I moved to Singapore on study

While still a student of the third year, I became interested in studies abroad, I wanted to see how people live in other countries, wanted to see the world. That summer I went for training to Singapore for two months. After I graduate successfully enrolled in graduate school at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and flew to the equator. At first I sat down to the hostel from the airport literally went to the store to buy a pillow, sheet and blanket in the room. Studies began about two weeks before the university I studied, got acquainted with other students and teachers.

Since then, four years have passed. During this time I have coped with the culture shock he has passed the stage of "I do not have friends," got used to the weather, life and language.

Move to Singapore, I would advise to study - it is easier. Get a work visa is difficult, there are many rules regarding the admission of foreign nationals to work. But exactly I recommend to visit as a tourist and see for yourself this amazing city-state!

why Singapore

Safe, beautiful, warm all year round. Singapore - a city-state, which is only 50 years old. Over the years it has evolved from a third-world country to a country with a developed economy. Many say that Singapore - city ​​of the future.

Here you can find good educational grants. I was lucky when I was finishing work on a diploma, my university - BSUIR - worked with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore professors can be found right in your school housing. But I'm not the first time admitted to NTU, evaluations, I had low. She continued her studies in the master's BSUIR, met with science and pulled the assessment, and then received a grant.

Singapore loves innovation. Now I examine the brain-computer interface, or BCI (Brain-Computer Interface). This technology allows a person to interact with electronic devices using brain signals.

Climate

Year-round summer in Singapore, because the island, which are Singapore and Malaysia, is located almost on the equator. From November to February, the rainy season lasts. The peak - December and January is the monsoon season. However, in Singapore everything is arranged for protection from the weather, there is plenty of covered walking paths.

The language barrier

Singapore has four official languages: Chinese, Malay, Tamil and English. Almost all speak and understand in English, as it is the main one. However, residents of Singapore a special dialect of English - singlish (Singaporean English), so be prepared to ask again.

flights

There are several airlines that offer cheap flights to Singapore. Air China, Turkish Airlines, Air France and Lot Polish. Also, some companies offer discounts and promotions, such as KLM, Emirates, Singapore Airlines. Cheaper to fly out of Moscow, Minsk or Warsaw.

The flight takes 18 hours (maybe more - depending on the time of transplantation), return ticket will cost an average of 38 000 to 60 000 rubles. Worth buying them three months before the trip and track a variety of events, they are often.

Salaries and stipends

In Singapore, a huge variation in wages. They start with 2.5-3 thousand Singapore dollars (1 Singapore dollar (SGD) - 48,6 rubles) per month and go up to 30 thousand. Programmers are 6-10 thousand per month, almost the same and financiers. But, of course, it depends on the company. My university friends-researchers are 3,5-5 thousand Singapore dollars a month. IN the restaurant business earn 2-3 thousand.

My university offers scholarships to foreigners by the Ministry of Education of Singapore. These include monthly payments (2-2,5 thousand Singapore dollars) and tuition (about 12-14 thousand Singapore dollars per semester). Every year, you need to confirm its status as a student, the scholarship is paid to four years. If during this time you can not complete the training will have to pay additional semesters alone.

Also, for the scholarship is a condition - 140 hours working out as a teacher at the university, 200 hours assistance professor in teaching and another 80 hours of participation in conferences and other events.

I have a Visa Student Pass, it can work 16 hours a week with the permission of the Faculty. You can find part time in the university. Usually one hour of work a student pay 15-30 Singapore dollars.

visas

In Singapore, there are four main types of work visas: E-pass, S-pass, EntrePass and Work Permits. View visa It depends on your professional qualifications, salaries, which can receive, and other conditions. Have a student visa Student Pass, as well as Dependant's Pass and Long Term Visit Pass - visas for members of the human family who moved to Singapore, such as a wife or husband.

On a tourist visa, which is logical, not allowed to work, you can only stay on the territory of Singapore without interruption for 30 days. To extend this period, many at the time of travel to Malaysia and then return to Singapore.

There is also a transit visa for those who come to Singapore before flying to another country. It operates 96 hours.

You can find complete information about visas and the criteria for their preparation on official website Ministry of Manpower.

Cost of living

The minimum for housing expenses and food - it 2-2,5 thousand SGD per month if you rent a room. If you want to rent an apartmentBe prepared to pay from 5000.

