It may be small, but in the realms of higher education and research, Singapore is a big hitter. If you’re thinking about pursuing study in Singapore, read on to find out everything you need to know to get started on your Southeast Asian journey.
A whole series of global reports have recognized Singapore as a world leader in research and innovation over the past few decades. Most recently, it ranked seventh in the 2014 INSEAD Global Innovation Index, third in IMD’s 2014 World Competitiveness Rankings and second in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report for 2014-15.
Within this context of global competitiveness and innovation, universities in Singapore are also gaining growing recognition, as Asian nations more generally strengthen their position in the global education market. Singapore featured in 15th place in the 2015 QS Best Student Cities, reflecting the country’s combination of high-ranking universities, high quality of life, and diverse student community.
Living in Singapore
A crowded, yet safe and efficient, city state, Singapore is one of the four “Asian Tiger” economies, along with South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, a group known for enjoying rapid economic growth in the second half of the twentieth century.
This fast development and prosperity has also given Singapore a population density among the world’s highest, with the allure of such a strident economy and the ease of doing business proving hard to resist for many incoming immigrants. It is also known for its cleanliness – famously, you aren’t allowed to chew gum in Singapore, to ensure none ends up on the pavements – as well as for its punctual trains and clear roads filled with gleaming automobiles, for which time-limited certificates of entitlement must be purchased. Singapore also has very strict laws against drug use, leading to one of the lowest rates of drug use in the world.
There’s more to this island republic than strict laws and a booming financial services sector, however. For one thing, Singapore is a true melting pot of cultures, languages and religions, with its mixed Chinese, Malaysian and Indian population each contributing elements from their native cultures to create a hybrid identity which is unique to the city.
British culture is also a big influence on Singapore, which comes as a result of both a large expatriate population and colonial past. This has led to the region being dubbed as a place where “East meets West”, which gives an insight into the cosmopolitan, inclusive nature of the place.
One such example of Singapore’s diverse cultural influences is its food, with its authentic mixture of Asian, Asian-fusion and Western tastes and styles talked about reverently by nearly all who visit.
Although a secular state, Singapore hosts an eclectic multitude of religious beliefs, making it not uncommon to find a mosque next to a temple amidst the gleaming skyscrapers, adding both color and drama to the cityscape and reinforcing the ideas of mutual respect and social cohesion which are so important here.
In recent years, Singapore has also invested heavily in arts and culture, to aid its plethora of festivals, museums and public gardens, with the goal of helping to develop its image as more than just a hub of finance and business.
