A life changing experience filled with amazing people and memories. Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/15/2018 to 05/12/2018 with

National University of Singapore: Singapore - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learnt about more cultures than I was expecting. I thought I would only learn about Singapore culture but traveling allowed me to learn about various different cultures which was very worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed in University Town which was very nice housing. However, there was not many opportunities to interact with local NUS students because mainly other exchangers and graduate students live there. Living in Residential colleges would have allowed for more interaction with the local students.

* Food:

The food is very cheap and good! I stayed in UTown area which had two food courts so there was a variety of food to choose from.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Singapore is very small so it is easy to go out to different places such as China Town or Little India to experience local culture. The food courts in UTown also allowed me to tase local foods.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Singapore is relatively safe ad I did not have any concerns with safety. Public transportation is also very safe.

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

The courses in NUS were quite hard but they were very interesting and not something I would be able to take in Brandeis. Also, there is a lot to do while studying abroad in NUS. Singapore has some interesting things to do such as Sentosa or Marina Bay Sands, and the food is amazing. The best part was being able to travel to neighboring countries during weekends to experience more culture.

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)

The food from hawker centers in Singapore is very cheap but everything else can be quite expensive. Also, since Singapore is close with other South Eastern countries I did a lot of traveling which required quite a bit of money.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you are traveling, try to buy your tickets a few weeks in advance so they are cheaper!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

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

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Campus life
  • Being able to travel to neighboring countries
  • Meeting new people
* What could be improved?
  • More interactions with local students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish that I could have chosen to live in residential colleges so that I could live with local students and have a chance to interact with them.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.