A brief history: Between 2500 and 1500 B.C. inhabitants of the Malaysian peninsula and the island of Singapore first migrated to the area. The region grew with spice trade due to the interest of British and Dutch people and in 1819 Sir Stamford Raffles founded the trading post of Singapore. After the former colony of Straits Settlements was dissolved, it was made a separate Crown colony of Britain in 1946. The other two settlements of the peninsula (Penang & Malaca) became part of the Union of Malaya and the small island of Labuan was transferred to North Borneo. Singapore attained full internal self-government in 1959 and Lee Kwan Yew took the helm as prime minister. On August 9, 1965 Singapore proclaimed itself a republic.

Geography and Climate: The Republic of Singapore consists of the main island of Singapore and 58 nearby islands. The total are of Singapore is about 693 square kilometers and most of Singapore is no more than 15 meters above sea level. Singapore has a tropical climate with no true distinct seasons and its climate is characterized by uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity and abundant rainfall (which usually occur from November-January). The average maximum and minimum temperature is 34 degree Celsius and 23 degree Celsius respectively.

Population/Languages/Ethnicity/Religion: The population of Singapore is about 4,553,009. The languages spoken are Mandarin (35%), English (23%), Malay (14.1), Hokkien (11.4%), Cantonese (5.7%), Taochew (4.9%), Tamil (3.2%), other Chinese dialects (1.8%), Other (0.9%). The ethnicity comprises of Chinese (76.8%), Malay (13.9%), Indian (7.9%), and other (1.4%). The religions of Singapore are Buddhist, Islam, Taoist, Hindu, Catholic, other Christian, and none with Buddhist as pre-dominant.

Education: The education system of Singapore is flexible which allows the students to develop their potential to the fullest. The literacy rate of Singapore is about 93%. There are wide choices of private schools/colleges providing ITE (Institute of Technical Education) and Nitec (National Institute of Technical Education) qualification, polytechnics, and universities. Singapore can be a safe, secure, and comfortable place for international students to pursue their higher education. The education of Singapore has become even better due to the introduction of an international scheme, CASETRUST, in 2005, under which international students are protected from being cheated by educational institutes.

Living: Living in Singapore is relatively expensive compared to other Asian countries. The living expenses including accommodation, food, and transportation is generally estimated to be S$ 600 per month but it can vary according to the requirements and choices of an individual.

Employment: The employment in Singapore is strictly prohibited for Student Pass holders except in courses that require Industrial Attachment. The IA can be really a good opportunity for international students and they can ‘earn while they learn’.