NTU Halls Guide

What is NTU Hall Portal for?

Use the Hall Portal when you need to apply for an NTU hall or manage hall application details.

Application windows can change, so check the Hall Portal and official NTU information before relying on any deadline.

Why apply for Hall at NTU?

Meet new friends from your hall to play Mahjong, go for supper runs, find clubbing buddies or relationships.

Which Hall to join at NTU?

You cannot choose your hall in Year 1, only Year 2 onwards can choose.

If you are choosing a hall, think about location, hall culture, room type, CCA commitments and how often you need to travel to classes.

What happens after I get a hall offer?

After you are offered a place in hall, you need to accept the offer. After accepting you need to pay two months of hall deposit.

In September you pay for the rest of Semester 1. For Semester 2 hall fees are usually charged around March to April.

What if I want to leave hall earlier?

In the middle of Semester 1, if you want to pull out of hall because you do not like the experience, NTU usually sends an email through Outlook for you to indicate your decision.

What to bring for hall in NTU?

Bring the basics that make daily hall life easier. Some things depend on your hall, room type and personal habits, but this list covers the common items year 1 students forget.

• Air freshener because the air can feel stale after a while.
• Antiseptic cream and plasters for emergency use.
• Coins because some halls do not have PayWave for washing machines.
• Condoms for protection.
• Dustbin because the nearest dustbin may be far from your room.
• Extension cord.
• Flat mop with attachable wipes to clean the floor.
• Fridge. You must declare it or risk a fine if caught.
• Insect repellent.
• Kettle because the nearest hot water dispenser may be far.
• Laundry bags. One clean and one dirty bag is useful.
• Laundry detergent because washing machines do not provide it. Machines that provide detergent are usually more expensive.
• Lanyard for your key fob. Most halls use a digital key fob and it is very easy to lose it.
• Mattress topper because the bed can be hard.
• Medicine. You can also get medicine from Raffles Medical in NTU.
• Phone chargers and other device chargers.
• Pillow, blanket, bedsheets and hangers.
• Plastic bags because Prime charges $0.50 for plastic bags.
• Portable aircon. You must declare it or risk a fine if caught.
• Scissors. This is very important.
• Shower basket because you need to bring your shower items to the toilet.
• Shower essentials, clothes, towels and a hairdryer. Bring at least two towels.
• Wet wipes.
• Wi-Fi router. SIMBA works around the Hall 4 and Hall 5 area.

Should I bring cooking equipment?

There is not much cooking culture in Singapore halls. Most Singaporeans eat at canteens or order GrabFood. If you plan to cook, bring your own cooking items like pots and pans, oil, spices, plates and utensils.

Most of the time you will only cook with friends. Do not bring a pressure cooker to hall.

What should I do first if I do not get hall?

Start by working out whether you already have a stable place to stay in Singapore, such as your family home or another existing housing arrangement. If you do, the Undergraduate Concession Card is useful because it makes regular MRT and bus commuting cheaper.

If you do not already have housing in Singapore, then the main fallback is usually renting a room instead of focusing on the concession card first.

Where should I look if I want to rent outside campus?

For many international students, renting is the more realistic backup option when they do not get hall. A practical area to look at is rented flats around Pioneer to Chinese Garden because that stretch keeps you on the west side and usually makes the commute to NTU much simpler than living far across the island.

The tradeoff is price. Rooms closer to NTU can easily cost around $1000 to $1200 per room, so check whether the shorter commute is worth the extra monthly cost.

What should I compare before committing to a rental?

Ask how long the commute takes during your actual class timings, whether utilities and Wi-Fi are included, and what the minimum rental period is. When comparing rooms, check the full door-to-door journey instead of only the rent.

It is also worth checking if the flat is near groceries, supper options, and a direct bus route so day-to-day living is manageable during busy school weeks.

• Total monthly cost, not just the listed rent.
• Walking distance to MRT or bus stops.
• Peak-hour travel time to NTU.
• House rules for visitors, cooking, aircon and laundry.
• Whether the room setup is sustainable through exam season and group-project weeks.