This FAQ outlines information for first-year students who will be arriving on campus at Yale-NUS in July/August 2021.
Yale-NUS continues to closely monitor the status of the pandemic in Singapore and globally. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Yale-NUS College has worked closely with the Ministry of Education and NUS to implement practices that best protect and support our residential community. Our number one priority remains the safety, health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff.
For more key updates and important information on COVID-19, please refer to COVID-19 Information at Yale-NUS. For more detailed updates, please refer to the Ministry of Health’s official website.
Upon arrival on campus, First Year students will be given access to their login information for access to the student portal with COVID-19 FAQs for current students.
For entry to Singapore, all new incoming students are required to declare their travel plans in the NUS Overseas Travel Declaration (OTD) system before they can proceed with Registration (Part One). Do note that the completion of OTD is mandatory for all incoming students.
New students are to login to the OTD (Applicants) system using either their:
New students who wish to make changes to your previously declared travel plans, are to login to the OTD (Students) system using their NUSNET ID and Password.
All those who have been granted an In-Principle Approval (IPA) Letter for their Student’s Pass (STP) and are planning to enter Singapore must obtain an Entry Approval before commencing their journey.
All Entry Approval applications for STP-IPA holders will be managed by the Safe Travel Office (STO) under the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
Stay-Home Notice (SHN), Other Declarations and Compulsory COVID-19 Testing
In line with prevailing Stay-Home Notice (SHN) requirements, depending on where you have been in the last consecutive 21 days prior to your arrival in Singapore, you may be issued with a Stay-Home Notice (SHN) upon entry into Singapore. Please check ICA’s website for the most updated border control measures.
Prior to arriving in Singapore, travellers are required to submit a health and travel declaration via the SG Arrival Card (SGAC) e-Service prior to their arrival. They will also need to provide their health status and recent history, as well as personal particulars and contact details.
7-day Leave of Absence (LOA) for students serving 14-day SHN
Staff and students who enter Singapore and have been served with a 14-day SHN by the authorities will be given an additional 7-day Leave of Absence (LOA) by NUS. If you are serving a 21-day SHN, you will not be required to serve the additional 7-day LOA. Information on this 7-day LOA can be found in this circular from the Office of Safety, Health and Environment.
For more information, please refer to the following websites/pages:
If you are serving your SHN at an SDF, dedicated transport will be provided.
If you are serving your SHN at a non-SDF accommodation (e.g. self-sourced hotel, MOE- managed hostel, private accommodation), you are required to find your own transport via taxi or any other private transportation. You should not be taking any public transit. Yale-NUS will not reimburse students for transportation costs.
If the pooled swab test results is positive, you will be required to go for additional testing to confirm the diagnosis. Another appointment will be made for you at the earliest opportunity. Meanwhile you should continue to self-isolate until the retest results are known.
If the individual swab test is positive, the medical team will contact you and inform you on the next steps, including hospitalisation.
Orientation is the official start to your Yale-NUS College education and the chance to get to meet your classmates and immerse yourself into the community and the larger campus life, and learn about the resources at Yale-NUS College. Orientation programmes will involve Rectors, Assistant Dean, Residential Life Officers, and faculty members. Certain days will be devoted to introducing you to the resources on/off campus, while other days are devoted to social and community activities.
More information can be found on the Orientation website and be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more updates!
Moving-in to college is an important landmark as you will be embarking on a brand-new journey in a different living and learning environment. As such, we understand that many parents and family members hoped to be present during such an important moment in their transition to higher education.
As part of ongoing risk mitigation measures, the College remains closed to any external visitors. Parents/Family members who are currently residing in Singapore will be allowed to drop off their child at designated zones on move-in day (28 or 29 July 2021).
Parents/Family members who are not Singapore residents are not allowed to enter Singapore due to ongoing travel restrictions. Please check your eligibility here.
When students arrive on campus, members of the Orientation Team will be on hand with trolleys to assist students with moving their belongings. Students are advised not to bring too many items for move-in and will have the opportunity to purchase additional items locally at any time after the start of the semester.
