Exchange Report

Preparation for me first of all started by learning about Singapore: Where is the university located, where do I want to live, what are some things to do there (sightseeing, culture), which spots do I want to visit....and also where do I want to travel to, how easily is it to travel. Also prepare your flight as early as possible, as flights with this long distance can be very expensive if you book them on short notice. I took a direct flight from Munich -> SG with Lufthansa, and returned with a direct flight from SG -> Vienna with Scoot. Btw Scoot is the budget arm of Singapore Airlines, its very affordable to fly around with Scoot in South-East Asia, and Much better service then European budget airlines! I would also learn about the offers from SMU, as they have so many clubs and events, it can get overwhelming. They have a club for every hobby, I recommend joining to meet new people, especially locals.

We got into contact with the people who studied abroad at SMU before us, because SMU doesn't offer student housing (technically they offer it but no one ever got a spot. Btw at NUS or NTU its easy or easier to get student housing, therefore its also more affordable). We booked an accommodation via Cove, they offer rooms in student or professional flats. Rooms start for around 800-900€, and go up until nearly 2000€. Price depends on location, size of the room, bathroom, size of the flat and how many other people stay there, balcony, etc... We (the 7 people from WU who all went to SMU in SS26) all booked a room at "The Bayron" with Cove. It's a very nice house near Orchard Road and Somerset MRT station, 20min away from SMU. It's a very safe and nice neighborhood, but Singapore is safe everywhere. It also had a private pool and a private gym, security 24/7 and a 24/7 supermarket right next to it. The Bayron was especially nice because there were exchange students from all over the world, who also all went to SMU (over 100 people) Keep in mind Singapores private housing market is very expensive. I paid ca.1300€ (1900 SGD) for a 13 sqm room in a flat with 3 other people, with a shared bathroom, kitchen and utilities. I'd still recommend this accommodation!

SMU has a great location in the heart of Singapore. It's 5min away from the Central Business District or Marina Bay Sands. The Campus stretches over multiple different buildings wha all serve different schools, f.e. School of Business, Economics, Law or Accounting. Its very green (as Singapore is), there are unlimited options to eat or get coffee, and the Fort Canning Park is right next to the Law School (Law school has a very nice library). Academic Culture in my opinion is very different to WU. The people in general have more drive and are more ambitious, they study very hard and always want to achieve the best grade. But the people are still very funny and open, but they are very busy all the time. Teaching Style: You always have classes with around 40 students, class is once a week for 3.15h. In every class you have a group project, often midterms and finals. Grading is conducted via bell curve!! I took two finance courses (Analysis of Equity Securities, Analysis of Fixed-Income Securities) which were very competitive but very interesting. If you're into finance I'd definitely recommend put in the work and expand your knowledge in courses WU doesn't offer! I also took a Macroeconomics course, I do not recommend that (if you're not studying VWL). Compared to the WU Macro course it was much harder and after the 3rd lesson it was Maths only. In general I wouldn't recommend taking courses from the School of Economics, it has the reputation to be the hardest school at SMU. My 4th course was Ethics and Social Responsibility, I recommend this one, we talked much about philosophy and how to implement this into social sciences. These four courses convert to 30 ECTS at WU

Singapore is one of the best functioning cities I've ever experienced. Public transport is around 80-100 SGD (50-60€) a month, I recommend using the Ezlink Card you receive from SMU and recharge it at 7/11. Singapore is also one of the safest cities in the world, with very little crimes or need for fear. For activities I recommend joining some SMU clubs, f.e. I joined the Tennis Club and Wine Club. If you like to go out, use the app Aentry for free tickets into rooftop bars or student events, go to Boat Quay in the evenings, or go to Chinatown and visit some bars. Eat in hawker centers, best meals and actually very affordable. Sports are mostly played in the morning or evening because of the weather, try to book your venues early if possible.

My exchange was one of the best decisions in my life. I really enjoyed my time in Singapore, I made great new friends, I enjoyed my time at the university studying in a very ambitious environment, the traveling through Southeast Asia was impressive and convenient, and I learned much about myself and my goals. The city offers everything you need, you just need to explore it!