… for me to study in Singapore is very easy. My great interest in Asia already defined the continent. The further selection was not too difficult for linguistic reasons, since one of the most important criteria for me in the semester abroad was the daily use of the English language. In my search, I came across the James Cook University, which unfortunately, due to my university in Germany, is the only way to study in Singapore. Unfortunately, luckily this is the wrong word in this case. Why? JYou will find out when reading further
The trip…
… Singapore was an experience in itself. Geographically, Singapore is in a beautiful spot on earth and that’s exactly what we took advantage of with a backpacker tour through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Since the decision for such a trip is very individual and has little to do with MicroEDU itself, I will save the report of our short tour at this point. Only one thing should be said at this point, with Air Asia you can see a lot of the Far East Asian world from Singapore and that for little money.
The first week…
… well, the beginning was difficult, as is proverbially known. Unfortunately, we also had to experience this when we started our studies in Singapore. After an eventful, far too long, but definitely interesting bus trip to James Cook University, we arrived at the university full of motivation and zest for action. Like the whole city, the university is very structured, tidy and attractive. The registration modalities should be settled on this first day. The process was well organized and, in my case, it worked flawlessly, the problem was rather that my fellow student could not register because a corresponding letter of admission from Singapore was missing. According to the university, this is extremely unusual and this is probably the first time that it has occurred. The first two weeks were correspondingly difficult for my fellow student because he wasn’t allowed to attend the lecture until the letter was finally available. The introductory week also included a nice city tour with entry for the Singapore Flyer (which is amazingly expensive) and lunch. The course selection was also made this week.
The studies…
One thing in advance – those who place particularly high demands on themselves and therefore also on the subject-specific content are wrong at this university. Although the level is not miserable, it is still relatively low, at least as far as our lecture is concerned.
There were four lectures a week, each of which took three hours to complete. In some subjects, there was also no need to study, which in itself was positive for the stay abroad. The examinations to be performed were partly different and ranged from exams (mostly in multiple choice format) to group work, to “diaries” and graded games. Due to the composition of the grades, it is hardly possible, at least in my opinion, to fail the courses. What makes James Cook University really interesting is everything that happens outside of the class. There is a delicious cafeteria, a library with lots of literature, a number of sporting events, organized university parties and, above all, many interesting fellow students, especially Chinese and Indian students. The university building itself is located relatively north, but is relatively easy to reach. The only point of criticism I have about the university (my interest was less in professional training than in personal training) are the high tuition fees. I think these are just not appropriate for the education that is being taught. Nevertheless, during my personal research and from many calls from my circle of friends, I learned that this perception is probably due to the low tuition fees in Germany. I think these are just not appropriate for the education that is being taught. Nevertheless, during my personal research and from many calls from my circle of friends, I learned that this perception is probably due to the low tuition fees in Germany. I think these are just not appropriate for the education that is being taught. Nevertheless, during my personal research and from many calls from my circle of friends, I learned that this perception is probably due to the low tuition fees in Germany.
The living…
…. In Singapore, it’s hard to put into words. We lived in the Katong Hostel, which was reasonably priced. The city itself is incredible. It is not only the cleanest city or country in the world, but also the safest. At no point in time, in any place, are you really confronted with crime and can stroll calmly through the city. JYou have to make sacrifices for this and, for example, refrain from throwing garbage on the street for no reason, but we willingly accepted this sacrifice.
Getting around within the city by public transport is cheap and cannot be compared to Germany. Google shows you the buses and trains, a flawless and state-of-the-art transport network does the rest. Most trains run fully automatically and there is an app for the buses that uses GPRS data sent by the respective buses to indicate when you will be going to the bus stop should. There is a lot to see, but it has to be said that for those interested in history the offer will be very rare. Everything in the city is modern and therefore new. For such cases I can recommend cheap trips to the surrounding countries such as Indonesia and Cambodia.
I have to sing another song of praise for the food in Singapore. For two euros you can get a full meal, which in its taste (which is of course individual) not only overshadows German food, but also puts it in the deepest dark night.
Now a few words about nightlife in Singapore… With Clarke Quay, all discos and bars are very central and organized as usual. So the nightlife gets the highest rating.JThe music is unbelievable, only the ears could suffer a little – I think the German TÜV would not allow such boxes in any disco Unfortunately, in Singapore, alcohol, like cigarettes, is quite expensive. But that’s not a problem if you just go to the disco drunk. Nice side effect: before the discos hit the streets, hundreds of young people meet on the bridge at Clarke Quay and drink in a nice and cozy atmosphere.
The conclusion…
For me personally, the relaxed study, mixed with the great weather (it takes getting used to, but when it rains, then for an hour and then the sun shines again), the pronounced nightlife and the many unforgettable trips and experiences, the best Time in my life. There are certainly many other beautiful places in this world, but Singapore plays in the league of the very big and I can only warmly recommend you to spend a semester abroad at the James Cook University in Singapore. To praise CC again – the support and the contact was always flawless, effortless, helpful and friendly!
I wish you a lot of fun with your own experiences!