More information on move-in day guidelines will be released several weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Students Currently Residing in Singapore
For Singapore residents, you will be required to move-in on either 28 or 29 July 2021, between 9am and 4pm. You will be provided with an allocated time slot for you to arrive on campus and complete your move-in. Students will be required to check-in at staggered allocated intervals. More information on this arrangement will be released by the Dean of Students Office several weeks prior to the start of the semester.
International Students Arriving From Overseas
Students arriving in Singapore from overseas will be required to serve Stay Home Notice (SHN) in a government designated location and/or self-sourced accommodation. Please see details above. You will only be able to move-in upon completion of your SHN-period.
We highly encourage first year students to arrive in Singapore in early July so that they would be able to move in and participate in Orientation-related activities after completing their necessary isolation requirements.
However, we recognise that there may be difficulties in getting approvals, booking flights, etc and are prepared to support our students as needed. As such, if you are unable to move in on your assigned day, kindly email the Dean of Students so that we can follow up accordingly.
As the COVID-19 situation in Singapore is improving, calibrated steps are being taken to resume activities and operations throughout the country. This is a strategic process that will ultimately depend on the number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in Singapore in the weeks and months to come. For those reasons, we do not have confirmation of how quickly Yale-NUS students will be permitted entrance into Singapore. This will be determined by prevailing government travel restrictions.
We do not anticipate any significant challenges for international first year students seeking to enter Singapore. Obtaining a flight from your country of origin may pose slight complications, depending on the prevailing COVID situation in your country of departure.
Students who face delays arriving in Singapore will be extended the option to join classes virtually on a temporary basis. In the unlikely event that a student is unable to travel into Singapore at all, the College will make accommodations for full e-learning arrangements for specific students on case-to-case basis.
The address is 16 College Avenue West, Singapore 138527. For detailed directions, kindly refer to https://admissions.yale-nus.edu.sg/visit-us/.
The campus is located within University Town at NUS. Enter University Town via Dover Road at Clementi junction, turn right and drive down College Avenue West through the barrier. Continue along College Avenue West until you see a circular fountain entrance (the Oculus) to Yale-NUS College on the left.
The best way to get around is using the public transportation system. The closest MRT stations are Clementi and Dover on the East-West line. There are buses (196, 96, 183, and 151) from both stations to University Town along Clementi Road. A potential public transit route would be to take the East-West line to ‘Buona Vista’ and then the 196 bus to ‘aft Dover Rd.’ Campus is right along this bus route.
Taxis are another popular way to get around Singapore. You can often flag a taxi down from Dover Road or summon one via text message or smart phone app to pick you up at the Yale-NUS entrance. You can also use transportation apps such as Grab, Gojek, Tada, which allow you to book taxi’s on demand but also provide the option of private cars and online payment.
IMPORTANT: Please bring all important documents including your passport (bring both if you have dual citizenship) and ensure it is valid for the next 6 months. Bring identification cards, citizenship certificates, and any other relevant documents (e.g. letters of admission, originals of education and qualification certificates, vaccine info) to facilitate the immigration process.
Some useful items: Singapore weather can be described as hot and rainy. Average day temperatures throughout the year are in the low 30 °C to high 20 °C. We recommend bringing summer clothes, but do pack a shawl or light jacket as this comes in handy at the movies, dinner or any air-conditioned areas such as the lecture halls and classrooms on campus. Do try to pack an adequate amount of clothes. Pillows and bed linen are not provided in the residence so bring a set of your favourite sheets, or you can buy a set of new ones here.
Umbrella : A must have in Singapore, keep it with you all the time because the weather here is rather fickle. It can be scorching hot one moment, and then thunderstorm the next. Not many people wear raincoats here.
Shoes : Open-toed shoes such as sandals and flip-flops are comfortable and suitable. A good pair of walking shoes will be very useful when walking around the city. Even though it rains a lot, there is no need to bring rain boots. Note: Flip flops/Shoes only go up to US size 10 (Men), 9 (Women) in most stores.
Formal Clothes: There will be several Yale-NUS functions and events throughout the year (Opening Dinner, semester celebrations, etc.), so do pack a few nice, semi-formal outfits.
You can basically find anything in Singapore so do not worry too much! However, there are items that are harder to come by or more expensive.
