The National University of Singapore (NUS) is set to give students greater access to artificial intelligence tools, while making a foundational generative AI course compulsory for all first-year undergraduates from the 2026/27 academic year.
The university announced a new partnership with OpenAI on August 11, with faculty and staff scheduled to receive access to ChatGPT Edu from August 31.
ChatGPT Edu is a version of ChatGPT developed specifically for higher education institutions. Unlike the standard free version, it provides universities with broader access to OpenAI’s capabilities within a managed environment, alongside enhanced privacy, security and administrative controls.
NUS said conversations and data within its university-managed ChatGPT workspace will not be used to train OpenAI’s models, providing additional safeguards as AI becomes more widely integrated into teaching and university operations.
The university also plans to test more advanced AI tools in selected courses before gradually expanding their use across undergraduate programmes where they can support learning and academic objectives.
NUS Chief Information Technology Officer and Vice President Tan Shui-Min said the university needs to adopt AI in a way that is secure, scalable and sustainable as the technology becomes increasingly embedded in its operations.
Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost Professor Aaron Thean said the university sees AI as a tool to enhance human abilities rather than replace them. He said giving students, academics and staff hands-on experience would help them develop critical thinking and ethical judgement while learning how to work effectively in an AI-driven environment.
AI Course To Become Compulsory For Freshmen
From the 2026/27 academic year, every first-year undergraduate at NUS will have to complete a new foundational generative AI module titled “THE1008 Applied Generative AI: From Prompting to Evaluation”.
The course will be introduced through the university’s Transition to Higher Education (T.H.E.) Programme and will give students practical experience with large language models and multimodal AI tools before they begin deeper core studies.
Students will learn how to interact effectively with AI systems while also developing the ability to assess whether AI-generated information is accurate and reliable.
The initiative forms part of NUS’ wider plan to incorporate AI skills throughout its curriculum. Beyond the compulsory freshman course, students will continue developing their understanding of AI through the university’s common curriculum and their respective fields of study.
By graduation, NUS expects students to be able to use AI strategically, critically evaluate AI-generated content and apply the technology appropriately within their chosen disciplines.
The university said the approach will continue to emphasise human-centred abilities such as critical thinking, sound judgement and the ability to make sense of complex information. AI is intended to support students in analysis, problem-solving and creative work rather than replace those capabilities.
NUS also plans to diversify its AI partnerships rather than rely on a single technology provider. According to Channel NewsAsia, the university intends to work with multiple AI companies so students can gain exposure to different platforms and approaches as the technology continues to evolve.
