WHERE EVEN ROBOTS LOOK OUT FOR YOU

“I think the surveillance robots on campus are a smart idea – and a great way to keep everyone safe. On one of my first days here, I went for an early morning run, and when I was turning a corner at the North Spine, I nearly jumped when one robot rolled up and said: ‘Do not leave your personal items unattended.’ I was the only person there and had no bag, so I burst out laughing before realising it just makes periodic safety announcements.”

Oscar Larsen, materials and manufacturing engineering postgraduate student from Technical University of Denmark

“My favourite thing about NTU is how fast I got pulled into its entrepreneurial buzz. Just two months into my exchange, I teamed up with Teo Chee Hao, my NTU classmate from a sustainable materials class, to pitch my startup – which turns fast-fashion waste into fungi-based textiles – at an NTU social innovation competition. We even won $10,000 in grants!

NTU’s social entrepreneurship masterclass, mentorship and support pushed me to think bigger: different climates, different markets, global possibilities. And outside the classroom, I loved walking through NTU’s lush gardens at night – I even spotted otters in the ponds. NTU’s blend of nature and technology was so inspiring that I designed a green dress based on the trees on campus.

I’m back in the US now, but Chee Hao and I still work together to explore selling eco-textiles in Singapore and across Asia. NTU showed me how research and entrepreneurship can go hand in hand, and had everything for my fungi fashion to bloom.”

Mya Griesbaum, materials science engineering undergraduate and startup founder from Georgia Institute of Technology, US

“NTU’s diversity is incredible. People from all over the world learn from one another through group projects, random conversations and shared meals. There’s a sense of openness and collaboration. Differences become a strength rather than a barrier, and I genuinely feel part of a global community.

One example is how my Japanese friend always finishes her meals, even when she’s full. I found it unusual until I learnt it’s her way of respecting the food and the person who made it.

It’s also inspiring to meet students from so many majors in a single place, from business to biology to aerospace engineering. My school in France focuses on computer science, with just 10 majors, so we tend to think in similar ways. Here, discussions open my mind to how people from different disciplines see the world – and I’ve learnt to apply those perspectives to my own field. I also love that I can explore other interests, from entrepreneurship to philosophy. I can even take a class on building rockets.

A construction engineering classmate once showed me how entire buildings can be designed with 3D modelling, right down to the electrical wiring in each room. I didn’t know such simulations were possible, and I’ve a newfound appreciation for the complexity and depth across different disciplines.”

Maxime Bézot, information systems student from EFREI Paris, France

"I love eating at my friends – the food is tasty and affordable. At my university in Europe, we usually chip in to buy a microwave or air fryer so we can cook in the dorm kitchen, since eating out costs a lot. I like cooking, but honestly, in Singapore, it’s so nice not having to wash dishes!

I’m also surprised by how little rain gear I need here. I can walk from Tamarind Hall to my classes around the North Spine entirely under sheltered walkways. In the Netherlands, we cycle everywhere, and when it rains heavily, cycling without a raincoat feels like plunging straight into a canal.

I love how many buildings in NTU and Singapore have open-air corridors and walkways, with only the rooms air-conditioned. It’s a more sustainable way to stay cool – something that wouldn’t work in the Netherlands, where temperatures swing from 0 to 30°C.”

“I find it fun how certain words are said twice quickly, like ‘can can’ or ‘fast fast’. Repeating a word emphasises the sentiment and adds a sense of urgency. I’ve learnt it’s part of Singlish – Singapore’s unique version of English – and I can see myself speaking like this after a few more months of studying and living in NTU.”

“If it weren’t for my Singaporean friends on campus, I’d never have understood the hype about photo booths. Back in Brisbane, they’re not that popular. Here, they’re everywhere in hotspots like Orchard and Bugis – with unique themes from hotels and washing machines to even the MRT. Whenever I hang out with my NTU pals or meet new people, visiting a photo booth is a must. We enjoy capturing the moment with a cute little keepsake.”

Linguistics and multilingual studies undergrad Yan Xi enjoys iced coffee and walks too fast because she’s either sprinting for the NTU shuttle bus or escaping the afternoon heat.

This story was published in the Jan-Feb 2026 issue of HEY!.

Apply now