Six Things International Students Should Know when Studying in Singapore

A country known for its education, Singapore ranks as one of the top countries for its academic system, notably in Science, Maths, and Reading skills. While this makes Singapore an ideal place for international students to study in, there are some things they should know before coming to this city-state.

English

Courses are entirely conducted in English. While a majority of Singaporeans are of Chinese ethnicity, English is the primary medium for communication. The diversity of different ethnic groups living in the country requires a common language, and therefore English is spoken by most. This is no exception in education. International students who study in Singapore should be well-versed in English on an intermediate level to understand the classes conducted in English, and able to write their assignments in English. 

Students who study at higher education levels, such as Business Studies or Hospitality and Tourism studies need to have a strong foundation in English, as many specialised textbook terms are used in these programmes. Most Higher Education institutions offer foundation English courses for entry into their diploma and degree courses. As for Business, Hospitality and Tourism courses specifically, DIMENSIONS International College offers foundation English courses catered to these fields.

A Safe City

Renowned for having the lowest crime rate in the world, Singapore is regarded as the safest country in Asia. Its murder rate is the lowest in the world (0.3 per 100,000), and violent crime is virtually non-existent. Drug-related crimes are significantly low as well, as the country is known for its extremely harsh drug laws. International students will have little to worry about when they travel at night. Penny Li, a student at DIMENSIONS International College, says that she enjoys travelling during the evenings till late into the night to explore much of the city when she is free.

Attendance

Class attendance is highly regulated by the country’s Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) – the governing body that ensures international students fulfil 90% of their class attendance. International institutions are required by law to report students who fall short of the attendance requirement, and such students may have their student pass revoked. A revoked student pass means that they would have to return to their home countries. Requirements for class attendance may be found at DIMENSIONS International College’s website.

Work

Many countries offer work permits for international students to allow them to work. Notable countries that easily allow international students to work while studying include the US and Australia, as well as European nations such as Germany and France. 

However, in Singapore, international students are generally not allowed to work when they are pursuing a full-time course at an international institution. They may only be allowed to do so if the Employment of Foreign Manpower issues them a Work Pass exemption. For students, a way to gain work experience in Singapore is to pursue a programme in Hospitality and Tourism at DIMENSIONS International College. 

The school provides an internship for the students with on-the-job training at recognised establishments across the country when they are close to completion of their course. International students in general are known to continue working for the company after they have graduated, as the company is usually most likely to retain them.

Transport

Singapore is renowned for its public transport network, which includes busses and the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) trains that travel to almost every end of the country. This makes it convenient for international students to explore most of the city. Public transport runs till midnight daily, and at later times on holidays, allowing anyone the opportunity to return home at a later time.

Most schools have a bus or MRT station within walking distance, and international students need not worry too much about getting to school. A prime example is Beauty World MRT Station, which is about a few minutes’ walk away from the School of Hospitality Campus of DIMENSIONS International College.

Food

Many who have travelled to Singapore consider the country as a food paradise. Almost every international cuisine may be found in Singapore, so travellers need not worry about not finding something that they miss. But the most notable foods the country has to offer are its local dishes. Singaporean is famous for its rich-tasting Laksa, a spicy noodle soup that is reminiscent of the Peranakan cuisine, being a concoction of Chinese and Malay heritage cooking.

Singaporeans also enjoy their Indian-Muslim food, such as Prata. It is a fried flatbread made from flipping the dough into a thin layer, then folded and cooked over a flat grill. It is served with a meat or vegetable-based curry. Being listed as number 45 in CNN’s 50 Most Delicious Foods readers' poll in 2011, this is a dish that has visitors talking about when they visit the country.

Some of the best Prata may be found at Al-Azhar Restaurant, located within walking distance from the Hospitality Campus of DIMENSIONS International College and Beauty World MRT Station. Along with most Indian-Muslim eateries, Al-Azhar is open 24 hours every day of the week. One can never go hungry in Singapore with these places always open at every time of the day. 

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Read More 

• Cost of Living in Singapore – A Guide for International Students
• Why Choose DIMENSIONS International College