Singapore has always been a popular destination for studying abroad, and the number of students studying abroad has increased dramatically in recent years.Checklist for studying in SingaporeFormal attire for studying in Singapore, ,What documents do I need to prepare to study in Singapore?, ,What to prepare for studying abroad in SingaporeThe problem.
1. Checklist for studying in Singapore
1. Medicines
What you must bring: Daily medicines, such as cold medicine, antipyretic medicine, antidiarrheal medicine, skin ointment and some special medicines for personal needs. You can also bring some nutritional medicines such as vitamins.
Suggestion: In addition to the above medicines, try to bring as little as possible to avoid unnecessary trouble when entering or leaving the country
2. Clothing
Must bring: Because Singapore is located near the equator, it is summer all year round. Bring some long-sleeved and short-sleeved casual clothes and pants according to your personal lifestyle, and bring a set of formal clothes.
Suggestion: You don’t need to bring winter clothes, as you won’t be able to wear them even if you bring them.
3. Shoes
Must bring: Also due to the temperature issue, you can bring some lightweight and breathable travel shoes, sandals, sneakers, etc. Of course, I think slippers are necessary.
Suggestion: Don’t bring too much, shoes here are not expensive.
4. Bedding
Must bring: air-conditioning quilt, quilt cover, pillowcase, etc.
Suggestion: If things like cool mats are too heavy to bring abroad, you can buy them in Singapore; they won’t be too expensive.
5. Daily necessities
Must bring: toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, these immediate use must bring
Suggestion: You can buy other things in Singapore. They are available in supermarkets everywhere and the prices are similar to those in China.
6. Electrical appliances
Must bring: Bring your own laptop, it is not counted in the luggage weight anyway; electronic dictionary, conversion socket (British standard), mobile phone, charger, rechargeable battery.
Suggestion: You can bring or not bring rice cookers, hair dryers, etc. The prices are similar on both sides.
7. Food
Must bring: It seems that there is no beef jerky and chicken feet here. If you have friends who like to eat them, bring some with you so that you won’t be unable to resist when you are craving for them.
Suggestion: You don’t need to bring anything else, they are all sold here. Some people also asked about instant noodles, the prices of instant noodles here are similar.
8. Others (Miscellaneous Supplies)
Must bring: gel pens, notebooks, glasses. If you wear contact lenses, bring more. Also bring more eye drops. Be sure to bring an umbrella. It rains from time to time in Singapore, or the sun is very strong.
Suggestion: You don’t need to bring books, there is a National Library here and you can go there to apply for a library card.
IX. Cash
Must bring: You can bring RMB to Singapore and exchange it into SGD, which is more cost-effective than exchanging it in China. It depends on the individual how much to bring.
Suggestion: It is not recommended for students to apply for international credit cards in China. You can bring cash and open an account in Singapore.
This is just a simplified list to comply with the 30kg weight limit for student luggage. Everyone can add or reduce according to their needs. The prices in Singapore are not too different from those in China, so if you can bring something, bring it. If you can't bring it, buy it somewhere else.
2. What are some ways to save money when studying in Singapore?
1. Apply for a scholarship
The websites of universities such as NUS and NTU all have application programs with scholarships. Those from families with financial difficulties can also apply to the school for scholarships, on-campus subsidies, tuition waivers, work-study positions, etc.
However, it should be noted that students in eight public institutions in Singapore can enjoy national scholarships. Students who enjoy scholarships must work in Singapore for three years after graduation, otherwise they must return the scholarships.
2. Improve your English
Many private schools in Singapore will conduct an English test for students, and the length of the language course will be determined based on the test results. These language courses are expensive, costing hundreds to a thousand Singapore dollars per month. The worse your English is, the more money you will spend on language courses.
Friends who want to save money must work hard to improve their English and try to reduce unnecessary spending on language courses.
3. Work or internship
Full-time international students in Singapore can work or intern outside their school after applying for a part-time job and getting approval. They can also apply to be a TA or RA (research assistant) in the college. The salary in the school is generally higher than outside. However, it should be noted that according to government regulations, the working or internship time per week cannot exceed 16 hours.
International students can work outside during the holidays without applying to the school, and there is no limit on the working hours. However, this is a bit problematic for students from private universities, because Singapore stipulates that students from private universities are not allowed to work.
However, I still want to remind everyone that when studying abroad, studying is still the top priority. Don’t put the cart before the horse and let working delay your studies!
4. Renting a house
There are many choices for renting in Singapore, including luxury apartments and villas, as well as HDB and on-campus dormitories for ordinary working-class people. The prices are different and the environment is also different. However, if you want to save a little, I think HDB or on-campus dormitories are good choices.
Most HDBs also have home appliances and furniture, including air conditioners, wardrobes, desks, refrigerators, microwave ovens, etc., and are often close to food courts and supermarkets, making it convenient for daily shopping. On-campus dormitories are even more convenient, and are very convenient for classes, meals, group discussions, and experiments.
