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History and Milestones

NUS Business School, one of the leading centres of business education in Asia-Pacific, has come a long way in a short time.

The area of business administration as a proper academic field was first taught at the then University of Singapore in 1961. Back then, Business Administration was just a subject in the Department of Economics. In 1965, the Department of Business Administration was set up to meet the growing needs of a formal business education in Singapore. The Department began with a full-time staff strength of four. It quickly grew in size and scope. In 1969, it was merged with the Department of Accountancy, and the School of Accountancy and Business Administration was formed. In 1980, another major reorganisation took place, when the University of Singapore and Nanyang University merged. With the merger of the two universities, the School became known as the Faculty of Accountancy and Business Administration.

The Faculty comprised the Department of Accountancy as well as the Department of Business Administration. In 1983, the Faculty was restructured again, and the School of Accountancy and the School of Management were formed. In 1987, the School of Accountancy was moved to the then Nanyang Technological Institute. The Faculty’s name was then shortened to become the Faculty of Business Administration. NUS Business School was established in 2002. The school now has 282 distinguished faculty members with a student population of 7,000, both undergraduates and post-graduates. Riding on its rich history and appeal to so many bright and talented students, NUS Business School is poised for a new take off.

Timeline

2020s

2024

Executive Master of Science in Management (EMIM) programme was launched.

Centre for Investor Protection (CIP) was established.

In March, Professor Sam Yam was appointed to the Jardine Cycle & Carriage Professorship in Business Administration.

The NUS EMBA-C obtained the “International Strategy of the Year” in the THE Awards Asia 2024.

NUS Business School ranked first in Asia and eighth in the world in the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked first in Asia in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2025.

The NUS EMBA ranked first in Asia Pacific in the QS EMBA Rankings, and UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked third in the world in the QS EMBA Joint Programmes Rankings.

NUS Business School ranked eighth in the world for Marketing and 10th in the world for Business and Management in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

The NUS MSc in Business Analytics (MSBA) ranked 10th in the world in the QS Business Masters Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked third in Asia in the Financial Times (FT) Global MBA Rankings.

NUS Business School ranked the Best University for Real Estate in the World by EduRank.

2023

NUS Business School was re-accredited by AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System).

In July, Professor Daniel Rabetti was appointed to The S. Dhanabalan Professorship in Quantitative Studies.

NUS Business School ranked first in Asia and 11th in the world in the QS World University Rankings.

The NUS EMBA ranked fourth in Asia Pacific in the QS EMBA Rankings, and UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked third in the world in the QS EMBA Joint Programmes Rankings.

NUS Business School ranked ninth in the world for Marketing in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

The NUS MBA ranked fourth in Asia in the FT Global MBA Rankings.

The NUS EMBA ranked first in Singapore and seventh in Asia in the FT EMBA Rankings.

2022

Master of Science in Strategic Analysis and Innovation (MSI) programme and Master of Science in Sustainable and Green Finance (MSc SGF) programme were launched.

16 professors from NUS Business School were ranked among the top 2 percent of scientists in the world in a Stanford study.

NUS Business School ranked first in Asia in the QS World University Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked second in Asia in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2023.

The NUS EMBA ranked third in Asia Pacific in the QS EMBA Rankings, and UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked third in the world in the QS EMBA Joint Programmes Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked first in Asia and fifth in the world in the Poets & Quants 2022-2023 International MBA Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked third in Asia in the FT Global MBA rankings.

The NUS EMBA ranked second in Singapore, while UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked first in Singapore and seventh in Asia in the FT EMBA rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked second in Asia and third in Singapore in The Economist MBA Rankings.

2021

Department of Real Estate joined NUS Business School.

Master of Science in Human Capital Management & Analytics (MSc HCMA) programme was launched.

Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations (CGIO) was renamed Centre for Governance and Sustainability (CGS).

The NUS EMBA ranked third in Asia Pacific in the QS EMBA Rankings, and UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked eighth in the world in the QS EMBA Joint Programmes Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked third in Asia in the FT Global MBA Rankings.

