National University of Singapore

Overview

Programme Structure

Upon successful completion of the USP requirements and an honours programme at NUS, students graduate with an honours degree from their faculty and a certificate that recognizes them as University Scholars. Partnership with NUS Faculties and Schools

• Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
• NUS Business School
• School of Computing
• School of Design and Environment
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Science

Those seeking admission into any of these NUS Faculties and Schools can apply concurrently (and separately) for admission into USP.

Broad-Based Multidisciplinary Curriculum

Within USP, students read eight first-tier modules and four advanced modules.

• First-Tier Curriculum
  The First-Tier Curriculum comprises a structured collection of multidisciplinary modules designed to inculcate critical thinking across disciplines and explore the interconnectivity of knowledge. It brings together students from different departments and faculties who would normally not study together.

• Advanced Curriculum
  The Advanced Curriculum is designed to give students the space to build upon and reinforce the habit of mind and attitude towards knowledge fostered by the First-Tier Curriculum. It offers students unique opportunities to pursue their passion and interest through three different tracks, namely, Academic Inquiry, Cultural Immersion, and Entrepreneurial Development.

Small Class Size, Innovative Pedagogy, and Flexible Study

USP adopts innovative approaches to teaching, and promotes active, independent and experiential learning. Classes are small and discussion-based. They facilitate maximum participation and close interactions with professors and classmates from various disciplines.

USP gives students flexibility to choose their courses, plan their programmes of study, and pursue their passions and interests. Students can change their major up to the end of their second year. Subject to fulfilling certain criteria, students can change to a faculty different from the one to which they are originally admitted.

Global Programme - Learning Beyond the Classroom

The Global Programme aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and the wider world of responsibility and performance. It offers students the opportunities to initiate, organise and participate in a myriad of activities, such as youth expeditions, summer programmes, community projects, conferences and symposia, and leadership forums, locally and around the world. Global Programme expands the global outlook of students through exposure to international issues, and promotes intellectual and leadership development.

Global Education

USP strongly believes in developing students with a global mindset. A plethora of study abroad opportunities are available through Student Exchanges, NUS Overseas Colleges, and joint and double degree programmes with prestigious overseas universities. Some of these opportunities are exclusive to, or primarily for, USP students, such as the PhB/BSc(Hons) Joint Degree Programme (with the Australian National University), the USP-Yuanpei Cultural Immersion Programme (with Peking University), the NUS-at-Yale Summer Programme, the Sino-Singapore Exchange Programme, and the Student Exchange with the University of Oregon's Clark Honors College. (Several other USP-specific student exchanges are in the pipeline.)

In addition, USP students actively participate in a variety of overseas activities. While many such activities are offered under the Global Programme, students are encouraged to initiate or source for other opportunities on their own. One such example is the Harvard College in Asia Project (HCAP) Exchange Conference organized by USP students.

Students can apply for support from USP through its Student Grant Programme.

Student Opportunities Programme

The combination of leadership development, global exposure, multidisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and effective writing skills nurtured in USP gives students a distinguishing edge in an ever changing job market or graduate studies, locally or overseas. While they are still in USP, students can gain valuable internship/attachment experience in companies, research institutes, think tanks, government organizations and NGOs through the Student Opportunities Programme.

Personalized Advising

Every student in USP is assigned a faculty adviser, who will guide and support the student in his or her learning and personal growth throughout the four years of study.

Close-Knit Community

A close-knit, vibrant community is one of the hallmarks of USP. Faculty, staff, students and alumni interact through many interesting activities and gatherings organized by USP, its student club, the University Scholars Club (USC), and its alumni society, the Scholars Programme Alumni Network (SPAN).

Prince George's Park Residences

The USP blocks at Prince George's Park Residences offer quality accommodation and space for students to live and learn together, and build lasting friendships. The residential component strengthens the sense of community and peer support among students, as well as develops individual responsibility and independence. Students are welcome to apply to stay there.

Application and Admission

Applicants should complete and submit their applications (preferably online) to USP at the same time that they apply to any of the USP's partner faculties at NUS. Applicants are required to write a short essay, and are accessed on the basis of the essay and an interview, in addition to academic and co-curricular achievements.

The admission process to USP is designed to identify abilities that may not be apparent if academic performance is used as the sole admission criterion.

Students admitted to USP may or may not be recipients of scholarships.