International Students

Singapore has gained a worldwide reputation for creating a modern economy which is famous for its transparency and entrepreneurial capabilities. Singapore is a multi-religious nation with a population consisting of Buddhist, Taoist, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and other faiths. The country has four national languages but English has been adopted as the medium of communication in order to create a bridge across the cultural barriers. Singapore has always been seen as a garden city with a tropical climate of 27 degrees all year round.

Singapore also has one of the most advanced land transport systems which has become increasingly convenient since the introduction of the EZ Link card. This is a prepaid card. Commuters simply flash the card in front of a card reader and the cost of the trip will be automatically deducted from the card.

The cost of living in Singapore is competitive and can vary from $750 to $2000 per month, depending upon the lifestyle one keeps and the accommodation one avails of different types of accommodation are available for rent, right from houses in Government housing schemes to private residential buildings.

Estimation for the cost of living in Singapore as per following:

Particular	Estimated Cost of Living in Singapore
Accommodation	SGD 350 to SGD 1000 per month
Transportation	SGD 125 to SGD 150 per month
Food and Beverage	SGD 240 to SGD 400 per month
Other expenses(Mobile data plan, stationary and etc)	SGD 10 to SGD 50 per month
Healthcare	SGD 25 to SGD 400 per consultation

Singapore is an educational hub in Asia because of its numerous collaborations with top-class universities around the world. The education system in Singapore is already famous for producing high-caliber students. An increasing number of Asian students are opting to come to Singapore to study because of its close proximity and high-quality education. Singapore prides itself in its multicultural heritage and a sense of camaraderie despite its varied cultures and religions. Singapore is looking to a future increasingly marked by globalization and is steadily positioning itself as the region’s financial and educational hub.

Singapore is aiming to triple its number of international students from 50,000 to 150,000 in the next 10 to 15 years by encouraging a range of private, specialist and foreign educational institutions to establish themselves in the country.

While Singapore is already home to a number of foreign institution campuses offering graduate studies, the Economic Development Board (EDB) is hoping to encourage universities from the UK, USA or Australia to open a campus that will offer undergraduates courses, in competition with the three local universities.

Brief History

Singapore Founded by Sir Stamford Raffles as a British reading colony in the year 1819, Singapore gained independence on 9 August 1965 and went on to become one of the world’s most prosperous countries.

Climate

Singapore has a fairly warm and humid climate, temperature ranging from 30 – 36 degrees Celsius.

Population

Singapore population are around 5.31 million reported by the Singapore Department of Statistics and comprises of Chinese 74%; Malays 13%; Indians 9.2% and other ethnic groups 3.8% of the total population.

Language

The common languages used in Singapore are mainly English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. English is the main language being used.

Social Culture

People are expected to form queues to board buses, or to wait for service. It is impolite to push ahead of someone who is in the queue before you.

What to wear

In Singapore, loose and light summer clothing is recommended especially for outdoor activities. While in college do note that appropriate attired are required, long sleeves white shirt and black pants.

Laws/ Crimes

Singapore has very strict laws for severe crimes and foreigners need to make themselves familiar with these laws. Consequences of breaking laws due to lack of knowledge can be tough as the Government treats its foreign residents no differently than locals.

It is very important to constantly update one’s knowledge of Singapore laws as to avoid accidental violations.

Drugs

Drug abuse is taken very seriously. The trafficking, manufacturing, importing or exporting of drugs carries a death penalty. Unauthorized consumption also carries a heavy penalty.

Please visit the website of the Central Narcotics Bureau at www.cnb.gov.sg for more information.

Cigarettes and Smoking

Smoking in prohibited in ICAS Training and Education College premises. The college is a smoke-free college.

People under the age of 18 years of age are not allowed to carry or purchase cigarettes. Smoking is not allowed in public buses, taxis, lifts, theatres, cinemas, government offices and in air-conditioned restaurants and shopping centres, bus shelters, interchanges, toilets and other sir-conditional places.

Littering

Singapore is a clean and green country and littering is prohibited. Dispose of anything can only be done at litter box. Offender of littering can be fined up to S$1000 or issued a CWO (Community Work Order) of up to 12 hours or both. Increased of fine for repeated offenders may be up to S$5000.

False Identification

It is an offence to show false identification to buy cigarettes, alcohol or enter age restricted premises. Purchase of alcohol, cigarettes or entering to club / discos are restricted to those over 18 / 21 years old.

Alcohol / Drunkenness

Purchase and consumption of alcohol must be of 18 years old and above. People found drunk in public places may be fined.