The NUS EMBA ranked third in Singapore, while UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked sixth in Singapore in the FT EMBA Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked second in both Asia and Singapore in The Economist MBA Rankings.

2020

Master of Science (MSc) in Accounting programme and MSc in Marketing Analytics & Insights + CEMS MIM programme were launched.

13 professors from NUS Business School were ranked among the top 2 percent of scientists in the world in a Stanford study.

The NUS EMBA ranked third in Asia Pacific in the QS EMBA Rankings, and UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked sixth in the world in the QS EMBA Joint Programmes Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked third in Asia in the FT Global MBA Rankings.

The NUS EMBA ranked fifth in Singapore, while UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked third in Singapore in the FT EMBA Rankings.

UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked 10th in the world in The Economist EMBA Rankings.

2010s

2019

MSc in Marketing Analytics & Insights programme was launched.

In June, Professor Andrew K Rose was appointed to the James Riady Distinguished Professorship.

The NUS EMBA ranked third in Asia Pacific in the QS EMBA Rankings 2020, and UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked sixth in the world in the QS EMBA Joint Programmes Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked 10th in the world in the Poets & Quants 2019-2020 International MBA Ranking.

The NUS MBA ranked third in Asia in the FT Global MBA Rankings.

The NUS EMBA ranked third in Singapore and 11th in Asia, while UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked second in Singapore and 10th in Asia in the FT EMBA Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked first in both Asia and Singapore in The Economist MBA Rankings.

2018

MSc in Finance programme was launched.

Andrew K Rose was appointed as Dean.

NUS Business School was re-accredited by AACSB and EQUIS.

In June, Professor Sumit Agarwal was appointed to the Low Tuck Kwong Distinguished Professorship.

In July, Professor Allaudeen Hameed was appointed to the Tang Peng Yeu Professorship in Accountancy and Finance.

The NUS EMBA ranked fifth in Asia Pacific in the QS EMBA Rankings 2019.

NUS Business School ranked first in Singapore and third in Asia in the FT Asia-Pacific Business School Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked ninth in Asia in the FT Global MBA Rankings.

The NUS EMBA ranked sixth in Singapore, while UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked third in Singapore and ninth in Asia in the FT EMBA Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked fourth in Asia and second in Singapore in The Economist MBA Rankings.

UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked second globally in The Economist EMBA Rankings.

2017

The Master of Science (MSc) Programmes Office was established.

Professor Teo Chung Piaw became the first fellow from an Asian institution to be honoured for lifetime achievement by Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences (INFORMS).

The NUS EMBA ranked first in Asia Pacific in the QS EMBA Rankings, and UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked second in the QS Global Joint EMBA Rankings.

NUS Business School ranked first in Singapore and third in Asia in the FT Asia-Pacific Business School Rankings.
The NUS MBA ranked fifth in Asia in the FT Global MBA Rankings.

The NUS EMBA ranked third in Singapore and ninth in Asia, while UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked fourth in Singapore and 11th in Asia in the FT EMBA Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked fifth in Asia and second in Singapore in The Economist MBA Rankings.

2016

APEX-MBA was renamed the NUS EMBA.

The NUS EMBA ranked fourth in Singapore and ninth in Asia, while UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked third in Singapore, fifth in Asia and sixth in the world in the FT EMBA Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked eighth in Asia in the FT Global MBA Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked second in Singapore and sixth in Asia in The Economist MBA Rankings.

2015

In May, Professor Chang Sea Jin was appointed to the Lim Kim San Professorship in Business Policy.

UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked fifth in the world in the FT EMBA Rankings.

The NUS EMBA ranked fifth in Singapore and 11th in Asia, while UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked second in Singapore and third in

Asia in the FT EMBA Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked seventh in Asia in the FT Global MBA Rankings.

The NUS MBA ranked second in Singapore and fifth in Asia in The Economist MBA Rankings.

UCLA-NUS EMBA ranked fourth in the world in The Economist EMBA Rankings.