Details

• Singapore
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

- Tips for the application process at WU for future outgoing students Before starting the application process, I recommend first thinking carefully about your preferred countries and universities based on a few key criteria: • Do you want to stay within the EU, or can you also imagine doing an international exchange outside Europe? • Which countries are you interested in? What language skills do you have? • How important are safety and political conditions in the destination country for you? • How important is the academic reputation of the university (e.g., for your CV)? • Are there multiple partner universities in the same country? What are the differences between them? How many exchange places are available per university? • Is it important for you that other WU students are going to the same university, or are you comfortable arriving without knowing anyone? • What are your financial possibilities? Based on these criteria, I recommend researching the universities and ranking them accordingly. It is important to rank the universities realistically in order to increase your chances of receiving an offer. A realistic assessment of your own GPA and the average GPA typically required for the partner university is particularly important. It is also highly recommended to talk to students who have already completed an exchange semester. They can provide valuable insights and practical tips. Reading through previous experience reports can also be very helpful. - Tips for preparing your semester abroad (incl. travel arrangements) Once you have received your exchange placement, the intensive planning phase begins. It is very helpful to collect all deadlines and write them down clearly in one place, as there are quite a few of them. In my case, three institutions were particularly important and each had their own deadlines: • WU (Mobility Grant Agreement and internal requirements) • Singapore authorities (visa application and related fees) • SMU (official registration at the partner university) It is very important to carefully read the information sheet for your partner university that is available on the WU website, as it already answers many questions. Make sure to pay all required fees on time and submit all applications correctly and before the deadlines. Incorrectly completed documents can delay the process and may even lead to serious issues, such as delays in obtaining your visa. You should also plan early if you intend to receive travel vaccinations. Ideally, you should start looking into vaccinations at least three months before departure. It is also useful to consider any additional travel destinations you might visit during your exchange. Another important point is the English language certificate. It is worth checking with the WU International Office whether a language confirmation based on your secondary school diploma (Matura/Abitur) can be issued. This can save both time and money. Otherwise, make sure to schedule enough time to complete an English test such as TOEFL. Without an English certificate, registration at SMU is not possible. Once all requirements are fulfilled, you can start planning your travel. I recommend arriving in Singapore at least one week before the start of the semester, although arriving earlier is also possible. However, it is important to pay attention to visa regulations. Entering Singapore with the In-Principle Approval (IPA) may restrict you from leaving the country again before completing the final registration with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and receiving your official residence permit. If you plan to leave Singapore again shortly after arrival, it may be advisable to enter the country initially as a tourist and complete the official registration later. Booking flights early can also help reduce costs. If you plan to travel frequently in and out of Singapore, it is useful to install the ICA app to submit arrival cards quickly and conveniently. After completing the final registration, your digital residence permit will be available in the Singpass app. From that point onward, entering Singapore can be done using facial recognition without presenting your passport, although you should still carry your passport when traveling to other countries. To prepare for course selection, it is helpful to review course catalogs from previous semesters. However, these should only be used as rough guidance, as course offerings often change each semester. The official course catalog for Term 1 is usually published at the end of June or beginning of July (for Term 2 in late December / beginning of January). Courses at SMU are allocated through a bidding system. Students receive 100 e$ (a fictional currency) and use this budget to bid for courses. In the SMU BOSS bidding system, you can view the average successful bids from previous years. It is important to select the correct bidding round and window, as exchange students have a separate bidding round. Talking to students who already understand the bidding system is extremely helpful. Do not panic if you do not get your preferred courses immediately. For example, I did not get any of my four desired courses in the first bidding window. It is important to prepare alternative options and allocate enough time during the bidding rounds to react and adjust your bids. In the end, you will receive courses, although they may not always be your first choices. I recommend trying to schedule your courses on as few days as possible (for example Monday–Wednesday). This gives you more time to explore the host country and travel during the semester.