Expensive Items in Singapore
Difficult to Find Items in Singapore
Note: Prescription and over-the-counter drugs: Advil, Tylenol, Aleve, Benadryl, etc. are only available through a doctor’s prescription and some brands may be available under alternate names. Please check HSA for the current guidelines on bringing personal medications into Singapore.
What Not To Bring?
Note: High wattage items require big and expensive converters that you can buy here if you must bring them with you. All Apple items have dual voltages and are fine.
Please note that there are stores that students can visit to purchase essentials. There is an IKEA near campus as well as several other large stores and a mall down the road, all easily accessible by public transport or taxi.
Note: Some retail stores may not be open due to COVID-19. However, the Orientation Committee is looking into the possibility of bulk ordering from IKEA – details on the process, etc. will be given at a later date.
You can purchase one in Singapore. However, if you already have an unlocked cell phone, please bring it with you. As for SIM cards, you have two options: a pre-paid top-up sim card plan or a monthly phone plan. The four telecomm providers are: Singtel, StarHub, Circles.Life, and M1. The first option is a pre-paid SIM card, easily procured at the Cheers Convenience store in University Town (UTown) or other convenience stores and markets. The cost of one ranges from S$8 to S$10 or S$15 to S$18 for a 3G-enabled card. Some SIMs may cost more – it is S$38 for a nano SIM. This option works on a top-up basis, meaning you put more money on the card once your credit runs out. You will need your Passport to purchase a sim card if you are an international student.
If you foresee heavy phone usage, we advise you to look into a phone plan with one of the telecomm providers. Many of the plans involve a monthly payment, a 1-2 year commitment, and can include cellphone updates. Their plans are all very similar. You will need your Passport and Student Pass to get a cell phone plan. You can sign up with any of these companies on your own at the mall closest to campus, the Clementi Mall.
It is very common to use a top-up plan as many students only use data and a smartphone app called WhatsApp to text each other. However, please use the option most suited to your mobile needs.
All Year 1 students will be pre-allocated with the following common curriculum modules for the first semester. Please refer to this Reading List (Sem 1 AY21/22 list will be published when info becomes available) for the required list of texts.
Literature and Humanities 1 (YCC1111), Philosophy and Political Thought 1 (YCC1113) and Quantitative Reasoning (YCC1122) require students to use set texts in specific editions (check the ISBN numbers). Some of these books are only available in hard copy, which are difficult to obtain in a timely manner in Singapore, and the NUS campus bookstore and campus library carry limited copies. The faculty of these courses strongly advise that you acquire your texts well in advance of your arrival on campus. You may be also able to obtain second-hand copies of these books from older students through social media or other informal channels, but please be prepared for your first day of class by having the correct editions of all set texts in hand!
There are grocery and convenience stores within walking distance of campus. There is also an IKEA within a ten-minute bus ride from Yale-NUS. Additionally, there are two malls within five-minute bus rides from campus.
Note: Some retail stores may not be open due to COVID-19.
Most of the international banks have branches in Singapore and some of them have ATMs on campus. We advise you check with your home bank to see if you can use their services here. Some banks will also allow you to open up an international account prior to arriving in Singapore.
If you don’t already have an account with a bank that allows international ATM usage, it makes sense to get a local account. DBS, OCBC, and UOB are the biggest local banks and all have ATMs on campus. DBS has the most ATMs on campus. One perk of a local bank is NETS, essentially a debit card which allows your ATM card to serve many other functions, including paying for all bus fares and MRT (subway) fares. Please note that you only need your IPA letter and your passport to open a bank account – so you can open your bank account before you get your student pass.
It is advisable to arrive in Singapore with enough cash for the first 1-2 weeks for any personal expenses, while you await your Student Pass. For many of these banks, they will require your Student Pass, Passport, and a Yale-NUS proof of residence letter in order to open an account.
To get your Yale-NUS proof of residence letter, please email the Dean of Students office.
Our campus is designed to be a 24/7 residential community, with all amenities and conveniences you will need. There is a dining hall, laundry facilities, a student-run cafe (butteries), and common rooms in each of the three Residential Colleges.There is also an on-campus cafe, performing arts spaces, a Fitness Centre, a comprehensive Learning Commons, and a Multi-Purpose Hall. In addition, there is plenty of communal study and activity spaces. All Yale-NUS courses will be taught within the campus.
