Student’s Pass

I have really enjoyed my time in NUS thus far! Although the workload can be pretty heavy at times, it definitely does not mean we don't have a life outside academics! I really enjoy the co-curricular activities the school has to offer. If you have the chance to stay in a hall, take it up, you will not regret it :) The professors and students at NUS are really helpful too! Something important to all Singaporeans(international students will learn too), the food in NUS is rlly good! NUS is also conveniently located, with direct buses into the city, and many eating and shopping places nearby. We are also located close to VivoCity and Sentosa, a great place to unwind and relax after a hectic day or week in school!

Open House 때 봤던 University Town (UTown)의 모습이 내가 바란 캠퍼스 생활의 정석이었고 (커다란 잔디 밭, 많은 음식점과 친구들과 맘 놓고 얘기 할 수 있는 카페, 쾌적한 독서실 등) 그 모습에 이끌려 독일학교로 지원하려던 걸 그 길로 덜컥 NUS에 지원하였다. 그 외에 오랜 싱가폴생활의 익숙함과 새로운 환경에 대한 두려움 떄문도 있었지만 그만큼 처음 본 UTown의 모습은 가히 파괴적이었다. 하지만 기대가 컸던 만큼 돌아온 실망감도 컸다. 싱가폴의 날씨는 UTown 중앙에 위치한 커다란 잔디 밭을 즐기기엔 너무 덥고 습하다. 더욱이 쓰여진 잔디는 삐죽잔디라 외관상으로는 좋지만 앉거나 뛰어놀기 힘들어 실용성이 많이 떨어진다. 관상용으로는 최고인 잔디밭이다. 학생들이 즐겁게 식사하고 쉴 수 있는 공간들은 매주 찾아오는 단체 관광객들로 붐빈다. 늦게 까지 공부하는 학생들을 위한 편의 시설은 UTown 입구에 있는 편의점 하나 뿐이며 그 외에는 대개 밤 9시면 모두 문을 닫는다. 기말을 준비 할 떈 입에서 컵라면 쩐내가 나는 착각이 들 정도. 교통 시설이라도 좋으면 말을 만다. 수업시간이 몰려있는 시간대에는 버스 안에 학생들이 너무 많아 못 타고 다음차를 기다리거나 걸어나가는 일이 대부분이며 저녁 7시 이후와 주말에는 30분마다 버스가 있어 한번 놓치면 하염없이 버스를 기다리는 내 모습을 볼 수 있다. 많은 줄 만 알았던 독서실들도 공책 하나 펜 하나 떡 하니 두고 사라지는 많은 무개념 학우들 덕에 항상 자리를 찾기 힘들다. 그나마 고맙게도 시험기간엔 학생들을 고용해 그런 무개념 학생들을 단속하여 요즘 그런 무개념 학생들을 찾아보기가 힘들다. 하지만 전기세를 아낀다는 명목으로 시험기간 전까지 멀쩡히 있는 독서실 하나를 폐쇄하는 정신나간 짓 (이제 다른 독서실들은 미어터져 자리를 찾아 헤메는 많은 학우들을 매일 심심치 않게 볼 수 있게되었다. 운동부족 NUS 학생들을 생각해주는 NUS 경영자 여러분의 눈물겨운 배려다.) 을 하지않나 위에 칭찬을 했던 내가 부끄러워진다. 너무 나쁜 얘기만 적어 NUS가 아주 안 좋은 학교 처럼 보이지만 상당히 좋은 부분도 많이 찾아 볼 수 있다. 밑에 좋은 얘기들을 참고해보면 알수 있어 굳이 안 적겠다. NUS에 입학하려는 학생들이나 교환을 생각하는 학생들에게 조금 더 객관적인 시선을 통해 NUS를 봐주었으면 한다.

지금 여기에 교환학생 신분으로 머무르고 있는데 역시 아시아 1위 학교 다운 퀄리티있는 수업과 수업 진행 방식은 감동적이었다 그렇지만 행정 관련 사항 처리는 굉장히 느려서 이는 이 학교의 보완되야할 점이라고 할 수 있다 학교 안 시설이 굉장히 좋은데 최고를 꼽자면 유타운 내부의 ERC시설이라고 할 수 있다 학생이 학업에 정진할 수 있도록 최고의 시설을 제공하고 있다

싱가폴로 교환학생 프로그램을 신청하게 된 가장 큰 이유는 NUS때문이다. 소문대로 그리고 예상대로 정말 재미있는 시간을 가지고 있다. 셔틀을 타고 다녀야만 다닐 수 있을정도로 크고 버라이어티한 캠퍼스, 로컬 친구들과 교류할 수 있는 여러 프로그램, 세계적인 수준의 강의들. 한국에서도 만족하면서 다녔다고 생각했는데 여기는 다른 레벨 같다. 학생들도 공부와 활동에 전념하고 튜토리얼이라는 실습 또는 심화수업을 통해 확실히 공부할 수 있는 개념이 좋아보였다!

