Fun Facts Fun Facts Singapore

Since we began recruiting Doctors for jobs in Singapore last year, it's become increasingly apparent that this is a country full of unique nuances and fascinating facts so, we thought it might be fun to pull together a list the Top Ten interesting things we've discovered so far - we'd love it if you'd share your own as well.....

1. Singapore was called Singapura, which translates as Lion City in Sanskrit, by a Sumatran Prince after he thought he saw a lion on the island (it was probably a tiger).
2. In Singapore 1 October is a national day dedicated to children under the age of 12, they are given presents and treats by their parents and teachers and on the Friday of that week they have the day off school.
3. Singapore is a city, a capital and a state all at once, making it one of only three City States in the world.
4. Most Singaporeans choose to boil their water before drinking it (although the tap water is fine to drink without purification) and will often drink it warm.
5. Singapore is made up of one large island and 63 small, mostly uninhabited, surrounding islands.
6. If you are given a present in Singapore, it is rude to open it in front of the person who gave it you, it’s polite to wait and open the gift later.
7. Chewing gum is banned in Singapore, except for those with a medical prescription.
8. Singapore imports sand and fresh water from Malaysia.
9. The Great Singapore Duck Race is held every year in order to raise money for charity. In 2002 it broke a world record with more than 123,000 toy ducks racing on the Singapore River.
10. Singapore has the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, which is a towering 35 meters high! It’s in Gardens by the Bay, which is an indoor garden housing over 500,000 plants from across the world.

Study In Singapore

Singapore is a city-state and an island nation made up of not just one, but 63 islands. Mainland Singapore is one of the most densely populated regions in Asia. Singapore is an anglicised version of the name 'Singapura', which means the 'Land of the Lions'.

The modern history of Singapore commences with Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles setting up a trading outpost for the East India Company in 1819. In 1963, Singapore declared independence from the British and joined the Malay Federation. In 1965, the country broke apart from the Malay Federation, and since then Singapore's progress from an underdeveloped country to a financial and technological hub has been an inspiring story.

Education system in Singapore

Universities: Universities in Singapore are either private or public campuses or branch campuses (satellite campuses) of other popular higher education institutions. There are six autonomous universities in Singapore: National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, Singapore University of Technology & Design, Singapore Institute of Technology and Singapore University of Social Sciences.

Polytechnics: Polytechnics provide more industry-oriented programmes which prepare work-ready graduates. Both diploma and degree programmes are offered at polytechnic institutions. There are five polytechnics in Singapore: Nanyang Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic and Singapore Polytechnic.

Institute of Technical Education (ITE): ITEs provide technical-oriented studies in areas like business, electronics, media and applied sciences. Students studying at ITEs develop technical skills and knowledge to work at several industries.

Why study in Singapore?

Singapore is extremely popular amongst students who wish to study courses in animation, design, game development, music, etc. Courses in law and combined postgraduate courses in management and engineering are extremely popular choices for students from South Asia. With numerous technological companies having offices in Singapore and some institutions offering scholarships for students with a 'work in Singapore clause', Singapore has become a popular study destination for Indians.

Students who opt for higher education courses in engineering also have a good chance of securing jobs in Singapore after their internships.

Some reasons why students choose Singapore as a study destination are as follows:

• English-taught courses are on offer at most institutes.

• Tuition fees and living expenses are less compared with other countries abroad.

• A lot of scholarship options are available.

• With many Indians and Sri Lankans living there, Singapore has a strong South-east Asian community. Student life is pretty exciting in Singapore!

• The country’s strict law enforcement policy and stable political environment offers students a lot of safety.

• Zero tolerance to racism and drugs.

• Some institutions offer courses in partnership with leading American and Australian institutions.

• Well-connected to the rest of Asia as Singapore has one of the best airports in the region.

• With good academic performance, chances of securing a job in Singapore are higher.

Study options

cademic intakes vary from institution to institution in Singapore. Institutes like the NUS and NTU have two intake periods, i.e., in August and January for postgraduate and undergraduate programmes. Private institutions like PSB and SIM have intakes every quarter. The admission cycle changes depending on the admission cycles of various other universities which have campuses in Singapore.

Some of the popular courses in Singapore amongst foreign students include, hotel management, MBA, engineering, applied & pure sciences, business, architecture and travel & tourism.

Cost of studying in Singapore

The cost of studying in Singapore for international students could vary between SGD 2000 and 12,000. The tuition cost is relatively inexpensive, and most universities offer financial aid for international students.

Living expenses could be SGD10,000, including stay, transport and food. Housing expenses (rent) could be SGD 150–1000, depending on the type of accommodation the student selects.

Benefits of studying in Singapore

With its relatively affordable education and top-notch courses in computer science, applied science, law and animation, Singapore is an excellent study destination for Indian students. The visa process is simple and hassle free as well. Being very proximate to India also means cheaper air-fare.
Also institutions from the USA, UK and Australia have opened satellite campuses in Singapore to offer their courses at a subsidised cost. With so many positive factors in place, Singapore has become an education hub and popular study abroad destination for Asian students.
Want to experience a global and youthful community of students in Singapore? This could be your chance to study in one of the popular study destinations which has outpaced many other countries in technology and research opportunities. Because of Singapore’s education quality, many employers seek the graduates who have experience studying in the country. You can be one of them too! Our counsellors can help you plan your studies in Singapore.