National University of Singapore: A Day in the Life

To state the obvious, every day is very different. Compared to my studies in London, though, I find that my routine in Singapore is full of a lot more impromptu experiences. Trying to describe a ‘typical’ day will be really, really hard. But I’ll give it a shot.

Roll out of bed and have some breakfast. If, like me, you live in non-catered accommodation, you’ll have the option of either having something in the food court (kaya toast with eggs, a waffle, some fruits, …) or whipping something up for yourself. UTown Residence doesn’t really have a kitchen so I power myself through my mornings with microwaved oats.

Unless it’s exam season, you won’t usually have to wake up early to steal a spot in one of the air-conditioned study spaces around campus. You can also study outside under fans or by the infinity pool. Don’t worry, there is high-speed Wi-Fi and power outlets all over campus. You will be able to build your own timetable, so your day is up to you. You could have classes at 9AM every day, or, like me, only have class on Tuesday. Whatever works for you, baby!

What’s for lunch? Depends. Singapore is generously peppered with food centres so even if you are not on campus, you always have a selection of cheap meals within reach (we’re talking  prices of S$3 to S$6). The food in hawker centres is primarily Chinese, Malay and Indian (like the people of Singapore) but you can also find Thai, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese or “Western” (yeah, like, steak with mac and cheese). That being said, you can also go to a restaurant (that’s typically about S$10 to S$20). Or make something at home. Even without a kitchen, you can get creative with a microwave (sweet potatoes, eggs, rice noodles, …) and add some lettuce, tofu, chickpeas, sweetcorn, nuts, whatever your heart desires. This is not a cooking blog but hit me up if you need ideas. Once you’re done eating, keep doing what you’re doing. The campus is full of great locations—pools, sports halls, gyms, libraries, cafés, climbing and bouldering walls, sports fields, … and much more. You should also definitely join a society or club and have some fun.

A public transport journey costs between S$0.83 to S$1.95, so get out there. Cinemas sell discounted student tickets, Gardens by the Bay have a free light-show twice a day, there are free museums, cheap concert tickets, nature hikes, and amazing clubs and bars (girls, on Wednesdays we club for free!)

If you feel like staying on campus, you can also play board games or watch a movie with friends (TV provided by NUS, thanks).

To conclude… just keep your mind open and seize the opportunities. And honestly, this applies to NUS just as much as it applies to your life now. So get out there. Do stuff!

By: Katerina Kupkova