Student Activities at a Glance

Four students (3 male and 1 female) in Yale-NUS t-shirts in the multipurpose hall in front of a white board with several pictures of sports teams. Right-most student is holding a rugby ball. There is a table with jersey and two computers on top.

Student Activities at a Glance

Yale-NUS was a vibrant hub of activity, with a wide variety of events and activities taking place.

Students could always find something to do or, if necessary, they could round up a group of like-minded friends and arrange a new activity themselves. And due to the College’s residential nature, these events could happen throughout the evenings and weekends too.

This helped to build a sense of community, with students taking the lead in forming organisations, organising events and bonding over mutual interests, whether they were artistic, cultural, sporty or just fun ways to relieve the stress of classes.

Despite the College’s short history, events like ‘Bread and Jam’, the ‘Inter-Faculty Games’, and ‘Beach Plz’ quickly became established as College traditions and part of the social fabric of the community, with their organisation being passed down from one Year Group to the next.

Activities Posters

So many activities took place that the College’s lifts were famous for being covered in posters advertising all the events. There was even an exhibition of some of the more striking posters.

An animated gif of Roy Lara showing the posters on the walls of a lift.

There’s a whole bunch of things you can join, a lot of things you can just go and hang out, and a lot of free food, and that’s amazing!

First-year student Roy Lara (Class of 2023) explains how to find new activities to join by looking at the lift posters.

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Student Organisations

Student organisations (known as StuOrgs) were a vital part of this campus community: at times there were over 50 student-led organisations, and in many years over 75% of the students were involved in at least one organisation.

Although StuOrgs received funding from the College, they were entirely independent and student-run. They helped students to forge friendships, develop their interests and find new passions to pursue.

Over 55 Student Organisations

Dean of Students Dave Stanfield describes the range of StuOrgs at the College.

Dave Stanfied, wearing a blue shirt, smiles cheerfully against a backdrop of vibrant plants.

Thimali Bandara in pink t-shirt and glasses.

Vibrant Student Life

First-year student Thimali Bandara (Class of 2024) talks about the student organisations she joined at the College.

Khoo Hoon Eng stands in front of a staircase, exuding grace and strength in her posture.

Oral History Interview

Associate Professor of Science (Life Sciences) and Rector Khoo Hoon Eng discusses how student organisations were student-initiated and led.

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Student Activities Fairs

Student activities fairs were a great way to find new student organisations to join. Each student organisation had a booth where they would try to attract new members.

At Student Activities Fair 2017, an exhibition with three easels with a yellow ribbon connecting them from the tip in the multipurpose hall. There are several students around.

A stall for Southeast Asian society at the Student Activities Fair, several brochures and a red fan on the table.

Stories at a Glance

Due to the freedom students had to create their own StuOrgs, and the support they received from the College administration, there was always a huge range of activity options available. Students could practise all sorts of creative arts, or they could get involved with good causes within the College or the wider Singaporean community. Activities could be serious, educational or just a chance to hang out with friends and have fun.