Having been through 2 years of academic life in NUS, I would say it's pretty manageable despite the workload. It's no doubt that there are multiple assignments and projects being tasked to handle at any one point, but if you know how to prioritise and manage your time wisely, you will still get to enjoy social life outside of school. NUS is a huge campus, which means you get to interact with students from all walks of life which makes it less mundane as it's inevitable that you will be required to step out of your comfort zone and make friends (especially important if you're trying to find a project group). In terms of accessibility, NUS is located near the city centre and has buses/trains to get to town in a short time. So after classes, you have the option to head into town and just unwind.

Singapore is a small country, but I am very proud to say that we do boost a really cool school like NUS! Even though the culture is generally competitive(I think it is the case in most tertiary institutions anyways), NUS also hosts one of the biggest start-up scenes in Singapore in the form of Blk71 and The Hangar incubator. So here's also where you can witness a lot of innovation and creative new ideas. Next reason for coming to NUS: the food and night suppers! Throughout my time in NUS, I often have to burn midnight oil rushing assignments and all. Fortunately, we could always wind down and relax at the nearby eateries that open almost 24/7. Ahmeen, Formosa noodle shop and some other names will certainly ring a bell to most NUS students.

NUS has a very nice campus which is located not very far from the city. It is a huge campus yet you can use the internal shuttle bus to travel from one faculty to another. University Town (UTown) has always been my favorite place in NUS. You can study in the study areas, Starbucks and also in the open space near Town Green where you can feel the cool air breeze while studying (of course when the weather is not very very hot :P). Anyway, UTown has many restaurants and cafes serving good food with great ambience. You can hang out with your friends there after studying for too long. Or, when you don't feel like spending too much money, no worries, UTown still has two food courts offering many food varieties. They are affordable and yummy too! Lastly, many events and performances are usually held in UTown. Lively student life in NUS starts in UTown! :D Oh, last but not least, you must swim at the rooftop swimming pool at least once. The view from there is stunning!

NUS has one of the best facilities among Singapore universities! Also, with the internal buses services, it minimizes the travelling time needed between campus.

I love how food is always a happy problem in NUS! NUS offers a great variety of affordable food options that also taste great! (: it's always great to know that there are familiar canteen foods to choose from, because they offer such a great variety and you'll always be spoilt for choices! Some of the students' favourites include Laksa Yong Tau Foo at the Arts Canteen (the Deck), Ayam Penyet at the Science and Engineering Canteens, and the famous fruit drink stalls that are found in almost all the canteens across NUS that serve about just any combination of fruit drinks you like! (: Besides the canteen food options, there's always plenty of choices for the students and staff should we feel like having a change for the day! Cafes and restaurants are also found in NUS and have also become a hit among students, who enjoy little splurges and indulgences once in a while. Some of these places include Platypus in the Faculty of Science which serves salad and coffee, Butter my Buns in UTown which serves all-day breakfast and desserts (such as their famous sausage, hashbrown and waffles with ice cream), and Reedz Cafe in the Business School that serves complete western meals that are often under $7.

Life in NUS can be amazing if you can manage your time efficiently. Although study schedule is tough with endless assignements and team projects, there are numerous exciting activities that meke our NUS life endurable. NUS can shape you into more mature person both mentally and physically. A lot of valuable lessons that can't be obtained elsewhere can be gained as well, especially if you stay in hostel. Once you choose NUS, you would never regret coming here! It's really worthy :)

Although Singapore is small, NUS boasts its big campus size(150 hectar) and you will need to take shuttle bus to travel around campus. The most fun part of the university life for me is to stay in hostel. If you choose the right hostel type, you can have lots of fun with your hostel mates by joining some activities and go for night suppers nearby. And Sentosa is located few mrt stations away so you can go there and relax~~ But, academic life here might be quite stressful and you won't be able to procrastinate Final advice to survive in NUS is to keep yourself busy :D