Experience report
ANR: 429574
Name: Tessa van Deelen
E-mail: t.r.d.vandeelen@uvt.nl
Exchange semester: Spring 2014
Academic year: 2013-2014
Host University: Singapore Management University
Country: Singapore
I. Admission, arrival, housing
Before the exchange semester started SMU created a Facebook group for all the Spring 2014
exchange students. In this group we talked about admission, housing, and courses. SMU provides
housing for students (Commonwealth). This accommodation is relatively cheap but is further away
from the city centre, further away from the university, and has less facilities. If you want to live there,
you can apply for a room and on a first come first serve basis you get a room or not. I decided not to
apply for a room at Commonwealth. Therefore I had to find my own apartment in Singapore. This
might seem difficult but SMU provides a list with some housing agents who are very willing to show
you many apartments in town. Via the Facebook group I already met my five future flatmates. Since
most apartments are for 6-8 people, it is useful to already form a group at home. So, when we all
arrived in Singapore we could immediately start visiting apartments together and finally signing a
contract. The search took us just a couple of days and we moved in on the 2nd of January.
The semester started at the 6th of January but because I had to find an apartment, and had to go to
the immigration office, I arrived around Christmas time. At home I had booked a hostel for the first
week (till after new year’s) and went there from the airport by myself. I slept at The Pod Boutique
Hostel (walking distance to the immigration office) in the lovely area ‘Kampong Glam’ along with many
other exchange students. The Sleepy Kiwi is another hostel which is located around the corner and
was also very popular among exchange students. Because many students were living in the same
area it was very easy to meet new people and make friends for the rest of the exchange. My
international adventure started right away!
Before the semester started, SMU organized a compulsory introduction day. That day they showed us
around campus and gave us some information about the university, the courses, and about Singapore
and her rules. After the first week of lectures, there was a city tour organized by SMU. This was
facultative.
II. Location of university/city
I love Singapore! There is so much to see and do in the city. And because of all the different
nationalities you meet many interesting people, learn about many different cultures, and you can
enjoy many different dishes. The city is divided in so called areas like Chinatown, Little India, and
Kampong Glam. It is very nice to visit the different areas and get a taste of all the cultures in
Singapore. There is not really such a thing as a ‘Singapore culture’, Singapore is a mix of cultures. All
different nationalities living with and along each other is what makes Singapore special and a great
place to live.
Even though Singapore has many big and impressive buildings, there are also many (national) parks,
gardens, and a hill to walk, and to relax and escape from the busy city life! Singapore even has a
beach on Sentosa Island, a Theme Park, and a zoo. There is also a little island that is part of
Singapore where you can go to by boat and bike around to imagine yourself in the ‘old’ Singapore
(the time when there were no buildings)!
Singapore is definitely bigger than Tilburg but because of the great subway system (MRT) it is very
easy to get around. Other ways of public transport are busses. Taxis are also a very common way of
public transport. Many cabs are driving in the streets and you just have to wave and they stop. It is
also possible to order one. Taxis are a very safe way to travel, especially at night when the MRT
stops working.
Singapore Management University is located in central Singapore, near Orchard Road (Shopping
street) and Bay Area. There are four subway stations near SMU and one of them is located under
SMU and is connected to ‘the concours’. The concours is the basement of SMU where all the faculty
buildings are connected. This makes it easy to go from one to another building without going outside
in the heath or rain. In the concours are also many restaurants, a foodcourt, a bank, little shops, the
doctor, a farmacy, and a bookstore located. This is also a place where some of the many sports clubs
SMU has are training after classes. At the ground floor or around the SMU campus are also many
restaurants, supermarkets or a subway located.
III. Academics
A few weeks before the exchange semester starts, you have to apply for four courses, each 7,5
ECTS. The application was scheduled when I was still in the Netherlands and due to the time
difference, I had to be online at 2 am. Via OASIS (SMUs blackboard) I applied for the courses I
wanted to take. Since there are limited places available for every course, I had to know exactly which
courses I wanted to take and I had to be fast! Before this application, I received a course list, puzzled
until I had a nice timetable, and had this timetable approved by my bachelorcoördinator. The courses I
took where Risk Issues and Crisis Management, Global Mega-Trends, Ethics and Social
Responsibility, and Special Topics in Arts and Cultural Management.
In the first two weeks of the semester there are some chances (BOSS bidding system) to change the
courses you took on the day I described above. With e-dollars students can bid on courses they want
to take, where the highest bet gets the available seat in the course. This system sounds very complex
in the beginning but in the end it is very convenient and I was able to change the course Risk Issues
and Crisis Management into International Law and Global Mega-Trends.
