Celebration and new beginnings: The Graduate Students’ Farewell Dinner 2026

The air at Temasek Club was filled with laughter and a palpable sense of accomplishment on 17 April 2026, as 124 graduating Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Laws (LLM) students gathered for the Graduate Students’ Farewell Dinner. The evening served as a milestone, marking the culmination of rigorous study and the beginning of a new chapter for the Class of 2026.

A Journey of Resilience

The celebration opened with an address by Professor Umakanth Varottil PhD ’10, Vice-Dean (Graduate Studies), who reflected on the unique journey of this cohort. Highlighting their adaptability, he noted that the students formed immense bonds not only across nationalities but also across both the Bukit Timah and Kent Ridge campuses.

“I would like to express my warm wishes to all of you for coming so far in your graduate legal journey,” Professor Varottil shared. “As you enter a VUCA world defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, I hope that the education you received at NUS Law has prepared you to face its challenges head-on. You will continue to be our true ambassadors.”

Further welcoming the graduates into a lifelong relationship with the school, Ms Madelyn Kia, Associate Director (Alumni Relations & Development), shared words of encouragement as she formally ushered them into the global NUS Law alumni community.

In Harmony

The evening’s celebratory mood was heightened by a series of live performances that showcased the diverse talents of the student body. Maria Semaeva and Kanupriya Sharma, both of whom are in the International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution LLM programme, took to the stage for soulful renditions of Wherever I Go and It’s My Life, while JD student Xu Haozhe moved the audience with a performance of JJ Lin’s Mandarin hit, Those Adventurous Dreams.

For the performers, the evening was a chance to give back to the community they called home. “Performing a song that evening with one of my best friends made it even more special,” said Kanupriya. “It was a small way to express my gratitude for a community that has made this experience so memorable and fulfilling.”

Maria echoed this sentiment, describing the dinner as the “perfect epilogue” to her time in Singapore. “The graduation dinner … was a beautiful testament to the bonds I have formed with people here,” she remarked, noting that beyond academics, she found lifelong friendships that took her on travels to Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi and Hong Kong during semester breaks.

Global Perspectives

The students reflected on what makes NUS Law a premier institution. Haozhe highlighted the faculty’s deep commitment to the common-law tradition and its relevance in Asia. “Every tutorial reflected the faculty’s full commitment to teaching,” he noted. “Beyond the classroom, I met classmates from around the world and experienced a culture of genuine mutual respect and lively exchange across differences.”

Maria, who was featured on the cover of the LLM programme brochure, also credited the faculty’s reputation for providing “deep industry insights” and practical opportunities, such as her internship with a Singapore law firm where she engaged with eminent arbitration practitioners.

In Kanupriya’s words, their time at NUS has proven to be an incredibly enriching and transformative experience, both academically and personally.  

A Joyous Send-off

Between the game segments and a generous buffet spread, faculty members joined students on the floor, mingling and capturing final photos to commemorate their shared time.

As the night drew to a close with a group photograph, the mood remained one of optimism. In the words of Haozhe: “Graduating from NUS Law feels like the start of a new chapter, and I hope we will continue to walk forward together, pursuing our dreams in the years ahead.”