Get to the National University of Singapore (NUS) fast and affordably with this detailed article!
Welcome to the step-by-step guide on how to get to National University of Singapore by MRT.
We have written this detailed article to get you right in the heart of NUS’ Kent Ridge Campus fast, affordably, and without any headaches. As you probably already know, the National University of Singapore is one of the best universities in the world.
Tons of faculty, students, and visitors make their way to NUS daily. Therefore, you need to know how to get there fast and efficiently in an environmentally friendly manner such as the MRT. You can take Singapore’s MRT to all the top attractions such as museums, theme parks and amusement parks.
The National University of Singapore is not located right in downtown Singapore where the city’s top hotel are located. Instead, it is west of the city centre in an area west of Kent Ridge Park. Knowing which MRT lines to take and which stations to use will save you some serious time getting there.
National University of Singapore (NUS)
The National University of Singapore (also known as NUS) is Singapore’s oldest higher education institution. It was founded in 1905 and is ranked among the best Universities in Asia-Pacific and the top 80 in the world. It
NUS is well known for being an excellent research university, offering many programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Some of the most popular programmes include:
Sciences
Medicine
Dentistry
Design and environment
Law
Arts and social sciences
Engineering
Business
Computing
Music
This article will outline how to get to the National University of Singapore by MRT, but you need to know that these directions will get you to the main campus.
NUS’ main campus is located in southwestern Singapore and adjacent to Kent Ridge. It spans an area of 370 acres (150 ha).
The National University of Singapore also has other campuses in Outram, Bukit Timah and UTown, but the main campus is in the Kent Ridge area. Don’t make the mistake of going to the incorrect campus!
Specific Details – Getting to National University of Singapore by MRT
Step 1: Find the nearest MRT station.
The National University of Singapore welcomes people from all over the world. Many students and faculty are Singaporean, but many nationalities are going there daily.
If you are living in the city, then simply find the closest station to where you are! But, if you are visiting Singapore, you must book a hotel that is conveniently located close to an MRT station.
You don’t want to walk too far if you wear business attire for your visit to NUS. Try to find a comfortable place to stay within 500 metres or less of a station.
We have provided some hotels below that are popular amongst tourists visiting the city. They are only within 3 minutes of neighbouring MRT stations:
Conrad Centennial Singapore (5-star)(very close to Promenade Station)
Ascott Raffles Place (5-star) (very close to Raffles Place Station)
Marina Bay Sands (5-star) (very close to Bayfront Station)
There are many other places to stay near MRT stations in Singapore, so take your time and find the right spot for you and your companions!
Once your accommodation is sorted, walk to the nearest station and begin your MRT trip to the main campus of the National University of Singapore.
Step 2: Buy a ticket or multi-use card for your trip to the National University of Singapore.
If you are a Singaporean or a permanent resident, you already likely have an MRT card. Make sure that you have it topped up for your trip to NUS.
But, if you are visiting from abroad, you will have to decide on the type of ticket you want to buy.
Consider these three main questions when you are buying an MRT ticket to the National University of Singapore:
How long are you staying in Singapore? More or less than three days?
Do you plan on sightseeing in many areas of the city aside from NUS?
Do you plan on riding a bus or walking from the MRT to NUS?
There are two main types of tickets for the MRT. Each one has some pros and cons, so take a look at the information below and select the one that suits you best.
- Singapore Tourist Passes
- Stored value cards
Related Article: The detailed guide for the best information about buying MRT tickets in Singapore.
Singapore Tourist Passes are an excellent choice if you are a foreign visitor with busy plans within the city. And, by busy we mean going for many trips around the city every day.
When you buy a Singapore Tourist Pass, you can enjoy unlimited MRT, LRT and bus rides. You can use them for any combination of bus and MRT on the way to the National University of Singapore. Typically, they are purchased for 1-3 days, depending on the length of your stay in Singapore. If you are going to various conference sessions at NUS over 3 days there might be a good choice.
INSIDER TIP: Try to book a multiple attraction pass to use alongside your transportation pass. At the time of writing, already over 200,000 of these have been sold because you can save up to 52% on entrance tickets. All you need to do is buy multiple passes online in advance to get the discounts.
Other Ticket Options
You can purchase a stored-value card if you plan on travelling throughout Singapore for more than 3-days. Picture these as a ‘top-up’ and ‘go’ type of deal.
We used a stored value card while we figured out how to get to National University of Singapore by MRT. The important thing about this card is you want to have some extra balance on it, so you don’t even have to worry about topping it up.
Therefore, try to avoid peak travel times when ticketing machines are busy purchasing a single-trip ticket.
Read More: How to buy Singapore Tourist Passes – The Complete Guide
Step 3: Plan on travelling to Kent Ridge, Clementi or Buona Vista MRT Station to get to NUS.
The closest and most convenient station to getting to the National University of Singapore is Kent Ridge Station. However, there are also bus services from Clementi and Buona Vista Station that the university recommends to visitors as other options.