Since not all courses at SMU are open for exchange students, I was not able to take four courses that
are relevant for my curriculum. This means that only two course I took at SMU do count for my
Bachelor and the other two are extra. Therefore I could not graduate anymore in 2014.
I took the courses International Law and Global Politics, and Global Mega-Trends because I could
substitute these courses for two courses in Tilburg. The other courses I took because they sounded
interesting and were very different from any other course I had ever had.
Studying at SMU is intensive since participation (online and in class) is very important and (group)
projects and papers are also part of your grade. This is very different from what I was used to in
Tilburg but the main difference is that you have to be present in every lecture and attendance is being
marked. The last thing that was new to me is that when the professor is absent, the lecture will be
held on Saturday.
IV. Social life
SMU organizes many activities for exchange students. I went to the city tour and applied for the
buddy program which means that one SMU student is my buddy and she showed me around and
helped me whenever I had a question (when I was still at home and during the semester). This is a
great initiative and I can only recommend it. Personally, I did not see my buddy that much because I
had a nice group of international friends with whom I hung out.
You can also attend one of the many sports, arts or theatre clubs. Together with another exchange
student I attended a cheerleading class and a modern dance class. This was a very nice way to meet
local students.
During the exchange semester I mostly spend my spare time and study time with a group of
international friends I made. With them I made some weekend trips, went to parties, to rooftop bars,
and did some sightseeing. For some courses I had to do group assignments. Some groups are nicer
than others (SMU students are very ambitious and competitive!) but most of the groupmates were
willing to show me around campus, around town, and wanted me to try local food. At the end of the
semester one group took me for a goodbye-lunch to a fancy Chinese restaurant. That was really nice
of them. Two of these groupmates are going on exchange to Maastricht next semester and we are
planning to meet!
V. Living costs
Living in Singapore is very expensive and much more expensive than in Tilburg! Most of my expenses
where on rent but you can lower these costs by living at the Commonwealth hostel for instance.
Cooking your own meal is also more expensive than in the Netherlands and therefore I always ate in
a hawker Centre, food court, or at SMU. Clubbing is also much more expensive than at home. Clubs
ask for an entrance fee which is high but mostly you get some free drinks for that as well. You also
have to get used to the excessive prices of beers and other alcoholic drinks but because of this we
mostly had a pre-party at someone’s apartment or at the Clarke Quay bridge in town which saved us
money. As a girl you can also save money by going out on Wednesdays: ladies night, where you
enjoy free entrance and some free drinks. It depends on where you live how much you spend on
public transport. The further you live from SMU, the more you spend on this.
It is possible to copy (chapters of) books that are required for your courses but it is not allowed to
bring a copied book to the exam because of copyright. So, if you have an open book exam, you need
your own. That’s why I bought some books for my courses.
VI. Culture
Singapore is a very developed and Western city, therefore I did not experienced a culture shock.
From the moment I arrived in Singapore, it felt like home. The first days I walked around by myself
and got to know the city. The city is very clean, developed, and modern, and it felt very safe walking
there by myself. Unlike many other students, I loved the weather and being outside. Especially since
the air-conditioning inside the building is freezing you!
Singapore does not really have its own culture since many cultures are living there and spreading
there habits, foods, and thoughts. That’s the biggest difference with Tilburg! I really enjoyed meeting
people with different backgrounds, exchange our thoughts, and learning from them.
In class SMU students are very shy and are afraid to speak up or answer questions loudly. Many
professors want to change this and insist on participation.
During and after my exchange I visited many Asian countries. Every country is very different and
differs a lot from Singapore because Singapore is one of the most developed countries. Despite these
differences I noticed some similarities; Asian people are for instance shy, and often insecure.
VII. Personal development
During my exchange I met many people from different countries and with different backgrounds and
because I was very open, I learned a lot from them and their thoughts. All these people have different
experiences which made me think a lot and gave me new insights. When I look back, this interaction
is what made me develop and grew as an individual during my exchange.
Living with five people with all different nationalities is something I would do again. Apart from the
messy apartment, it can only be a gain!
If I go on exchange another time, I would definitely do more sightseeing and lay at the pool more
often! Too easily you stay at SMU or at your own apartment hanging out with your flatmates but there
is a big city in front of you!
VIII. Tips for future students
For sure, I can only recommend going on exchange! I would also recommend Singapore and SMU
especially. SMU is a very professional university with excellent professors, very interesting courses
which you cannot attend at home, and with challenging lectures. Besides studying, SMU offers many
sports clubs, art groups, or culture groups for your spare time. Singapore is a very easy and safe city
to live in and day and night there is always something to do or visit. On top of this: Singapore’s
geographic location is perfect for travelling through Asia and even to Australia!
If you are going on exchange to Singapore, be prepared for the heath outside and the coldness
inside, make sure you like rice, and safe some extra money!