Speaking at a press conference after receiving Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals Man of the Year, the 29-year-old revealed why he was happy to be hanging round the school.
Timberlake said: 'Secretly, I always wanted to go to college and I didn't get the chance to do that.'
Justin's girlfriend Hollywood actress Jessica Biel, 28, and his mother attended the ceremony, but managed to keep a low profile.
The Social Network star also admitted that he isn't sure what his plans for the future involve.
He added: 'I'm an artist first, so I'll continue to follow the inspiration. That means movies, TV and writing [songs] for other people.
'I mostly don't know what I'm doing, I go from project to project to project.'