The four Critical Competencies and three Global Orientation courses are the foundation of the NUS College curriculum and are intended to be read within the first two years. Although students have some flexibility in choosing their pathway through the curriculum, you are encouraged to complete the foundational curriculum while in residence to take advantage of in-house academic resources, and to immerse yourself in our close-knit intellectual community.

The objective of these courses is to provide the opportunity for students to apply or practise the skills they learned from the Common Curriculum, especially in ways that complement students’ own disciplinary backgrounds.

Making Connections courses are divided into two domain categories: Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). HSS courses are NHS-coded and STEM courses are NST-coded. Other categories include Creative (NHT).

Students will take courses from both domains to fulfil the elective requirements in NUS College.

Impact Experiences (IEx) is designed as a required, eight-unit capstone course that is all about the way we make a positive difference to the world.

Students will work in interdisciplinary teams to collaborate with non-profit partners and innovate future solutions for the benefit of communities and society – in Singapore and beyond. IEx is envisioned as a two-year course so that student groups, stakeholders, partners, and community, can have more time to realise the impact of their projects.

Students also engage with community partners to design, pitch and execute their projects. At the end of the course, students will showcase their findings and reflections in an Impact Festival under the guidance of the Creative Practices Collective.

To receive an NUS College graduation certificate, students have to meet the following requirements:

1. Completing the NUS College courses required for pairing with your major,

2. Fulfilling the compulsory Global Pathways requirement,

3. Completing your degree programme with at least Honours (Merit), and

4. Fulfilling the compulsory two-year residential requirement at NUS College.