USP Milestones

USP traces its roots back to the NUS Talent Development Programme (TDP) and NUS Core Curriculum Programme (CCP). TDP was established in 1996 to train future leaders who sought breadth and excellence in undergraduate studies, while CCP was established in 1999 to provide a broad-based education with an emphasis on writing and critical thinking, and an appreciation of the connections between different disciplines. In 2000, NUS announced the establishment of USP after merging TDP and CCP. From July 2022, NUS College was established out of a natural evolution from a partnership between USP and Yale-NUS College. NUS College blends the distinctive qualities of its predecessors with a commitment to broaden access to exceptional educational experiences. We invite you to find out more about NUS College at nuscollege.nus.edu.sg.

USP is a place of passion for exploration. Of deep ideas and strong connections. Of synthesis, collaboration and responsibility. Where USP students belong to a diverse community that is curious, critical and engaged.

Here, we invite you to have a look at some of USP’s key developments from the year 2000 to 2022.

  • 01 Sep 2015

    July 2022

    A New Chapter Begins – NUS College

    NUS College was established out of a natural evolution from a partnership between USP and Yale-NUS College.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Dec 2020

    CHS & USP

    NUS officially launched the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS). CHS becomes a partner to USP and USP students may apply to CHS too.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Sep 2015

    Appointment of USP Fellows

    USP Fellows are specially appointed faculty members from various faculties, schools, and disciplines across NUS. They are committed to scholarship and mentoring students. The aim is to create opportunities for students and fellows to work together in scholarly projects, thereby contributing to USP’s academically vibrant living-and-learning environment.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Sep 2015

    Visit by Acting Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung

    The visit paved the way for Minister Ong Ye Kung to return to USP in February 2016 upon the initiation of USP students, for an intimate dialogue on the theme “The Future of Our Education System”.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Aug 2015

    Pilot Launch of Double Degree Programme with Sciences Po in France

    USP has partnered with Sciences Po, France’s leading university in the social sciences, to introduce a new undergraduate Double Degree Programme (DDP). It is NUS’ first such collaboration with Sciences Po, and also the preeminent French university’s first undergraduate degree programme in the social sciences offered jointly with a Singapore university. A pilot was launched first in August 2015 as both universities geared up to recruit students for the DDP starting from August 2016.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jul 2015

    Appointment of second Rector and Introduction of The Rector’s Programme

    Ms Euleen Goh was appointed the second Rector of Cinnamon College (USP). She started The Rector’s Programme, a series of personal and professional development talks and networking sessions aimed at developing USP students’ intellectual aspirations, career directions and social responsibility beyond the university.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jul 2015

    Inaugural Asian Undergraduate Summit

    Organised by the University Scholars Club, the first student-run international programme of its kind carried the theme “Leadership in a Complex World: The Food, Water and Energy Nexus”. Complex issues faced by Asia formed the crux of discussion at this Summit for about 100 undergraduates from nine universities in Southeast Asia.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    May 2015

    Appointment of Associate Professor Kang Hway Chuan as USP Director

    Associate Professor Kang Hway Chuan from the Department of Chemistry has assumed Directorship of the University Scholars Programme (USP) and concurrently as Master of Cinnamon College since 18 May 2015. Associate Professor Kang have been on joint appointment to USP since its official launch in 2001, and later became one of its longest-serving Deputy Directors (2003-2012). As a key member of the former USP management team, he chaired the USP curriculum committee for six years and led a review which has reshaped its curriculum. He also played a pivotal role in the transition of USP into a residential college.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Aug 2014

    Dialogue with Minister for Finance and DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam

    Under the theme “Beyond Hard Work: Our Evolving Society and Outlook”, the dialogue was initiated by USP students and was attended by more than 100 students across NUS.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jul 2014

    Formation of USP Alumni Society

    At a point where USP has had 10 cohorts of alumni, some alumni got together to form the USP Alumni Society, registering it officially with NUS. The society organises regular activities for alumni to connect and network.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jan 2014

