Undergraduate
Student Experience
1.Course Registration
The syllabus for courses can be found on the website: https://bba.nus.edu.sg/academic-programmes/module-registration-information/module-outlines/semester-2-ay2019-2020/.
There are 2 rounds of course registrations for exchange students, one is before you go abroad, another is after you arrived there. It quite different from KUBS course registration, since the system will distribute the subjects according to how you ranked the order of the courses. This means the registration system may not assign the quota to you for those courses at the bottom of your list. However, if you fail to get courses that you want to take in the first round, don’t worry, you still have chances to appeal on the school website. I applied for 3 major elective courses this semester: 1) Decision Analytics Using Spreadsheets, 2) Programming for Business Analytics, and 3) Predictive Analytics in Business. In my opinion, the workload of these courses is heavier than the courses at KUBS. There are several individual assignments and a group project for each module. There are also tutorial questions that need to be completed every week.
2. Accommodation
a) Information for on-campus accommodation & application process
Information for on-campus accommodation can be found on the website: http://nus.edu.sg/osa/student-services/hostel-admission/non-graduating/hostel-meal-plan-rates?from=singlemessage&isappinstalled=0.
There are 2 rounds of application for on-campus accommodation. In the first round of application, the system will ask you to list your top three accommodation choices. The result will be published after several weeks. My accommodation request was not accepted the first 2 rounds, however, I succeeded in the appeal got a room in the College of Alice & Peter Tan. Hence, I believe if you could clearly explain why you need on-campus accommodation, there is a high probability that your application will be approved.
Several on-campus accommodation options provided in NUS:
1) Prince George’s Park Residence
2) Eusoff / Kent Ridge / Raffles / Sheares / Temasek Hall
3) UTown Residence
4) Tembusu College / Cinnamon College / College of Alice & Peter Tan / Residential College 4
1) Prince George’s Park Residence（PGPR）
There are 3 types of rooms in PGPR. Type A with private bathroom and air-conditioning; Type B without the air-conditioning but with a sink; Type C with neither air-conditioning and the sink. The advantage of living in PGPR is that the location is very near the Kent Ridge station which is the nearest subway station to NUS. The walking distance from PGPR to the subway is about 10 minutes, and if you take the school shuttle bus it only needs 3 minutes. Moreover, PGPR is also near the business school; by taking the A2 school shuttle bus, you can arrive at the business school in about 5 minutes.
2) Eusoff / Kent Ridge / Raffles / Sheares / Temasek Hall
Since I didn’t live in these dorms, I can only briefly introduce what I know. There is a compulsory meal plan if you live in halls. But the dining hall does not serve food on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. This means if you do not live near the U-town area, it is hard to find food on the weekends. The advantage of living in halls is that there are more locals, if you are someone who loves socializing, you will enjoy living in halls. Conversely, if you prefer being alone, it may be better to apply elsewhere.
3) UTown Residence
Most exchange students want to live in University Town Residence since there are several canteens and 2 large dining halls located in University Town. Moreover, it is quite close to the sports center and a variety of shops. However, if you applied for the exchange program via the faculty level, there is a high probability that your application will not be approved. Based on what I heard, Hostel Admissions Service gives priority to applicants from the university level.
4) Tembusu College / Cinnamon College/ College of Alice & Peter Tan / Residential College 4
There are two types of rooms provided in the Colleges. One is the suite room and the other is the corridor room. When you check-in, you can choose between the two. The Colleges also have a compulsory meal plan covered from the second week to the end of the semester (approximately 100 credits). However, dining halls are not open on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. One thing to keep in mind is if you frequently invite your friend who does not have a meal plan to eat together, you would consume your credits faster, which means the meal plan may not cover you until the end of the semester.
The advantage of living in colleges is similar to the halls. Local students will prepare lots of different events to welcome the exchange students. As I mentioned before, I was allocated to the College of Alice &Peter Tan. I enjoyed my time living there very much.
In my opinion, compared to the dormitories above, Type A rooms in PGPR and the Colleges have a more comfortable environment.
b) Off-campus housing
There is also a chance that you failed to enroll in on-campus accommodations. In this scenario, the student has to find the hostel outside of the campus. I had some friends living in the Clementi and West coast area. The price of off-campus housing usually higher than the price of on-campus. I heard from my friend that the price of off-campus housing is up to 1300 Singapore Dollars per month (equal to 110,0000 Korean won/ per month). Please note that Airbnb is illegal in Singapore!