Housing

In Singapore, there are three types of property:

• HDB - the usual high-rise buildings constructed by the Council on Housing and Building (Housing and Development Board), with apartments of 2-5 rooms. Renting an apartment will cost SGD entirely 1.7-2.3 thousand per month. Room without a bathroom is called the common room and worth 700-900 SGD. Room with bathroom (master room) can be rented for 1-1,2 thousand SGD per month.
• Condominium, or condo - a residential complex with a swimming pool, gym and other amenities. Housing entirely will cost 1.9 thousand SGD and can reach up to 10 thousand per month - depending on the location and number of rooms. A private room in a condominium can be rented for about 200 SGD more expensive than in the HDB.
• My house. This is the most expensive housing, because there is "own" land. Houses in the 2-3 floors are from 3-4 thousand SGD per month.

View rooms for rent on the site of Gumtree.sg. Also a lot of Facebook groups with ads. To find an apartment to help sites PropertyGuru.com and 99.co.

Carefully read the ads, particularly conditions that can and can not do in an apartment for a specified number of occupants price. According to the laws of Singapore lease agreement is for at least three months. Will also need to pay a deposit - the cost of one month rental.

Food

Singapore residents love to eat. It is a national hobby - to try different foods and explore new restaurants, cafes and food courts. If you ask people on the street, what good in Singapore, nine out of ten will say, "Food" (one answer that security, but this is not accurate).

What is a must-try in Singapore:

• Chicken Rice - chicken with rice;
• Lax - coconut soup with prawns and noodles;
• roti Prata - burrito and curry sauce;
• kaya-toast - bread with coconut jam;
• nasi lemak, - rice cooked in coconut milk with the egg or the chicken;
• yong tau fu - you choose the ingredients (tofu, meat, eggs, vegetables, etc.) to this soup you yourself and cook it right in front of you;
• sate - a mini-version of the kebab.

And this is only the beginning of the list! here here more delicious.

Many food courts, you can choose "healthy" alternative. For example, not white, but brown rice or wholegrain cereals as a garnish. Usually the menu indicated the most healthy dish and tells you how many calories it contains.

Lunch in the cafe will cost 15-25 SGD, in the dining room (hawker centre) - 5-10.

Cheaper to eat at home and cook yourself. There are supermarkets with affordable prices and discounts, such as Fair Price, Giant and Sheng Siong. Fruits, vegetables, meats, fish and seafood are quite cheap. The most expensive will cost dairy products like cheese and sour cream, and the most expensive - is alcohol. A bottle of wine costs from 15 SGD, strong alcohol is better to buy only in the Duty Free.

My food basket is 27 Singapore dollars (≈ 1 300 rubles):

• chicken breast (300g) - 3,15 SGD;
• Bank of tuna in its own juice - 2,95 SGD;
• light beer bottle Tiger - 2,95 SGD;
• a dozen eggs - 2,3 SGD;
• tomato (0.8 kg) - 1 SGD;
• broccoli (300 g) - 3,5 SGD;
• 2 boxes coconut cream - 1,6 SGD;
• jackfruit (200 g) - 2,95 SGD;
• mango (1 medium fruit) - 3,95 SGD;
• Basmati rice brown (1 kg) - 2,65 SGD.

Public transport

In Singapore, the well-developed public transport. It includes buses and subways.

For directions leverage EzLink card account which can be replenished. If you buy it at the subway station, it will cost 12 SGD, 7 of which are credited to the account. When buying at convenience stores 7-Eleven you pay for EzLink 10 SGD. In these stores you can pay and the same card.

The subways and buses clean, beautiful, is air conditioned, so is cool. Many buses are double-decker, as a reminder of British colonization times. Fare will cost between 0.7 and 2 SGD depending on the number of stations that you have passed.

About Taxi: Singapore is not Uber, but there Grab, you can also catch a taxi on the street. There are a large number of services with bicycles rent, e.g. Mobike, SG Bike.

Through the app, you can even hire an electric scooter.

fines

Singapore called the fine city, which can be translated as "beautiful city", and "City of fines." Fines here practically for everything: do not litter, throwing cigarette butts, chewing gum, there is a bus, bring durian into the subway. Such strict laws was built Singapore. However, it seems the locals are used to it and did not particularly disturb.