GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE EXPERIENCE REPORT
Please write this report in English
The student report will be published on the:
 Study Abroad website (under “Experiences” from partner universities)
 TSH study abroad blackboard page
I am fine with my report being published online: YES/NO
ANR: 891585
Name: Pauline M. Kuss
E-mail: paulinekuss@gmx.net
Exchange semester: 5th
Fall 2015
Academic year: 2015/16
Host University: National University Singapore
Country: Singapore
I GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Singapore is s very different from Tilburg it might be easier to list those things that are the same.
Singapore is big, always busy and there is always something going on. The university itself is
located quite West of the downtown city core – although the area around it is in no way rural –
there is nothing rural in Singapore but big streets and apartment blocks everywhere. The
campus is huge and has its own bus service with several lines. During the week I hardly left the
campus due to the quite high work load demanded by the law school and the fact that getting
anywhere will cost you about 30-40 minutes. But the campus is great and provides everything
you need for daily life: Several food courts (no one cooks in Singapore and it is actually much
cheaper to eat out than to buy ingredients for a home-made meal), swimming pools, study
rooms, hairdresser, supermarkets, gyms…it’s basically a small city in itself. But be prepared
that you’ll have to take the MRT in case you want to get anywhere off campus – walking is not
really an option in Singapore since the distances between points of interest are simply too large.
Singapore is great for everyone who likes fancy nightlife in roof top bars and frequent traveling
on the weekend to neighboring Asian countries. Food is super cheap (as long as its local) and
the culture is a fascinating mix of Chinese, Indian and Malay roots – visible in various temples,
the holiday calendar and every food court which presents food from all corners of Asia and
beyond.
Concerning my personal study here: I visited the Law school and as said was the study level
quite high. All grades are curved which makes grading rather unmerciful and left me with the
feeling that I don’t really have any chance to return home with good grades since my success
depended partially on the performance of the local Singaporean students who are outrageously
competitive. You will find a good amount of studying local students at the study places at every
time of day and night – and I literally mean every time. The Professors I had in my courses
were great and most of the lecturers very interesting and challenging.
The National University has currently about 28 000 undergraduates and 10 000 graduates - I
am not sure about the exact number of exchange students, maybe around 2000?
II PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Information before you left
Information was given in abundance and contact with the host university was quick and always
friendly and helpful!
Visa procedure and arrival
After applying for the Visa online you are able to enter Singapore with a normal visa on arrival
which you will exchange for your students visa during university-organized student pass
application days. Be prepared to wait in line forever – besides that just be glad the university
organizes everything so nicely that getting your visa is super smooth and you just have to –
well wait. (But in general: Singapore is a country of queues – be willing to wait in lines for almost
everything when you decide to come here!)
You will not get picked up from the airport but the public MRT system is great and brings you
right where you want to go. Upon arrival everything is super organized – and a huge amount of
other exchangers will arrive with you at the same time, with the same concerns and questions
so there’s always someone who can help you out in case you get stuck! (Shouldn’t happen
though – everything in Singapore is pretty self-explanatory…)
Orientation/Introduction activities
There are several exchangers and buddy programs organizing tons of events especially at
the beginning but also continuing throughout the semester – be ready to like all of them on FB
to never miss out on the important happenings!
Housing
Housing is offered by the university – you can apply for several housing options and a lottery
decides where you end up. But everything is rather modern and I have not heard any “horror
stories” concerning any of the options. Usually you are staying in a little apartment with 4 people
or in a room on a floor with a shared common room and kitchen. I was fully satisfied with my
accommodation – especially considering the reasonable price (housing off campus would be a
ridiculously expansive alternative so make sure to apply for on-campus accommodation!)
Living Costs
Besides the grant from Tilburg University I also received a scholars have from the German
government which helped me to finance my exchange.
I would say that overall the expenses in Singapore are comparable to Tilburg. On campus
housing is as much as I pay in Tilburg. Food and transportation in cabs is much much cheaper,
fresh fruits, vegetables, chocolate and dairy products on the other hand much more expensive.
I'd thus say that it more or less evens out. Oh ja, anything with alcohol will cost you as much
as three dinners...
So most of my money probably went into housing (about 380€ a month), transportation and
traveling (about 25€ monthly if you stay in Singapore and only use mrt. Traveling obviously
depends on your travel destination). I did not have to buy any books for my courses since
everyone was electronically accessible.
Academic Calendar
All exchange students arrive about a week before the actual classes start in the end of July.
The law faculty welcomed us with an exchange student lunch and several organizations
scheduled all kinds of welcoming events like food tours, game evenings or park sessions for
incoming exchangers. My classes started in the beginning of august. There is a period of Mid
terms in the middle of the Semester and a of Finales in the end of the Semester - each of which
has a Reading week before. But for me in the law school I had mainly papers to write and only
two take home exams in the entire mess of the semester.
The International Office
Guess there is an international office but for me as a student from the law faculty I was
exclusively in touch with the international office from the law faculty which always provided me
with prompt and helpful answers to any concerns that arose!
Exchange promotion
There was no official event or opportunity to promote exchange to Tilburg University and any
'promotion' on my side was thus limited to portraying a good example student in and outside
the classroom.
Social Activities
The university has an entire array of clubs and interest groups and exchange students are free
to join any of them. There is an organization for exchange students but although they were
rather active in the beginning, I did not hear too much from them anymore after the first half of
the semester. Since most of the exchange students live in the same on campus accommodation
friendships and contact among exchange students form quickly! Contact with local students on
the other hand seemed a bit harder for me because they do not live in the same residence and
in class there is little time to form deeper friendships. Nevertheless did I meet with some locals
every now and then and will return with some new Singaporean friends!