3. Life Tips in Singapore
a) Exchange Student Support Program - KCIG
The KCIG will create a Kakao group for all Korean University exchange students and organize weekly activities. They will assign helping “buddies” to each exchange student. If you are allocated to the Colleges, they will also introduce a local buddy to you.
b) Cost of Living
In my perspective, the cost of living in Singapore is comparable to living in Korea. The prices of food in on-campus dining halls (e.g. Fine food & Flavours) usually range between 4 to 10 Singaporean dollars, which is much cheaper than the price of food in Korea. However, the prices of food at restaurants are generally more expensive than prices in Korea. For transportation expenses in Singapore, it is also similar to Korea if you use public transportation such as the MRT or bus; but if you use “Grab” (similar to Uber) or standard taxis, the expense is a lot higher than in Korea.
c) Sim Cards
Starhub and Singtel are two main communication companies in Singapore. I have bought sim cards from both of the companies. Starhub provides a cheaper data plan to customers, but the signal can sometimes be unstable. As for Singtel, they provide a stable but expensive data plan. I strongly recommend a data plan by Singtel named “YAY! Monthly pay package”. This data plan costs 19.9 Singaporean dollars per month and it includes 200 minutes of free talking time, 10-15GB data plan, etc. However, if you are someone who prefers an unlimited data plan, you can buy a separate data plan (30days/40GB) that is more cost-effective. Additionally, I want to introduce the “Hi!” app which is the official application provided by Singtel company. Customers can check account information (minutes used, data remaining, etc.) via the app.
d) Bank Card & Metro Card
I did not apply for a local bank account since most shops in school accept cash payment and Netsflash payment. Netsflash is similar to a T-money card and can be purchased at convenience stores like Fair Price, Cheers, and 7/11. EZ Link is another popular card that people use for public transportation, but is less commonly accepted at vendor stalls. Both Netsflash and EZ Link can be topped up at convenience stores or at top-up machines in the MRT stations. Large shopping malls usually support Visa and Master card payment, so a local bank card is not necessary.
Keep in mind that ATM cash withdrawal fees are different at OCBC Bank, DBS Bank, and Citi bank. OCBC bank charge for cash withdrawal is the most expensive, around 12 SG dollars each time. DBS Bank and Citi Bank charge around 5 SG dollars and 3 SG dollars per transaction, respectively. Another way to get cash is to bring your country’s currency with you and exchange it for Singaporean dollars at a currency exchange shop (Mustafa Center has very good exchange rates). This is also helpful if you are planning to travel to nearby countries with different currencies.
e) Online-shopping Application
Lazada is the most popular online shopping application in Singapore. I have bought many things on Lazada, such as portable air-conditioning, hairdryer, etc. One drawback to Lazada is that shipping can be quite slow. Another popular website is Shopee, especially for cosmetics.
4. Pre-Departure Preparation
a. Recent colored passport photos 2x3cm (will be used when making student pass)
b. Print out the materials in advance (STP / IPA Letter / eForm16)
c. Outlet converters for electronics
d. Singaporean dollars (cash)
e. Cough & Cold Remedies
f. Temporary Sim Card
5. Insurance & Visa
Exchange students do not have to purchase extra insurance but need to pay the miscellaneous fees (131.46 SG dollars) on the EduRec system. The receipt of these miscellaneous fees will be used as proof of payment for student insurance.
As for Visa, exchange students can apply via the Solar website (https://www.ica.gov.sg/). The Singapore government will issue Visa “In-Principle Approval (IPA) Letter” via Solar, please remember to print this letter out and show it to the immigration officer at the airport.
6. Basic Introduction of NUS
The National University of Singapore(NUS) is the oldest higher education institution in Singapore. It is consistently ranked within the top 100 universities in the world and the top 3 universities in the Asia Pacific. The main campus of NUS is located in the southwestern part of Singapore, adjacent to Kent Ridge. I had a very memorable four months in Singapore. I have met many friends with different backgrounds, learned how to study with on-line resources, experienced a new campus culture as well as. Although I was unable to travel to other Southeast Asian countries due to COVID-19, I still think this exchange program is worth the experience.