    Launch of Connect Tuition

    Initiated by USP students, this project reaches out to primary and secondary school students living in the Dover interim rental units. Bringing these nearby students to USP every week, the project provides not just free personalised tuition, but also mentoring.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Aug 2013

    Inaugural Fundraising Dance Marathon “We Will Dance”

    Initiated and organised by a group of USP alumni, the Singapore’s first 10-hour fundraising dance marathon raised over S$13,000 for various charities and S$23,000 for the USP Student Assistance Fund — USP Residence.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Apr 2013

    First Sustained Joint Student Research Project between USP and Faculty of Engineering

    A research team called FrogWorks was formed and it successfully converted a petrol-powered motorcycle to one that ran on electric propulsion. With a long-term goal to contribute to the study, design and construction of green technology, it has gone on to similarly convert a yacht and build Singapore’s first personal electric-powered flying machine.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Oct 2012

    Inaugural Run of USP Career Alumni-Student Mentorship Programme

    By carefully selecting and pairing USP students with USP alumni mentors, this programme prepares USP students for the transition from university to the working world.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Aug 2012

    Admission of Law students

    The Faculty of Law became USP’s seventh partner faculty. USP welcomed its first intake of Law students, alongside students from Arts and Social Sciences, Business, Computing, Design and Environment, Engineering, and Science.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jul 2012

    Launch of Revised USP Curriculum

    The USP Curriculum was revised to offer students a clearer and more coherent structure. The new structure consists of three tiers — Foundation, Inquiry and Reflection.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Oct 2011

    First USP Parents’ Night

    USP invited the kith and kin of USP students to its premises.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jul 2011

    The Big Move to University Town and the Establishment of Cinnamon College (USP)

    This began a new chapter for USP. Students learn and live in a distinctive educational environment that supports diverse initiatives, myriad opportunities and a sustained residential experience.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jul 2011

    Launch of USP Peer Mentorship Programme

    First-year USP students are carefully paired with USP seniors who mentor them in academic matters. This fosters a sense of community and facilitates freshmen transition into university life.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jul 2011

    USP moves to the residential college at NUS University Town

    On 8 Jul 2011, the USP moved lock, stock and barrel to its new residential college premises at NUS UTown. Starting Academic Year 2011/2012, USP offers students an integrated living and learning experience.

  • 01 Sep 2015

    Apr 2011

    Launch of USP-The Arts House Singapore Creative Writing Residency

    Young poet Jay Bernard was appointed the first recipient of this residency opened to young writers internationally. The Arts House supports USP as a launch pad for youthful and creative ideas. Thus, a natural partnership forms to strengthen Singapore as an international writing hub.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Apr 2011

    First Overseas Internship Exchange Programme

    This unique collaboration with SP Jain Institute of Management and Research allows USP students to be placed in overseas internship projects in Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in India.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Sep 2010

    10th anniversary of USP

    USP celebrated its tenth birthday on 11 Sep 2010 with a high table reunion dinner that brought together its past and present directors, students and staff, faculty and external partners.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Sep 2010

    Appointment of Master and Rector for USP residential college

    In anticipation of USP’s move to the new University Town and the inclusion of a residential college, USP Director Prof John Richardson was appointed Master of the college and eminent scholar Prof Wang Gungwu was appointed Rector.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Apr 2010

    President Nathan's visit to USP

    USP hosted President Nathan who visited USP on 6 April 2010.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Sep 2009

    Founding of USP Alumni Fund

    USP alumni initiated and set up the USP Alumni Fund to enable deserving and financially needy USP students to apply for funding to pursue a USP Global Programme (GP) activity.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Aug 2009

    Best NUS RAG Float Design

    Up against many bigger and established student clubs across NUS, USC proudly won the NUSSU Challenge Shield for Float Design.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jun 2009