2. Accommodation

Accommodation search experience, location, and tips Once you have received your exchange placement, it is advisable to start researching accommodation options as early as possible. The best approach is to talk to former exchange students and read through experience reports. Their insights can be extremely helpful in identifying good neighborhoods and avoiding less suitable areas. In Singapore, neighborhood boundaries can sometimes be very distinct. It can happen that one street feels less desirable, while the parallel street already belongs to another district that is much more pleasant to live in. While Singapore is generally very safe, I would personally not recommend looking for accommodation in Little India. That being said, Singapore is one of the safest cities I have ever experienced. During my five months there, I never once felt unsafe — even when walking through quieter streets late at night. For students attending SMU, I would recommend looking for accommodation in areas close to the city center or Marina Bay. Particularly suitable neighborhoods include: • River Valley • Rochor • Kallang • Geylang • Orchard • Bugis • Bencoolen • Kampong Glam As in most cities, the closer you live to the city center, the more expensive the accommodation tends to be. However, many of the slightly more expensive apartments in Singapore include additional amenities such as a swimming pool and a gym. This can be valuable, as gym memberships in Singapore are significantly more expensive than in Austria. Personally, I shared an apartment in Geylang with three other WU students without comparing too many alternatives beforehand. We rented a four-bedroom apartment in the building Mill@32 through the company The Assembly Place. The rent was about €930 per person per month excluding utilities, or roughly €1,000 including utilities. The apartment was located on the 8th floor and had two washing machines and five air-conditioning units. However, the building did not have a pool or a gym, and although Geylang is well connected by public transport, it is not the most attractive neighborhood. Overall, I was satisfied with the accommodation and would still recommend it. However, with the knowledge I have now, I would probably choose a location closer to the city center. Commuting to SMU by bus or MRT typically takes 25–30 minutes from Geylang. For about €100–300 more per month, it is often possible to find an apartment in a better location with additional amenities. One advantage of our location was the excellent connection to the airport — it only takes about 15 minutes by taxi. A tip I would strongly emphasize is to avoid apartments on very low floors. Because Singapore has a tropical climate, apartments on lower floors tend to be more humid. A friend of mine experienced mold problems in a lower-floor apartment. In addition, mosquitoes and other insects are more common on the lower floors, and these apartments usually receive less natural light. For this reason, I would personally recommend choosing apartments from the 5th floor or higher if possible. In general, it is best to start researching early, compare several options, and choose according to your budget and preferred location. However, it is important to note that most landlords or agencies in Singapore only confirm rental agreements 1–3 months before the start of the lease.

3. Academic life at host university

Campus facilities, academic culture, teaching style, and course recommendations Studying at Singapore Management University (SMU) is in many ways comparable to studying at WU Vienna. Most courses are structured similarly to VUE or PI formats at WU. Classes are usually relatively small, with a maximum of about 60 students per course. Grades are almost never based on a single exam. Instead, they usually consist of multiple components such as assignments, presentations, group projects, quizzes, and exams. Attendance is generally expected in all classes, and participation is often part of the grading system. In many courses, every attended session contributes to the final grade. Missing a class can therefore reduce your participation score (for example by around 2–3%). Class participation is also an important factor and is often tracked by the Teaching Assistant. Teaching styles vary depending on the professor. Some lecturers mainly present their material and then lead a discussion afterward, while others structure their classes in a very interactive way with frequent discussions and student contributions throughout the session. At the beginning, it may take some time to get used to Singlish and to understand certain Singapore-specific references that occasionally appear in class discussions. Beyond the academic program, SMU offers a wide range of extracurricular activities. There are many sports clubs that students can join, although some require prior experience. Certain clubs are quite competitive (for example tennis), which means that participation may require a considerable time commitment. Others, such as recreational swimming, are more flexible and can be joined casually. Most clubs charge a small membership fee (around 30 SGD). In addition, there are many guest lectures, workshops, and networking events organized by the university that students can attend outside of their regular classes. Information about these opportunities is usually shared via email. The SMU campus also offers excellent facilities. There is a large food court area with various options such as cafés, Starbucks, Subway, and other restaurants. The university also has two libraries, many bookable study rooms, and several open learning spaces for students. Working with other students can sometimes require some adjustment, as Singapore is truly a melting pot of cultures. In group projects, it is important to communicate clearly and show understanding for different cultural perspectives and working styles. Despite what is sometimes said about the strong academic pressure in Singapore, I personally did not find it overwhelming. Similar to WU, there is a wide range of students—from very motivated and engaged to less committed ones. As with many universities, the quality of group work often depends on the specific group you are assigned to. Regarding course selection, I would like to highlight the SMU-X courses. These courses are very interesting from an academic perspective because students work on real projects with external business partners. However, they are also very time-intensive, as they often serve as capstone projects for local SMU students. Courses labeled “101” are introductory courses and are therefore usually relatively easy. However, SMU also offers many more specialized courses that I would strongly recommend. These often cover niche topics that are not addressed in larger courses at WU or in introductory courses at SMU. One example is FNCE321 – Carbon Markets & Products, which provides insights into a very specific and emerging field. These specialized courses are a great opportunity to explore new topics or deepen knowledge in certain areas without having to commit to a full specialization, as is often required at WU. One important thing to keep in mind is that the course offerings change frequently, especially among the more specialized courses.

