The first cohort of about six hundred Arts and Science students, was enrolled in January 1978. Academic lessons were temporarily conducted at the former Westlake Secondary School campus. Construction of the major buildings and facilities at the permanent site along Serangoon Avenue 3 was completed in November 1978, and started administrative and academic operations the following month. Commerce stream and computer science was introduced into the college in 1979 and 1981 respectively. In 1981, Nanyang Junior College organised the 11th Pre-university Seminar in conjunction with the Ministry of Education.