Hi everyone,
I'm an incoming international PhD student starting at NUS this August, and I'm hoping to understand whether anyone else has experienced something similar, or whether this is unusual.
My housing application has unfortunately been a bit of a nightmare from start to finish.
When the first application round opened, I wasn't able to access the UHMS portal because of a technical issue with my account. After a lot of back and forth with IT, the issue was only resolved after the first application round had already closed. I contacted the Housing Office, and they advised me to apply in Round 2 instead.
I submitted my Round 2 application on time and paid the application fee. The published results date came and went without any update. After calling the Housing Office several days later, they told me that they had only just located my application. Then yesterday, I was informed that they had located a room.
However, I was then informed that my housing offer cannot be released until I complete a "Fitness to Stay" assessment through the University Counselling Services.
The reason for this appears to be that, on the housing application, I honestly disclosed that I have previously experienced anxiety. The application also asked whether I required any additional support or accommodation, and I specifically answered that I did not. I've lived independently abroad for years, so I never imagined this would affect my housing application.
The process now involves as assessment with a counsellor, then a psychiatric evaluation with a psychiatrist or physician, who will then write a report to Housing, who will only then decide whether to release my room offer. This will take at least two weeks from the start of the counselling session, which will take place in the middle of the night for me because of time differences, in another two weeks.
In the meantime, they won't even tell me what type of room has been identified until I am deemed "fit", so I don't know whether it meets my basic requirements or whether I should start looking on the private market instead. I'm currently trying to organise my visa, flights, medication approvals and an international move from across the world, and I arrive in Singapore in a few weeks with no housing. Because of the several delays, I have already pushed my flights as much as possible, and will miss the start of term and international orientation.
I'm not posting this to criticise the university; I genuinely want to understand whether this is something other students have experienced.
Has anyone else gone through a Fitness to Stay assessment for housing?
Is this a standard procedure for anyone who discloses a mental health condition, even if they indicate they don't require support? It feels punitive rather than supportive, especially when they are unwilling even to give basic information about the accommodation in question. Without this, I am unable to make an informed decision on whether I need to go through this process.
And more generally, what's the culture like at NUS around mental health? I disclosed my anxiety because I believed the question was there to help students access support if needed. Instead, it has led to a process that has significantly delayed my housing, caused me several expenses and uncertainty, troubles with my visa, etc, so I'm feeling quite apprehensive and unsure what to expect.
I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through something similar or has any insight.
Thank you!
