National University of Singapore
History
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is the oldest higher education institution in Singapore. It was established in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School and has evolved into a comprehensive university offering a wide range of disciplines including the sciences, medicine and dentistry, design and environment, law, arts and social sciences, engineering, business, computing and music.
In 1912, the medical school was renamed the King Edward VII Medical School. In 1921, it became the King Edward VII College of Medicine. In 1928, Raffles College was established to promote arts and social sciences at tertiary level for Malayans. Raffles College was merged with the King Edward VII College of Medicine to form the University of Malaya in 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.
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 main language of education. The original crest of Nanyang University with three intertwined rings was incorporated into the new coat-of-arms of NUS.
Campus
The main campus of NUS is located in Kent Ridge, with an area of approximately 150 hectares. It is situated near the southern part of Singapore, with the South China Sea to its south. The Duke-NUS Medical School, a collaboration with Duke University, is located at the Outram campus, and the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School is located at the Bukit Timah campus.
The university's Bukit Timah campus houses the Faculty of Law, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and research institutes, while the Duke-NUS Medical School is located at the Outram campus.
The Duke-NUS Medical School, which follows a new medical education model combining medical education with research activities, is a collaboration between Duke University in the United States and the National University of Singapore. The Bukit Timah campus houses the Faculty of Law, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and several research institutes.
Academics
The National University of Singapore offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes including disciplines such as Architecture, Business, Computing, Dentistry, Engineering, Law, Medicine and Music. It also offers a variety of joint, double and concurrent degree programmes with some of the world's top universities.
NUS has been consistently ranked among the world's top universities. It is internationally respected for its high-quality research in science, technology and the humanities, and also strives to create a supportive and innovative environment to promote creative enterprise within its community.
The university's academic structure is based on a modular system which allows students to design their own curriculum with flexibility, catering to their interests and strengths. This system allows cross-faculty and cross-disciplinary programmes for multi-dimensional learning.
Research
NUS is one of the three largest public and autonomous universities in Singapore. It has made its mark as a vibrant research-intensive university that offers a comprehensive curriculum with a global perspective. The university's multi-disciplinary and real-world approach to education, research and entrepreneurship enables its students and faculty to tackle complex global challenges in areas such as sustainability, energy, healthcare, food and urban solutions.
The university's research strategy is focused on four strategic research themes that are aligned with Singapore's key areas of interest and where NUS possesses a competitive advantage. These areas are: Integrative Sustainability Solutions, Asian Studies, Life Sciences and Health, and Materials Science.
Student life
The National University of Singapore has a vibrant student life, with a wide range of cultural, arts and sports activities available to students. The university offers a variety of residential options, including halls of residence, student hostels and residential colleges, where students can live and learn with peers from diverse backgrounds.
NUS students are given opportunities to pursue their passions and interests, with more than 100 student organisations available, including cultural, sports and recreational clubs, as well as academic and social interest groups.
See Also
Education in Singapore List of universities in Singapore Nanyang Technological University