Campus Services FAQs
We have prepared a list of FAQs and we hope you find the answers you are looking for.
Mobility Services
How does an on-demand bus route differ from a normal bus route?
On-demand bus services use dynamic routing algorithm whereby in each trip, the bus takes the shortest path between stopping points that are requested by passengers. This enables the on-demand bus to operate sustainably and helps to reduce or replace private car movements. A booking must be made in order to use the on-demand bus.
How long will the on-demand bus trial last?
The trial will begin on 1 Sep 2021 and is envisaged to run till approximately 4Q of 2021 for a start.
Are the on-demand bus services wheelchair-accessible?
The buses deployed for the Trial Services will not be wheelchair-accessible for the trial phase.
Do I need to show valid NUS ID to ride the on-demand bus?
Yes, all passengers will need to show their physical ID (eg. staff or student card) or digital ID (eg. uNivUS) to ride the on-demand bus.
Why is it possible for on-demand service UC1 to be extended into University Town?
On-demand bus services respond to user demand to provide the bus service only when it is needed. This enables the on-demand bus to sustainably serve the Residential Colleges and helps to reduce or replace private car movements.
Why does on-demand Service BM1 only operate one trip in the morning and one trip in the evening?
Service BM1 is part of the electric bus trial under the CDG-NUS Living Lab collaboration. The electric bus is charged overnight at a location outside campus, so Service BM1 leverages on the bus’ journeys between NUS and the charging facility to ferry passengers to and from campus.
Where can I find more operational information about the on-demand bus services?
For more operational information, you can refer to https://tinyurl.com/OndemandbusUC1 for Service UC1 and https://tinyurl.com/OndemandbusBM1 for Service BM1.
What is the CDG-NUS Smart & Sustainable Mobility Living Lab?
NUS and CDG are setting up a mobility-focused CDG-NUS Smart & Sustainable Mobility Living Lab (CDG-NUS Living Lab). The CDG-NUS Living Lab will focus on Integrated Urban Mobility, Smart and Intelligent Mobility Technologies. The research will test and analyse mobility technologies to generate insights that could later be implemented in solutions for the mass market.
Why are we trialling an electric bus on campus?
The electric bus provides mobility-related data that supports various research projects under the CDG-NUS Living Lab. The Office of Campus Amenities is also looking into electrification of the Internal Shuttle Bus fleet, and this collaborative trial will provide us with useful insights about electric vehicle operations in our campus.
Is this electric bus replacing an Internal Shuttle Bus?
As part of NUS’ push for smart and sustainable mobility options on campus, the CDG-NUS Living Lab is bringing in this electric bus in as a trial on top of the existing Internal Shuttle Bus fleet. Therefore, all existing Internal Shuttle Buses will operate as scheduled, with this electric bus as a trial addition.
Is the electric bus wheelchair-accessible?
The electric bus in this trial is a coach and is not wheelchair-accessible. Passengers in wheelchairs are advised to wait for the next arriving shuttle bus. As the electric bus on trial is operating on top of the existing fleet, you will not have to wait longer for a wheelchair-accessible bus.
Is the Office of Campus Amenities looking at replacing the Internal Shuttle Buses with electric coaches?
No, as coaches are generally not wheelchair-accessible. Rest assured that the Office of Campus Amenities is committed to continue providing wheelchair-accessible buses for Internal Shuttle Bus services; any electric buses that do replace our current fleet in future will be wheelchair-accessible/friendly.
How do I know when the electric bus is arriving?
As there is an ongoing Snap & Win contest (https://uci.nus.edu.sg/oca/2021/10/08/isb-mystery-rider/) – the location and estimated arrival time of the electric bus will not be reflected in the NUS NextBus app for now. Have fun spotting!
What is the basis of the new Internal Shuttle Bus (ISB) network design?
The new ISB network is designed together with a mobility consultant based on a genetic algorithm using data from multiple data sources such as commuters’ origin and destination matrices, student timetabling data, Wi-Fi and telco data. Stakeholders from the respective Dean’s Offices, student faculty clubs and halls & residences were also consulted in the network design.
What is the key improvement brought about by the new ISB network design?
The new ISB network aims to introduce more efficient clearing of peak hours crowds, resulting in a more comfortable and less crowded rides. With buses no longer breaking their trips at PGP, morning crowds at Kent Ridge MRT will be more evenly distributed across service A1 at KR MRT and A2 at Opp KR MRT. SOC and BIZ commuters will enjoy a direct connection from Kent Ridge MRT via the shorter path through PGP.
