Prohibition of Smoking, Specified Tobacco Products and Vaporisers Policy
1.1 Smoking prohibition in Singapore, first introduced in 1970, is part of the national effort to promote a smoke-free lifestyle in Singapore. The Government’s long-term policy goal is to prohibit smoking in all public areas, except at Designated Smoking Areas, to protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of second-hand tobacco smoke. The Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act, administered by the National Environment Agency (NEA), was extended to include the following areas from 1 October 2017:
- Autonomous Universities’ compounds.
- Private Education Institutions (PEIs); and
- Within five metres of educational institutions, including kindergartens, childcare centres, special education schools, madrasahs, primary schools, secondary schools, junior colleges/ centralised institute, polytechnics, the Institute of Technical Education campuses, PEIs and autonomous universities.
The Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act (TVCA) was introduced to strengthen enforcement against prohibited products such as specified tobacco products, vaporisers, imitation tobacco products and their components. Under the TVCA, any specified tobacco products, vaporisers and imitation tobacco products containing “Specified Psychoactive Substances” (SPS) is also prohibited.
1.2 The aim of this policy is to ensure compliance with the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act and the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act (TVCA) to promote the health and safety of the University community.
2.1 This policy applies to all NTU staff, students, tenants, vendors, contractors, and all visitors.
2.2 This policy extends to NTU staff and students engaged in official NTU activities outside campus, for example, internship, attachment, exchange programme, field research, events, co-curricular activities, etc.
3.1 The definitions of terms used in this document are as follows:
- COI: Committee of Inquiry
- DSA: Designated Smoking Areas
- HPB: Health Promotion Board
- HSA: Health Sciences Authority
- IHL: Institute of Higher Learning
- MOE: Ministry of Education
- MOH: Ministry of Health
- NEA: National Environment Agency
- NTU: Nanyang Technological University
- OHR: Office of Human Resources
- PEI: Private Education Institutions
- SAO: Student Affairs Office
- S/D/C: College/School/Department, Centres, Autonomous Institutes or Subsidiaries (S/D/C)
- SPS: Specified Psychoactive Substances, TVCA.
- TVCA: Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act (1993)
4.1 Subject to Paragraph 1.1, smoking, use or possession of specified tobacco products, vaporisers, imitation tobacco products and their components, including use or possession of any tobacco products, vaporisers and imitation tobacco products containing SPS is prohibited campus-wide, including all residence halls and other campus buildings
4.2 However, the University has designated the following outdoor spaces as Designated Smoking Areas (subject to changes, as of 15 October 2025):
- DSA at the grass area between Block 56 of Hall 11 and Graduate Hall 1.
- DSA at Nanyang Executive Centre (NEC) next to Nanyang Meadows Block 96.
- DSA at the grass area behind Block 7 of Hall 2.
- DSA behind Student Activities Centre at North Spine.
- DSA at the grass area beside School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CCEB) facing Nanyang Drive.
- DSA at the grass area near Block 40, 30 Nanyang Link.
4.3 HSA, NEA and MOH takes a strict stance against offenders who flout the law and NTU adopts a similar stand against smoking, use or possession of specified tobacco products, vaporisers, imitation tobacco products and their components, including use or possession of any tobacco products, vaporisers and imitation tobacco products containing SPS.
4.4 Campus Security is empowered to enforce the above mentioned prohibitions within the NTU campus. For offences committed outside of the NTU campus, sanctions can be imposed to the offender upon receiving offence notices from the authorities. The sanctions for abovementioned prohibitions for NTU staff and students are shown in Table 1 and Table 2 below.
4.5 Tenants, vendors, contractors and all other visitors to NTU who commit an offence under this policy will be handed over to the authorities.
4.6 Smokers are to dispose of cigarette butts in the cigarette disposal bins provided at the DSAs.
4.7 Smokers who wish to receive personalised help to quit smoking can call the HPB’s QuitLine at 1800 438 2000. More information about the I Quit Programme can be found here - https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/iquit
4.8 To keep our Campus 100% Vape-Free:
- Campus Security officers may conduct random bag checks for specified tobacco products, vaporisers, imitation tobacco products and their components,
- Campus Security officers will control patrols around NTU campus and DSAs to ensure rules are followed.
5.1 It shall be noted that the following sanctions will be enforced by Campus Security Division and are independent to the local enforcement action by the relevant agencies, such as NEA and HSA.
