The bureaucratic hurdles in Singapore are quite high, as you need a visa for your stay. So after being accepted for a place at university in mid-April, it was time to step on the gas and organize all the necessary documents. Even though I wasn’t sure whether everything would work out in the end, I started planning my stay together with my fellow students from Bielefeld.

This included booking flights, organizing accommodation and taking out insurance, among other things. As Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world, we drew up a budget. We soon realized that accommodation alone would take up a large part of the budget. Another hurdle was finding a suitable apartment for our mixed three-person shared flat, as we found out that not all landlords in this rather conservative metropolis welcome this.

Once everything was in place, we were finally able to set off on our big trip at the beginning of July.

After the flight with a stopover in Bahrain, the first extraordinary highlight was already waiting for us at Changi Airport in Singapore: the waterfall at the Jewel! After a short exploration tour, we took the MRT (train) from the airport to our home for the next 3.5 months. Our apartment was in a 17-storey condo (apartment block) with a huge pool, within walking distance of the MRT and James Cook University.

After we had settled in, we went to the city center before the orientation week started. Simply gigantic! The Financial District, Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay were simply overwhelming.

During the orientation week that followed, we had lots of great activities organized by JCU students. We made lots of new friends there straight away, both from Germany and from Norway, France and of course the locals.

Unlike in Germany, student life is already in full swing at an early stage. The first quizzes, which make up part of the overall grade as an assessment, were already due in the second week. This was then followed by submissions, mostly in the form of reports spread over the semester. Only two out of four subjects had a written exam at the end. The demands are higher than in Germany, especially in terms of the workload – but with good time management this is not a problem.

The beautifully designed university campus was the central meeting point for us, especially in the middle and at the end of the semester. We motivated each other to work on our assessments in the Studyhub. The Studyhub is large and offers plenty of space as well as air conditioning, power sockets and, of course, internet. If you wanted a quieter place to work, you could just go to the library.

We ate at our leisure in the university food court, which mainly served Asian and Indian food. The university also offered an attractive range of sports activities, such as badminton, volleyball or a gym membership.

The food is very varied, there is something for everyone, but the portions are somewhat smaller compared to Germany. Most people eat in the so-called hawker centers. These offer food for everyone and for little money. The principle is that everyone can get something from different stores, e.g. Indian, Asian, Western etc., and still sit together. Hawker centers are an integral part of Singapore’s culture and can be found in various sizes on almost every corner of the city.

When it comes to partying in Singapore, it can quickly get expensive. Alcohol is very expensive, especially in the City Center and in the clubs, where half a liter of beer can cost as much as €12. In addition, entry to the clubs usually costs the equivalent of just over €35. Another difference to Germany is that the clubs are already full around 11 pm and close around 3 or 4 am. If you haven’t bought a ticket beforehand, you usually can’t get in.

The bars in Singapore are a highlight, both rooftop bars with breathtaking views and various bars with their own flair, such as the Atlas Bar.

Singapore is the ideal hub when it comes to traveling around Asia. Accordingly, we traveled quite a lot and were able to see quite a bit of Asia. Including the capital Kuala Lumpur and the island of Borneo in Malaysia, Hanoi and Halong Bai/Cat Ba in Vietnam and Bali in Indonesia. Unforgettable adventures and experiences that have also strengthened various friendships! So if you like traveling, Singapore is definitely the right place for you.

The cost of living in Singapore is very high. University costs between €5,000 and €7,500. You can expect to pay between €800 and €1,200 per month for accommodation. Food and leisure activities can also cost between €700 and €1,500 per month – after all, you’re not there to save money, but to experience something. In total, you should therefore expect to spend around €12,000 to €18,000.

You can receive between €1,500 and €2,500 in support through the scholarships on offer. However, these are always subject to certain conditions.

You should definitely get a prepaid SIM card when you get there. I had a Starhub card and can highly recommend it. This can be purchased directly at the airport.

Most Hawker Centers have a cleanliness rating for the stores, A for good to C for not so good.

If you are exposed to the sun for a longer period of time, you should definitely use sunscreen, the sun is much stronger than in Germany and you get sunburnt much faster.

When withdrawing money, you should check beforehand which bank has which exchange rates and fees, as this can really save a lot of money. It may also be advisable to withdraw larger sums such as S$500 or S$1000.