You can also access the facilities at NUS with an NUS matriculation card, such as the UTown pool, the Sports and Recreation Centre, food courts (FoodClique and Fine Foods, among others), library, and museum.
Note: Due to COVID-19, there may be restrictions for certain facilities. More information will be in an FAQ on the student portal, accessible after students arrive on campus.
All social interactions on campus will be based on prevailing advisories from government agencies. Currently, all activities are limited to individual groups of no more than 8 persons, with a 1m social distancing requirement between these pods of 8 persons.
General social distancing measures are likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future, in line with prevailing COVID-19 risk mitigation measures. More information will be in an FAQ on the student portal, accessible after students arrive on campus.
You will have a single room that comes with a bed (standard single size mattress – est 188 cm(L) x 91cm(W), bedside table, desk, chair, tall shelf, wardrobe, AC and ceiling fan. Each room has a big open window and the walls are white so you will have plenty of opportunity to decorate and make it your own space. The rooms are situated within 4- or 6- person suites that overlook a sky garden. There is one shared bathroom with two sinks, a shower, and a toilet.
First-year students are assigned to their Residential Colleges and their suites before their arrival.
Additional information including a 3D virtual tour is available via the Yale-NUS Housing page.
Yes! Students will need to purchase air conditioning credits for their individual rooms. Estimated approximate cost for nominal usage of aircon is about S$20-30 a month. More information will be shared during Orientation.
Common spaces around campus, including study areas and the learning commons are also always air-conditioned.
There are multiple single stall (not gender specific) restrooms throughout campus. These include:
Students can mail packages addressed to themselves at their Residential College Office:
You will receive an email if you have a package waiting for you.
Eating is a major bonding activity at Yale-NUS and you will have a full meal plan in the dining hall (19 meals/week – 3 on weekdays, 2 on the weekends for brunch and dinner). More information, including menus and operating hours, are available here. The overall dining experience on campus is overseen by our Dining Experience Team made up of staff and students.
There are a variety of different cuisines offered in the dining hall, including Indian, Chinese, Malay, and Western and on some occasions, Japanese, Thai, and Korean. There are also occasional live stations! And for students who are in rush, there are Grab N Go options available.
We have designed the meal plan to accommodate a variety of palates and dietary restrictions. Please let the Dean of Students office know if you have any serious dietary restrictions and we will do our best to assist.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore has officially certified the dining vendor at Yale-NUS as a provider of Halal service following several months of close observation of food sourcing and preparation and the Saga Buttery is halal-friendly. Halal food options are available in a dedicated section in each Dining Hall. Please approach the staff members on duty for additional information.
Vegan & Vegetarian food is available at all 3 dining halls for all 3 meals a day.
Although there are multiple computer labs for student-use on campus, we highly encourage you to bring your own laptop for personal use at school. Either Mac or PC is fine. You may also opt to purchase a new computer from the NUS Co-Op, which entitles you to a 10% discount and pre-loaded basic software. Some of the brands that Co-Op has are Apple, Dell, Lenovo and Microsoft.
Singaporean students usually get their laptops here when they matriculate and the computers are very affordable with all the software perks. Singapore has many technology-related shops, so if you are feeling adventurous, you can check out the various options available here.
Singapore is a thriving city state in Southeast Asia. It is a thriving global financial hub and described as one of Asia’s economic “tigers”. The currency of Singapore is the Singapore Dollar (SGD). Singapore has a population of over 5 million, primarily comprising Chinese, Malay, and Indian ethnic groups. With such a large diversity of ethnic communities, common languages include: English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. Singapore ranks high on its national social policies, leading Asia and 11th globally, on the Human Development Index (UN), notably on key measures of education, healthcare, life expectancy, quality of life, personal safety, housing. Changi Airport is the international airport of Singapore and is one of the largest transportation hubs in Southeast Asia. Depending on your home country, Singapore may have a multitude of cultural norms and practices that may differ from your own. We recommend reading local websites and blogs to learn more before you arrive.
You can also follow us on our various official College social media accounts (Instagram and Facebook) to browse through content on campus life!
