Study in Singapore, Job, Life, Expenses, Food, etc.

So, many students have started getting offer from universities and have been asking me about how NTU is, how much is living cost per month, part time jobs are available or not, Indian food is available or not, etc etc..

How much amount to carry: When u land in Singapore, you can take out cash from your vishwa-yatra card from any ATM machine. Some prefer to bring Singapore dollars by converting them from India. I had SBI vishwa yatra card and I took out the amount as I needed  (advance one month rent deposit, one month rent, expense for some 10 days food and lil bit shopping). You can have other forex card but I found SBI vishwa yatra card pretty simple.

Just reached Singapore, how to call home?:  When you come out from arrival of Changi Airport, I think towards your right you can find M1, Singtel, StarHub people selling SIM card. All of them have nearly same offers. You can decide accordingly at the airport. 

Reaching Campus from Changi Airport: You can either take MRT from Changi Airport or take a cab. Cab would cost ya around 35$ where as MRT would cost you around 2$ till Boonlay/Pioneer. But with all the luggage, its preferable to take a cab.

You can get down at Boonlay MRT and take 199 or 179 to NTU Campus.

Take 199 from Boonlay Bus Interchange to go to Graduate Hall (Hall 11).

If you get down at Pioneer which comes after Boonlay Station, you can take 179 to NTU Campus but this one doesn't go to Graduate Hall. 179 can get you to International Student Center though.

Accommodation: If you are given admission in hostel in campus, well and good. In the remarks section, give a good long, very long reason for your application to be successful. Usually PhD students are given preference than M.Sc. students.

You can try for Jalan Bahar Hostel, which is close to campus. Make a group of 2 or 4 and book a unit. Freedom to cook own food and is cool.

Booking a HDB closer to campus is also possible.

For first 6 months I stayed in a common room with another friend and in rest of apartment a Indian family stayed. Then I moved to Jalan Bahar Hostel. I am happy in Jalan Bahar hostel.

When to reach: If you course registration is on some 23rd-25th, reach a week early for medical tests. They take some 3 to 4 days for the reports. So reach around 15th or 16th. You can do X ray from India and even blood tests and bring your reports, but they may accept only the blood report and ask you to do the X Ray test again.

Living Cost: Depends from individual to individual on which type of room you stay and how much you eat.

Rent can be 350-450 inclusive of PUB(Electricity, water, Internet). If you are cooking along with your friends, not more than 200$. If you are eating out, 300-350$. Shopping, eating out in b/w, going to clubs, partying, seeing new places, etc would add some random amount. Travel in bus and mrt would be around 40-50$ if you stay offcampus. If you get room in graduate hall, free NTU shuttle bus can be used. I would say that max. it won't exceed more than 1000$.

Part Time Job: You can get part time as a cashier in some shops and you will be paid 5$ an hr. If you become a tutor in some coaching class, you can get some 25-40$ an hr depending on school or engineering level. I would say that you can work only for one or two months in the beginning of each semester. Then it becomes hectic. Don't rely much on part time. In the beginning  you may have the craze to work n earn n stuff, but make sure not to get tired because of this. Make sure to inform NTU about your part time. Also, M.Sc. students are allowed to work only 16hrs a week. My suggestion, prefer teaching jobs and don't rely much on part time.
You can also try to get internship in companies related to your field. But I had tried a lot and didn't get any. Keep trying though. Good luck.

Which univ. to choose: That is your decision. NTU is a good university with good ranking and nice research work as well. NTU is now ranked 14th in EEE in the world I guess which is great. About how the course is, it will depend on individual course.

Service Obligation and Confusion: When you take it up, you are not confirmed job in Singapore. It helps you in reduced fees by some 10K which is a good amount as the fees is pretty high for international students.
You just have to serve in Singapore or a Singapore based company and pay the tax to the government for three years.
Your student pass is valid for 1.5 years. You will finish your course in one year. So, in case you are not placed in one year, you can keep on trying till your student pass is valid. If you don't get a job by then as well, you can apply for long/short term visa for some 3 to 6 months.
Suppose you want to break the bond after one year as you got placed in another country, you will have to pay the amount back ie. 10K + some 10% interest.
More details can be found here:  Frequently asked questions on Service Obligation Scheme

Loan from Singapore banks: Other than the discount from Service Obligation (10,000 SGD), you are eligible to take loan from OCBC/DBS bank of Singapore. You can get a max. loan of 90% of fees of Singapore Citizens, which will come to something around 6900 SGD. The compound interest rate is 4.75% p.a. The interest starts after 3 months when you graduate. i.e if you join NTU in Aug, 2013 you won't be charged any interest till July/Aug, 2014. So, that is advantageous in comparison to interest rate from India.

Where to eat: If you are not cooking, you can eat Indian food at Komals (Pure Veg) near Can A, Can 1, Can B, Can 11, Can A and NIE Canteen which is all inside the campus. Can 11 has best Indian food yet lil costly as well. In case you are staying in Hall 11, you can easily eat at Can 11. There are many other outlets outside NTU where you can try Indian food. For Indian veggie food, Anjappar and Prata Wala in Jurong Point, Flames of India in Clementi and Annalakshmi near Clarke Quay are some of the nice food joints. You can also try Thai, Chilles and many more. For others, you wont have a problem. Lots of options and cuisines to try.

Things to bring: Well the list is pretty big. I think there is a file uploaded in one of the Facebook group named "checklist for international travel". Go through it. That should be fine.
Do keep your recent passport size photograph(6 - 8 copies maybe). Your skin may have rashes and turn red someday suddenly. So keep some anti allergy cream or something. Buy soaps, shampoo, moisturizer, hair oil, toothpaste, deo, toothbrush, nail cutter, razor and cream, comb, from India. Keep some good amount of maggie packets as well. Although you can get everything here in local Indian Shops or in the famous Mustaffa Centre in Little India, but as its little expensive here. If u have free space in luggage, get them. Keep Casio fx-350 MS and above level calculator. Maybe a Ethernet cable is needed if you stay in campus. Bring good amount of writing pens, pencil, eraser, sharpener and scale. 

Jobs: You have to stand out from others and show why you should be selected. Stay confident, stay positive, maintain your patience and you can get the job. Yes, it is pretty difficult right now but everywhere its getting saturated, isn't it? If you have 2 or more years of experience, its comparatively easy to get job than a fresher with nil experience. But I am a fresher and I have got job in Japan. Opportunities will come and you have to utilize them well.

Singapore beauty and around: It is a beautiful city. Weather is fine. I like it. People are nice. Sometimes its little hot, but it shall rain everyday or it has to rain when you least expect it. Lots of places to see in and around Singapore. Too many to name. Maybe you get all that on google. Make use of the trips ISC organizes when you come to NTU. They are pretty cheap and you can make new friends. Explore NTU first when you reach Singapore and don't forget to take photo with Arts and Design Building. Haha.

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If you haven't been outside India once, you will have a good experience in Singapore. Keep in touch with family and friends and stay happy. Studying in one of the best univ. isn't easy. Keep calm and stay focused. Enjoy your life in Singapore with your friends whenever you get time.

Don't worry too much lah...!! Have fun. :)