Dining
Singapore is a food paradise with a wide variety of cuisines. You can find many food courts, hawker centers, and restaurants on campus and around the city. You can find information on campus dining. Below are some popular options on campus:
CDE Staff lounge
If you are a staff, you can go to the Staff Lounge at E4-05-52 for free tea and coffee. The lounge is open from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays. You can also find a microwave there. It
Space Bar@CDE
Space Bar@CDE is our student lounge that is equipped with board games, a pool/air hockey table and Nintendo Switch available for booking. The room is open for booking from 9:30 am to 5:30pm on Mondays to Fridays excluding Public Holidays and University holidays.
Shopping
Furniture and household items
You can find furniture and household items at IKEA, Courts, and Harvey Norman. These stores offer a wide range of products, from furniture to kitchenware. You can find cheaper options at Nitori and Daiso.
Groceries
You can find grocery stores and supermarkets on campus and around the city. Some popular options include:
- FairPrice (medium price, usually located in malls)
- Cold Storage (usually more expensive, but has a wider selection of imported goods)
- Sheng Siong (budget option, usually located in HDB areas)
- Giant (budget option, usually located in malls)
Online shopping
You can also shop online for groceries and other items. Some popular online shopping platforms include:
Second-hand items
You can find second-hand items on Carousell, a popular online marketplace in Singapore.
Transportation
Arrival from Changi Airport
Once you arrive at the Changi Airport and passed immigration, you can take a taxi or Grab to NUS. The taxi fare is around SGD 35-40. You can also take the public transportation from Changi Airport to NUS, but it requires a transfer and takes 1.5-2 hrs.
Public transportation
Singapore has a well-developed public transportation system, including buses and the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system. You can just use your Visa/MasterCard card to pay for your rides or purchase an EZ-Link card. The EZ-Link card can be purchased at MRT stations, convenience stores, and online. For public transport, you can use Google Map or City Mapper.
On campus transportation
There are free internal shuttle buses on campus. You can find more informaiton on Internal Shuttle Bus. You can download the NUS NextBus app from Google Play or Apple Store to check the bus schedule. Also have a look at here for more information about transportation on campus.
Taxi and Grab
You can use Grab, GoJek, and ComfortDelGro app to book a taxi or private car. Taxis are available on campus, and you can find them at the taxi stands. You can also hail a taxi on the street.
Accommodation
- New students are usually provided with university accommodation. These are on campus and cheaper than you rent outside. You should keep your eyes on your email for information about accommodation application. However, the availability of accommodation is limited, and you might need to move out after a year or two. More information can be found on Accommodation.
- For new staf and visitors, you might need to look for accommodation by yourself. Useful websites are PropertyGuru, and 99co. Single rooms are usually 1000-1500 SGD per month and master rooms are usually 1500-2500 SGD per month.
It is recommended to get a place near the campus or some place where you can walk or have direct public transportation to the campus. Popular areas include West Coast, Clementi, Haw Par Villa, and Queenstown.
Healthcare
For healthcare, you can visit the University Health Centre for more information. If you are not feeling well, you can make an appointment online or walk in. The health center provides medical services, vaccinations, and health screenings.
- For student insurance, you can check here.
- For staff insurance, you can check staff portal and click eServices > Medical & Health Choice.
Additional insurance
It is recommended to get additional health insurance if you are not covered by the university insurance because the healthcare cost in Singapore can be high.
Flexible spending account
If you are a staff, you can use the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for your holiday, sports equipment, and other expenses. You can claim up to SGD 600 per year. Don’t forget to use this benefit!
Banking
If you stay in the group for long period of time, you should open a bank account with any major bank in Singapore, such as DBS, OCBC, and UOB. For bank account opening, you will need your passport, student/staff ID, employment letter (for staff), and possibly proof of address (e.g., utility bill or rental agreement). You can find more information on the bank’s website.
Credit card
For staff is also recommended to get a credit card since you can get some benefits such as cashback and discounts. You can apply for a credit card online or at the bank branch.
Mobile payment
Nowadays, you can go out without cash in Singapore. Usually you can use your Visa/MasterCard card (Paywave) to pay for most of the things in Singapore. You can also use Apple Pay or Google Pay to pay with your phone. If you go to Hawker centers or food courts, you can scan the PayNow QR code to pay with your mobile bank app. You can link your bank account to PayNow and transfer money to other people or pay for goods and services. You can also pay with PayLah using the QR code.
Overseas transactions
If you travel overseas, you can use your Visa/MasterCard card to pay for most of the things. However, you should check with your bank about the overseas transaction fees. It is recommended to get a travel card with lower overseas transaction fees, such as Revolut or Wise. These cards allow you to hold multiple currencies and make overseas transactions with lower fees. You should always pay in the local currency to avoid dynamic currency conversion fees.
Mobile plans
You can get a mobile plan from any major telecom provider in Singapore, such as Singtel, StarHub, and M1. However, these are more expensive than the Virtual Network Operators (VNOs) such as Cmlink, Eight, and ZYM. These VNOs provide affordable mobile plans with good coverage and data speed.
Corporate Individual Scheme
Don’t forget to check if they have the Corporate Individual Scheme (CIS) for NUS staff and students, which can provide you with additional discounts and benefits.