With Services A1 and A2 terminating at Kent Ridge Bus Terminal instead of PGP, LT 13 will be the second stop on A1 while IT will be the second stop on A2, enabling commuters to board buses at both bus stops smoothly. Overall, the resources will be better utilised while giving commuters a better commuting experience.
Will Service A1E and A2E still be in operation?
No. With the route amendments, both Service A1 and A2 will be more effectively utilised during the morning peak and evening peak. As such, Services A1E and A2E will be discontinued.
Will Service B1, B2 and C still be in operation?
No. As Services B1, B2 and C have not been well-utilised, they will be withdrawn with effect from 19 July 2021. The key connectivity will continue to be served by the new improved services.
Why does Service E only operate at selected timings?
Service E is a supplementary service designed to serve areas that are not served by the primary services (Service D1, D2). The provision of the bus services is planned based on the service demands, in this case, to facilitate movement during the cross-faculty periods.
Will the new ISB network be final?
No. The mobility consultant will be conducting a post-implementation review to assess the effectiveness of the network changes. Resources may be redeployed to the higher demand services if any service is assessed not to be well utilised. Thus, the network will be a work in progress.
How do I use the NUS NextBus App?
You can refer to the NUS NextBUS Beta Quick Tutorial Guide to get started!
How do i view the arrival timings of my frequently used bus stops when I open the app?
You can refer to the NUS NextBUS User Guide: Favourites to set Favourites as your homepage!
Why do buses not adhere to the schedule, causing delay?
The bus could have been caught in a jam during morning and evening peaks, or when there is any accident or vehicle breakdown. The traffic conditions in and around campus play an important part in determining the bus arrival as campus roads are mostly single lanes and very narrow.
Why do I observe bus bunching (two buses of the same service) sometimes?
Bus bunching occurs usually during the peak periods when the frequency and departing times of the buses are very close. The high passenger loading at some bus stops may hold up the first bus and result in the subsequent bus eventually catching up with the first bus. Toggle content goes here, click edit button to change this text.
Why is it necessary to avoid standing near the doors of the bus?
As the rear door of the bus is equipped with photocell sensor to prevent the door from closing on any passengers, the rear door will remain open until the area is cleared. Passengers are encouraged to avoid standing near the bus doors to reduce the dwelling time at the bus stops.
If you have been using the NUS NextBus app prior, simply update the app!
Why should I move to the rear of the bus?
This is to allow more passengers to board the bus. There are fellow students who are also anxious to board the bus for their lessons/lectures as well.
Why does the driver does not wait for me despite seeing me trying to catch the bus at times?
It is likely be that the bus is already full or students standing near the entrance of the bus have obstructed the side view of the driver. It could also be that another bus is approaching or the driver is looking out for oncoming traffic on the right when trying to exit the bus bay.
Why does the bus not go into the direction that I was expecting?
Some of our services stop at a bus stop twice within a single trip (ie. heading in two different directions). Passengers are advised to read the Electronic Destination Signage (EDS) on the bus before boarding, to confirm the direction that the bus is heading.
Service C stops twice at UTown; the two directions are “KR Terminal > UTown > FoS” and “FoS > UTown > KR Terminal”.
Service D1 stops twice at COM2; the two directions are “BIZ > UTown” and “UTown > BIZ”.
Why are the buses not plying within UTown to bus stops nearer the Residential Colleges?
As UTown is designed to be a green sustainable town that is conducive for students to walk freely around, there is no plan to extend the shuttle bus services within UTown. Due to the narrow single lanes, it will be congested when regular buses travel alongside the RCs. Noise pollution will also arise amidst the quiet RC environment during the peak period and at night too, bearing in mind that the ISB operation starts at 7.15am in the morning and ends at 11.00pm every night. This could cause disturbance to students requiring a restful evening, and especially disturbing during examination times. Extending the ISB within UTown will also lead to longer turnaround or travelling times.
Why is it not feasible to operate ISB BTC at a higher frequency?
The overall ridership for ISB BTC at current levels does not justify an increase in frequency. The University may end up running empty buses to and from Bukit Timah Campus if the bus frequency is increased.
Am I allowed to board from the back door of the bus?
