Finding housing in Singapore appeared to be a daunting task at first. In hindsight, it was simple process as long as one looks for housing early and keeps an open mind.
Most exchange students either live in an apartment, a hostel, or an Airbnb and there are pros and cons for all three options. I chose an apartment but one must bear in mind that Singapore has a law stating that the minimum length of tenancy is 6 months. After connecting with a fellow Northeastern peer about his SMU experience, he recommended that I first gather a group of exchange students on the official Singapore Management University Exchange Students Facebook page, and then, begin the search for housing. I formed a group and we found an apartment together through a service founded by former SMU students.
Our apartment is in a convenient location, just 10 minutes from the nearest MRT station, Mustafa (a notable and cheap shopping center), and a popular shopping mall. The apartment is pretty awesome as it is fully furnished, utilities are included (though they are capped), and there are bonus amenities such as a swimming pool, hot tubs, and more! So far, living in Singapore has been enjoyable.
Friends also play an important role in adjusting to a new environment and I found it fairly easy to make friends. I met other exchange students during the housing search process. Additionally, SMU provides many opportunities to not only meet the other exchange students, but also the local students, such as school funded events, group projects, student clubs, and more! The SMU students are friendly and receptive to exchange students, so as long as one is proactive about making friends, there will be no shortage of them during the semester abroad.
