Getting Settled - August
Registration & Move-In
The week before classes NUS will have a student card collection (DIFFERENT FROM STUDENT PASS). The university will send an email regarding available dates. Sign up as soon as possible so you can select a date that works for your schedule. Once you receive your student card you will need to activate your card. Keep this card handy as you will need it for ID verification, classes, student discounts, and more. I recommend buying a lanyard or keychain that you can keep it on so you do not lose your student card.
Students are allowed to move in one week before the start of school, however, your residence may have camp or bonding activities prior to move-in day. If you wish to check-in earlier, you will need to request an early check-in and pay additional early check-in fees. Similarly, if you will be arriving late you will need to notify the residential office of your intended move-in date. Although PGPR has elevators and stairs, there are a lot of areas that are only accessible via stairs so be prepared to carry your luggage up and down stairs. There may be RAs or other staff available to help but they will be very busy. Their assistance will not be guaranteed so make sure you can carry everything you bring by yourself. PGPR does not distribute physical key cards and will require you to download the NUS Mobile Key App to unlock your door. My mobile key was pretty difficult to use; I often had to try scan my phone 10+ times to get into my building and my dorm room. If you have continuing issues, you can go to the residential office for assistance and they will try to trouble shoot your issues.
The PGPR room is quite bare, a bed, closet, desk, movable night stand with a drawer, ceiling fan, full length mirror, trash can, white board, and small shelf will be provided. You will need to purchase your own linens (bed sheets, pillow, towels, etc.), cleaning supplies, hangers, and anything else you may need for your room. I highly recommend buying Clorox wipes and wiping down your room as it may be very dusty or have cobwebs. If you find your room to be extremely unsanitary upon arrival, you can call housekeeping to clean your room. The residential office should provide their contact information upon check-in. I moved in over the course of four days and purchased items from Ikea, Mustafa Centre, and FairPrice. Depending on what block you move into, only the even blocks in LightHouse received AC. Since I was in Block 29 and did not have AC I bought an additional fan because my room was extremely hot and stuffy.
Bank Account Opening
Opening a bank account in Singapore is quite arduous; I went to the bank about four times within my first two weeks in Singapore.. I opened a Singaporean bank account with DBS because DBS had PayNow, PayLah, and NETSPay (common digital payment platforms similar to Venmo). DBS uses Singpass to verify your identity, however you will not be able to register for a Singpass until you receive your student card, so I went to the the DBS Holland Branch (closest branch to NUS) in-person to open a bank account. I brought tax forms and work stubs from home, my passport, and IPA Letter to confirm my identity and acceptance to NUS. However, you will also need an official letter from your residence in Singapore to confirm your Singaporean residence status. I had to go back to my housing office and request an official letter with my exact address and bring that to the bank the following day. Once I had that letter, I filled out the online form again. DBS also prefers that you use a Singaporean number because it is easier for their system. My phone carrier (AT&T) had locked my SIM card and I was unable to obtain a Singaporean number which made things a little more complicated. Their system is not foreign friendly and you may not receive SMS codes as needed. I ran into this issue and had to work with the staff to verify my account registration. After finally filling out the form and having the appropriate documentation, my account was approved about a week later. It is supposed to take about four days but due to the SMS errors, I had to go back in-person to check on the status of my account application. After getting my account approved, DBS mailed* my physical card about a week later. To activate my card and deposit** money to my account I went back to the Holland DBS. The bank queue is extremely long and on average, I waited about 2 hours each visit to speak with a teller.
*There is no pick-up in person option. Check your mail regularly for the card, they mailed three separate items. PGPR did not allow us to check our own mail so I had to ask my RA to frequently check.
**Do not deposit US currency. If you deposit US currency, directly to your DBS account before exchanging it, you will not receive the currency rate and there will be a 3% service charge. For Example, $100 USD will be $97 SGD (100 SGD – 3 SGD service charge).
Classes
After completing ModReg and submitting my module requests about two weeks before the start of school, I received confirmation of courses on the one day before the start of school. Even though the official guide says the outcome of courses will come out on the first day of school at 9 am, I recommend checking EduRec a few days before to see if it updates sooner (especially if you have a class before 9 am on Monday). On the first day of school you can also appeal, add or drop LECTURES and select TUTORIALS and LABS. Selecting a module is just selecting the time of your lecture; it does not automatically enroll you in a tutorial or lab. You will need to sign up for tutorials and labs separately.
*If you are not receiving business courses, check with the Global Relations Office to see if you are designated as a business student. I was designated as Faculty of Arts and Sciences for the entirety of the semester but received business clearance after a series of emails.*
COVID-19
Unfortunately, at the end of the first week of school, I contracted COVID-19 and had to quarantine. After contacting my RA I was moved to the PGPR quarantine facility, Block 8; luckily, the quarantine was completely free. I promptly packed a suitcase with a weeks worth of clothes, water, and any other supplies* I would need during my time in quarantine. Quarantine room was a private en-suite room with AC, linens, a kettle; NUS also provided three meals daily.
