratitude.

“This Scholarship has opened many doors for me, and I hope that one day I’ll be able to do the same for others,” Faith shared. “Whether I eventually work in healthcare, research, public health, or another field, I hope to be in a position where I can make a meaningful difference to people’s lives.”

Support the NUS Sports Scholarship and give student-athletes the chance to reach their full potential, in competitions and in classrooms. Give today: https://give.nus.edu.sg/SportsScholarship