LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY

Located at the tip of the Malaysian peninsula, Singapore (officially the Republic of Singapore) consists of the island of Singapore and some 63 islets within its territorial waters. The main island is about 42 kilometres from west to east and 23 kilometres from north to south.

CLIMATE

Like most of Southeast Asia, Singapore is generally hot and humid. The temperature almost never drops below 20°C, even at night, and usually climbs to 30°C during the day. Humidity is usually over 75%.

HISTORY AND POPULATION

Located at the natural meeting point of sea routes at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore became an important port in the 14th century as part of the Sri Vijayan empire. It was known as Temasek ("Sea Town"), and trading and military sea craft from China, India, Portugal, and the Middle East visited it regularly. Singapore attracted merchants from around the world. Before the end of the 19th century, Singapore was unconditionally wealthy and trade exploded between 1873 and 1913.

Singapore now has a population of nearly 5.8 million. Totally urban, it is densely populated. The main ethnic groups are the Chinese (77%), Malays (14%), and Indians (8%). English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil are the four official languages of Singapore.

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Singapore is a cosmopolitan society where people live harmoniously and interaction among different races is amicable. The immigrants of the past have given the place a mixture of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European influences, all of which have intermingled. Behind the facade of a modern city, these ethnic groups are still evident. The majority of Singaporeans think of themselves as Singaporeans, regardless of race or culture.

Singapore provides an easy, safe, navigable, enjoyable experience for visitors and international students. Nightclubs, restaurants, and boutiques are among the most stylish in Asia.

LIVING CONDITIONS AND COST OF LIVING

Singapore's safety, low crime rate, and high standards of living are world renowned, offering international students an ideal environment for study. The cost of living is relatively low, and basic items like food and clothing are very reasonably priced. An international student in Singapore spends on average about 7,000 (USD) a year on living expenses. Tuition fees average about 10,000 (USD) a year, but can be much higher than that.

EDUCATION SYSTEM

Originally based on the British model, the Singaporean education system has evolved to meet the needs of the globalised economy. It has moved from a fairly rigid orientation to incorporate emphases like personalisation of learning, advanced technology, innovation, and creativity.

The universities in Singapore often feature in lists of the top universities in the world. There are currently 34 universities in Singapore, of which six are national and government-funded. There are also foreign universities in Singapore which have either set up a physical campus (institutes of higher learning) or have joint collaborations/programmes with local universities (local tie-ups).