Per NUS’ COVID-19 policy, my housing residential team and faculty was notified of my positive test result contacted. As for my classes, I did not have a Zoom or recorded lectures option since they were in-person. I emailed my professors to notify them of my COVID-19 infection and received any make-up work. I finally tested negative after the seventh day and was released from quarantine.
*If you do need medications in Singapore common over the counter items such as Benadryl, NyQuil, Advil, etc. is not available for purchase. The majority of these items will require a doctor’s prescription. The majority of medication available will be natural or Chinese herbal medicines.
Student Pass (STP VISA)
Since I contracted COVID-19, I missed my student pass pick up date and had to do an offsite pick up. NUS does not retain any uncollected STPs and will require you to go to the ICA Building to pick up your STP. The ICA building is about 40 minutes via MRT from campus. Be prepared to wait at the ICA even if you are just picking up your STP. I only had to wait 45 minutes to pick up my card, but if you are also completing your card formalities plan to be there for an hour or more. I had friends who waited anywhere from one hour to seven hours.
Documents to Bring for PICKING UP ONLY:
· Original passport
· ICA collection slip
Please follow the instructions sent to you via email about completing STP formalities for OSE (off-site enrollment). Check your email regularly and register for your STP formalities as soon as possible so you can get an appointment. This past semester, there were not enough appointments available to accommodate the influx of international students. If you fail to receive an appointment before your IPA expiration, see the PDF email for what may occur.
Student Life Fair (SLF)
Highly recommend attending both days of the Student Life Fair (SLF) if you have time to. The majority of campus organizations will be tabling at SLF and handing out a lot of free stuff. There are also a lot of outside companies tabling and giving away free snacks, apparel, drinks, etc.
SLF is a great way to see the Co-Curricular Activities that NUS offers (this is different from hostel CCAs). If you are interested in learning more about a CCA, you can sign up to join their Telegram or attend their Welcome Tea. I unfortunately got COVID during the Welcome Tea week and could not attend any of the events. However, you can try to reach out to clubs via Instagram, Telegram, or email if you have questions. There are also a lot of orientation events listed on NUSync. Some organizations may have auditions (i.e. CFAs (Centre For the Arts), sports, etc.) to vet applicants. The commitment levels for CCAs vary and can range from weekly virtual meetings to three hour practices every other day.
I also got to meet Hafidz, the Assistant Manager of the Global Relations Office at NUS. I contacted Hafidz throughout the summer and semester regarding my questions and concerns about exchange. He was instrumental at helping me obtain a hostel accommodation and classes. I am very grateful for Hafidz kindness and help throughout my time at NUS.
Centre for the Arts (CFA) Carnival
Similar to the SLF, the Centre for the Arts will provide a specific Arts Carnival to highlight various art clubs such as dance, music, cinematography, painting, acapella, etc. The CFA Carnival was quite large with over 5,000 attendees. I suggest getting there as early as possible so you meet the clubs, collect snacks, and partake in the arts and crafts activities. Throughout the evening various CFA clubs will put on performances, showcase student films, and display student art.
Book Your Ticket for Reading Week!
If you plan to travel during reading week, book your trip by the end of August so you can get cheaper tickets! I booked a ticket to South Korea on Korea Air since I could earn Hawaiian Miles and have a free checked bag and meal. Budget friendly airlines like Scoot and AirAsia can help you save on your airfare. However, read the fine print because you may not get a complimentary bag or get to choose your seat.
August Attraction Highlights
· Marina Bay Sands
· Garden by the Bays* (purchased a season pass since they were having a promotion)
· Merlion Park
· The Jewel at Changi Airport & Canopy Park* (purchased a season pass)
· Holland Village
· Chinatown
· Clarke Quay
· Shangri-La Hotel
· Pop-up Subway Museum
· Raffles Hotel
· City Hall
*I recommend a season pass if you plan on going to these attractions multiple times throughout your time abroad. You can also receive discounts or special rewards.
August Food Highlights
· Haidilao Hot Pot – Order fresh noodles, fried mantou & celebrate your friend’s birthday!
· Chinatown Complex Centre – Xiao Long Bao & Sheng Jian Bao
· A2B Veg Restaurant (Adyar Ananda Bhavan) – Masala Dosa, Paneer 65, Mango Lassi & Jangiri
· Shake Shack – ShackBurger, Fries & Seasonal Berry Frozen Custard
· The Lobby Lounge at Shangri-La – Satay, Carrot Cake, Prawn Roll, Ayam Buah Keluak, Katong Laksa, Prawn Noodle Soup, Hainanese Chicken Rice & Nonya Kueh
· Azabu Sabo Hokkaido Ice Cream – Matcha Ice Cream
· Imakatsu - Premium Pork Loin Cutlet Zen
· Watami Japanese Dining – Beef Hot Pot & Matcha Warabi Mochi
· Mei Heong Yuen Dessert @ Clementi Mall – Strawberry Snow Ice & Mango + Pomelo Sago
· Tai Cheong Bakery – Egg & Pandan Dan Tat
· PGPR Canteen - Chicken Rice, Mala Hot Pot & Fresh Fruit Juices
· The Tea Party @ NUS - Carbonara Pasta