To ensure orderly and safe boarding and alighting, commuters should board only from the front door and alight from the back door of the bus. Doing so also allows the bus driver manage the occupancy of the bus and prevent it from being uncomfortably packed.
Are pets allowed on the bus?
Assistance guide dogs are allowed to accompany visually handicapped commuters on the ISB. Other animals are not allowed on the ISB for hygiene and religious reasons.
Are Personal Mobility Devices (PMD) and foldable bicycles allowed on the bus?title
Commuters can bring their PMDs and foldable bicycles on the bus by complying with the following guidelines:
- Size of device must not exceed 120cm by 70 cm by 40cm
- Device must be folded, switched off (PMDs) and held securely at all times
- Protruding or dirty parts of the device e.g. wheels must be covered
- Only one foldable bicycle/PMD is allowed at any time on a bus
- Wait for the next bus if the current one is crowded
Are prams and strollers allowed on the bus?
Commuters can bring their prams and strollers on the bus by complying with the following guidelines:
- Pram/stroller must be placed in designated wheelchair spaces with the brakes/safety restraint applied
- If the child is not in the pram/stroller, it must be folded
- Parents/caregivers are fully responsible for the safety of the child when on board the bus, and should hold onto the open pram/stroller throughout the journey
Retail & Dining Services
What is NETS QR?
The NETS QR code is a unified QR code payment platform that is able to accept payments from customers using NETSPay, DBS PayLah!, OCBC’s Pay Anyone and UOB’s Mighty apps. HSBC, Maybank, Standard Chartered Bank and Citibank are expected to offer this service shortly.
Why switch to NETS QR?
NETS QR offers more payment options to our NUS community as apart from DBS Paylah!, it is able to accept payments from banks such as OCBC or UOB which was not accepted previously.
All DBS Paylah! QR codes in campus will be switched to NETS QR progressively.
What payment apps are compatible with NETS QR?
Currently payment apps that are compatible with NETS QR are NETSPay, DBS Paylah!, OCBC Pay Anyone & UOB Mighty.
Which outlets are NETS QR enabled in NUS?
All canteens and food courts are currently accepting payments via NETS QR. It will be available campus wide soon.
Can I use normal NETS payment?
Yes, stalls and outlets with NETS QR enabled can also accept normal and contactless NETS transactions.
What is the difference between Static QR and Dynamic QR?
Static QR Code: After the user scans the NETS QR code, he/she will be prompted to enter the amount payable.
Dynamic QR Code: User only needs to scan the NETS QR code to make payment. (No need to enter amount payable).
What is NETSPay?
NETSPay is a new mobile application developed by NETS. It enables the digitization of NETS ATM bankcards onto your smartphone to perform digital payments. With NETSPay, customers can scan/tap with their smartphone to make fast and secure payments.
Who can use NETSPay?
This app is open to ALL NETS card holders with Bank card(s) linked to their savings or current accounts. Kindly await the announcements from your respective issuing banks.
Currently supports DBS and POSB only.
What phone/bank/card do I need?
Any smart phone with the ability to download an app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) will be able to download the NETSPay app.
NETSPay app works with iPhone 5s and newer models, with iOS 9 and above. For Android, NFC-enabled phones with Android 5.0 and above are required.
How do I install NETSPay and digitize my bank card?
Simply go to either the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) and type in “NETSPay”. Proceed to download.
Where can I use NETSPay in NUS?
NETSPay is accepted at all canteens and food courts.
Simply look out for the logos below.
What is the difference between scanning a Static QR code vs Dynamic QR code?
Static QR Code: After the user scans the NETS QR code, he/she will be prompted to enter the amount payable.
Dynamic QR Code: User only needs to scan the NETS QR code to make payment. (No need to enter amount payable)
How do I make payment with NETSPay on an iOS phone?
Simply open the NETSPay app, select “Scan Code”, scan the NETS QR code and payment is done!
If I have Samsung/Andriod/Apple Pay installed on my phone, will it affect my NETSPay contacless transaction?
If you launch your NETSPay app to initiate contactless payment, the transaction will be performed through NETSPay.
If you have selected NETSPay app as the default NFC payment app for your NFC-enabled Android phone, the transaction will be performed through NETSPay.
Can I use NETSPay across all types of mobile devices?
Yes, it applies to all mobile devices for QR code scanning. Contactless payments can only be supported by NFC-enabled Android phones.
Can I use NETSPay without wifi/data connection?
An internet connection is required to use NETSPay.
