How to Study Abroad in Singapore An Emphasis on 'Study' Abroad. In Singapore, the culture puts an extremely high value on education. From an early age, students’ academic success is emphasized. As a result, education has become one of the major forces driving Singapore’s economic success. Singapore’s world-leading educational system has gained a reputation for being top-notch and globally competitive. As a result, a study-abroad stint or an internship abroad in Singapore is often regarded quite highly by prospective employers or university admissions officers.
But this prestige comes with a price: studying abroad in Singapore requires that you tackle your studies with as much vigor as the local students. Be ready to mingle with fellow students who very serious about learning, and to get a healthy degree of academic enthusiasm from your colleagues. The pervading culture of kiasu (meaning ‘afraid to lose’) in the country will have you working extra hard.
A Good Dose of Culture. Singapore offers a thriving cultural scene with its diverse populace of Malay, Indian, Chinese, and Eurasian descent. Be ready to meet people of many different ethnicities, religions, cuisines, and ways of living, who exist in racial harmony. The diverse communities in Singapore are likened to the native dish called rojak, a salad that mixes many different ingredients with peanut sauce as the basic condiment. Each distinct ethnicity in the country possesses a unique culture (the different ingredients) but shares an identity with the other Singaporeans (the peanut sauce). As it is a renowned international education destination, Singapore prides itself for its rich mixture of foreign students who have come from near and far.
GlobaLinks Learning Abroad offers a terrific study program that combines learning Mandarin in Singapore with cultural activities, including brewing Chinese tea at a teahouse, trying out Chinese calligraphy and Chinese martial arts (Wushu), dancing to traditional Balinese music, creating batik art, and more.
Enjoy Year-long Summer. Thanks to its tropical rainforest climate, Singapore has become a favorite destination for sun-seekers. You can enjoy a full tropical experience and take advantage of a year-round sunny climate with activities such as windsurfing, wakeboarding and overnight biking excursions. The city’s most popular beach, the East Coast Park, is a favorite destination for international students looking for fun outdoor activities and an exciting nightlife.
A Picturesque (And Squeaky Clean) Cityscape. Singapore’s buildings artfully combine colonial and contemporary styles of architecture. The century-old Raffles Hotel is an iconic colonial-era structure. There are also the uniquely Singaporean Esplanade and the ultra modern Marina Bay Sands. Highlighting gorgeous buildings like these is the impeccable cleanliness that is very characteristic of Singapore. This may be the only country where you never have to worry about stepping on chewing gum. From the sidewalks to the public bathrooms, the level of general cleanliness here is truly rare.
Navigate The City With Ease. Traveling around Singapore is made easy by energy-saving and environment-friendly taxis, buses and trains. These state-of-the-art modes of transportation offer air conditioners, portable TVs, sound insulation, comfortable seats, and GPS. The local government is most proud of its driverless trains, the Mass Rapid Transit, that efficiently transport over a million people each day.
Explore The City Safely. Singapore is famed for having one of the lowest crime rates in the world. In fact, authorities have to remind people that “low crime doesn’t mean no crime,” and to have common sense while traveling. While violent crimes against visiting students are rare, watch out for pickpocketing and theft at tourist destinations, hotels, public transport, and the airport.
A Future Career In Singapore? As unemployment rates shoot up in other countries, Singapore remains resilient and boasts of one of the strongest economies in the world. With its sound economy and political stability, multinational corporations are drawn to Singapore, and offer many opportunities for employment. Seeing first-hand what the country has to offer during a study abroad trip to Singapore may be a decision that will skyrocket your career. The study abroad programs at Singapore universities openly invite an influx of foreign applicants.
Or, you can study in Singapore with third-party providers like WISE Abroad, that link you not only with academic institutions but with key business networks, government entities and private industries as well.