USP traces its roots back to the NUS Talent Development Programme (TDP) and the NUS Core Curriculum Programme (CCP). The 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.
NUS College was established in 2022 from two founding programmes, USP and Yale-NUS College. NUS College blends the distinctive qualities of its predecessors with a commitment to broaden access to exceptional educational experiences.
USP was a place defined by a passion for exploration, deep ideas and strong connections. Rooted in synthesis, collaboration and responsibility, it was a community that provided a safe space for students to be curious, critical, courageous and engaged.
Take a look at some of USP’s key developments and achievements from the year 2000 to 2022.
January Appointment of Professor George Landow as USP Dean
September Establishment of the University Scholars Programme (USP)
February Launch of the first USP international programme
July Founding of the University Scholars Club (USC)
January Launch of USP cyberart studio and cyberart artists-in-residence programme
June Appointment of Professor Lily Kong as USP Dean
July The first USC performance at the NUS Rag Day
November First multidisciplinary workshop: Metaphor and contemporary science
December Formation of Scholars Programme Alumni Network (SPAN)
January Launch of Conexus and the opening of USP Writing Centre
March Launch of Folio
June Appointment of Professor Peter Pang as Director of the programme
July Opening of Chatterbox
August First graduating class of USP
January First SPAN Get-Together
April Launch of USP-Australian National University joint degree programme
July Tie-up with Lee Shiu Centre of Intercultural Learning for summer programme
MARCH The first USP academic festival
April The advanced curriculum was enhanced, and USP alumni became part of the panel of USP admissions interviewers
July Launch of USP cultural immersion programme
june Launch of creative writing collaboration with the Virginia G. Piper Centre for Creative Writing, Arizona State University
July First USP commencement ceremony
October Tie-up with Waseda University for USP's cultural immersion options
march Launch of PRISM to publish students’ best research papers
Tie-up with University of Delhi for USP's cultural immersion options
april First book prize and scholarship
October Official launch of USP Honour Rolls
june Appointment of Professor John Richardson as USP Director
August Best NUS RAG float design
September Founding of USP alumni fund
april President Nathan's visit to USP
September Appointment of Master and Rector for USP residential college, and USP celebrated its 10th anniversary
april Launch of USP - The Arts House Singapore creative writing residency and USP’s first overseas internship exchange programme
july Launch of USP peer mentorship programme and the big move to University Town and the establishment of Cinnamon College (USP)
October First USP parents’ night
july Launch of revised USP curriculum
august Admission of law students
October Inaugural run of USP career alumni-student mentorship programme
april First sustained joint student research project between USP and the Faculty of Engineering
august Inaugural fundraising dance marathon “We Will Dance”
january Launch of Connect Tuition
august Dialogue with Minister for Finance and DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam
may Appointment of Associate Professor Kang Hway Chuan as USP Director
july Inaugural Asian Undergraduate Summit, appointment of second Rector and the introduction of The Rector’s programme
August Pilot launch of Double Degree Programme (DDP) with Sciences Po in France
September Visit by then Acting Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung
Appointment of USP Fellows for students and faculty to work together on scholarly projects
April USP’s Writing and Critical Thinking Programme wins a Certificate of Writing Program Excellence
The programme was one of only four recipients, and the first in Asia, to win this prestigious certificate from the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC). Read more about this achievement here
December NUS officially launched the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS), and CHS became a partner with USP, allowing USP students to also apply to CHS
July NUS College was established as a natural evolution of the partnership between its predecessor programmes: USP and Yale-NUS College, Singapore’s first liberal arts college. It combines the distinctive qualities of both institutions
