Another humanities undergraduate at NUS, Ms Celest Lee Kai Xin, also had to contend with scepticism when she chose to study geography and psychology.
“Everyone always jokes that geography means we study rocks,” she said. “I do have to clear up misconceptions about job prospects whenever my relatives ask me about it.”
The 21-year-old chose her course out of genuine interest rather than perceived market appeal.
“I wanted to understand how people think and how society works,” she said, adding that geography helps her see how space and environment shape lives, while psychology deepens her understanding of individuals.
While some disciplines grapple with declining numbers, others have flourished.
Computing and science-related courses, often perceived as future-oriented and adaptable, have seen rising enrolment as students gravitate towards fields closely linked to technological change.