The syllabus for courses can be found on the website: https://bba.nus.edu.sg/academic-programmes/module-registration-information/module-outlines/semester-2-ay2019-2020/.
There are 2 rounds of course registrations for exchange students, one is before you go abroad, another is after you arrived there. It quite different from KUBS course registration, since the system will distribute the subjects according to how you ranked the order of the courses. This means the registration system may not assign the quota to you for those courses at the bottom of your list. However, if you fail to get courses that you want to take in the first round, don’t worry, you still have chances to appeal on the school website. I applied for 3 major elective courses this semester: 1) Decision Analytics Using Spreadsheets, 2) Programming for Business Analytics, and 3) Predictive Analytics in Business. In my opinion, the workload of these courses is heavier than the courses at KUBS. There are several individual assignments and a group project for each module. There are also tutorial questions that need to be completed every week.
2. Accommodation
a) Information for on-campus accommodation & application process
Information for on-campus accommodation can be found on the website: http://nus.edu.sg/osa/student-services/hostel-admission/non-graduating/hostel-meal-plan-rates?from=singlemessage&isappinstalled=0.
There are 2 rounds of application for on-campus accommodation. In the first round of application, the system will ask you to list your top three accommodation choices. The result will be published after several weeks. My accommodation request was not accepted the first 2 rounds, however, I succeeded in the appeal got a room in the College of Alice & Peter Tan. Hence, I believe if you could clearly explain why you need on-campus accommodation, there is a high probability that your application will be approved.
Several on-campus accommodation options provided in NUS:
1) Prince George’s Park Residence
2) Eusoff / Kent Ridge / Raffles / Sheares / Temasek Hall
3) UTown Residence
4) Tembusu College / Cinnamon College / College of Alice & Peter Tan / Residential College 4
1) Prince George’s Park Residence（PGPR）
There are 3 types of rooms in PGPR. Type A with private bathroom and air-conditioning; Type B without the air-conditioning but with a sink; Type C with neither air-conditioning and the sink. The advantage of living in PGPR is that the location is very near the Kent Ridge station which is the nearest subway station to NUS. The walking distance from PGPR to the subway is about 10 minutes, and if you take the school shuttle bus it only needs 3 minutes. Moreover, PGPR is also near the business school; by taking the A2 school shuttle bus, you can arrive at the business school in about 5 minutes.
2) Eusoff / Kent Ridge / Raffles / Sheares / Temasek Hall
Since I didn’t live in these dorms, I can only briefly introduce what I know. There is a compulsory meal plan if you live in halls. But the dining hall does not serve food on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. This means if you do not live near the U-town area, it is hard to find food on the weekends. The advantage of living in halls is that there are more locals, if you are someone who loves socializing, you will enjoy living in halls. Conversely, if you prefer being alone, it may be better to apply elsewhere.
3) UTown Residence
Most exchange students want to live in University Town Residence since there are several canteens and 2 large dining halls located in University Town. Moreover, it is quite close to the sports center and a variety of shops. However, if you applied for the exchange program via the faculty level, there is a high probability that your application will not be approved. Based on what I heard, Hostel Admissions Service gives priority to applicants from the university level.
4) Tembusu College / Cinnamon College/ College of Alice & Peter Tan / Residential College 4
There are two types of rooms provided in the Colleges. One is the suite room and the other is the corridor room. When you check-in, you can choose between the two. The Colleges also have a compulsory meal plan covered from the second week to the end of the semester (approximately 100 credits). However, dining halls are not open on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. One thing to keep in mind is if you frequently invite your friend who does not have a meal plan to eat together, you would consume your credits faster, which means the meal plan may not cover you until the end of the semester.
The advantage of living in colleges is similar to the halls. Local students will prepare lots of different events to welcome the exchange students. As I mentioned before, I was allocated to the College of Alice &Peter Tan. I enjoyed my time living there very much.
In my opinion, compared to the dormitories above, Type A rooms in PGPR and the Colleges have a more comfortable environment.
b) Off-campus housing
There is also a chance that you failed to enroll in on-campus accommodations. In this scenario, the student has to find the hostel outside of the campus. I had some friends living in the Clementi and West coast area. The price of off-campus housing usually higher than the price of on-campus. I heard from my friend that the price of off-campus housing is up to 1300 Singapore Dollars per month (equal to 110,0000 Korean won/ per month). Please note that Airbnb is illegal in Singapore!
