University life in Singapore

[Wondering]

Hi Everyone!

I'm a 19 year old guy that lives an hour north of LA. This summer I will probably move to Singapore with my family.

What I'm wondering about is further education in Singapore. Which university to go to? how much is tuition? what about scholarships? and what about a life after school for someone like me?

Any answers would be very appreciated.

Thank You

[KH]

In the straitstimes from today there is an article about the curriculum of sing. universities: http://stchat.asia1.com.sg/cgi-bin/WebX?13@@.ee71adb

[doggmeister]

Hey Wondering
Since you're 19 and the uni days are going to be some of the best years of your life i.e making new friends/experiences/etc I would highly recommend the idea of Expatriate..unless you're the study hard 'geeky' type, or have set goals and achievements in mind..i.e know exactly where you're going to be in 5 years time and how to achieve it (in which case come along to Singapore slog away the recommended hours of work per day required to get the degree then head back home) but you're likely to be the same as the rest of us..clueless and wondering what lies ahead..in which case save yourself!! Go to Aus or UK or better yet stay the heck there in US ..perhaps opting to work here in the future if you're job allows will enable you to then look back and see what you would have had to go through.

ps Also I'm sure you are accustomed to driving around in your own car? Well say good bye to that and hello to public transport, you'd never afford a car here!

[Expatriate]

I'm rather miffed to see that my original posting has been deleted...can't imagine why, basically I mentioned that my expat Kiwi pals who lived here had their daughters at the Nat Uni of Singapore and they couldn't stand the stuffy and staid atmosphere - including the social aspect. They packed in their courses and transferred to universities back home. Which is why so many locals go overseas to university if they can possibly afford it.    

[BoardManager]

Hi Expatriate
I felt I had to delete your post as you were making a lot of unfounded remarks based on hearsay - from your Kiwi lecturer friends. Perhaps you were trying to give your alternate opinion which we would welcome, but when they border on inaccuracy, worse, falsehood, then I am afraid it is not good.

I will be happy to discuss this further with you if you'd like to email me in private.
B.Mgr

[Chichi]

I agree with the BM.
altho life in Singapore is not perfect (but then nothing's perfect), hearsays are probably worse.
I went to a Singapore university myself.  And it was good for my career, I had loads of fun doing musicals, sports and a million other things.....didn't stop me from seeking new challenges in life either....

[Trix]

My stepson went back to Europe halfway through his first year at uni in Singapore. Two reasons for this: 1) he wanted to live on his own, which is not affordable for a student in Singapore 2) he wanted to do something else besides studying or doing study-related activities all the time.
The quality of the uni was beyond doubt, but the way of teaching (learning by heart, instead of learning to apply the knowledge gathered) was another major drawback.

[USA]

The Overseas Family School has a college that offers the first two years of a US degree.  It is affiliated with CSUDH (Cal State--Dominguez Hills) and courses are transferrable back to the US.

Good Luck!

[DaveT]

All this talk about "stuffy & staid atmosphere" gives a wrong impression of the university here.

I spent my 4 happy & memorable years there!  It all depends on what you want out of it. Because the university has high standards (e.g on the top list for MBA schools in Asia), don't expect to have a holiday there.  But if you are struggling with assignments/tutorials, then its better to be "holed in your hostel room"...you dont want to flunk, do you?

For many of us, it was a great time for friendship & outings together...studying & arguing and griping about anything.  We also had lots of fun in between lectures, running around to get our assigned materials, eating together...having "deep" discussions that has nothing to do with the books but about girls...and partying through the nights!!

There were clubs we signed up & took more than an active interest in...we found ourselves sleeping & working through the week just to get ready for a carnival...  

It all depends on you...what you want to be involved with...Of course, we have a label for those who are socially "out of this world"...we call them "Martians" in our time...

And as for "learning by heart...instead of applying..." ..that really depends on the academic ability of the person, isnt it?...its not because its not taught (as if "applying" can be taught?), but you have got to "catch it" yourself...Its no point talking about expecting lecturers to teach you how to "apply" something when the actual doing should be yourself...you need to roll up your sleeves & just do it!  You have tutorials that makes use of concepts you learnt in the lectures..and you can also build your own models, in your own time...

Or did I hear someone says he needs to be SPOONFED in the U?  Need to be taught how to apply?? In the U?

