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Singapore
Nanyang Technological University
Other Accommodation
Originally unsure whether I would study abroad with all the unknowns, I was extremely close to not applying. In the end, exchange was THE BEST thing that I have pushed myself to do - I got to live in another country, meet global friends, travel to nearby countries, make life-long memories and in general have a great time, all while studying! I still can't believe I almost missed out on this opportunity simply because I was too 'unsure' to apply - do not make the same mistake. Hopefully sharing my experience helps!
Nathan
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The Best 5 Months Semester Exchange In Singapore
Campus Life
NTU has a very large campus with the main classrooms split into North Spine and South Spine. This is essentially the main walkway that then branches out into smaller walkways/corridors - it looks like a spine! It can be quite confusing at the start, especially with some 'hidden' classrooms so be sure to leave early in your first week or two of classes. Beyond North and South spine is the wider campus that hosts the facilities, wildlife/nature and housing/accommodation. This can be quite spread out so the university has buses running frequently in loops around campus. These buses can get quite packed and hot with Singapore's humidity, especially during peak times. Sometimes it is best to walk if you are close enough and you may find yourself doing this at night when it is later and buses aren't running. Otherwise, the campus has a nice tropical feel, you can even see some wildlife such as bores, snakes (I've heard!) and monkeys on occasions.
Campus Facilities:
I thought my home university, Macquarie, was big and then I went to NTU. They have multiple libraries, food courts, dorms/housing units, sporting fields, an athletics track, swimming pool, archery field and much more!
Campus Rating:
Ease of Getting Around:
Extra Curriculum Rating:
Cleanliness
Size:
Education Rating:
Subject Alignment
Teaching Staff:
Support Services:
Personally, I don't recall issues with support services besides finding it a little hard and last minute to apply and get help with subjects - although if you have some flexibility (electives) you can figure this out. My on-campus housing also had a reception which was beneficial.
Sports:
Already out of my comfort zone and trying new things, I thought why not try new sports that I have always thought would be fun but never tried properly considering NTU offers so much. I decided to try Archery and also Rollerblading.
Societies:
NTU offered quite a lot of options when it came to clubs and societies. Find out what there is and what interests you and don't be afraid to give it a go! See if others want to join you too, or if not, a great way to meet friends!
Accommodation
Meranti is a part of the Nanyang Crescent Halls which included Meranti, Saraca, and Tamarind. These halls were fairly new and quite nice compared to other halls. The bus stop for the shuttle that goes around campus is right outside the hall.
Housing Comments:
It is mixed-gender housing with alternative genders by floor. Some rooms were single, some double, most with communal bathrooms, some with private ones, and some with air-con and others without. There is a small but nice gym included with this hall and a central courtyard in between the buildings. There are laundry rooms scattered around, which require the new $1 Singapore coins and also some shared lounge rooms. Floors also have a common sink and hot water machine, but no proper kitchen facilities. Instead, the hall has a fairly cheap food court below it with many options, the Indian place is quite nice! In terms of internet, there is an ethernet port in the room, if you have a laptop that supports this, otherwise, if you want WiFi in your room and not have to go to common spaces, you will need to buy a modem to connect to this port. In your room you can only leave shelf food unless you buy or rent out a mini-fridge, which you can do but you have to tell the hall admin and I think pay a small fee to the housing too. I did this for things such as chocolate, milk, and yoghurt.
Accom. Rating:
Housing Type:
Dorm / Campus Hosing
Housing Cost Rating:
Finance Comment:
Singapore can both be cheap and also not cheap! If you eat at the university food courts or Hawker centres in Singapore then you can get some really nice food at a good value! As soon as you go to restaurants or bars, then things can get expensive. I've also heard regular accommodation can be expensive but the university housing is subsidised and a fairly reasonable amount so decide on what you prefer here. You can also apply for a study abroad loan that gets added to your HECs student debt!
Money Saving Tips:
'- Eat in the university/housing food courts, great food and great value!
- Stay in university housing, unless you want to and can share an external place/split the cost
- Get a travel money card that isn't with your bank, for great rates check out Revolut or Wise!
