Details

• Singapore
• MAWiRe-21
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

For the application for the exchange semester, students had to submit a written application. As part of this process, the transcript of records had to be uploaded via the OSS system. The application itself is fairly self-explanatory. It is important to meet all deadlines, and the International Office at WU is the best point of contact for any questions in this regard. After submitting the application, students are nominated for the partner university. The selected partner university then has to confirm the nomination, which has never been an issue so far. After that, much of the process is handled directly by SMU. The International Office forwards the required forms that need to be completed. In addition, proof of English proficiency at C1 level must be provided. There is no oral interview with the partner university nor with WU. Other preparations: - getting vaccinated (especially needed when you want to travel outside Singapore) - Getting a Visa —> the application is initiated by SMU. You have to fill out the form and pay about 200 SGD. - Paying the tuition fees at SMU. This is handled via their website „OASIS SMU“. This was about 250 SGD.

2. Accommodation

SMU does not provide accomodation. So you have to find one yourself. I searched on the following platforms: - Cove (which I ended up living with) - The Assembly place - Coliwoo - Casa Mia Coliving - Habyt I lived 25-30 mins away from SMU by foot and I think 10 min by bus. I liked walking there, so I never really used the bus. Next to the apartment is a supermarket, which is very convenient and almost all echange students lived in this apartment complex at St. Thomas Walk. I can recommend living there since the apartment is new and you get to know people quiet fast, since it is also Co-Living. However, the experience highly depends on your flatmates as well.

3. Academic life at host university

I completed the following courses: - IT and the Law - Data and Protection Law - Entrepreneurship - AI Literacy I can recommend all courses. In AI and Entrepreneurship there was no exam, but only assignments which was quiet a different but nice experience compared to WU. I would say the courses are also quiet easy and understandable, once you get the hang of it. Entrepreneurship is teached by one of the largest law companies of SG with a different lawyer each week. However, if you haven't done "Gesellschaftsrecht" in your Masters at WU, it might be difficult to follow. The teaching style is very similiar to WU. You also get grated for participation.

5. Every day life in the host country

Safety: It is Singapore - the safest country in the world. I sometimes walked home at 3 am at night and did wasn't afraid for a second. Public transport: One of the best in the world, however it still needs time to go from one end to the other. So don't overestimate the efficiency. I would say it is comparable to Vienna. Social / leisure activities: there are soooo many social clubs at SMU, e.g. dancing, all kinds of sports etc. Most of them are free to join, and you also get to know people there. So, I can highly recommend this. Also Singapore is a good starting point for traveling around South East Asia.

6. Testimonial

3 things that made Singapore so special for me: 1. The food: Since Singapore is a cultural melting pot, you can also feel and taste this in their cuisine. Craving Chinese? No problem. Indian? Go to Little India. South Korean? Or Vietnamese? Right around the corner of my apartment. Thai? You can have it at Uni for lunch. 2. The travels: After traveling around South East Asia and a fun weekend trip at e.g. Malaysia, it always felt good to come back to this safe place. 3. The city: Singapore is one of the most beautifuly city-states I've ever been to. While there are one of the highest skyscrapers, I've ever seen, there are also traditional places and small streets to discover and a lot of nature due to many parks.