Singapore is a beautiful island and dynamic city rich in contrast and colour where you will find a harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture. A bridge between the East and the West for centuries, Singapore, located in the heart of Southeast Asia, continues to embrace tradition and modernity today. The city is brimming with unbridled energy and bursting with exciting events from arts and culture to lifestyle and fashion. With its friendly and welcoming people, state-of-the-art infrastructure and something new happening every day, the city offers countless unique and memorable experiences.

Location:    A beautiful island (699.2 sq. km) located approximately 137 km north of the equator.

Weather:    Warm weather and humidity year round with min 23 degree Celsius to a max of 34 degree Celsius. Monsoon season from November to January, rains are more consistent and showers are usually sudden and heavy, but also brief and refreshing.

People:    There are close to four million Singaporeans of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian ethnicities, as well as a cosmopolitan mix of other nationalities. The main religions practiced are Buddhism, Taoism, Muslim, Christianity and Hinduism.  Besides English Language, the other official languages are Chinese (Mandarin), Tamil and Bahasa Melayu. The different ethnic groups in Singapore co-exist peacefully and they enjoy religious harmony.

Food:    Local hawker fare and international cuisine can be found in hawker centres, food courts, cafes and restaurants. Locals typically patronize food courts and hawker centres for meals at economical prices. International fast food chains are also available throughout the island.

Why many international students choose to study in Singapore?

•    World-class education system

•    Strategic location

•    Affordable quality education

•    Bilingual learning environment

•    Highly developed market-based economy

•    One of the most efficient healthcare systems in the world

•    Safe, comfortable and reasonable living cost

•    The opportunity to experience the world in one city

Travelling to Singapore by air
Most international airlines fly into Singapore's Changi International Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in the world. There is a wide choice of public transport from the airport to the city (20km/12minutes away); by Mass Rapid Transport (MRT), a wide choice of taxi services and public buses.  

Please have your passport, Letter of Offer form Insworld and the In-Principal Approval letter from the Immigration Checkpoints Authority ready when you pass through the customs.

Accommodation
Students are advised to make their own accommodation arrangements prior to arriving in Singapore but temporary accommodation can be arranged while you find something more suitable.   Lodging is relatively easy to find in Singapore.  There are many types of accommodation that you may choose from

1.    Student Hostel
There are many types of Student Hostel for you to choose from depending on your preference of facilities offered and budget.

2.    Co-sharing of HDB or apartments
Students can choose to co-rent a 2 or 3-room flat or an apartment. The estimated rental for a room varies from $350 (shared-room) to over S$2000 (whole apartment), depending on whether it is a public or private apartment. Public housing refers to Housing Development Board (HDB) flats and each housing estate is designed to be a self-contained neighbourhood served by supermarkets, food centres, clinics, schools, libraries and shopping malls. Private housing would normally be in condominiums with luxurious facilities like swimming pool, tennis courts and 24-hour security patrol. Be it public or private housing, the rental depends on the size, condition and location of the apartment. Other determining factors include amenities (laundry, cooking facilities, telephone, electricity, water) and flat furnishings.

Transportation
Public transport in Singapore is excellent.  The three main modes of public transport in Singapore are the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), buses and taxis.

Buses are, by far, the most common form of public transportation in Singapore, followed by MRT and taxis respectively. Public buses serve almost every part of Singapore, runs daily from 5.30am to midnight. There are also extended night services which cost slightly. The greatest advantage that the MRT has over road transport is their ability to bypass traffic congestion, but it is extensive to all parts of Singapore as yet. Taxis in Singapore are charged by the meter, which is a fair and transparent system but it is most expensive compared to the other public transport.

Cost of travelling by public transport:

Medical Care in Singapore
Singapore’s well-established healthcare system comprises a total of 13 private hospitals, 10 public (government) hospitals and several specialist clinics, each specializing in and catering to different patient needs, at varying costs.

For emergency services, patients can go at any time to the 24-hour Accident & Emergency Departments located in the government hospitals. Dial 995 if you need an ambulance urgently, otherwise dial 1777. There are many private clinics, some of which also operates 24-hours services (charges are higher from 10.00pm to 8am).

International Students holding Student’s Pass must be covered under the school’s Group Hospitalisation & Surgical Insurance.  However, this insurance policy does not cover the cost of out-patient treatments.  Therefore, students are advised to consider taking additional medical insurance coverage according to their needs.

Estimated Cost of Living in Singapore
Depending on your style of living, the estimated minimum living cost in Singapore is about S$1000.00 per month. This includes accommodation, meals and transportation.

Orientation Programme

Insworld provides an orientation programme for all our new students. A series of programmes will be organised during the first week of school to help students to settle down and commence their studies:

• Medical Check-up and collection of Student’s Pass from ICA
• School Handbook
• Placement Test (if required)
• Study-buddy system

Singapore Law and Order
The following Singapore laws are to be strictly observed.

Drugs

• You must not consume or supply illegal drugs.
• The death penalty is mandatory for those convicted of trafficking, manufacturing, importing or exporting more than 15g of heroin, 30g of morphine, 30g of cocaine, 500g of cannabis, 200g of cannabis resin and 1.2kg of opium.
• Possessing these quantities is considered evidence of trafficking.  This means, if you possess these quantities, you are deemed to be a trafficker and therefore subject to the death penalty.
• For unauthorised consumption, there is a maximum of 10 years’ jail or fine of S$20,000, or both.

Littering

• Singapore has strict laws on littering of any kind.
• First-time offenders face a fine of up to S$1,000.  
• Repeat offenders will be fined up to S$2,000 and subject to Corrective Work Order (CWO).
• The CWO requires litterbugs to spend a few hours cleaning a public place, for example, picking up litter in a park.  They are made to wear bright jackets, and sometimes, the local media are invited to cover the public spectacle. So please think twice about tossing a scrap paper or cigarette butts on the roadside.  

Smoking

• Smoking is not allowed in all public indoor places and most outdoor places, unless otherwise mentioned. Eg; buses, MRT, taxis, lifts, theatres, cinemas, government offices, and in air-conditioned restaurants and shopping centers.
• Smoking is also not permitted at all nightspots unless within approved smoking zones.
• Offenders face a maximum fine of S$1,000. In addition, smokers who dispose their cigarette butts indiscriminately will be fined SGD$200.00.
• Anyone below 18 years old is not allowed to buy cigarettes.

Others

• Student pass holders are strictly not allowed to work even on a part-time basis.
• Import, sale and possession of chewing gum are banned.
• If you are below 18 years old, you must not buy or drink alcohol.
• Jay-walking is an offense.
• You must not drive a car if:

-  You do not have an international or Singapore driving license
-  You do not have at least third party insurance cover and paid-up road tax

• You must not bring videotapes, VCDs or DVDs that are not originals, into Singapore.
• You must abide all laws applicable to residents and visitors to Singapore.
• It is an offence to download political, religiously sensitive or pornographic material from the Internet.