NUS to Make Generative AI Course Compulsory for All First-Year Undergraduates from 2026/27

The National University of Singapore (NUS) announced that from Academic Year 2026/27, all first-year undergraduates will take a compulsory module to gain practical skills in using large language models and multimodal AI. The course, THE1008 Applied Generative AI: From Prompting to Evaluation, has been piloted with instructors guiding students to use AI to review grant applications.

NUS's move to make AI literacy compulsory for all freshmen indicates that universities are treating AI capability as a fundamental skill, influencing AI education curriculum design, teacher training, and student skill standards, and providing a reference for other institutions. All NUS first-year students will systematically learn generative AI usage skills, enhancing AI literacy. Promote a shift from elective to compulsory AI courses in universities, potentially influencing other institutions' curricula.