5.2 Sanctions for Smoking offences issued by NTU
| First Offence | Second Offence | Subsequent Offence(s) | |
| Students | Warning Letter • Including advisory for smoking cessation program, and consequences for repeated offence(s). • Copied to the Student Affairs Office (SAO), relevant School, and applicable Hall. | $200 Fine To be paid within 2 weeks, failing which, • Fine will be increased to $300, and • Offender referred to NEA. | $300 Fine • Hall eviction (if applicable), • Mandatory smoking cessation program failing which the student shall be dealt with by further actions upon completion of a COI, • and offender referred to NEA. |
| Staff | Warning Letter • Including advisory for smoking cessation program, and consequences for repeated offence(s) • Copied to the Office of Human Resource (OHR), relevant College/School/ Department, Centres, Autonomous Institutes or Subsidiaries (S/D/C). | $200 Fine To be paid within 2 weeks, failing which, • Fine will be increased to $300, and • Offender will be referred to NEA. | $300 Fine To be paid within 2 weeks • Offender referred to NEA |
Table 1: Sanctions for Smoking Offences
5.3 Sanctions for offences involving specified tobacco products, vaporisers, imitation tobacco products and their components.
New Disciplinary Measures on Use and/or possession of specified tobacco products, vaporisers, imitation tobacco products and their components, (Updated 1 September 2025):
| Sanctions for Students (w.e.f. 1 September 2025) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Please note that students who commit these offences, whether on or off campus, will face both national and University sanctions. | |||
| University Sanctions for offences involving specified tobacco products, vaporisers, imitation tobacco products and their components, including use or possession of any tobacco products, vaporisers and imitation tobacco products containing SPS: | |||
| First Offence | Second Offence | Subsequent Offence | |
| Use or possession of specified tobacco products, vaporisers, imitation tobacco products and their components | • Fine of $300 • Mandatory attendance at HPB’s vaping cessation programme • Eviction from hostel and barred from on-campus housing for the rest of candidature • Immediate removal from leadership position and expunge CCA leadership record for the Academic Year (AY)^ • Barred from leadership positions for the next AY^ • Barred from student exchange opportunities for at least one semester/trimester^ | • Escalation to Board of Discipline for further sanctions, which may include suspension • Expunge entire CCA leadership record • Barred from leadership positions for the rest of candidature • Barred from student exchange opportunities for the rest of candidature • Revoking of scholarships | • Escalation to Board of Discipline for even heavier sanctions which may include a longer suspension or expulsion |
| Use or possession of tobacco products, vaporisers and imitation tobacco products containing SPS | • Fine of at least $300^ • Escalation to Board of Discipline^ • Depending on the severity of the case and considering the benchmarks of past NTU cases, sanctions such as suspension or expulsion may be imposed • Mandatory attendance at HPB's vaping cessation programme • Eviction from hostel and barred from on-campus housing for the rest of candidature • Immediate removal from leadership position and expunge CCA leadership record for the Academic Year (AY) • Barred from leadership positions for the next AY • Barred from student exchange opportunities for at least one semester/trimester | • Suspension of at least one semester/trimester^ • A longer suspension if a suspension has already been meted out earlier for a same or similar offence^ | • Expulsion^ |
| Please refer to the FAQs on Student Intranet if you have questions about the updated vaping sanctions. | |||
Sanctions for Staff (w.e.f 1 September 2025) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff caught using, possessing or distributing specified tobacco products, vaporisers, imitation tobacco products and their components, including use or possession of any tobacco products, vaporisers and imitation tobacco products containing SPS will be subject to disciplinary measures such as fines, demotions and dismissal, on top of national sanctions. | |||
| Use or possession of specified tobacco products, vaporisers, imitation tobacco products and their components | |||
| Staff | First Offence | Second Offence | Subsequent Offence(s) |
| University Sanctions | a. Letter of Reprimand; and b. $300 fine | a. Letter of Reprimand; and b. Moderated performance rating and forfeiture of Performance Bonus (PB) and variable components | Possible termination for misconduct |
| Note All cases involving staff will be referred to the NTU Disciplinary Board for determination of sanctions | |||
| Use or possession of any tobacco products, vaporisers and imitation tobacco products containing SPS(1). | |||
| Staff | First Offence | Second Offence | Subsequent Offence(s) |
| University Sanctions | a. Letter of Reprimand; and b. Moderated performance grading and forfeiture of Performance Bonus (PB) and variable components | Termination for misconduct | |
| Notes: (1) SPS, including etomidate and its analogues, are listed as illegal substances in the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act (TVCA). (2) All cases involving staff will be referred to the NTU Disciplinary Board for determination of sanctions | |||
Table 2: Sanctions for specified tobacco products, vaporisers, imitation tobacco products offences