I travelled during my first break to Japan and during the second one to Bali. I furthermore ended
the semester with a Southeast Asia trip to Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Culture and Language
Would not necessarily say that I experienced a culture shock although he Singaporean culture
is definitely greatly different from the Dutch or German culture. In Singapore everyone works
super hard and long since everyone always needs to be the best. Personally I had the feeling
there was little room for 'coziness'- something I probably missed the most. Although I like the
eating halls every meal is taken in a loud and rather practical surrounding. But it was pretty
much as I did expect it. I found especially interesting how Singaporeans comment on and feel
about there political system which is, frankly, not totally in line with our understanding of a
democracy. And I think listening to people's political opinions (if existent) taught me a great lot
about why Singaporeans are the way they are and why the country functions as it does.
Unquestionably there are also a lot of similarities between Singapore and the Netherlands:
compared to other Asian countries I traveled you do not have to worry about corruption,
bargaining and all those things which would have made my stay extremely exhausting. I greatly
appreciated that!
I think the interesting thing in Singapore is the fact, that there are so many cultures on one spot:
Chinese, Indian, Malaysia, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity - everything on one spot
and it seems to live in astonishing harmony together!
Personal Development
As I already pointed out did I find it greatly interesting to listen to Singaporeans in respect to
their political system. One insight I will take away is therefore the idea that what we in the West
promote as 'the way of good governance' or lifestyle and attitudes ones not necessarily have
to fit to all parts of the worlds. Historical and societal explanations of differences might be very
relevant and at the same very hard to see and understand from the outside.
It is hard to pinpoint one best or worst experience during my half year abroad. The best one
would probably be my travel to Bali in the second reading week and my worst one a week in
the middle of the semester in which I had simply enough - everything seemed to much work
and I thought I simply wanted to be back home. This stressful, hard working lifestyle in
Singapore which leaves little room for reflection and those things which in my eyes make a life
worth living for me personally, was a bit like a mirror for me. I am naturally a rather hard working
and ambitious person and now I found myself middle of a crowd of people who were all exactly
like that or even worse. I hope to return with a new focus on things: work is important but there
is so much more besides it which. Int be much more rewarding in the end.
III ACADEMIC INFORMATION
Academic level at a host university
All courses are taught in English which is the official language of the university.
I took four courses: World trade law (great professor, I would recommend this class!),
international law in Asia (slightly unstructured but very interesting, I would recommend it!), Law,
Democracy, Geography and Development (even less structured but even more recommended!)
and IT Law 1 (very technical I would not take it again...)
The fade mic level is much higher than in Tilburg. There is way more reading material and since
everything is curved, it is really hard to get any good grades. I found this very displeasing - this
constant competition with everyone around you.
The teaching style obviously depends on the teacher - most of them did not use PPt but simply
talked and made slightly chaotic illustrations on the white board. I only had lectures. In small
group sizes and had to do group work for only one course of mine.
The relationship between student and teachers is rather relaxed but very respectful. A bit like
in Tilburg I'd say.
Overall, I am indeed happy with my academic experience in Singapore albeit that I am glad
that I do not have to complete my entire education in such a highly competitive and stressful
environment.
Exams
I had two big papers to write and two take home exams which always lasted for six hours
Other
The public working facilities are great with study rooms, several libraries and computers all
over the campus.
Description of Courses
Please list all courses you have taken at a partner university in the form below:
▪ ECTS credits you have obtained in total: 19 credits in Singapore = 28,5 ECTS in Tilburg
▪ Comments: Relevance, Difficult/easy, Practical/theoretical, Enrolment problems
Course Name
Prerequisites
Exam
Comments
Approved
as
(minor/ elective /
extra)
LL4060 World
Trade Law
NUS Core
Curriculum
6h Take Home
Exam
Intensive
course: All
classes in 3
weeks
Elective
LL4076V IT Law 1
none
Class
presentation &
written Essay
Very technical
Elective
LL4109V
International Law
and Asia
none
Class
presentation &
6h Take Home
Exam
Very interesting
Elective
LL4243V Law,
none
Economics,
Developments and
Geography
Short essay &
research paper
Very
unstructured;
only valuable if
interested and
willing to read
and self-study a
lot
Elective
Please fill in all the courses you have taken
Tips for the future students:
I would definitely recommend Singapore as an exchange destination for people who are
looking for a totally different environment while not missing out on high quality education.
But the courses are hard and grading is competitive so that should be kept in mind – I
personally think I might have ruined the nice grade average I had before my exchange
through the grades I received here. This is one aspect I would also criticize a bit: Most
exchange students here do not get grades and in comparison to them I always felt
slightly disadvantaged – also when I heard from fellow friends at other exchange
destinations how easy it apparently is to return with good results back home from their
host universities. This pressure put me undeniably under quite some stress and I think I
could have gotten more out of my exchange without this stress.
For everyone who’d like to travel while here: Make sure that you got all vaccinations
covered in time and have a reliable Credit Card at hand. And make sure to spend a lot of
quality time with your loved once before leaving – I am not a “homesickness” person but I
definitely can’t wait to see my family again!!
Contact details:
Can the International Relations Office share your e-mail address with prospective exchange
students, so that other students could contact you for more information? YES/NO