Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Studying in Singapore: The Asian Gateway Past Review

By (Mathematics, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 08/01/2012 to 12/06/2013 with

National University of Singapore: Singapore - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Living in South East Asia was a contextualizing, transformative, and enlightening experience. I was exposed to a part of the world I've has little exposure to. I got to eat some of the best food in the world and got to travel to some of the most beautiful parts of the world and got to experience living in on of the most modern city in the world.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Similar to the academic rigor at the Univesity of Texas, but much more competitive environment.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in PGP because it did not require a meal plan, but it wasn't the best living arrangement. In hindsight, I would have opted to live in UTown.

* Food:

Singapore has some of the best food in the world, and locals take food matters seriously. The NUS campus has numerous food courts cooking up the best meals I've had on a college campus for very cheap by US standards.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There were numerous opportunities to interact with local culture. The university organizes events to help foreign students to integrate into local culture. A common tread in the courses are group assignments in which there is ample opportunities to meet and collaborate with local students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The healthcare system not only functions better than in the US, it is also cheaper. You'll need to visit the clinic on campus to receive vaccinations for malaria, etc. if you plan to travel outside of Singapore. If you plan to only stay in Singapore, you won't need any special vaccinations.

* Safety:

I felt safer than in most US cities. Crime in Singapore is famously low. However practice common sense as it is not perfectly safe eg look out for pickpocketing, etc.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Food in travel is relatively cheap, however other things like clothing and electronics can be more expensive. Food courts (hawker centers) are very cheap, but restaurants and bars are can be very very expensive.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? sg$70-$100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Avoid alcohol; it is terribly expensive in Singapore.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Travel
* What could be improved?
  • Nothing really
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? You cannot stream Pandora or Netflix or Hulu from Singapore.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.