NUS120 Open House brings enthusiastic crowds to NUS campuses
March 14, 2025
One of the University’s largest events of the year, the NUS120 Open House 2025 held on 8 March 2025 saw over 21,000 visitors pack the Kent Ridge and Bukit Timah campuses for a vibrant, informative and diverse showcase of what NUS has to offer.
Coinciding with NUS’ 120th anniversary this year, the event, which included a six-day virtual segment, provided a glimpse into the distinctive educational approach of Singapore’s first higher education institution and flagship university.
Kicking off the online segment from 1 to 6 March were virtual talks by the Office of Admissions that acquainted prospective students with the University’s educational offerings. These include over 60 bachelor’s degree programmes, interdisciplinary and flexible pathways, as well as opportunities for career development and global experiences. Talks, webinars and social media sessions by NUS Business School, NUS Law and the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health were among the other presentations that took place during the online Open House.
The on-campus event saw throngs of prospective students and parents turn up to explore the various facets of NUS’ academic and student life. From programme booths, talks and masterclasses, to student life performances, campus tours and residential showcases, visitors got a taste of the well-rounded experience at NUS.
Nicole Yeo, a graduate from River Valley High School, said, “The Open House has provided me a glimpse into the school culture and I managed to clear my doubts, enabling me to make a more informed decision about my applications.
“I found the booths the most informative as not only were the programme booklets useful, the faculty members and students there were very eager to share with me about their programmes and answer my queries,” said Nicole, who is considering majors in Environmental Studies, Geography and Environmental and Sustainability Engineering.
From a robotics fair to an International Women’s Day symposium and a display of NUS’ cutting-edge innovations, these were just some highlights from the Open House.
Robots revolutionising life, work and play
The College of Design and Engineering’s (CDE) showcase included an exciting Robotics Fair, featuring robots that transform the way we live, work and play spread over 29 booths and complemented by novel robot demonstrations and displays. Among the projects were an AI-powered system that enhances eye surgery precision based on deep learning methods; the HEXR Glove, a revolutionary haptic device that mimics the sensation of touch by recreating realistic tactile sensations; and industrial exoskeletons that employ advanced sensors and algorithms to reduce the risk of workplace injury.
Role of universities in shaping gender equity
With the Open House coinciding with International Women’s Day, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences hosted a symposium discussing gender equity entitled “Accelerating Action: Transforming Knowledge into Impact”. Bringing together Dr Adelyn Lim, Associate Professor Michelle Lazar, Associate Professor Kamalini Ramdas and Dr Suriani Suratman, it highlighted the role universities can play in driving meaningful change and challenging entrenched gender norms through research, education and community engagement.
Impactful and interactive innovations
Visitors had the chance to interact with innovative projects by students and researchers at CDE, NUS College and the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) that are making a real-world impact at The NUS120 Experience – Innovation and Impact Hub.
On display was an impressive R24E-model racecar project by NUS Formula SAE, a group of passionate CDE undergraduates who design, build and race a Formula-style race car every year. Prospective students tried their hand at building bamboo structures guided by Team Aruga from NUS College’s Impact Experience Philippines (IExPhilippines) programme, which champions bamboo as a sustainable solution for green economic development. CHS showcased marine biodiversity enhancement units developed by its Experimental Marine Ecology Lab, a form of ecological engineering of artificial coastal structures that support marine life.
Engineering the future of robotics
This year, the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) introduced the new Bachelor of Engineering in Robotics and Machine Intelligence, which will receive its first intake in August, at a combined talk for the Robotics & Machine Intelligence, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial & Systems Engineering, and Systems Engineering programmes.
Prospective students learnt how the new robotics engineering specialisation will equip students with versatile skillsets that integrate mechanical, electrical and computer engineering with data science and artificial intelligence. Associate Professor Peter Chan also shared how the programme will prepare students for the future of intelligent robotics, through careers in industries such as defence, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare and consumer electronics.
Pavithra Kannan from Raffles Institution, who plans to apply to Mechanical Engineering, found the talk informative. “I managed to learn about the course and possible career prospects. It was interesting to see how diverse the curriculum could be considering you can take different minors and specialisations to truly customise your own curriculum,” she said.
Over at CDE’s talk for Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Industrial Design, lecturers elaborated on the depth and breadth of the comprehensive curricula, faculty expertise, and career prospects for graduates, giving prospective students a well-rounded idea of the diverse skillsets and capabilities they will acquire.
Getting an edge in AI
Making its debut at the Computing showcase was the new Bachelor of Computing in Artificial Intelligence(AI) degree programme, also launching in August. Providing a strong foundation in mathematics, computer science and AI fundamentals, it will enable students to pursue specialisations in areas like robotics, computer vision and bioinformatics, opening doors to careers as AI engineers, machine learning engineers and data scientists.
Students also heard about the Bachelor in Business AI Systems programme. A revamp of the Information Systems degree, it involves solving business problems with AI systems and digital innovation. The programme offers three specialisations – AI governance and management, digital product and platform management, and financial technology – as well as internships with start-ups and multinational companies.
