Hello! My name is Amy. I’m a 3rd year MEng Civil Engineering Student and I studied at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore for a year.
Spending a year studying abroad in Singapore has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my university journey so far. I was excited to experience a new culture, despite initially being nervous about adapting to a new environment and making friends.
One of the things I enjoyed most was Singapore’s multicultural environment. Singapore is made up of primarily of Chinese, Malay and Indian communities, and I loved immersing myself in these different cultures. From celebrating Lunar New Year and Diwali (Deepavali) to experiencing uniquely Singaporean traditions, there was always something new to explore and experience. I also met people from a wide range of backgrounds and different countries. These interactions broadened my perspective and made the experience even more memorable. Since English is widely spoken, there was no major language barrier, although it took a little time to adjust to Singlish (Singapore Colloquial English.)
The university is located in Jurong, a southwestern region of Singapore, which allowed me to experience a more local side of the country rather than just the main tourist areas. For example, Jurong lake gardens, which consists of three interconnected gardens, Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden and Lakeside Garden.
Living in student accommodation was quite different from the UK. Each hall had a canteen similar to a mini hawker centre, and eating there was a big part of student life. As someone with multiple food allergies, finding suitable places to eat was initially challenging, but I gradually found options that worked for me. As a student of black heritage, I was pleased to find local communities and services, that catered to my needs, including someone who could do my hair. This helped me feel more at home.
Student life was very affordable. Accommodation was cheaper than I expected compared to the UK, and there were many low-cost societies and free facilities, including a gym, swimming pool, and running track. all on site.
As a Civil Engineering student, it was fascinating to see Singapore’s world-class infrastructure up close. I joined CEE (Civil and Environmental Engineering) Club to learn more and had the opportunity to go on site visits, which allowed to see and learn about some new buildings in construction.
I was able to take a wide range of modules, from Costal Engineering to Sustainable Economics and Finance. I also had the opportunity to study Mandarin, which was incredibly fun. Mandarin is the second most spoken language in Singapore and is also an official language, alongside English, Malay and Tamil. This also allowed me to learn more about Chinese Singaporean traditions.
One of the highlights of my year abroad was the opportunity to travel around Asia. I was fortunate enough to visit several countries, including Japan, Bali, Vietnam, Malaysia, Maldives and Thailand. The pace of life was very relaxing, and the scenery was absolutely beautiful.
I also explored Sentosa, Singapore’s resort Island, which is home Universal Studios and where you can do fun activities, such as Skyline Luge.
One unexpected challenge was homesickness. During the first semester, I was so busy exploring and settling in that it hardly affected me. However, the second semester was more difficult as the novelty began to wear off, and I missed home more than I had anticipated.
Looking back, my advice to anyone considering studying abroad is “just go for it”! Immerse yourself in the experience, get involved in campus life, be open to meeting new people, and embrace every opportunity that comes your way. My year in Singapore helped me become more independent, self-reliant, confident, and adaptable, and it is an experience I will always value.
If you have any questions feel free to email me. My university email address is aj15g23@soton.ac.uk.