With the introduction of e-payment means in 2017, WiFi weak spots had been identified. We are pleased to inform you that additional WiFi access points have been procured and WiFi hotspot upgrading works for canteens and food courts have completed by June 2018.
How many cards can I provision in the NETSPay app?
A total of 10 cards can be provisioned.
Can I use the app overseas?
NETSPay is currently only available for local usage.
Can I provision the same card on multiple mobile devices?
Yes.
How many transactions can I do on NETSPay?
Transactional limits are set by your issuing bank.
Is there a maximum/cap to my spending?
Spending caps are set by your issuing bank.
Will I be able to see my transactions on NETSPay?
Yes, you can view your transaction history (last 10 transactions) on the app by hard pressing on your preferred bank card from the home page or by selecting the bank card to view under “My Spendings” in Settings.
Is it secure?
Yes, transactions are highly secure as it follows our existing NETS security protocols and are protected and verified through strong cryptography and chip security.
What’s more, your smartphone stays with you throughout the whole transaction process, reducing the probability of fraud or the loss of card.
What about my privacy?
NUS and our partners are required to comply with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). As such, personal data, if collected, will not be shared without prior consent of the users. More importantly, the university does not collect or store individual personal data through the e-payment means, only the total transaction and the transacting values of each canteen and food court are collected. Individual data are still residing with NETS or the banks depending on the app you choose to use. Alternatively, NETS FlashPay and EZ-Link stored-value card payments will soon be accepted if you still have concerns about data privacy.
What if I lose my phone?
Payments cannot be made from your phone without your authorization via fingerprint or phone PIN.
What if I do not have a phone?
Foreign visitors, exchange students and consumers without smartphones can enjoy the convenience of e-payments with the introduction of NETS FlashPay and EZ-Link card payments (to be introduced at a later date). The community will be informed once the system infrastructure is ready. NETS FlashPay cards will also be sold at our drink stalls in our canteens. Top-up terminals and cash top-up services will be provided at drink stalls in the canteens for the convenience of the card top-up.
Do i need to enter my ATM PIN when making transactions?
No ATM PIN is required for transactions $100 and below.
For transactions above $100:
Payment via QR Code scanning – ATM PIN entry on smartphone pinpad
Payment via Contactless payment – ATM PIN entry on Payment Terminal
Is there any charges for using NETSPay?
There is no charges for using NETSPay.
How were the vendors aided in the transition as they seem to be receiving much of the negative sentiments? What are the follow-up actions with vendors?
The paper straws are not given for every purchase. It will only be given on demand. We have done a follow up with all the participating vendors on the first day of implementation and found that there are still a small proportion of vendors who have not stocked up their paper straws due to late arrival of the stocks. As such, we allowed them a one week concession to continue to give out plastic straws on demand, but would like them to have the paper straws within a week, which we were assured that the stocks would arrive. Although we have communicated and worked with the vendors closely on this initiative, there will be inevitable lapses in the foreseeable future. We welcome the community to feedback to us so that we can improve.
The vendors and their staff have assisted to explain the intention behind the iReject campaign. We will continue to engage them in their communication to the NUS community.
What are the offices doing about the reactions from the ground? What is the timeline and actions given to help and support students and vendors by provding access to reliable and socially responsible alternatives?
A task force comprising NUSSU, CS and other student environmental groups has been formed. They have met recently and agreed on the commitment to environmental sustainability within the campus. NUSSU, as the main student body, will act as the liaison point for the general student population and the task force. This will help to address any concerns and issues brought up by the community.
The task force is focusing on the following two areas:
- To address the main concerns of the community that were feedbacked through various channels
- To continue to educate the community through various forms and channels to encourage more in the community to support the campaign and do their part for the environment.
On point 1, some of the suggestions were using reusable cups to complement the lack of straws, using your own tumblers for drinks and the option to purchase straw alternatives of acceptable food-grade, to ensure the safety of our students.
We will keep students updated on future plans, and we also hope to get more suggestions from students to make this journey a community effort. We thank you for your support and if you have any suggestions, do feel free to share them with us.
Why are some stalls still offering straws? Isn't this a campus wide campaign?
We recognize that not all stalls may be able to immediately stop distributing straws, due to the nature of the drinks that they offer. While all drink stalls in the canteens and food courts are ready onboard, the fruit juice stalls will be coming onboard gradually given the nature of their drinks and operation.