However, we need to remind you to beware of sub-landlords when renting a house. The so-called sub-landlords are those who rent a house and then sublet it. Most private schools in Singapore are relatively small and do not provide dormitories for students. Therefore, finding a house has become the "top priority" for many international students besides their studies. There are countless cases of newly arrived international students being defrauded because they did not understand the situation. Therefore, when renting a house, you should be careful to avoid being deceived.
3. Common accommodation types for studying in Singapore
1. Types of accommodation for students studying in Singapore
1. Homestay
Homestay families in Singapore not only provide accommodation, but also meals. They also help children with daily housework such as cleaning and laundry. Homestay families will fulfill their guardianship responsibilities, monitor students' learning progress, report students' situations to parents, assist in applying for student ID cards, assist students in registration, and prepare for relevant exams.
Advantages: ① Comprehensive services, which are helpful for young students or students who are unfamiliar with the Singapore environment to adapt to study and life. ② Providing guardianship, which is helpful for parents to understand students' study and extracurricular life. ③ Some host families also provide tutoring services for schools.
2. Student Dormitory
Schools in Singapore generally do not provide school dormitories. However, there is a type of student dormitories in Singapore that are provided by private institutions, such as YOHA Student Apartments and Match Box.
Some private colleges also have supporting student dormitories, such as MDIS Singapore Management Development Institute. Dormitories also accept applications from students from other schools.
Advantages: ① Rich facilities, conducive to students' extracurricular activities. ② Pure student environment, conducive to students' healthy social life. ③ Security facilities, card access, property and personal safety are more guaranteed.
3. Shared housing
In Singapore, most international students still choose to rent housing off campus. There are three main types of housing in Singapore:
HDB:
HDB flats are planned and built by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), so they are cheaper and have more space.
In addition to the price advantage, HDB flats also have very convenient living facilities. There are public transportation stations, supermarkets, food courts and comprehensive clinics within a reasonable walking distance, which is convenient for everyone's daily life.
Private Apartment (Apartment & Condominium):
Private apartments in Singapore are similar to commercial housing in China. The supporting facilities and specifications of private apartments are better than those of public housing, because they have security guards, private swimming pools, fitness facilities and entertainment facilities. However, there is a fatal disadvantage that the rooms in the apartments are relatively small and the price is also very expensive.
2. Tips on renting a house for studying abroad in Singapore
1. Choose a location
It mainly depends on whether you understand or are familiar with the local environment. You also need to consider various aspects such as safety, convenience, and the main residents. You also need to think about the floor and house type. After choosing the location, you need to look at the house type. The orientation, lighting, and whether it is quiet and suitable for study and living are all very important. Understand the local rental market at the time to avoid being cheated by newcomers and asking for a high price.
2. Be able to “read people”
See if the landlord is an easygoing person. If so, you will feel comfortable renting his house in the future. If you meet a mean landlord, a troublesome landlord, or a landlord with bad character, there will probably be a lot of things that cannot be sorted out in the future. Not only will you be troubled, but you may also lose money. Therefore, it is important to learn to "read people" and observe their words and expressions.
3. Do you understand the local people’s way of thinking or speaking?
Generally speaking, in China, "praise and criticism are the key to success", which means that when we like something, we will usually pick out its bad points to lower the price, but in foreign countries, if you bargain like this without understanding the situation clearly, unpleasant things may happen.
4. How to gain the homeowner’s sympathy
So that he will rent the house to you at a favorable price, the application of skills depends on the international students themselves; the last point is to be more careful in everything, especially when it comes to money, such as making sure whether the price is for room only or includes water and electricity, etc. "Be a villain first and a gentleman later", make everything clear early on, which should be universally applicable.
3. Rental costs
1. Agency fees for renting a house
Tenants do not have to pay agency fees. Unless the tenant entrusts an agent to find a house on their behalf, they do not need to pay any agency fees. Many people do not understand the process of renting a house in Singapore and the role of the agent. As an agent, Singapore's real estate agents can not only buy and sell houses on behalf of others, but also find and rent houses on behalf of others. If it is rented out on behalf of others, the rental house needs to pay half a month's rent as an agency fee. However, there are many rental websites now, such as the Singapore Rental Network, where the landlord lists the house on the website himself, and the tenant sees the information and contacts the landlord, and both parties do not need to pay any agency fees. If the landlord entrusts an agent to publish the rental information, and the tenant contacts the agent after seeing it, the tenant also does not need to pay the agency fee.
Only when a tenant entrusts an agent to find a house on their behalf, they need to pay the agency fee. An agent can only be responsible for the interests of one party and cannot be the agent of both the landlord and the tenant at the same time. This is illegal.
2. Stamp duty for renting a house
In order to ensure the validity of the rental contract, the Singapore Inland Revenue Authority has specifically stipulated that the rental contract must be submitted to IRAS. There will be a fee of 0.4% per lease period as stamp duty, that is, if the annual rent is 1,000 SGD, then the stamp duty is 4 SGD. This fee must be paid and is borne by the tenant.
The payment is to ensure the validity of the contract. For a monthly rent of 600 SGD, the stamp duty to be paid in a year is only $28.8 SGD. In order to save trouble in the future, tenants also need to consider this.
Checklist for studying in Singapore
Summary of the list of items to prepare for studying in Singapore
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