Incredible Semester in Singapore May 25, 2026
By A student (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/12/2026 to 05/09/2026 with
National University of Singapore: Singapore - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Yes it was absolutely worthwhile. I experienced a lot of personal growth, made friends from all over the world, and had a blast learning more about and exploring Singapore. Singapore is also in a great location to explore the rest of Southeast Asia.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academics were difficult, especially any 4000 level courses, but professors are caring and the university has lots of resources available. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Sometimes felt that communication about administrative matters was confusing. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Was in a residential college and the community was incredible. I met some of my closest friends through housing. |
| * Food: |
Food in Singapore is amazing and generally cheaper than in the US. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There was sometimes a bit of a disconnect between exchange students and local students, but living and taking classes with local students, getting involved in school and community activities helped with feeling connected with the local culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Singapore is super safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
Cost of living is definitely higher than nearby Southeast Asia countries but compared to the US it can be surprisingly affordable if you find the right places. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Hawker center style food is the cheapest, restaurants are more expensive. Online markets like Shopee can also be good for finding necessities for cheaper. Bring sunscreen and other essentials if you can because those are often more expensive. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Because it's so hot and humid mold grows really easily so getting dehumidifier bags or similar might be necessary. Also, I wish I knew that it's a bit harder to get involved in clubs during semester 2 because they don't have the club fair and for some of them it's harder to get involved in the middle of the school year. |