Why should we focus on straw usage when there are so many other more impactful was to decrease waste? How does the banning of straws help the environment?
Plastic straws are only the tip of the iceberg and we are taking this as a first but small step towards reducing single-use plastics. Through reducing the usage of plastic straws, we hope to increase awareness on environment sustainability and promote a vibrant sharing and exchanging of perspectives among the NUS community, eventually leading to collective efforts spreading beyond the community to reduce other disposables.
Are there future plans to target single-use plastic cups and bags and generally other forms of disposables?
We are working on it and will gradually introduce the use of reusable cups and bags to reduce the use of single-use plastic cups, bags and other disposables. SAVE has started an ongoing project “Reusable Bag Library” to encourage the use of reusable bags.
Why was there no transition period before the campaign, such as having "Strawless Wednesdays" before making straws unavailable?
We did a trial at Bukit Timah campus at the start of the semester on not giving out straws, before deciding on going for a campus-wide implementation. For the canteens and food courts in Kent Ridge campus, although we have removed plastic straws, paper straws are still available on request.
Why was there so little publicity before the campaign was rolled out? The implementation of the campaign was too sudden?
We recognise that there is no amount of notification that is sufficient to prepare the community for a change in the way people consume their drinks. As such, we welcome suggestions from the community to share with us their preferred mode of communication so that we can reach out to you for future campaign activities. For the launch of plastic straw removal, other than email notification and social media posts, we have also displayed wobblers (signage) at all participating outlets on campus. In addition, we recognise such a change may take time to get used to and hence, we introduced on-request paper straws. We also carried out trials at Bukit Timah campus and Café Delight at the Ventus building on Kent Ridge campus at the start of the semester before going for a campus-wide implementation.
Where can I find alternatives to plastic straws? Will these be sold at discounted prices?
While we have removed the plastic straws, paper straws are still available upon request. Alternatively, you may wish to bring your own reusable straw and tumbler.
What about people with disabilities who need straws? The current cup designs (especially those in UTown) do not make ot easy to drink with straws.
While we have removed the plastic straws, paper straws are still available upon request. Alternatively, you may wish to bring your own reusable straw and tumbler.
What about stall owners who have stocks of straws that are now redundant?
They will be using their stocks at their other outlets outside NUS.
Will there be cost savngs on the consumers' end as vendors enjoyed cost savings?
The removal of plastic straws and introduction of on-request paper straws do not result in substantial cost savings for the vendors. It is done purely for the primary objective of doing our part for environmental sustainability. Therefore, there is no substantial savings to be passed on to the community. If you bring your own tumbler, NUS SAVE has the Project Tumbler initiative that offers $0.50 discount after five takeaways because there are substantial savings on cups that can be passed on to the community. If you do not feel comfortable drinking without a straw, we advise that you ask for a paper straw.
How do I know where are the available spaces for lease in NUS?
Most of the information can be found in our OCA-website, SESAMi (http://www.sesami.com/) for tender for café, restaurant and kiosk spaces. For canteen stalls, advertisements will be published in The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao.
How do I make an offer for the available space in NUS?
All interested parties have to submit their proposals through the tender system before the closing date and time. The tender document can be downloaded from either SESAMi (http://www.sesami.com/) – NUS-Space-Tender
Can I make a direct offer without going through tender?
No, bids and offer must be submitted through the tender system.
What's the monthly rent for an outlet in NUS?
As it is by tender, the monthly rent is not dictated. All prospects have to calculate their own business risk and cost and propose a rent that is feasible and sustainable for their business.As it is by tender, the monthly rent is not dictated. All prospects have to calculate their own business risk and cost and propose a rent that is feasible and sustainable for their business.
What are your evaluation criteria for award of tender?
The main evaluation criteria are business concept, food pricing, experience and capital investment cost.
How long is rental waived for fit-out works?
Typically, a rent-free fit-out period of 1 month is given.
How long is the lease term?
It is usually 3 years with an option to renew for another 3 years.
Will I get my tender deposit back if I'm not successful in the bid?
Yes, the tender deposit will be refunded within 4-6 weeks after the award of tender.
What other start-up costs should I be aware of?
Security Deposit, Fit-out Deposit and Reinstatement Deposit will be collected. All these deposits will be refunded free of interest upon expiry of your lease.
Are there any additional fees chargeable on top of the monthly rental?
Utilities (electricity, aircon and water) will be charged separately, in addition to the monthly rental.