Living in Singapore

Health

Please be aware of mosquito borne illnesses. There are known cases of dengue and Zika in Singapore. While it’s highly unlikely you’ll get dengue or Zika, it is always smart to protect yourself from mosquitoes by spraying yourself with insect repellent in the morning and then re-apply during the day.

The tap water is safe in Singapore to drink. Though you may prefer to filter your water through a water purifier like Brita, which can be purchased via RedMart.

When you get sick

For less serious ailments (cold, sore throat, minor infections, etc.) you can go to a pharmacy to get treatment. Describe your symptoms to a pharmacist and they will give you the appropriate treatment.

For more persistent symptoms please visit The Clinic @ SMU campus, 70 Stamford Road, #B1-21, Li Ka Shing Library #6333-9300.

In case of emergency, please go to Raffles Hospital, 585 North Bridge Rd, #6311 1111. Any charges will be reimbursed. Please remember to bring your student ID and passport.

If possible, you should take a taxi to the hospital (do not call an Uber as they can refuse you). Ambulances in Singapore tend to take longer than 10 minutes to arrive and your fastest course of action will be to take a cab. In the event that you need an ambulance, please call 995. This will activate an ambulance. The ambulance will bring you to the closest state hospital. If an ambulance is called, please notify your building security as well as TEAN team members.

Health Insurance

Make sure you take your CISI insurance information and passport with you. You should show the hospital your CISI insurance information and passport. They should be able to connect with CISI directly. If not, you can ask to make a collect call from a hospital phone. The number is on your insurance card.

The payment guarantee from CISI may take a couple of hours to come through. If you are in and out within that time it may be easiest to pay upfront and claim the expense back later from CISI.

CISI Insurance Claim

If you visited a doctor and paid for your medical expenses upfront download the form from the link below. Follow the instructions on the form to submit your claim directly to CISI.

Since most medical expenses are very inexpensive, some students choose to pay upfront and then claim the money back from CISI later. In this case, make sure you keep your receipts.

Safety in Singapore

Singapore is one of the safest cities in the world. This does not mean you should toss caution and common sense to the side, however. Always be aware of your surroundings and personal items. We do not recommend leaving personal items (computers, cell phones) unattended. Physical altercations in Singapore will result in arrest so be on your best behavior at all times. At night it is always best to ensure that you are with a buddy walking the streets. The MRT is very safe, but at night if you are alone the safest mode of transportation is a taxi.

Always carry your mobile phone with you so that you can contact TEAN staff in an emergency and TEAN staff can also contact you in an emergency.

Travel Plans

Singapore is an excellent place to jump off from and travel.  If you decide to travel, please complete the following information and return to TEAN staff (andrea.mckennabrankin@teanabroad.org and eerik.tan@teanabroad.org)

Country & City:
Departure & Return dates:
Hotel/Residence name:
Address:
Phone Contact;
Traveling Partner:

Adding Phone Credit

Students must ensure they have an unlocked phone before leaving the U.S. Most students who would like a local SIM card will choose to go with Starhub.

Getting to Class

Walking to class will take you approximately 8 minutes. While it’s not a long walk, it’s always a good idea to prepare for the intense sun whenever outside and bring water and a hat. To get to the SMU campus follow the directions below (please note there are several SMU buildings, these are directions to the Administrative Building).

From Sunshine Plaza

Head towards Bencoolen (57m)
Left on Bencoolen (90m)
Right onto Middle Road (230m)
Right on Queen Street (110m)
Destination will be on your left (81 Victoria Street)

Cleaning

Cleaning of the apartment will be arranged by TEAN and will occur once a month. If you do not want your room cleaned, please close your door If there is anything that needs special attention by the cleaning crew, please make your TEAN local staff aware.

Guest Policy

Students are not permitted to have overnight guests.

Helpful Singlish Terms

English is the main language in Singapore. Since there is such melting pot of culture, the same can be said about the other unofficial creole language, Singlish. Singlish is a mix 12 different languages! You will encounter it daily, so here are some of the most common.

Can Lah – Yes
Can Leh – Yes, of course
Can lor – Yes, I think so
Can Hah? – Are you sure?
Can hor? – Are you sure then?
Can meh? – Are you certain?
Can bo? – Can or can not?
Can can – confirm
can gua – Maybe
Can Liao – Already can/ done
Can liao la – ok, enough
Can ah – Can you or can’t you?

Lost or Stolen Passport

If your passport is lost or stolen and needs to be replaced, please let your Resident Director know and the visit the U.S. Embassy website for more details. You will need to follow the steps listed below.

Step 1: Contact American Citizens Services
Phone: (65) 6476-9251
Email: SingaporeACS@state.gov
Step 2: Report the theft or loss to the Singapore Police
Step 3: Schedule an appointment here.
Step 4: Complete Passport Application Form DS-11 (PDF 97KB)
Do not sign Form DS-11 until requested to do so by the Consular Officer.
Step 5: Complete Form DS-64
Step 6: Submit forms and the following additional documents in person including a copy of the police report.  Please visit the U.S. Embassy website to review the documents and photos you will need to bring with you to be able to obtain a new passport.