Even with its increasing popularity as a leader of progress and innovation, Singapore still astonishes many people for what it has in store. A sovereign city-state in Southeast Asia, boasting of a consistently high-performing business hub, Singapore is home to thousands of international students who seek the most outstanding training in a variety of courses, particularly in commerce and finance. Choosing an area in Singapore for your university life can be perplexing because of the city’s smallness. You can even tour the whole of Singapore in a day or be in another region within 45 minutes. Some may find the task to be quite a struggle because of the misconception that Singaporean neighborhoods are all the same – a collection of apartment blocks or HDB buildings (Housing Development Board) with a commercial center and an efficient transport system. While each town has these elements, you must know that every locality has its own selling points to lure you for your upcoming student life. In this article, allow us to guide you in selecting from the best student cities in Singapore.

Table of Contents

1. Study in Orchard
2. Study in Bukit Timah
3. Study in Tiong Bahru
4. Study in Dover
5. Study in Sentosa
6. Study in Clementi
7. Study in Kent Ridge
8. Study in Tanjong Pagar
9. Study in Novena

Study in Orchard

Orchard is a top recommendation for international students looking to study in Singapore. This area holds its charm as the most convenient location when you want to be in the Central Business District (CBD). As with Sentosa, the cost of living in Orchard is relatively higher than in other areas in Singapore. However, with the huge expense comes an access to the necessary infrastructures and establishments. For one, you are only a bus ride away from some of the most respected universities in Singapore, such as the London School of Commerce, American Center for Education (ACE), Aventis School of Management, Mages Institute of Excellence, and the International Executive Education Center (IEEC). Likewise, international students will take pleasure in visiting and exploring the relevant instructional and reading materials in the Orchard Library, an elegantly designed library which makes reading a gratifying activity. You will also have easy access to famous shopping centers, restaurants, and commercial centers. Because of its location in the central Singapore region, Orchard is an ideal place for international students to look for part-time jobs or internships in the CBD. Even though Orchard is a vibrant area, international students can still expect a quiet residential community. In Orchard, you can anticipate a tranquil home after a busy day in school or your part-time job.

Study in Bukit Timah

Bukit Timah is most famous for its natural landscape. A tourist in Singapore always has the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Jurong Bird Park in their list of attractions to visit. More than a tourist spot, Bukit Timah is an ideal location for an international student’s university life in Singapore. Bukit Timah has several internationally recognized institutions for higher learning. For example, the National University of Singapore, one of Singapore’s most highly regarded universities, has a campus in Bukit Timah. It is also home to other reputable education institutions, such as the Hwa Chong Institution, Canadian International School, and Dulwich College. Commercial establishments and important trade centers are in the area as well, granting a comfortable lifestyle for all of Bukit Timah’s residents. Moreover, the transportation system in the area is as efficient as the rest of Singapore. Hence, international students who want a location which offers convenience, superior education, and a picturesque calm should explore what Bukit Timah has to offer.

Study in Tiong Bahru

Fondly called “Singapore’s Brooklyn”, Tiong Bahru is another ideal student location in Singapore. As one of the oldest residential estates in the city, Tiong Bahru has earned the label as one of the hippest places in Singapore. Thus, all artsy students should consider studying in this area as Tiong Bahru will definitely squeeze your creative juices. You can revel in the community’s vintage design which are testaments to Tiong Bahru’s ancient history.

Tiong Bahru may be a bit distant from the city’s center, nonetheless, it has its own booming commercial hub which includes local shops, cafés, bakeshops, and other student-friendly spaces. Should you wish to go to the city, you can always do so and reach the center within 15 minutes by bus. Singapore has an efficient transport system to guarantee the convenience of travel wherever you want to go. In Tiong Bahru, you can also find important institutions. Of course, education institutions are present in the area. The most prestigious of these universities are the National University of Singapore Bukit Merah and the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School. Medical students can find Tiong Bahru an ideal location for university life since the Singapore General Hospital is but a stone’s throw away from the area.

International students looking for the perfect location to grant them easy access to the city but without having to stay in a busy metropolis should choose Tiong Bahru. Imagine yourself spending the weekend with coffee in your hands and just absorbing the retro feel of a modern city-state. Such a relaxing student life, right?

Study in Dover

Although small in size, Dover has a lot to offer to international students in Singapore. Dover is a neighborhood in Queenstown which is adjacent to Clementi, Commonwealth, Holland Village, West Coast, Ghim Moh, and Kent Ridge. Despite the tiny area of Dover, it is home to a large concentration of learning institutions which cater to all student levels. The most prominent university campuses in Dover are the National University of Singapore, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Singapore Polytechnic, Anglo-Chinese Junior College, Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD), Yale-NUS College, and the United World College of South East Asia. In fact, Dover houses Singapore’s so-called University Town due to the presence of many education facilities as mentioned above. Moreover, Singapore’s Ministry of Education has its office in Dover. Hence, international students in the area can expect student-friendly community design. There are commercial and residential areas which provide inexpensive products and services to cater to the student population.