    Appointment of Professor John Richardson as USP Director

    Professor John Richardson was named the director of USP. Before joining USP in June in 2009, he was Vice Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Head of the Department of English Language and Literature. He has served on many university committees, particularly those concerned with the development of curriculum and teaching.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Oct 2008

    Official launch of USP Honour Rolls

    The USP Honour Roll was established to recognize the excellence in intellectual and leadership qualities among USP students who have fulfilled at least half (but not all) of their first-tier curricular requirements. The placement criteria for the USP Honour Roll are: meritorious academic performance; active engagement in USP beyond-the-classroom learning; and significant contributions to the USP community.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Apr 2008

    First Book Prize and Scholarship

    USP industry partner CapitaLand Limited established a book prize and scholarship for USP students.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Mar 2008

    Tie-up with University of Delhi

    The partnership between USP and the University of Delhi marked the third of the USP Cultural Immersion Options
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Mar 2008

    Launch of PRISM

    USP students initiated, edited and published an undergraduate journal that put together the best research papers written by USP students. Featuring a wide variety of papers from diverse disciplines, PRISM is a key USP student publication.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Oct 2007

    Tie-up with Waseda University

    The partnership between USP and Waseda University marked the second of USP's Cultural Immersion Options.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jul 2006

    First USP Commencement Ceremony

    USP held its very first USP Commencement Ceremony at the University Cultural Centre.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jun 2006

    Creative Writing Collaboration with the Virginia G. Piper Centre

    The Creative Writing Collaboration with the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University enabled USP students and alumni to take Creative Writing workshops from two Masters of Fine Arts students from the Piper Centre in June each year. In 2007, the workshops were extended to USP's prospective students in the junior colleges and independent schools in Singapore.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jul 2005

    USP Cultural Immersion Programme

    This programme was introduced following a tie-up with Yuanpei College (then Yuanpei Programme) in Peking University. It was later expanded to Japan (Waseda University in 2007 — USP’s first Double Degree Programme collaboration) and India (University of Delhi in 2008).
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Apr 2005

    Enhancement of the Advanced Curriculum

    USP students who matriculated in AY2004/05 were now able to choose from different Advanced Curriculum options offered: Academic Inquiry, Bicultural Immersion, and Entrepreneurial Development.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Apr 2005

    USP alumni as USP admissions interviewers

    In 2005, USP alumni served as USP admissions interviewers for the very first time.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Mar 2005

    The first USP Academic Festival

    The USP Academic Festival was introduced to support the enhanced Advanced Curriculum. The festival is a summative component that features students' presentations of their scholarly work as well as USP student conferences/workshops.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jul 2004

    Tie-up with Lee Shiu Centre of Intercultural Learning Summer Programme

    In 2004, USP became a partner and co-organiser of the biannual Lee Shiu Centre of Intercultural Learning Summer Programme. The programme aimed to integrate academic research with experiential learning, as well as to cultivate and train future leaders. Thus far, USP has collaborated with Chung Chi College, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and a top university from China. This was the start of many similar tie-ups with top universities around the world, including George Washington University, Tufts University and University of British Columbia.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Apr 2004

    USP-Australian National University Joint Degree Programme

    An agreement with the Australian National University was signed to launch the Joint Degree Programme with a strong focus on research.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jan 2004

    First SPAN Get-Together

    The Scholars Programme Alumni Network (SPAN) Get-Together was organised as an annual reunion to give alumni the chance to catch up with fellow SPAN members and USP staff.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Aug 2003

    First graduating class of USP

    USP graduated its first full batch of students at the NUS 2003 Commencement Ceremonies. More than one-third go on to graduate school and others find employment in NPOs and NGOs, the private and public sectors with many holding prestigious management associate appointments.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jul 2003

    Opening of Chatterbox

    This is USP’s very own student lounge, a place where many USP students and alumni have collective fond memories of.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jun 2003