5. Every day life in the host country

->Public transport, safety, leisure activities, and social life Singapore is one of the safest countries I have ever visited. Although there is extensive video surveillance throughout the city, it does not create a feeling of being monitored; instead, it contributes to a strong sense of safety. Singapore is also known for its strict regulations and sometimes severe penalties for violations, but the result is that everyday life functions extremely smoothly and efficiently. During my five months in Singapore, I did not experience a single major disruption in the public transport system. The MRT (SMRT) and bus network are extremely reliable and well organized. In general, many aspects of daily life in Singapore are highly digitalized and convenient, making everyday tasks very easy. One aspect that takes some time to adjust to is the constant tropical climate. The combination of high temperatures and humidity can make spending time outdoors quite exhausting at the beginning. However, after a few weeks you gradually adapt and simply accept that it is around 30°C with high humidity almost every day of the year. -> Social life and nightlife Especially at the beginning of the semester, there are many opportunities to socialize and experience Singapore’s nightlife. The city offers numerous rooftop bars and clubs, many of which provide impressive views of the skyline. A popular tradition is “Ladies’ Night” every Wednesday, when women often receive free entry and drinks. For men, entry typically costs around 35 SGD, usually including a welcome drink. -> Exploring the city Singapore itself offers a wide variety of places to explore. With its excellent public transport network, the island can easily be discovered by MRT or bus. Once you have explored the central areas such as Marina Bay, Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam (Arab Street), there are also many natural attractions worth visiting. Examples include: • Sentosa Island (beaches and leisure attractions) • Singapore Botanic Gardens (UNESCO World Heritage Site) • MacRitchie TreeTop Walk near the reservoirs • various parks and nature reserves across the island Singapore also offers many free attractions, for example: • the Supertree Grove Light Show at Gardens by the Bay • the Marina Bay Sands water and light show • the National Museum of Singapore, which offers free entry for SMU students and is located directly next to the SMU campus • the CapitaSpring Sky Garden, which provides a great panoramic view of the city -> Sports and leisure activities For sports and socializing, the National Stadium area is a popular meeting point where locals and international students often gather to play sports such as volleyball or simply meet new people. Another well-known area is Boat Quay, where many students spend relaxed evenings by the river. With a bit of negotiation, it is sometimes possible to find good drink deals — for example a pint of beer for around 6 SGD during happy hour. Singapore is also a paradise for shopping. The city is full of large shopping malls, many of which are connected directly to MRT stations, making them easy to access regardless of the weather. -> Public transport Public transport in Singapore is extremely efficient, clean, and well connected. Trains and buses run at very frequent intervals, and the network covers nearly the entire city. Payment is very simple. You can either use: • the SMU public transportation card with stored transit credit, or • your bank card or Apple Pay directly at the gates. It is important to tap in and tap out when entering and leaving MRT stations or buses. If you forget to tap out, the system may charge you the maximum fare for that route. Another important detail is to always use the same card or payment method throughout a journey (for example either physical card or Apple Pay, but not switching between them). The fare is calculated automatically based on the distance traveled. -> Traveling from Singapore Singapore’s location also makes it an excellent starting point for short trips to neighboring countries. • Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) can be reached in a few hours by bus. • The Malaysian border city Johor Bahru is a popular day trip destination. • The small island Pulau Ubin offers a great opportunity for cycling and experiencing a more traditional side of Singapore. • Ferries also connect Singapore to the Indonesian islands Batam and Bintan, which are perfect for weekend getaways. Overall, Singapore offers an excellent balance between urban city life, nature, international culture, and travel opportunities, making everyday life during an exchange semester both exciting and very comfortable.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester at Singapore Management University was an incredibly enriching experience both academically and personally. Living in Singapore allowed me to study in a highly international environment while experiencing one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the world. The combination of engaging courses, cultural diversity, and the opportunity to travel around Southeast Asia made this semester truly unique. It was an unforgettable time that broadened my perspective and helped me grow both professionally and personally.