Vandalism

Vandalism is a serious offence. Vandalizing public or private property is punished by a caning and a fine or imprisonment.

Many students choose to study in Singapore because of the following benefits:

• Students can obtain a foreign university degree which is recognized worldwide without having to travel to a western country
• Singapore is safe city with low crime rate.
• English is a common language in Singapore – a conducive environment for students to improve their standard of English
• As many international companies are investing in China and Vietnam, there will be good opportunities for management professionals who are bilingual and familiar with both countries’ cultures.

Address:

ICA Building
4^th Storey, 10 Kallang Road
Singapore 208718

http://www.ica.gov.sg

Transport service to ICA is:

MRT- Lavender MRT Station (Exit A)

• Student holding student’s pass are not allowed to apply for other passes (eg: employment pass)
• Student are not allowed to pursue another course with other school
• Students are to meet ICA minimum attendance requirement, 90% of monthly attendance rate, when studying in Singapore.
• Student are not allowed to engage in employment and other illegal activities
• Should a student terminate his/her studies for whatever reason, he/she must surrender the student’s pass to immigration within 7 days
• Students are not allowed to remain in Singapore once student’s pass expires.

(Usually for international student, a one-month social visit pass will be granted for them to settled their activities and make arrangement to leave Singapore.)

• Students are to observe immigration regulations at all times.
• Students are to bring along their latest original certificates to Singapore. (Eg: birth cert, transcript, education certificate, latest bank statement)
• Students are to ensure their name on both passport and their birth certificate is identical.

For more information, please visit ICA website at: http://www.ica.gov.sg/

Please proceed to Level 4 of Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Building.

Things to bring to ICA:

• Passport
• Medical Report
• 1 Passport size photo IMM27I (small white)
• Original copy of relevant document submitted to ICA earlier.
• In-Principal Approval Letter (IPA) Issued by ICA. Please read the IPA letter carefully for other documents needed to bring to ICA.

Emergencies

Police	999
Fire/ Ambulance	995
Samaritans of Singapore (SOS)	1800 221 4444

Emergency Contact 

ICAS Training Education College

6542 8851/65354187

Embassies/ Consulates/ High Commissions in Singapore

Name	Address	Website	Email	Telephone
Australian High Commission	25 Napier Road Singapore 258507	http://www.australia.org.sg	enquiries-sg@dfat.gov.au	6733 7441 (Australian Education International)
High Commission for the People’s Republic of Bangladesh	91 Bencoolen Street #06-01 Sunshine Plaza Singapore 189652	http://www.bdhc.sg/	bdoot@singnet.com.sg	6337 0085 (Administration)
Royal Embassy of Cambodia	400 Orchard Road #10-03/04 Orchard Towers Singapore 238875	http://home.pacific.net.sg/~recambodia.sg	camemb.sg@mfa.gov.kh	6341 9785
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China	150 Tanglin Road Singapore 247969	http://www.chinaembassy.org.sg	chinaemb_sg@mfa.gov.cn	6418 0252 (Protocol & Administration)
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia	7 Chatsworth Road Singapore 249761	kemlu.go.id/singapore	info@indonesianembassy.sg	6737 7422
High Commission of India	31 Grange Road, India House Singapore 239702	http://www.hcisingapore.org	hcoffice@hcisingapore.org	6737 6777
Embassy of Japan	16 Nassim Road Singapore 258390	http://www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp	jcc@sn.mofa.go.jp / infoculture@sn.mofa.go.jp	6235 8855
Embassy of the Republic of Korea	47 Scotts Road #08-00 Goldbell Towers Singapore 228233	http://sgp.mofat.go.kr	info@koreaembassy.org.sg	6256 1188
High Commission of Malaysia	301 Jervois Road Singapore 249077	http://www.kln.gov.my/web/sgp_singapore/home	malspore@kln.gov.my	6235 0111
Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar	15 St. Martin’s Drive Singapore 257996	http://www.myanmarembassy.sg/	ambassador@mesingapore.org.sg	6735 0209 (6 lines)
Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines	20 Nassim Road Singapore 258395	http://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg	php@pacific.net.sg	6735 1294 (Administrative/ Cultural Section)
Royal Thai Embassy	370 Orchard Road Singapore 238870	http://www.thaiembassy.sg	thaisgp@singnet.com.sg	6737 2158, 6737 2476, 6737 2644, 6737 2475
Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam	10 Leedon Park Singapore 267887	http://www.vietnamembassy-singapore.org/en/	NA	6462 5938