    Appointment of Professor Peter Pang as Director of the programme

    Peter Pang was named the director of USP. Under his leadership, USP gained substantial international visibility.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Mar 2003

    Launch of folio

    This annual USP publication showcases a select collection of student essays written in USP’s Writing and Critical Thinking modules.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jan 2003

    Opening of USP Writing Centre

    USP was the first in NUS to introduce Writing and Critical Thinking modules. The Writing Centre offers support to USP students in the form of one-to-one writing conferences led by trained writing assistants, who have been nurtured by Writing and Critical Thinking professors.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jan 2003

    Launch of Conexus

    Conexus, a student initiated academic journal, was launched on 8 January by University Scholars Club (USC) to showcase the diversity and quality of work that USP students regularly produce.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Dec 2002

    Formation of Scholars Programme Alumni Network (SPAN)

    SPAN aims to promote alumni interaction and networking.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Nov 2002

    First Multidisciplinary Workshop: Metaphor and Contemporary Science

    The first Multidisciplinary Workshop held on 22 November 2002 was jointly organised by USP and the Faculty of Science to discuss the role of metaphor in science and scientific creativity. The purpose of these workshops is to raise interest for research in multidisciplinary areas.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jul 2002

    The first USC performance at the NUS Rag Day

    As part of NUS Rag and Flag Day, Rag Day showcases the diverse talents of our students in a dazzling display of creativity and artistry. Witnessed by the President of Singapore himself, each faculty club and hall presents a float and dance performance and competes for the coveted Challenge Shield, among other awards. USC's participation signaled the solidarity of the USP student body.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jun 2002

    Appointment of Professor Lily Kong as USP Dean

    Professor Lily Kong was appointed dean of USP. She put in place a joint-appointee faculty appointment and strengthened certain aspects of USP.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jan 2002

    Cyberart Artists-in-Residence Programme

    The programme invited artists interested in research-oriented production of art into the USP Cyberart studio to work on thematically and technologically driven artistic projects. Ms Margaret Tan and Mr Charles Lim (two Singaporean artists) and Ms Lisa Marchenko (Cyberart research assistant) were amongst the first to reside with the University Scholars Cyberart Artists-in-Residence Programme.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jan 2002

    Launch of USP Cyberart Studio

    On 10 January 2002, the USP Cyberart Studio - the first Cyberart facility at NUS and in the region - was opened. It obtained much media coverage. The USP Cyberart studio served as an innovative teaching facility that promoted creativity, innovation and freedom of expression.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jul 2001

    Founding of the University Scholars Club (USC)

    USC is the student club of USP, run and managed by USP students. Its mission is to facilitate the creation of a cohesive community of leaders and thinkers through stronger student, faculty and alumni engagement.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Feb 2001

    Launch of the First USP International Programme

    This paved the way for many future tie-ups with overseas universities and institutional partners all over the world.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Sep 2000

    Establishment of University Scholars Programme (USP)

    With this official announcement by NUS, USP welcomed its first intake of students in Aug 2001. Students under the Talent Development Programme and Core Curriculum Programme also joined USP.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jan 2000

    Appointment of Professor George Landow as USP Dean

    Professor George Landow was named dean of USP. As founding dean, Prof Landow laid the foundation and established the ethos for USP.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jul 1999

    Launch of the NUS Core Curriculum Programme, USP predecessor programme

    NUS launched its new Core Curriculum Programme (CCP), which aimed to broaden undergraduates' knowledge, skills and habits of thought beyond their academic specialisation. The first cohort started classes in July.
  • 01 Sep 2015

    Jul 1996

    First intake of students in the NUS Talent Development Programme

    NUS Talent Development Programme (TDP) received its first intake of students. Directed at students with the potential to become leaders in their respective fields, TDP gave students the opportunity to pursue enhanced or specialised courses through independent study and/or research.

LOAD MORE
Scroll to Top