If you "learn by heart", then good luck to your exams because you will need to know more than facts (unless of course, its an open book exam, which is common in some subjects),and how to apply them...  Its a sweeping statement to think that the exam only test you on rote learning skills...By the way,in case some do not know, the exam papers are evaluated by external examiners (at least i know one paper was evaluated by  a Nobel Prize winner)from top universities in the world... and the lecturers are also a mixed bag from all over the world...

rdgs

[T2K]

To Wondering:

I'm 27, American, and have been here for two years.  I have colleagues and clients who have graduated from Singaporean Universities,
so I do have enough firsthand knowledge to gain an accurate impression, I believe.

What are you looking for?  Are you looking for some academic knowledge, an independent lifestlye, being faced with choices which will help you make the transition from child to adult and (last but not least) a great social scene the likes of which you won't experience for the rest of your life?  

This is what you can expect at most American schools, to a lesser or greater degree.  Personally, my opinion was that the most important part of my university education was not the course work, but the discipline to balance the various priorities of life and succeed in as many of them as possible.

If you agree and the above is what you are looking for - don't get your BA/BS here.
The attitude towards school and learning seems fundamentally different in my opinion.
Academics, coursework, exams - that's what it's all about to the exclusion of all else.  Read DaveT's post above.  Nothing wrong with it, it just may not be what you expect.

If you had very good grades in high school and are ready and willing to put in the several hours a night it will take to get the grades here (because grades are THE measure of success), then do it.  Singaporean universities have good reputations regionally, even internationally.  Don't expect even a glimmer of Animal House activities to intrude upon your life here though.  Students (whether freshmen or seniors) will all be living in dorms or at home with the parents.  There are no social fraternities / sororities as there are in the US.  School athletic events are not big events.  Once again, no offense it meant to Singapore's very prestigious unis, but they are A LOT different from ours in the States.

 

[thekopicat]

Why don't you talk to perhaps a local guy who has done his Bachelor here but has moved on to post grad studies either at a foreign uni or via a corresponding course?  He/She could perhaps give you a more balanced view point on the different education systems.  I believe unless you talk to someone who has been thru both the systems, there is no basis for comparison.  At the end of the day, you're hearing verbalised impressions and opinions from someone who has heard from someone who has observed in someone....

I am not defending the local system.  Heck no!  However I wonder how much of the difficulty (studying here) is due to the different cultural expectations.  I mean, let's face it.  Most, if not all Singaporean students would have been hearing things about USA (MTV/Starbucks/GAP) or Great Britain(Harrods/pub/thatched-roof conttages etc). Ie, they know more or less what to expect. But how many overseas students have honestly heard of Singapore, or its inhabitants, or its school system?  How can you adjust to a new system when you hardly even hear about it?

[Wondering]

Hey Everyone!

Thanks a lot for all the input. All kinds of info helps.

I was just wondering what the name of the different Unis that would be an option for me are, and what tuition fees look like.

Secondly, what can a 19 year old do in Singapore on his free time.

Thanks!

[Chichi]

DaveT, that's a good one on learning to apply in universities!!!!  
T2K, university is the only place where you could be "faced with choices that help to make the transition from child to adult"???  that's a lot to expect from the university man!!!  I learnt that through living.....    As for "providing the discipline to balance the various priorities of life and succeeed in as many of them as possible", I rest my case......
All said, I would choose a different environment for my future postgrad studies, just for the variety of experience.

[Unis]

Here they come
www.nus.edu.sg  National University of S www.ntu.edu.sg  Nanyang Technological Uni of S

+ Singapore Management University (check from Yahoo or other search engine - don't have the web site address)

Even according to local students there are a lot of differences (way of studying, workload, atmosphere etc.) between faculties -  for example Arts and Computer Science.

[Think wisely]

Wondering

I actually work at the National University of Singapore (NUS), and here is my advice. Think very carefully about it!!!!!! It sound's very exciting, family moving overseas, your want to come with them and conduct your tertiary education in that country. I'd be tempted.

However, find out about the university's, their prestige and their reputation in your chosen course of study. Also, social aspects are very, very important, so don't underestimate them. NUS definately a better reputation than Nanyang Technical University (NTU).

If you want to study engineering, computers, business, and life sciences, then NUS would be a very good choice. On the other hand, not so with pure science's, and in particular chemistry (my field). My dealings with the chemistry department is that they are stuck a little bit back in the past (late '70's would be my guess).

Engineering has a great program were thay are getting undergrads to form their own companies. Two students are millionaires, and they havn't graduated!!!!!!

I came here straight after completeing a PhD, and comapring this Uni with my previous one, there is a definate lack of social air about it. The emphesis is on study and study only. My personl opinion is that this is not a balanced way of life and is not ideal for coping with "the real world". Uni is there for alot more than just gaining a degree.

Hope this helps.