The University Scholars Programme (USP) is a multidisciplinary, partially residential, academic programme for NUS undergraduates. An honours programme, the USP is committed to providing a vast array of diverse opportunities for students to challenge themselves intellectually, socially, and personally. Students have the freedom to explore across disciplines, to pursue their passions and ambitions, and to lead and participate in a wide range of extracurricular and overseas programmes. All USP students take USP classes at the USP residential college located at NUS University Town, and many live in the residences there. Each year, 180 incoming undergraduates join our community of motivated and exceptional students.

My Major + USP

Students admitted to USP are concurrently enrolled in one of seven faculties or schools in NUS – Arts and Social Sciences, Business, Computing, Design and Environment, Engineering, Law and Science. They earn 30% of their academic credits in USP, and 70% in their home faculty or school. The total workload is the same as that of any other NUS undergraduate.

USP Curriculum

USP offers a wide range of interdisciplinary modules, and students can choose from a wide selection of interdisciplinary modules on topics as diverse as Human Relations, Evolution, Simplicity, Leadership in a Complex World, Disasters and Responses, and Cyberart. USP’s interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to offer students support and flexibility at every stage of their interdisciplinary studies. To this end, the foundation modules focus on writing, critical thinking and quantitative reasoning skills, which form the framework for complex ideas and arguments to build upon. The inquiry and reflection modules further develop interdisciplinary inquiry by encouraging students to delve more deeply into their areas of interest through research, expeditions, overseas academic exchanges and entrepreneurial internships. All Modules are held in small seminars and rely on strong interpersonal interaction and vigorous discussion. Keeping class sizes to 12 to 35 students facilitates a learning experience that is at once both targeted and collaborative, and brings about meaningful interactions with professors and among students.

Overseas Experiences

USP encourages, and provides financial support for numerous overseas initiatives. These include exchange programmes at universities such as Harvard, Yale, Delhi, Waseda, Princeton, Sciences Po, Beida, and the Australian National University; expeditions to destinations such as the Himalayas, Cambodia, and Turkey; and overseas field trips.

USP Residential College

Multidisciplinary learning is richly integrated with residential living at the USP residential college (RC). Located in the NUS University Town, the RC houses a residential block, two learning lobes and offices, a multi-purpose hall, dining hall, reading room, and student lounges. Students take USP modules that are held in the RC premises. Its facilities and programmes are designed to cultivate an open and supportive environment that meets and develops students’ needs and interests. Through organizing and participating in the wide array of events and activities hosted at the RC, interacting with diverse groups of people, and enjoying moments of solitude and reflection, USP students have the opportunity to create and develop close bonds of community and belonging.

All USP students will stay at the USP residential college in year one and a second year of their choice. Some will stay on thereafter.