The best way to get around is using the public transportation system. Yale-NUS is located on several bus lines that can take you directly to many areas downtown. The 196 bus will take you to the Buona Vista MRT (subway) station while the 96 bus will take you to the Clementi MRT station. Both stations are located on the East-West line.To use the bus or subway, you can pay with cash or with an EZ-Link card. (All students will receive an EZ-Link card during Orientation). Once you set-up a bank account here, you can also enable your bank card to pay for the MRT or bus. Public transport is very inexpensive and there are several different smartphone applications you can use to monitor the bus schedules and routes.
Taxis are another popular way to get around Singapore. You can often flag a taxi down from Dover Road or summon one via text message or smart phone app to pick you up at the Yale-NUS entrance. Taxis in Singapore are less expensive than many major cities, but the fees can add up – especially if you use one at night.
You can also use transportation apps such as Grab which allow you to book taxi’s on-demand but also provide the option of private cars and online payment.
I. Health Screening for Singaporean and Singapore Permanent Residents
The health screening can be done
If you choose (a) or (b), you are required to download the Medical Examination Form. Please email the Medical Examination Form and medical reports (if any) that are completed in ENGLISH to NUS UHC at preadm_med@nus.edu.sg by the stipulated deadline.
If you have done a similar health check not more than six months prior, you must still complete and email Part 1 of the prescribed medical report form, together with documentary proof of the earlier medical examination to NUS UHC by the stipulated deadline.
Please contact NUS UHC at preadm_med@nus.edu.sg should you have further query.
Please take note that the health screening cost will be borne by the student whether it is conducted at NUS UHC or at an external clinic.
As a Yale-NUS student, you are enrolled in the NUS Student Undergraduate Health Scheme. The insurance plan includes general outpatient care at the NUS University Health Centre (UHC) and specialist and inpatient care at public hospitals throughout Singapore.
For emergency situations, students are typically taken to National University Hospital (NUH). When travelling outside of Singapore, students are covered on a reimbursement basis for accidental medical issues. When travelling on a Yale-NUS programme, students are provided with additional travel and liability insurance.
Singapore has a world-renowned healthcare system and offers high quality medical care. To learn more about the health insurance scheme, please review the details online.
II. Digital Photo Submission for Student ID Card
Please ensure that your photo is in JPEG format and adheres to the Requirements of Photograph for Online Submission.
If the problem persists, please email a screenshot of the error to Matriculation Team for further assistance.
III. Registration (Part One)
You will receive two separate emails from UGregistration@nus.edu.sg on the first day of Registration (Part One) containing your:
Please contact Matriculation Team if you do not receive the emails.
Please note that your NUSNET account and NUS Email will be activated two days after completion of Registration (Part One). Do remember to change the default NUSNET password at outlook.com/u.nus.edu. This must be done before you can access any system that requires the NUSNET password. You can update your addresses/contact numbers/emergency contact numbers by logging in to myEduRec with your NUSNET ID and password.
If you are having any issues logging in to the system, please contact NUS IT Care at 6516 2080 or email IT Care.
International students will have to make declarations for both sections below:
Students are recommended to appoint a Singapore-based representative. This is very important during an emergency when the student requires surgery/other medical procedures/treatment but is not in the capacity to make any rational decision. As such, in the scenario that you did not appoint any Singapore-based representative, but you have authorised the NUS Officer/Staff to make that decision, they will be able to do so. If the authorization is not given, the NUS Officer/Staff will have to contact your next of kin who might be overseas and unreachable at that critical point in time.
The family gross household income refers to income on a monthly basis, in Singapore dollars (SGD).The information is required by the National University of Singapore (NUS) administration. If you need to make amendments to the information provided after completion of Registration (Part One), please contact the Yale-NUS Financial Aid Team. Staff members at the Yale-NUS Financial Aid Team will assist with amendments and update NUS administration, where necessary.
Your NUSNET account will only be activated two days after completion of Registration (Part One).
Students who have forgotten their default NUSNET password but have not changed it yet can access the Registration (Part One) System to retrieve their password.
Students who have forgotten their NUSNET password after changing the default password can seek help by sending an email to IT Care, stating their full name and Student ID.
Update: 14 May 2021