Sunday, April 25, 2010

Guide for International Students to NUS

Compiled a guide for a friend from Kuching who is coming to NUS. So thought of sharing it here with everyone.

Warning: This note might not be up-to-date by the time you read. Check NUS official website for precise information.



1. Admission Application
Unless this is your first step in finding out information about "getting in to NUS", the following links will not be useful to you :)
Computing Degrees - www.comp.nus.edu.sg/undergradprog/degree.shtml


2. Accommodation
Have you applied for accommodation? (The application deadline usually is in end-of-May or early-June). In-case you don't know, there are 3 accommodation options - "Student Residence", "Halls of Residence" and "yoHa".
The application website can be found here http://www.nus.edu.sg/osa/housing/index.html
The locations of the residences in campus can be found here http://www.nus.edu.sg/campusmap/. 
► Student Residence (in campus)
There are 3 Residences in NUS. Prince George's Park Residences, Ridge View Residences, and Kuok Foundation House. 
► Halls of Residences (in campus)
There are 6 Halls in NUS. Eusoff Hall (EH), Kent Ridge Hall (KR), King Edward VII Hall (KE7), Raffles Hall (RH), Sheares Hall (SH), and Temasek Hall (TH).
► yoHa (off campus at Commonwealth drive and Boon Lay) 
For me, I stayed in Hall (called Kent Ridge Hall) throughout my 4 years in NUS. It is one of the Halls nearest to School of Computing building (building name: Com1 - http://gothere.sg/maps#q:Kent%20Ridge%20Hall%20to%20Com1%20school%20of%20computing). 
There are quite a number of Kuching people stays here too! Yeekiat (Year 4, graduating), Moses(Year 4, graduating), Jacky (Year 2)... many more... :)

Halls are more vibrant compare to Student Residences. I would personally suggest you to go to the website of each Halls of Residence, to find out more about the activities available in each Halls. Theres an brief write-up on Halls of Residence at www.funkygrad.com/campus/displayarticle.php?artID=761&subcat=rave, with some interesting facts about each Halls. 

Do take note of the Orientation for Faculties, and Halls (Yeah, there 2 two Orientations for you to join). Besides orientation games, there will be sharing session (from seniors) for Freshman to know more about the courses, modules registration, etc. Its very useful. Do a Google search, you will find all the Orientation websites for Faculties and Halls.


3. Financial matters
I believe you know about the NUS scholarship/financial aid website at http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/scholarships-financialaid/financialaid/financial-aid-package.html. All the informations are in the website and self-explanatory, especially the flow chart in "Financial Aid Package" section.

Do take note on the NUS Notebook Ownership Scheme for interest-free loan (up to $2000) http://www.nus.edu.sg/comcen/notebook/purchase/interestloan.html. 

You will need to apply for a Singapore bank account when you are here in Singapore. The local bank for Singapore is DBS. But don't worry for the time being, seniors here will guide you along the way.


4. Few links that I think is useful for freshman/international students

► Maps and public transit guide to travel around NUS/Singapore. Its a (very accurate) website for you to locate routes in Singapore.
For example: From Changi Airport to NUS - http://gothere.sg/maps#q:changi%20to%20nus%20central
For example: From Causeway (JB) to NUS - http://gothere.sg/maps#q:causeway%20to%20NUS%20central

► Things that computing freshman should know.

► My blog post when I first came to NUS (Kent Ridge Hall). Haha
http://stiucsib86.blogspot.com/2006/07/life-in-singapore.html

► Twitter is also a good way to post your questions and get quick answers.
NUS Office of Student Affairs (OSA) - http://twitter.com/nusosa
NUS School of Computing Club (CompClub) - http://twitter.com/nuscompclub
My compiled list of NUS affiliated twitter accounts - http://twitter.com/stiucsib86/nus-affiliations/members
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