Heat impacts college student grades even in rich Singapore

Singapore has invested heavily in adapting to a warming tropical climate, yet heat still affects human capital formation. Using 15 years of undergraduate records, researchers found that shifting from the coolest to the hottest semester reduces academic performance by 1.5%. Quasi‑random variation shows dorm air‑conditioning mitigates—but does not eliminate—heat impacts, and students with home cooling still experience declines. International students from temperate regions and male learners were especially heat‑sensitive, suggesting limits to adaptation and potential for acclimatization. Findings highlight the need to better understand behavioral and physiological responses to rising temperatures in educational settings.