You can identity these stations on the MRT map in your first station or online. Begin planning any necessary transfers for your trip to NUS.
Step 4: Take the MRT to Kent Ridge, Clementi or Buona Vista MRT Station.
Kent Ridge Station (CC24) is located along the Circle Line which is shown in orange colour on the MRT map. If you are travelling from downtown Singapore (Marina Bay, for instance) to NUS, then you will stop at Haw Par Villa Station directly before Kent Ridge. The adjacent station north of Kent Ridge is one-North.
Clementi Station (EW23) is West of the National University of Singapore. It is located on the East-West Line, which is green on the map. Dover and Jurong East are its neighbouring stations.
Buona Vista Station is two stations north of Kent Ridge. It is part of two lines, the East-West (Green) and the Circle Line (Orange). Since it connects these two important MRT lines, many people transfer here to access different areas of West Singapore.
Step 5: Alight at your preferred station.
Select either Kent Ridge, Clementi or Buona Vista as your terminal station with reference to your starting point.
Once you arrive, alight from the train and bring along your personal belongings.
Step 6: Exit the station and take the bus or walk to the National University of Singapore.
Of the three MRT stations, Kent Ridge is the closest. Therefore, it’s possible to either walk or ride the bus from here to NUS.
Walking directions from Kent Ridge Station to the National University of Singapore:
Kent Ridge MRT station has four exits (A, B, C and D) to choose from. Exit A and B lead to street level. Take Exit A and walk north along Lower Kent Ridge Road. You will first walk by the Medical wing of the campus, and then have the choice of where to go by taking a left (west). Remember, the National University of Singapore campus at Kent Ridge is large, so you should know exactly where you are going beforehand!
Bus directions from Kent Ridge Station to the National University of Singapore:
There are numerous bus services from Kent Ridge Station to NUS. There are dedicated buses for the university and also some public buses going from the station.
After you take Exit A from the station you can transfer to the following buses:
ISB A1
ISB D2
Service 95 (at Bus Stop (3) outside Exit A)
Expect the ride to be short (under 5 minutes).
Bus directions from Clementi MRT Station to the National University of Singapore:
To get from Clementi to the National University of Singapore you should use Exit A and walk to the Clementi Bus Interchange. From the Clementi Bus Interchange transfer to Service 96. Then, ride the bus to NUS.
How long does the bus ride take from Clementi MRT Station to National University Singapore?
Bus directions from Buona Vista MRT Station to the National University of Singapore:
Take Exit D from the station. Walk across Buona Vista Road in front of the Ministry of Education Building. Transfer to Service 95 at bus stop 3. Take the bus to NUS.
Please take note that there are other buses going to the National University of Singapore. We are focusing on the recommended services from the official university website.
How long does the bus ride take from Buona Vista MRT Station to National University Singapore?
Which station is the best for getting to National University of Singapore by MRT?
In our opinion, try to take the MRT to Kent Ridge Station. It is within walking distance of the National University of Singapore. Going to Kent Ridge will reduce the need for additional and potentially lengthy bus services to the campus. But remember, the NUS campus is large, so you should know exactly where on campus you want to go and then plan on either walking or taking a second bus from Kent Ridge Station to get there!
Also, take note that this will depend on which MRT line you are using to get there. Sometimes, it makes more sense to take a bus from another MRT line as opposed to transferring and going all the way to Kent Ridge Station.
Should you stay at a hotel near NUS or stay elsewhere?
Despite the fact that the National University of Singapore is a busy centre for learning, conferences and medical facilities, there are few places to stay in this area. Actually, only a few of them are within walking distance of NUS.
The closest places to stay to NUS are northeast of campus and near One-North station:
Citadines Fusionopolis Singapore (5-star, 8.6/10 based on 365+ reviews)
Park Avenue Rochester is a few neighbourhoods north of these two properties if you want to check another hotel.
A lot of people visiting NUS stay downtown because the MRT provides a convenient and affordable way to get there. Marina Bay and Chinatown are convenient areas to stay if you want to use the MRT to the National University of Singapore.
Read More: Singapore Accommodation Guide – Find the Best Places to Stay, Now…
Conclusion – Getting to NUS by MRT.
We hope that this step-by-step guide on how to get to National University of Singapore by MRT has been helpful. Remember our goal was to get you there fast and to reduce any stress along the way!
NUS is a busy place in West Singapore with lots of workers and students commuting there on a daily basis.
It is located just west of Kent Ridge Park and other awesome recreational spaces that make up the Southern Ridges. Therefore, a trip out to this side of Singapore naturally opens up the possibility of hiking, nature watching and capturing beautiful views of the city.
Some of the most interesting places to explore near the National University of Singapore include:
Kent Ridge Park
Haw Par Villa
HortPark
Mount Faber Park
Labrador Park
West Coast Park
There are some awesome walking trails to explore at these green facilities.
Read More: Singapore Itinerary Guide – How to create the best itinerary?
If you have any questions about how to get to Singapore National University by MRT, please send us an email or comment below. We would be delighted to help you!