How to Intern Abroad in Singapore

Sleepless In Singapore: Intern In Asia's Busiest City

As one of the world's leading financial centers, Singapore is a sought-after destination for interns looking for quality placements in large corporations. Name a famous company or big brand and its most probably there, searching for interns who yearn to test their mettle and immerse themselves in the culture of a land so dissimilar to their own. Despite its size and relatively small population, the country has risen from being a simple trading post of the East India Company in the 1800’s to an economic powerhouse that leads its Southeast Asian neighbors in a variety of ways.

Gardens By The Bay, Singapore. Gardens By The Bay, Singapore. Photo by Jonathan Miers

Location and Demographics

Singapore is a city-state made up of just over 60 islands, located on the southernmost tip of the Malay Peninsula. Home to more than five million people, including almost two million foreign workers, the islands are separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor. Although popularly known as Singapore Island, the main island is known to locals and the rest of the Malay Peninsula as Pulau Ujong. Of the country's smaller islands, Jurong, Pulau Tekong, and Pulau Ubin are the largest; Sentosa is the most famous, thanks to its tourist attractions that include a two-kilometer long beach, two world-class golf courses, two five-star hotels, and the Resorts World Sentosa. Sentosa is also known for its theme park, Universal Studios Singapore.

The port of Singapore is one of the five busiest ports in the world and the nation has the third-highest per capita income in the world. In the next 20 years, Singapore's land area is expected to expand by about 100 square kilometers (around 40 square miles), when efforts to merge smaller islands through land reclamation succeed. Due to rapid urbanization in the past 30 years, very little is left of the country's primary rainforest. The only forest remaining is the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

Climate

The climate in Singapore is consistently hot and humid throughout the year with occasional rains and thunderstorms. Temperatures range from around 20 to 35 degrees Celsius (approximately 70 to 95 95 degrees Fahrenheit), with April and May being the hottest months. November to January are considered the "cold" season because of the rains brought by annual monsoons. The best time to visit Singapore is between November and June, due in part to the haze from brush and forest fires in neighboring Sumatra Island in Indonesia from July to October.

Language and Currency

As a melting pot of cultures, Singapore names four languages as nationally official: English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. English is the language of commerce, governance, and education, while the other languages are used at home and other non-school or business-related venues. English in Singapore takes after British English and is commonly spoken in the pidgin form known as Singlish, but only out of earshot of strangers because it is strongly discouraged by the government. The national currency is the Singapore dollar, which is traded internationally a bit lower than the United States dollar. Things tend to be extremely expensive in comparison to the nation’s Southeast Asian counterparts.

Food, Culture, & Activities

The local cuisine is very spicy as it is influenced heavily by Indian and Malay cuisine. Interns are advised to avoid local dishes if spiciness is an issue, unless they are able to communicate their need for mildness. Singapore has a wide variety of food that appeals to every palate for the most part. Trying the food at Singaporean hawker stalls, which serve affordable cuisine ranging from Malay and Indian to Korean and Japanese, is a great way to explore the local dishes. Some of the more famous dishes include Bak Kut Teh which is pork rib soup garnished with herbs and spices, Tandoori (marinated meat, mixed with spices and coconut milk, and cooked in an oven), and Laksa, rice noodles in coconut curry sauce.

SIngapore is a melting pot of immigrants from around the world. Nearly half of the population consists of expatriates. Formerly under British rule, there is still a large British population residing on the island today. The people of Singapore are known to be respectful and tolerant, due in part to an initiative led by the government. The three main religions practiced are Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam.

Performing arts, theater and music in particular, have been on the rise more recently throughout the country.Stand-up comedy has also gained popularity in recent years. Despite the nation’s economic development, there are still an abundance of green spaces to find peace and tranquility within Singapore. Whether seeking thrill from a theme park or a classical concert to attend, Singapore has it all.

Interning Abroad in Singapore

Deciding to intern in Singapore poses a challenge to individuals in search of quantity as opposed to quality. If an intern is looking for a quality internship in one of the most powerful Asian economies in the world, then Singapore is a sure bet. Each internship program is unique. Some programs provide students with a stipend, others are unpaid with accommodation covered by the program fee, and some provide free housing. Be sure to look into accommodation options when choosing a program.

About the Author
Joel Tan

Joel Tan began his professional life as a reporter for a major Asian newspaper. It was during his stint as the paper's technology editor that he won an award for best science and technology reporting for his series on biotechnology and its effects on human health and development. Joel has traveled throughout Asia. When he isn't busy with technology projects, Joel dabbles in blogging about travel and technology, and tweaking Wordpress themes.