3. Life Tips in Singapore
a) Exchange Student Support Program - KCIG
The KCIG will create a Kakao group for all Korean University exchange students and organize weekly activities. They will assign helping “buddies” to each exchange student. If you are allocated to the Colleges, they will also introduce a local buddy to you.
b) Cost of Living
In my perspective, the cost of living in Singapore is comparable to living in Korea. The prices of food in on-campus dining halls (e.g. Fine food & Flavours) usually range between 4 to 10 Singaporean dollars, which is much cheaper than the price of food in Korea. However, the prices of food at restaurants are generally more expensive than prices in Korea. For transportation expenses in Singapore, it is also similar to Korea if you use public transportation such as the MRT or bus; but if you use “Grab” (similar to Uber) or standard taxis, the expense is a lot higher than in Korea.
c) Sim Cards
Starhub and Singtel are two main communication companies in Singapore. I have bought sim cards from both of the companies. Starhub provides a cheaper data plan to customers, but the signal can sometimes be unstable. As for Singtel, they provide a stable but expensive data plan. I strongly recommend a data plan by Singtel named “YAY! Monthly pay package”. This data plan costs 19.9 Singaporean dollars per month and it includes 200 minutes of free talking time, 10-15GB data plan, etc. However, if you are someone who prefers an unlimited data plan, you can buy a separate data plan (30days/40GB) that is more cost-effective. Additionally, I want to introduce the “Hi!” app which is the official application provided by Singtel company. Customers can check account information (minutes used, data remaining, etc.) via the app.
d) Bank Card & Metro Card
I did not apply for a local bank account since most shops in school accept cash payment and Netsflash payment. Netsflash is similar to a T-money card and can be purchased at convenience stores like Fair Price, Cheers, and 7/11. EZ Link is another popular card that people use for public transportation, but is less commonly accepted at vendor stalls. Both Netsflash and EZ Link can be topped up at convenience stores or at top-up machines in the MRT stations. Large shopping malls usually support Visa and Master card payment, so a local bank card is not necessary.
Keep in mind that ATM cash withdrawal fees are different at OCBC Bank, DBS Bank, and Citi bank. OCBC bank charge for cash withdrawal is the most expensive, around 12 SG dollars each time. DBS Bank and Citi Bank charge around 5 SG dollars and 3 SG dollars per transaction, respectively. Another way to get cash is to bring your country’s currency with you and exchange it for Singaporean dollars at a currency exchange shop (Mustafa Center has very good exchange rates). This is also helpful if you are planning to travel to nearby countries with different currencies.
e) Online-shopping Application
Lazada is the most popular online shopping application in Singapore. I have bought many things on Lazada, such as portable air-conditioning, hairdryer, etc. One drawback to Lazada is that shipping can be quite slow. Another popular website is Shopee, especially for cosmetics.
4. Pre-Departure Preparation
a. Recent colored passport photos 2x3cm (will be used when making student pass)
b. Print out the materials in advance (STP / IPA Letter / eForm16)
c. Outlet converters for electronics
d. Singaporean dollars (cash)
e. Cough & Cold Remedies
f. Temporary Sim Card
5. Insurance & Visa
Exchange students do not have to purchase extra insurance but need to pay the miscellaneous fees (131.46 SG dollars) on the EduRec system. The receipt of these miscellaneous fees will be used as proof of payment for student insurance.
As for Visa, exchange students can apply via the Solar website (https://www.ica.gov.sg/). The Singapore government will issue Visa “In-Principle Approval (IPA) Letter” via Solar, please remember to print this letter out and show it to the immigration officer at the airport.
6. Basic Introduction of NUS
The National University of Singapore(NUS) is the oldest higher education institution in Singapore. It is consistently ranked within the top 100 universities in the world and the top 3 universities in the Asia Pacific. The main campus of NUS is located in the southwestern part of Singapore, adjacent to Kent Ridge. I had a very memorable four months in Singapore. I have met many friends with different backgrounds, learned how to study with on-line resources, experienced a new campus culture as well as. Although I was unable to travel to other Southeast Asian countries due to COVID-19, I still think this exchange program is worth the experience.