Study in Sentosa

Sentosa or Sentosa Island is dubbed as Singapore’s resort island which attracts international tourists and students alike. In here you can take delight in the abundance of spectacular sea sceneries. Sentosa is for international students who like to be in the middle of luxury and glamour. This area is one of the most expensive locations to reside in Singapore, as Sentosa promotes resort-like living. It has residential areas facing the Southern Sea, upscale condominiums, commercial hubs like restaurants and shopping centers (i.e. the Vivo City, one of Singapore’s largest shopping malls), and leisure establishments such as golf course and parks.

International students who want to be in an exclusive community should choose Sentosa Island. The only main consideration is the cost attached to the Sentosa high-end lifestyle. Nonetheless, if you think you can afford the costs to study and live in this city then, by all means, spend your university years in the most comfortable and charming way possible in Sentosa. Moreover, you can always attend a study program in the recently established Deloitte University Asia Pacific, which is globally recognized for business and management courses.

Study in Clementi

Located near the other student-friendly locations of Singapore (Bukit Timah, Bukit Batok, Jurong East, and Queenstown), Clementi is primarily a residential planning area. It has been designed to provide a well-organized lifestyle to the community. Hence, international students who are on the run for an expedient living should consider the Clementi neighborhood. Clementi has its own swimming complex and sports hall for playing table tennis and badminton. The Clementi Mall and the market are very near the MRT station. Also, Clementi is home to various learning institutions from primary to tertiary. International students in Clementi can stay in nearby HDBs when enrolled in any of the following universities: Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore University of Social Sciences, University at Buffalo New York SIM, National University of Singapore, and the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM). Should you prefer an institution which is located in Dover or Jurong, transportation is very convenient and simple. Such locations are only one MRT station away from Clementi. Finally, the cost of living in Clementi is not as high as Orchard or Sentosa. International students, therefore, who wish for a practical and secure lifestyle at an average cost should stay in Clementi.

Study in Kent Ridge

Beside Dover is the neighborhood of Kent Ridge, a ridge in Pasir Panjang in Queenstown. Previously, the area was called Pasir Panjang, which is mainly a lowland evergreen forest. In 1952, it was renamed to Kent Ridge to commemorate the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Kent. The neighborhood of Kent Ridge is most famous for its 2 parks, the Kent Ridge Park and the Hort Park. During the weekend, families camp out on these areas of sprawling greenness. Also, the main campus of the National University of Singapore is in Kent Ridge. The campus is located adjacent to the parks, which is refreshing news for international students who learn most in a community within a natural backdrop. Likewise, the area provides a pragmatic setting for university life, as Kent Ridge has student-friendly shopping centers and residences. Thus, if you are enrolled in the National University of Singapore (Main Campus), there is no need to look far because the Kent Ridge community is your perfect student locality.

Study in Tanjong Pagar

Tanjong Pagar is Singapore’s remnant of its Malay heritage. Before it was declared an independent city-state in 1965, Singapore used to be subject to British and Malay rule. Tanjong Pagar is a glaring display of the influence of the Malaysia colonial rule over the Singaporean state. Tanjong Pagar is a perfect community for students who want to reside in a neighborhood with a quaint atmosphere. International students may enroll in the Nanyang Institute of Management and the Rutgers Business School Asia Pacific. Moreover, since Tanjong Pagar is located outside of the central business district, students have the opportunity to apply for part-time jobs or internships in the nearest advertising agencies and banking offices in the area.

Study in Novena

Novena is another popular student neighborhood in Singapore. Novena enjoys proximity to the central Singapore area, and is adjacent to the neighborhoods of Bukit Timah, Tanglin, Toa Payoh, and Kallang. International students in Novena can explore study programs in its universities, such as the Catholic Junior College and Curtin University. The area is also known as the location of one of Singapore’s busiest and oldest hospitals, the Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Also, in 2030, a new Integrated Care Hub is expected to be inaugurated. The new Integrated Care Hub will be a medical facility to cater to various treatments, such as a treatment center for infectious diseases. International students, especially those who chase a medical career, should consider studying and living in Novena. The neighborhood has access to all the necessary places for student life. Moreover, it is a practical location for those who want to be near the Central Area in Singapore.

The city of Singapore is a small but dense state. Its neighborhoods have been masterfully planned to provide the best living conditions for Singapore’s residents, visitors, and students. Whichever area in Singapore you choose as your prospective student community, you will find a generally convenient lifestyle. It will just differ in the concentration of universities and commercial establishments in the area, which determine the cost of living you should expect. Nonetheless, these neighborhoods are situated very close to one another, which means you can study in a certain city and reside in another. We hope we have helped you make a choice on which neighborhood in Singapore to pick for your study abroad journey.

See also:
How to Get a Student Visa for Singapore
Scholarships in Singapore for International Students