Home Sickness / Loneliness Tips:
I won't lie, sometimes I did feel a little homesick, especially in the early part of my exchange experience. It is hard moving out of home, away from family and everything that you are used to and travelling far away to another country for an extended period of time. When this happens you might opt for some alone time, to video-call your family/friends back home, seek support from the university or speak with other exchange students who are in the same boat. Soon, these friends you make on exchange will become your exchange family - you will all be a support for each other. Eventually, living there becomes a bit more normal. You may also choose to visit your family at some point during your exchange, they may visit you, or they may come to help you set up. My mum came and help me set up and explore Singapore during my first week which I found really beneficial in terms of settling in and I think it equally helped her with peace of mind.
📸 Check out these snaps...
Administration
Visa:
I did not have to go to an embassy/consulate and apply for a separate visa so I believe this process was done automatically with the enrolment process at NTU. Upon entering Singapore I did need to show some forms at customs so ensure you have these - you will be told what you need.
Home Country Admin:
Host Country Admin:
Subject Timetabling
It was quite hard to get the subjects that I wanted. I was given some and others required to be on the waitlist. I also heard you can try to ask teachers/subject staff to see if you can get a place, but this never really worked for me. I suggest just keep trying and keep some elective room up your selves if you can't get subjects that align well.
Telecommunication Providers and WiFi
My sim card was through StarHub, there is also Singtel and others. The one I had was quite good from memory as it allowed me to use it in many other countries in the region saving the hassle of finding new sim cards in other countries. Be sure to bring your passport/ID when you go to get one! I also bought a router/modem from Challenger so I could have wifi in my room (there was already an ethernet port in the room to connect to).
Student Card
A student card was given to us on arrival from memory, but it was more than just a student card! It is used for a range of services, including paying for public transport, access to the library and university buildings. topping up your aircon card, for printing and photocopying and to pay for food and drinks around campus!
Application Process
Nanyang Technological University is quite a popular university, when I went it was the #1 Young University globally and probably still is! In saying that, this was my first preference (for a few reasons), I applied towards the end of intakes and I still got in, which was great! They host a fairly large amount of international students which could make it easier. When applying you can list up to three preferences, so think ahead and do your research to see which ones you want to apply for!
Region / Travel Options
Trip 1
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Region Rating:
Travel Options:
Ease of Getting Around to Travel:
Trip 2
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Trip 3
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Trip 4
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Country
Singapore is a clean, English-speaking country in the heart of Asia making it an ideal location if I was to go to Asia. In addition, I was able to apply for the New Colombo Plan or Asia Society Scholarship by going to a country in Asia. While it did get quite hot and humid at points, I enjoyed the warmth. NTU was also ranked the #1 Young University globally which was appealing. I had been to Singapore before briefly and knew what a great country it is.
Events / Celebrations:
If you are there in August be sure to catch the National Day celebrations including a big firework show in Marina Bay. There are also other occasions such as Chinese New Year, Deepavali and more that you should try to be part of. Additionally, if you can catch it and are interested in Formula One, seeing the well-known Singapore Night Race is one you won't forget. If you are into theme parks and some fun, I recommend going to Sentosa Island which hosts a water park, Universal Studios and more. I got a 'season pass' equivalent into Universal Studios and the water park which allowed me to go whenever I wanted - great for weekends you stay in Singapore.
Country Rating:
Work During Abroad?
Things that Took Me by Surprise:
Transport is quite efficient and you can also use Grab (similar to Uber) for lots of things, including getting around and food delivery. Singapore also has one of the best Airports in the world, Changi is worth a trip in itself!
General Comments and Advice:
Try the local food (Chicken Rice for example), immerse yourself in the culture and enjoy 'living' in another country. By that, be sure to explore the tourist areas but also the non-tourist areas - be a local!
Social and Culture Integration
Be Culturally Intelligent - things you may do in your home country may be frowned upon or not acceptable. In one case I used my foot to slightly point / indicate what I was talking about to someone, which I quickly found was not such a great idea. Singaporeans called older people Uncles in respect.
Locals:
Yes, the locals are all very nice if you speak with them. They are a little more closed off than perhaps people in Australia and other places but very kind and respectful.
Cultural Integration Rating:
Culture & Religion:
When entering certain places of religion you will need to be wearing appropriate clothing and perhaps take off shoes. Some places will provide extra layers to put on.
What was the Food Like?
Singapore, in the heart of Asia, brings together a lot of foods from the region, including India, Chinese, Malaysia, Indonesia and local Singaporean foods. Be sure to try these all, and if you are feeling like some western food, there is typically one western food stall too. Try some local food including Chicken Rice, Kaya toast, Satay (from Hawker Centres) and of course, Roti Prata (a must!!). Be aware and learn of their different types of tea and coffee. For example, Teh Tarik uses condensed milk, so it is very sweet!
Safety / Security / Health
Singapore is one of the safest countries you can go to generally. Even the accommodation had a 24/7 security person.
Safety Resources:
We had access to International SOS which provided us help if needed.
Host Country Safety:
Provider / Institution Safety:
Housing Safety:
Health Issues Addressed:
Health Insurance / Policies:
Yes. While I am not sure if it was an MQU or NTU requirement, we required Health Insurance. This may have been provided to us, but it was also highly recommended/needed to have separate insurance for our other trips that we did (e.g. Singapore to Thailand). We were also provided access to 'International SOS' which was good for peace of mind, letting us get assistance anywhere, anytime that we needed, information about countries and more. I felt very safe in Singapore in particular, but also in many of the other countries I visited too.
Extra Comments:
Personally, I was fortunate enough to not have to experience Singapore's healthcare system but from my understanding their healthcare is world-class. For a chemist/pharmacy you can go to places like Guardian Health and Beauty. I also didn't need any additional vaccines to enter Singapore or any other country I visited during my time abroad.
Growth and Memories
Before this trip, I had never lived away from home or from family, let alone in a foreign country! So this trip definitely taught me a lot about independence and helped me really step out of my comfort zone, especially as an introvert. I was really unsure about this experience, so much so that I almost didn't apply, but as I've mentioned, it was one of the best experiences I have pushed myself to do. There are some points that may be hard, but overall it is a once-in-a-lifetime, amazing experience!
Memories:
Personal Growth:
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Social Life:
One of the best parts of exchange was the lifelong friends I made from all parts of the globe - Switzerland, the United States, South Africa, Austria and more! Since finishing exchange, I have even travelled from Australia over to Europe to reunite and stay with many of them! Once you form a tight-knit of friends, these are the ones you will spend most of your time with and go on trips with.
Tips for Making Friends:
I was surprised by how many international students there were which really helped me feel that I wasn't alone and that there were others in the same boat as me. At the start of the semester, everyone is new and looking to make friends, so it is the perfect time to get out there and meet people, even just saying 'hello' and kindly asking to sit with someone in the food court. Some people like to party more, others don't, it is important to find a group of friends that have similar interests in what they hope to get out of exchange and experience.
FEATURED
Looking Back at My Experience...
Originally unsure whether I would study abroad with all the unknowns, I was extremely close to not applying. In the end, exchange was THE BEST thing that I have pushed myself to do - I got to live in another country, meet global friends, travel to nearby countries, make life-long memories and in general have a great time, all while studying! I still can't believe I almost missed out on this opportunity simply because I was too 'unsure' to apply - do not make the same mistake. Hopefully sharing my experience helps!
What I Liked Most:
I got to live in another country, meet global friends, travel to nearby countries, make life-long memories and in general have a great time, all while studying! The experiences are truly unforgettable.
Start Date:
6 August 2019
End Date:
15 November 2019
Overall Rating:
Finance Rating:
Budget Rating:
Improved:
Just like your home university, I found some classes to be really good and others to be a bit more average. Additionally, it was quite hard and last minute to enroll into actual classes, I was even trying to finalise subjects during the first week or two of classes!
Orientation/Onboarding:
Onboarding was great from memory. NTU had a session where all the international students came together in a big lecture hall to let us know about the country, its rules, the university and more. I was surprised just how many international students there actually were - thousands!
How My Home Institution Prepared Me:
Macquarie was good with providing help where needed, including an iLearn page where information was kept and you could ask if other students were going to the same location. You could contact them for advice more related to you, but it was of course hard to get specific information about accommodation etc, they can't know everything about all universities and countries after all! Exchange Exchange is good for this.
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