Related story: "Studies come first but we have fun too", say students

Undergraduates lead boring lives revolving around lectures, tutorials and the library, and are terribly kiasu to boot. Having fun and getting a well-rounded education filled with activities besides work is out.

This is a common perception of undergraduates. Truth or misconception? To find out, The Straits Times asked five second-year undergraduates from the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University to keep a diary of their activities for a week.

Here is what we found out. WHILE they spend most of their time attending classes and preparing for tutorials, Singapore's undergraduates are also involved in activities ranging from Japanese language classes to working for an international students' organisation. They do not deny that they put much emphasis on their studies, but explain that the demands of the university system are such that it is impossible to do otherwise.

After all, they are in the university first and foremost to attain a degree, they say. Mr Yong Teck Ming, 22, an NUS computer science, said: "Sure, undergraduates are kiasu to an extent, but among my friends, this is a standing joke. It helps motivate us and provides a healthy spirit of competition, which makes us perform better. "It's only when it gets out of hand and becomes selfish that it's unhealthy."

Miss Tan May Lin, 20, an arts undergraduate, agrees: "With two majors and eight papers to do for arts students, there's no way you can expect to pass without being a little kiasu, and throw in ECA as well. "There is no lack of opportunity to explore other aspects of university life, though. It's all up to the individual to focus on more than the academic side of things."

The diaries which The Straits Times asked five undergraduates to keep seem to bear this out. In addition to their academic studies, four give tuition to lessen the financial dependence on their parents.

Miss Cham Chooh Phan, 19, a science student at NUS, says: "I feel uncomfortable taking money from my parents, so I give tuition to earn my pocket money."

She spends three hours a week giving tuition in Mathematics and English to a Secondary 3 student. Apart from Friday, which is her day off from varsity, she spends her days on classes and preparing for them, but takes time off to watch movies, go shopping, read and chat on the telephone.

Mr Man Kin Fai, 22, an engineering student at NTU, spends 70 per cent of his week studying. He gives tuition for another two hours. "Leisure time is very limited as I have about 20 hours of classes a week and have to spend time on tutorials, projects and discussions, but university life is meant to make one a more rounded person.

"I don't think it consists of merely passing exams and getting a degree," he says. Time management is the key to how he balances work and play. So, he has time to play tennis, jog and go out with friends.

Miss Goh Li Ling, 19, who reads business at NTU, takes her work seriously and spends about half her time on it. Her tuition commitments take up six hours of her week, but she found the time to welcome new students to NTU during a tea party as a member of Aiesec, an international student-run organisation with professional links. "I don't find my life boring, because although I spend so much time on work, I go out every weekend," she says.

Miss Tan's attention is greatly centred on Aiesec, in which she holds a position as marketing controller.

"I'm so committed to Aiesec because it has taught me a lot. It has helped build up my confidence. Now, when presented with a problem, I tend to look at things from a wider perspective. "It is also a lot of fun." Although much of her time - about 30 per cent - is devoted to Aiesec, she found the time to visit freshmen at an orientation camp in Changi, goes out with friends and even bops Saturday night away at a discotheque. "At the end of the night, I would be dead beat, but it was fun alright!" she says.

Miss Goh also finds time for charity. For instance, she helped run a games stall at the Charity Carnival along Orchard Road last month.

Computer science undergraduate Yong Teck Ming does not just spend his days in front of his computer screen. He takes an optional hourly Japanese language class from Mondays to Fridays, "for fun". He says: "I'd like to learn more about the Japanese, and this is a good way of doing so. "Besides, it will come in handy in the long run, since the Japanese are such a presence in the world today." He plays squash regularly, and is the vice-chairman of the business committee of the Computer Science Society.

So is their devotion to work depriving undergraduates of fun? Says engineering undergraduate Man Kin Fai who spends 70 per cent of his week studying: "It's a question of priorities. You have to make some sacrifices, but if you organise your time effectively, then you can play hard as well as get your work done."