A convergence of humanities and sciences
The College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS), comprising the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) held talks throughout the day on its extensive range of programmes spanning the sciences, social sciences, humanities and languages.
Life Sciences – one of the biggest majors within CHS – presented its comprehensive programme that offers students the option of two specialisations: Biomedical Sciences; and Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity. Along with a range of minors like Aquatic Ecology and Forensic Science, it aims to nurture versatile scientists for careers in fields such as biotechnology, food security and environmental sustainability.
The joint programme talks organised by FASS included a Geography and Global Studies session that compared the two programmes. Highlighting their shared multidisciplinary approach, it contrasted Geography’s focus on the environment and society with Global Studies’ close examination of globalisation’s effects, emphasising the differing skill sets and career paths.
Interdisciplinary insights
Along with talks and college tours, NUS College, Singapore’s first honours college, hosted special classes to showcase its stimulating interdisciplinary curriculum.
In Dr Roweena Yip’s class, “Tragedy, Culture, and Society”, students examined how societies are transformed by tragic events, using art, literature and pop culture to analyse the concept through historical, political and emotional dimensions. During Dr Chan Kiat Hwa’s class on nuclear waste and their implications on safety and acceptance, students explored the scientific basis of nuclear energy, the different approaches for storage and disposal, and the profound challenge of warning future generations of the long-term risks present in nuclear waste sites.
Prospective students also explored various avenues for artistic expression. In line with the new Arts For All framework, which aims to integrate the arts more deeply into student life and the academic journey at NUS, the myriad of opportunities for participation in the arts were discussed at a talk by the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music.
Various second major programmes and academic pathways were shared, such as the Second Major in Audio Arts and Sciences, which develops students into skilled audio engineers and sound designers with both technical expertise and an understanding of music. Prospective students also heard about the NUS Centre for the Arts’ Second Major in Performing Arts, which prepares students for careers not only in the performing arts but in the arts industry and beyond, through real-world performance experience and vocational learning.
Those interested in starting a healthcare career had the chance to discover NUS’ academic programmes in Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy and gain insights from alumni in the industry about their professional journeys. Pharmacy, which offers the only degree programme in Singapore training undergraduates as registered pharmacists, held a talk discussing the multi-faceted roles of pharmacists across different sectors, from healthcare and research to manufacturing and regulation. Nursing’s immersive special class employed virtual reality simulations and hands-on training using a mannequin, giving students the chance to try their hand at various clinical procedures.
At Bukit Timah Campus, students joined Law's ever-popular mock moot and attended masterclasses on legal topics such as criminal justice and international arbitration.
NUS’ strong entrepreneurial culture was also underscored through NUS Enterprise’s showcase of key initiatives like NUS Overseas Colleges, NUS Enterprise Summer and Winter Programmes in Entrepreneurship, and BLOCK71, highlighting the University’s vibrant innovation ecosystem and the many opportunities for budding entrepreneurs to tap on its networks.
For the first time, the programme included a fireside chat featuring Olympic champion Joseph Schooling, which saw him share about his life journey and emphasise the importance of self-belief, family support, and taking calculated risks. He also credited his Olympic achievement to dedication and pushing boundaries— attributes that are core to entrepreneurship.
Spotlight on student and campus life
Visitors at the Student Village were treated to a vibrant kaleidoscope of performances and showcases from diverse student clubs and interest groups, featuring some of NUS’ brightest talents in the performing arts. Serenading visitors across a range of genres including pop, rock, indie and R&B were the Sheares Band and Raffles Hall’s acapella group RHythm, along with other acts.
The performances and activities gave visitors a taste of NUS life beyond academics, driving home the mission of NUS’ latest NUSOne initiative, which aims to encourage greater self-directed personal growth and development among students, as well as synergise the University’s formal classroom learning with out-of-classroom experiences.
Masters, Resident Fellows, and student leaders from the Residential Colleges (RC), Halls, and Houses were also present to offer prospective students the inside scoop through talks, sample classes and guided tours.
NUS’ two newest residential units also made their debut at this year’s Open House. Valour House showcased its active and inclusive culture with an informative booth and exciting games and prizes. Acacia College, an upcoming RC focusing on artificial and human intelligences, shared how students will explore the relationship between AI and all facets of life and work while acquiring AI-related skills.
Besides engaging prospective students with anecdotes of on-campus living and information on their signature initiatives and pastoral care, the hostels also showcased the diverse student life and interest groups available, such as the uplifting band performances by the College of Alice and Peter Tan and Tembusu College.
Amber Lee, a graduate of Victoria Junior College who is considering Ridge View Residential College (RVRC) and Tembusu College, found the RC booths helpful. “There were many professors and students in the programme enthusiastically answering my questions of anything and everything about the RC, such as the professor at the RVRC booth who gave me a very thorough breakdown of modules and type of content taught at RVRC.”