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| Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (NUS) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences |
| Established | 1980 |
| Type | Public |
| City | Singapore |
| Country | Singapore |
| Campus | National University of Singapore |
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (NUS)
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is a major academic division within National University of Singapore, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs across humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplinary studies. It traces roots to earlier liberal arts and social science initiatives that interacted with regional institutions such as University of Malaya, Nanyang University, and collaborations with international centres like University of Cambridge and University of Oxford. The faculty contributes to scholarly discourse connected to Southeast Asian studies, linking with institutions such as Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Yale-NUS College, and regional partners including Chulalongkorn University, University of Indonesia, and Australian National University.
The faculty's formation followed curricular reforms associated with National University of Singapore restructurings, reflecting influences from colonial-era institutions like Raffles College and postwar developments involving University of Malaya. Early leadership included scholars trained at University of London, Harvard University, and Columbia University, establishing departments modeled after faculties at University of Toronto and University of Edinburgh. Over decades the faculty expanded through initiatives inspired by comparative projects such as the Asian Values debates and regional networks including the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning. Institutional milestones involved partnerships with cultural organizations like the National Museum of Singapore and public policy bodies such as the Ministry of Education (Singapore).
The faculty comprises departments with curricula reflecting traditions from Department of History (University of Oxford) and area studies akin to School of Oriental and African Studies. Departments include Department of Economics (NUS), Department of Geography (NUS), Department of Political Science (NUS), Department of Sociology (NUS), Department of Psychology (NUS), Department of Philosophy (NUS), Department of English Language and Literature (NUS), Department of Malay Studies (NUS), Department of Chinese Studies (NUS), Department of South Asian Studies (NUS), and language units offering courses related to Japanese studies at University of Tokyo and Korean studies at Seoul National University. Programmes range from single honours mirroring curricula at University of California, Berkeley to interdisciplinary double degrees similar to arrangements with Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore and joint initiatives with Yale University and Peking University.
Research centres within the faculty coordinate scholarly agendas comparable to centres at Stanford University and London School of Economics. Notable centres include the Asia Research Institute (NUS), a hub for projects related to Southeast Asian Studies, the Institute of South Asian Studies (NUS), and specialised units focusing on urbanisation and heritage linked to bodies like UNESCO. Collaborative projects involve think tanks such as Institute of Policy Studies (Singapore) and international grants from foundations including the Ford Foundation and Asia-Europe Foundation. Research outputs engage with global debates at conferences alongside participants from International Studies Association, American Historical Association, and Association for Asian Studies.
The faculty is based on the Kent Ridge campus of National University of Singapore, with facilities comparable to faculties at University of Hong Kong and infrastructure hosting seminars in auditoria named after benefactors like the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine donors. Amenities include specialised libraries linked to the National Library Board (Singapore), language labs modeled on those at SOAS University of London, and archives working with partners such as the National Archives of Singapore. The faculty's physical spaces support exhibitions in collaboration with institutions like the ArtScience Museum and venues used for public lectures featuring speakers from Harvard Kennedy School and Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales.
Student societies draw inspiration from civic groups such as Habitat for Humanity chapters and debate traditions tied to competitions like the World Schools Debating Championships. Associations include cultural clubs reflecting ties to communities represented by Chinese Chamber of Commerce and language societies akin to student organisations at University of Tokyo. Student governance coordinates with university-wide bodies such as the NUS Students' Union and participates in exchange programmes with partners including Universitas Indonesia and National Taiwan University. Career development events feature recruiters from regional employers like Temasek Holdings and multinational partners such as UNDP and World Bank.
Faculty and alumni have engaged with institutions and events including the Parliament of Singapore, ASEAN forums, and international media outlets like the BBC and The New York Times. Scholars have published with presses such as Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, and Routledge, and alumni have held positions at organisations including Monetary Authority of Singapore, Singapore Management University, and diplomatic postings at missions to United Nations. Prominent names are associated with awards like the Singapore Book Prize and fellowships including those from the British Academy and Fulbright Program.
Admissions align with national standards overseen by bodies like the Ministry of Education (Singapore) and entrance examinations comparable in selectivity to programmes at University of Melbourne and National Taiwan University. The faculty and its departments feature in international rankings by organisations such as QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education, and subject listings in the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy.