Pursuing higher education abroad has always fascinated Indian students. Undoubtedly, this is the right time to explore the educational opportunities in Singapore. It is a beautiful country and is an enchanting blend of diverse religions, cultures and traditions. It has a dynamic and vibrant culture which is uniquely Singaporean. Studying in an alien country opens up a whole lot of stimulating learning experiences, more so in a country which is as progressive as Singapore. This cosmopolitan country offers a wide range of educational prospects. Indian students, who wish to pursue university education in Singapore, may find it little difficult in relating themselves to this mixed bag culture of Singapore. Therefore, in order to familiarise a visiting student with the lifestyle, culture, languages and etiquette of Singapore, here are some useful hints and checklists that would help him/her to get along well with the Singaporean way of life.  

The Singapore Advantage

Singapore is a multi-racial country. As per the 2005 census, it has an estimated 4.48 million people with a major chunk of population consisting of Chinese immigrants, and the rest are Malay and Indian minorities. Singapore Dollar, indicated as SGD or S$, is the currency of this country. The exchange rate of one SGD is 33.46 Indian rupees (approx). Location-wise, Singapore is closer to India (approx 2898 km from Chennai) compared to the other western countries. Singapore is well connected by air routes and operates the finest airliners in the world besides several low-cost carriers. A typical flight between Chennai and Singapore would have a flying time of about 3 hours 36 minutes. The airfare for a round-trip from Chennai, depending on the airliner, would cost something between SGD 1000 and SGD 1500. So, the students can cut costs on air travel, which is otherwise quite expensive if he/she wants to fly to the US or the UK or Canada. 

Bilingualism-Mother Tongue Policy

Singapore has four official languages – English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. Though Singapore is a multi-lingual city, the Singaporean Government uses Mandarin and English extensively for official transactions. In Singapore, the bilingual policy was first adopted in 1966. Bilingualism, or mother tongue policy, is a keystone of the Singapore education system. English is the first language and the medium of instruction in schools, however, most students are required to take a ‘Mother Tongue’ subject, which could be one of the three official languages– Mandarin, Malay or Tamil. A non-Tamil Indian may choose to offer Tamil or a non-official language such as Bengali, Urdu, Hindi, Gujarati or Punjabi. Mother Tongue is a compulsory subject at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) and the GCE ‘N’, ‘O’ and ‘A’ level examinations. Students are required to achieve a certain level of proficiency in their mother tongue as a pre-requisite for admission to local universities. The intention of prescribing English as the First Language is to facilitate Singapore’s integration into the global economy. 

Etiquette 

Singaporeans give prime importance to etiquette. Since Singapore is a multi-culture society, it is imperative to note some of the following points.  

· Elderly people are treated with great respect in Singapore

· Compliments are generally accepted with a modest denial

· Public display of too much affection is not appreciated

· Feet are considered to be dirty for touching any object

· Cover your mouth with your hand when you yawn

· It is considered rude to blow your nose or clear your throat in public

· Do not litter or spit in public places; it is strictly prohibited

· Do not share food

· Do not allow the serving cutlery to touch your plate at communal dinners

Entry into Singapore through Student’s Pass

The Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) has implemented various measures to process visa application for entry into Singapore. You may check the ICA’s website regarding visa requirements for entry into Singapore. Any foreigner wishing to pursue full-time studies in Singapore in an institution that is registered with the Ministry of Education (MOE) or has obtained approval from the Commissioner, ICA, to accept international students, is required to apply for a Student’s Pass. 

Checklist for Foreign Students

· Check that you have a passport that is valid for at least six months

· Apply for an exit visa from your home country, if necessary

· Complete and submit all relevant forms and documents to your school for the course of    study or programme

· Ensure that you are satisfied with the certification/qualification offered by the university and that it suits your area of interest

· Take note of the entry requirements into each school/course because they vary from institution to institution

· Make accommodation arrangements and submit all necessary applications before the stipulated deadline

Things to Remember

Most of the educational institutions offer an Orientation Programme for international students. Confirm the time and details of the programme with your institution. Complete your travel arrangements, preferably with a reliable travel agency. Check with the appropriate airlines on the baggage check-in allowance into Singapore, and also the customs procedures at the Changi Airport. Some agents offer a one-stop service such as visa processing, airfare, accommodation arrangements etc. Ensure that these agents are trustworthy. As per the stipulations of the World Health Organisation, Immunisation is required for travel and stay in Singapore.  Make sure you receive the necessary documents and carry a copy of relevant medical reports. Also, apply for medical insurance which covers the entire duration of your study. Most of the institutions offer a meet and greet service. Take down the contact details upon confirmation of service.  

Accommodation

Accommodation is the most important aspect while you decide to live in a foreign country. You should arrange for temporary accommodation before you leave your homeland unless you have already arranged long-term accommodation for the entire duration of your course of study. Many institutions in Singapore either provide or assist students in securing accommodation. Some students may prefer to live in temporary accommodation for some time and then explore various housing options. There are several accommodation options available in Singapore to suit different budgets.

Private Housing-Landed Property: You may rent a privately-owned apartment or a condominium or a house directly from the owner. This is quite an expensive affair. Hence, sharing with fellow students helps to reduce your expenditure. The advertisements of these properties can be found in the newspapers, online, on supermarket notice boards, or by hiring a property agent.

Serviced Apartments: These are comfortable and luxurious apartments owned and managed by property companies. They are fully furnished like a normal home, but with hotel-style services provided such as housekeeping. A complete range of choice, from studios to penthouses, is offered within the city centre or in the outskirts. They are suitable for those who can afford the high prices. 

Public and Private Universities

Currently, Singapore has two full-fledged public universities–National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University, and two full-fledged private universities– SMU and UniSIM. The National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University each has more than 20,000 students pursuing various courses. They offer a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate degrees and doctoral programmes. Both are reputed research universities with thousands of research staff and graduate students. A third university, Singapore Management University (SMU), is focusing on business and management courses. It is funded by the government though it is a private university. The fourth privately-managed university, SIM University (UniSIM), was set up in 2006.The government has announced plans to start a fourth public university ,which  is expected to begin operations in Changi by 2011, in order to meet the rising demand for higher education.

International Universities in Singapore 

Besides local universities, many of the world’s leading foreign universities have also established their overseas campuses in Singapore. They either have a physical campus or have joint collaborations with local universities. Several premier institutes/universities in the UK, US, Canada, France and Australia have established offshore campuses in Singapore to provide an opportunity for students to acquire a western university degree at a fraction of the cost it would take to study in those respective countries. To cite a few names – University of New Brunswick, University of Wales Institute, Queen Margaret University, The City University of New York have campuses in Singapore. This is a blessing not only to the local Singapore students but also to foreign students, especially, the Asian community because the cost of education is very high in the west. So, if students wish to pursue their higher education through these offshore campuses, they will get the benefit of the same quality of western education at an affordable price.

Leading International Institutions with Asian Campus in Singapore

· INSEAD
· University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
· Duke
· SP Jain Center for Management
· ESSEC
· Digipen Institute of Technology
· University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Leading International Universities in Collaboration with Singapore Universities

· John Hopkins
· Georgia Institute of Technology
· Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
· The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
· Design Technology Institute
· German Institute of Science & Technology
· Shanghai Jiao Tong University
· Stanford University
· Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
· Cornell University

Most sought after universities in Singapore 

·     The National University of Singapore (NUS), founded in 1905, is located in southwest Singapore at Kent Ridge. NUS offers single-degree, masters, doctoral and graduate diploma programmes conducted via faculties/schools like the Arts and Social Sciences, Business, Computing, Dentistry, Design and Environment, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science, Public Policy, Integrative Sciences and Engineering, Scholars Program, Music, English Language Communication, Institute of Systems Science and Mathematics and Science. NUS is Singapore’s global university with distinctive strengths in education and research and an entrepreneurial dimension. More than 30,000 students from 80 countries make the University a hub of hectic academic activity. A University Scholars Programme grooms talented students for leadership by developing their personal, intellectual and leadership qualities.  

·    Nanyang Technological University (NTU), established in 1955, is located in the southwestern part of Singapore. NTU has a student enrollment of nearly 50,000. NTU comprises of 4 colleges and 12 schools. The College of Engineering, with six schools, focuses on technology innovation. The College of Science offers life sciences and science initiatives. The Business School offers MBA programs. The College of Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences offers degree courses in art, design and interactive digital media. NTU is an internationally reputed research-intensive tertiary institution. The broad-based education covers science and technology, business and the arts, entrepreneurial and leadership skills.
 
·    SP Jain Center of Management (SPJCM) is a global business school having campuses in Singapore and Dubai. SPJCM offers the Global Masters in Business Administration (GMBA) and Executive Masters in Business Administration (EMBA). Specialisations offered for GMBA include marketing, finance, information technology, global logistics and supply chain and human resources management. EMBA specialisations include finance, marketing, operations and human resources management.  

·    The Singapore Management University (SMU), established in 2000 with a focus on business and management programmes, is located at Bras Basah Park district, Singapore. Around 6000 students are enrolled for various courses at the six schools –School of Business, School of Accountancy, School of Economics, School of Information Systems, School of Law, and School of Social Sciences. SMU offers degree programmes in business management, accountancy, economics, information systems management, law and social science, masters in wealth management, applied finance, professional accounting, IT in business, economics, applied economics, finance, management and operations management.  

·    The Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS), founded in 1956, is Singapore’s oldest not-for-profit professional institute for lifelong learning. MDIS provides opportunities for individuals to develop professionally through academic programmes in the areas of business and management, mass communications, information technology, life sciences, psychology, travel, tourism and hospitality management offered in collaboration with highly acclaimed universities in Australia, France, the UK and US. The campus has 4,000 international students from over 66 countries. In September 2008, MDIS set up its first overseas campus in Tashkent. The campus offers world-class tertiary education to its students and other students from the Central Asia region.  

·    James Cook University Singapore (JCUS), established in 2003, is located at Upper Thomson Road, Singapore. JCUS is the first Asian campus of James Cook University and offers various pre-university, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Undergraduate courses are offered in the fields of Information Technology, Psychology and Business. The postgraduate programmes include Business Administration, Education, Guidance and Counseling, IT, Tourism and Hospitality Management, and Master/Doctor of Psychology.  

·    SIM University, established in 2005, is located at Clementi Road, Singapore. The University has over 8,000 students enrolled in its programmes. SIM University offers a wide range of over 40 tertiary-level programmes through four schools–Arts & Social Sciences, Business, Human Development & Social Services and Science & Technology.  

·    INSEAD, founded in 1957, is the world’s leading graduate business school, which brings together people, cultures and ideas from around the world to change lives and transform organisations. The School has two campuses in Asia (Singapore) and Europe (France) and two centres in the Middle East (Israel and Abu Dhabi). INSEAD Singapore campus is located at the corner of the Ayer Rajah Avenue in the Knowledge Hubs district of Singapore. It offers programmes like Executive Education, MBA, Executive MBA and PhD.
 
Financial assistance

Singapore’s Education Policy ensures that no child is left behind in education even if he/she does not have the financial ability to pay school fees. Therefore, school fees in public schools are heavily subsidised, so that students pay as little as SGD 13 for fees. There are also many assistance schemes from either the government or welfare organisations to help students cope with the expenses during their studies. For example, The Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) is an MOE programme to provide financial assistance for education to low income families with monthly household income of less than SGD 1,500 or SGD 1,800, depending on the number of children in the household. Students eligible for FAS receive a full waiver of miscellaneous fees, and partial subsidy on national examination fees. They may also enjoy full or partial fee subsidy if they are in Independent Schools. The Edusave Merit Bursary (EMB) is given to about 40,000 students, who are from lower-middle and low-income families and demonstrate good academic performance in their schools. 

Gateway to Global Education

Singapore is popularly known as the Gateway to Global Education. It is a technically advanced country and is a focal point of life-long learning. The campuses have world-class infrastructure, state-of-the-art facilities and highly competent faculty. The universities offer the latest, need-based, cutting-edge curriculum to make the students competitive. Most of the Universities organise campus recruitment programmes, which help students find suitable jobs. Therefore, education in Singapore opens up a fascinating new world and offers a wonderful opportunity to learn and live in this premier education hub of Asia.