Details

• Singapore
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

To stay organised during my exchange preparation, I relied heavily on the SMU website and the informational emails from the university, as their instructions were very clear and easy to follow. Plan ahead and build in a buffer for requirements such as the English language proficiency certificate (if needed). Additionally, I used student forums and groups (Studcasa) for housing advice, as SMU did not provide direct support in that area.

2. Accommodation

After digging through forums and groups and speaking to former SMU exchange students, I came to the conclusion that booking my accommodation through COVE was the most convenient option. There are other alternatives that people have had good experiences with (e.g. Propertyguru, Bespoke Habitat). However, if you search for accommodation through an agent, you should check whether they are registered with the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA). I stayed in a shared private flat with my own lockable room and a shared bathroom. The location was central (Somerset MRT Station) and within easy reach of the SMU campus (15 minutes by bus, 30 minutes on foot). The building had a guard on duty 24/7 and was just as safe as the rest of Singapore.

3. Academic life at host university

Campus facilities are plentiful: you have access to a 25m pool, a gym, multiple food stalls offering lunch at an SMU discount, music studios (accessible through student club membership), multiple libraries, study rooms, and probably much more that I didn't get to explore. Although most classes include some form of participation requirement, open discussion and dialogue in class are fairly minimal. There is a strong focus on projects and assignments (including presentations) that span the entire semester, and grades are curved, making it extremely rare to fail. Teaching style varies considerably depending on the professor, but most of them (at least in my classes) are tech-savvy and make use of modern tools. I enrolled in Finance, Computing Tech For Finance, and Real Estate Economics. All three were interesting, but I would particularly recommend Real Estate Economics, as it also gave me a great deal of insight into Singapore itself.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport runs smoothly and I never experienced any delays worth mentioning. Safety was never a concern in Singapore. It is an exceptionally safe city. Social activities are abundant, with Singapore hosting everything from art fairs and concerts to golf tournaments. You can pursue virtually any sport that the climate allows.

6. Testimonial

What made my exchange truly special was discovering a new city with its own culture and meeting the wonderful people who are part of it. I made friends I will go back to visit, and learned a great deal about myself along the way. A big factor that enabled all of this was Singapore's central location in Southeast Asia, which allowed me to travel extensively. (Travel costs that are not reflected on the expenses page: an additional €5,576 for the entire semester)