NUS students get afternoons off on Wednesday as part of holistic education

There will also be new sports-themed hostel to build an active and inclusive community

- Gabrielle Chan

Come August, most students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) will be able to enjoy Wednesday afternoons off, as part of a fresh initiative by the university to provide a more holistic student experience.

The move is part of the new NUSOne approach, which will be rolled out in the new academic year. It aims to ease the transition into university life for freshmen, and encourage greater self-directed personal growth and development from the first year.

NUS took in more than 7,400 freshmen in 2023.

Most undergraduate students can look forward to a protected time slot from 3pm to 6pm on Wednesdays, for them to take part in out-of-classroom and other student activities, said NUS on June 28. Exceptions to this include students with classes that require special venues like laboratories.

But plans for more students to access this time slot will be developed as NUSOne is rolled out progressively.

There will also be a new sportsthemed hostel, Valour House, that will be ready come August 2025. It will be a space for athletes and sports enthusiasts to find community among people with similar interests.

Opening in NUS' Kent Ridge campus, next to the university's sports centre, the hostel will be able to take up to 600 residents. Of the spaces, 50 per cent will be given to athletes and individuals who show sporting excellence, and the rest to other students.

"By emphasising community sports, Valour House seeks to build an active and inclusive community bonded through shared athletic experiences," NUS said.