Thomas Jurgensen

University Degree Title: International Politics and East Asian Studies
Host University: National University of Singapore
Year of Study Abroad: 2009-2010

Where did you live? Would you recommend it?

Singapore – if you want to experience Asia, then this is definitely a good place to go. The country is very safe, with little pollution, and living expenses are cheaper than in the UK. The nightlife is much better than in Sheffield, although more expensive as well. The Singaporean students are very nice and easy to talk with.

Which department(s) did you study in?

Department of Political Science

How does the workload/classes/teaching styles vary to Sheffield?

Very similar – 4 modules that gave pretty much the same workload as my first year in Sheffield. For the modules I took, the main focus was exams, essays, lectures, discussion tutorials, and readings.

What did you do for fun/ at weekends / holidays?

Go out to eat and party with friends; visit famous places in Singapore; travel in Asia during the vacations.
It is very easy to meet other exchange students – many of my exchange student friends even went travelling together.

Did you join any societies or clubs?

Political Science Society and AIESEC. I highly recommend joining clubs/societies as this is the best way to meet Singaporeans and other non-exchange students. Then you will also be more involved in University life, rather than just hanging out with other exchange students all the time (which I think can happen easily).

Describe the University/City/things to do

The University campus is very large but is luckily serviced with free shuttle busses. It is about 35 mins from the city centre by public transportation. The surroundings are green and spacious. There are many cheap places to eat on campus, but you may get tired of the food after a while. Good sports facilities.

You can experience many different cultures in Singapore – as it is mostly made up of Chinese, Malays, and Indians. But generally it is much more Western than other Asian countries. Except for the low price of food, it looks and feels like a fully developed country.

Could you give any travel or immigration tips?

For European passport holders most countries in the region provide visa on arrival. You can fly with cheap low cost airlines around Asia (Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are the low cost hubs). Public transportation in Singapore is convenient and fairly cheap. Buses and MRT trains are frequent and the coverage is good.

Could you give any advice or tips to a student preparing to go or tell them anything you wished you knew in advance?

Definitely save up money to go travelling in Southeast Asia or farther away in Asia.

Would you say it is cheaper or more expensive to live than Sheffield?

Cheaper – food and accommodation are both cheaper. Use of the university sports centre is also free. Going out to clubs or bars is more expensive though.