Among these Asian countries for studying abroad, Singapore has become the target of many prospective international students because of its similar cultural customs to those in China and relatively low tuition fees.Things you need to know about studying in SingaporeCommon knowledge about studying in Singapore, ,Common knowledge for international students in Singapore, ,A Complete Book of Common Sense for International Students in SingaporeThe problem.
1. Common knowledge you need to know about studying in Singapore
- 1. Singapore is located on the equator and has an oceanic climate. It is humid and warm, with temperatures between 24-30℃. Shirts, T-shirts, trousers and shorts are common clothing. Jackets may come in handy occasionally, but thicker ones are not necessary.
- 2. You can bring some common medicines such as cold medicine, anti-inflammatory medicine, topical medicine, etc. through Singapore customs, but not Chinese herbal medicines because they are susceptible to moisture and mosquitoes. You can bring some toilet water and mothballs.
- 3. Cigarettes will be fined and destroyed in public. CDs and pirated publications are also prohibited and restricted from being brought in.
- 4. You can carry some Singapore dollars across the border from home, but not too much, to prevent them from being seized by customs. There are licensed currency exchange offices everywhere in Singapore where you can exchange currency. You can also withdraw cash directly with domestic UnionPay cards here.
- 5. After arriving in Singapore, you should first open an account there and use a local bank card. Although several major domestic banks have branches in Singapore and Visa and Master cards can be used, the handling fees are not low and it is not cost-effective.
- 6. Food and clothing prices in Singapore are relatively cheap, and electronic product prices are not lower than in China. The average monthly consumption of international students in Singapore is between 750-2500 Singapore dollars, and the specific data varies from person to person.
- 7. Private university students usually rent their own houses outside the school. They can share the house with others. The rent ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand, depending on the internal facilities, conditions and location. Students can choose according to their budget.
- 8. If your computer is under global warranty, you can bring it to Singapore. Otherwise, it is more cost-effective to buy one locally. Singapore has a well-developed wireless network, so it is recommended to use a laptop. You can carry it with you and use it in any place marked as wireless network. You can also bring Chinese mobile phones to Singapore. You only need to change to a Singapore SIM card.
- 9. Full-time students in Singapore’s public institutions are allowed to work no more than 16 hours per week, while students in private schools are not allowed to work.
2. Cards to prepare for studying in Singapore
1. Student’s Pass
A student pass is a document that students who study in Singapore must prepare, just like our ID card. It is proof that students can stay in Singapore, and it is also the student's ID card in Singapore. After arriving in Singapore and completing all the school procedures, remember to apply for this pass. With this pass, you can enter and exit Singapore freely at any time during your time in Singapore, and you don't need any other visas, which is very convenient.
This visa needs to be booked online in advance. There are usually a lot of people applying for it when the school starts, so it is recommended that you apply for an appointment online as soon as you get the IPA letter before going to Singapore, so that you don’t have to wait in a crowded place.
2. Phone Card
There are three major telecommunications companies in Singapore. All three companies have their own SIM cards for sale. These cards come with some Internet traffic, free calls and text messages, and each has its own discounts. Generally, these phone cards can be purchased at airports, post offices, or convenience stores, but remember to bring your passport when buying them, because these cards need to be purchased with real names.
Domestic mobile phones can be used in Singapore as long as you have changed your SIM card, so you don’t have to worry about your phone not being usable.
3. Transportation Card
There are two types of transportation cards in Singapore, FlashPay and ezlink, which are valid for seven years and five years respectively. These cards can be purchased at subway stations. When purchasing, you need to deposit about 7 SGD into the card first, so that you can use it immediately. If you are leaving Singapore, you can go to any subway station to get a refund.
In addition, students should remember that buses in Singapore will not announce stops for you. They will only stop when someone presses the bell to get off or get on. When you first come here and are not familiar with the environment, you must use the map navigation when taking the bus, so that you will know which stop to get off and will not miss your stop.
4. Bank Card
The most common banks in Singapore are DBS, POSB, OCBC, etc. There are also some other foreign banks and Chinese banks. If you need to apply for a bank card in Singapore, you need to prepare your passport, visa, proof of your residence in Singapore, etc. when opening an account. If you need to apply for a bank card in Singapore urgently, but your student pass has not been issued yet, some bank branches in schools can use offer letters to apply for bank cards.
However, as an international student with a student loan, you cannot apply for a credit card in Singapore. Their rule is that you must be working here and have a certain salary before you can apply for a credit card. But you can apply for a debit card here. You can use it to shop when you go out, shop online, or even buy air tickets. You can spend as much as you have deposited in the card.
3. Reference criteria for selecting schools for studying abroad in Singapore
1. School accreditation
Among all the factors, the first thing we should look at is the school's qualifications. The most prestigious university certification in Singapore is the Edutrust certification, which is the Education Trust Guarantee Scheme. Only academic qualifications issued by certified institutions are recognized.
In addition, everyone should also pay attention to the school's admission qualifications for international students. Although some schools are officially accredited, the facilities on campus cannot meet the needs of international students. Schools that do not meet the qualifications cannot provide a good environment.
Therefore, before applying, you must go to the official website to check whether the school is a formal and qualified school and whether it can provide high-quality academic certificates.
2. Partner institutions
As a highly open country, Singapore maintains good educational exchanges with various countries overseas, has established friendly cooperative relations with institutions in various countries, and has carried out teaching exchange programs.
Whether a school is excellent or not also depends on the quality of the overseas institutions it cooperates with. Generally speaking, the better the school, the more cooperative institutions it has and the higher the quality.
Studying abroad and enjoying dual education is a rare experience. If you are good enough, you can also apply for an exchange program. Generally, the school will provide you with scholarships, so you don’t have to worry about funding issues.
3. Social Recognition
Of course, the ultimate goal of studying abroad is to find a good job and realize your own life value. Academic qualifications are the stepping stone for job hunting. If your school is highly recognized by the society, then you will have more opportunities when looking for a job.
So before applying, do some research to find out what major companies in society think of some schools, as well as what the general public thinks of the schools. This will help you make your choice.
Summary of common sense you need to know about studying in Singapore
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