As students, we all know that when it comes to searching for the perfect study spot, it can seem like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack – the needle, in this case, being the elusive study spot of course. So how can you find that one place that is “just right” for you? The best way to would be to explore different study spots, but who has time for that when exams are just around the corner? Don’t worry – we’ve got your back.
Last year around this time , we introduced study areas around NUS in the article Exam Special: Seven Great Study Spots in NUS (https://blog.nus.edu.sg/reslife/2015/04/12/exam-special-seven-great-study-spots-in-nus/). As the University is ever developing, we thought to make a comeback on this topic, and went to suss out even more spots for your consideration this time!
We hope not! Image retrieved from: https://kr.pinterest.com/pin/47921183513045504/
- There’s more to libraries than you know!
Are you often too lazy to travel around that you only stick to that one library right in front of your faculty? In our huge campus filled with great facilities, you’ll find a lot of new study spots hiding in places that you might have never even visited! Contrary to some rumours, all libraries on campus are accessible by NUS students from any faculty. Here are some ‘hidden’ libraries that you may want to explore:
For the serious muggers who need a quiet space, head over to the Hon Sui Sen Memorial Library and find the Quiet Room on Level 2. Complete with partitions, the room is for quiet self-study only. Please be considerate and remember not to discuss anything with your peers in the room! 🙂
Hon Sui Sen Memorial Library (HSSML) at NUS Business School – Image from: http://libportal.nus.edu.sg/frontend/ms/hon-sui-sen-memorial-library/about-hon-sui-sen-memorial-library
If you live in UTown and want to escape the crowd in the study areas, visit the Yale-NUS College Library. The open areas excluding the 24-Hour Study Area and the meeting rooms are open to public until 6pm every day. The Music Library, which is only a 15-minute walk from UTown, is also known to be less populated than other study spots around campus (plus, you have an excuse to visit the beautiful Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music!).
This stunning library with its wooden decor will surely boost your motivation to study. Image from: http://www.designboom.com/architecture/yale-nus-campus-pelli-clarke-pelli-architects-singapore-12-31-2015/
Are you the night-owl type that likes to study late at night (or very, very early in the ‘morning’)? Luckily, our campus is filled with great 24hr study spots. The Medical Library, Central Library (Level 6), and the common study areas at UTown are all open 24 hours with full lighting and A/C for our sleepless study nights.
- The hipster mugging guide: Study-friendly cafes
If you are in the mood for some eggs benedict and a high-quality caffein fix (or if you are simply yearning for a little cafe-vibe in your mugging), travel down to these quiet cafes that are perfect for studying. Jimmy Monkey in One-North is an awesome spot for a casual revising or essay-writing session. Simply Bread at Cluny Court, a quiet and peaceful bakery, is another true hidden gem in the West. If you are willing to travel down to town, The Book Cafe on Martin Road is famous for its lovely interior and soothing atmosphere. Over at Orchard, Oriole Coffee + Bar nearby Somerset MRT is a big cafe where you can get some work done while grabbing a quality cup of coffee.
Simply Bread at Cluny Court. Bread + Coffee + Work = Pure comfort! Image from: http://www.simplybread.com.sg/shops/cluny-court/
If you’re heading down to a cafe to study, here are some tips. Before leaving, search the name of the cafe on Google and monitor the average crowd using the “Popular times” graph. Usually, cafes outside of school are very crowded on weekends and weekdays after 6pm. Most of the time, the best hour to visit a cafe would be early in the morning (there might be a brunch crowd, though!).
There are study-friendly cafe options on campus too. The Platypus Food Bar in Science is a great place to sit yourself with a big bowl of filling salad (yes, you read that right – their salads are healthy but also very filling!) and get a bit of work done too. We introduced you The Coffee Roaster in one of our old Facebook posts for their affordable food options, but they also have a study spot right behind the cafe which is brand new and filled with power points! As one of the less-visited cafes, Starbucks in Yusof Ishak House is often very quiet and is the home to many coffee-loving muggers. On the slightly pricier end, Dome in the University Cultural Centre has comfy chairs and is one of the quietest cafes on campus.
- Enjoy the fresh air on picnic tables around campus
For some, ice-cold study rooms can be a real distraction for efficient revision. Why not take a break from staying indoors and bring yourself out to the picnic tables? Treat yourself with fresh air, the sound of birds chirping, and slight breezes in these outdoor studying areas.
“The fresh air… the breeze… the bright, natural light: this is happiness!” Image from: https://makeameme.org/meme/fresh-air-7uvw2f
The new picnic tables in the Level 1 area under the Central Library are great for studying as well as group projects. The tables are clean, big, and more convenient than your average picnic tables. Also, all basic amenities are available nearby (Including Co-op, ATMs, The Deck, cafes, and did we mention the Central Library?) so you can sit yourself for hours without having to relocate! Also, you can take a few minutes walk from the Central Library (or take a bus to LT13) and you will come across many outdoor tables in AS4. While you need to travel some flights of stairs to get there, the tables are one of the most peaceful and quiet study spots on campus.
Before we go on, here’s a cool fact: did you know that, on rainy days, you can travel all the way from NUS Business School (Biz 2) to YIH (even MPSH!) without getting soaked by rain at all? It’s all possible thanks to the sheltered walkway that links the Central Library to YIH. On this walkway, you can find several picnic tables that are hardly ever occupied by students. From the CLB, take the stairs up to the Chinese Library and you will see the path that leads to YIH.
UTown is also a home to great outdoor study spots. On the walk along the path from Koufu down to the UTown Gym, you will see a few picnic tables tucked in the corner. Most of them are (coincidentally) near power points, which makes them perfect spots to start finishing those essays! Also, there are many outdoor picnic tables around the Residential Colleges, which are open to use for all NUS students.
You can take a break while watching people climb the rock climbing walls! Image from blog: https://dayre.me/hellovenus/dWtvExcdFS
We know everyone wants to have their study spots remain as a secret (*wink*) – but if you have some sweet study spots of your own that you don’t mind sharing, post your recommendations on the comments below, or on our Facebook post!
Happy mugging, and all the best for finals! 🙂
