Singapore study pressure

Everybody told me this and prepared me for the study pressure in Singapore, but until last week I didn't really noticed it.... but yes in the fourth week of my exchange in Singapore I got exposed to the stress which comes with studying here. I have four courses here and 2 courses in the Netherlands, for all the six courses I currently have group projects. Well, in the Netherlands we are used to dividing most of the theoretical part of the project. Here they first have a meeting to brainstorm about which sources we are going to use, then another meeting to set up a framework and then finally we start with creating the report. Those meetings last for around 2 or 3 hours each, they don't mind meeting up after 8 pm (while they do mind meeting up before 12).

Next to this, all the classes are highly interactive. Your final grade consists of at least 10% class participation. This leads to discussion in class, but in my opinion not always the most intellectual discussions. Local students (especially in my sociology course) want to join the discussion, just to say something. Though I think it is an advantage to be an exchange student, because especially for my marketing courses the profs are highly interested in the differences between Europe and Asia. For example in the food-industry there are so many differences. (about food I'll tell you more in one of my next blogs, because there's so much to say about Singapore food). Of course I want to participate in the discussions and get a good grade for the class participation, so I try to do all the readings before going to class.

Then the final thing which leads to the study pressure here is the competitive nature of grading. Your grade depends on the work of others. Students here are always looking to other students or groups, how are they doing it, what sources did they use, did they prepare for their class etc. etc. Even profs tell you after the explanation of an assignment: make sure you'll perform better than your fellow students. On the one hand I like this system, because it keeps you motivated to prepare classes or to put a lot of effort in your work, on the other hand it has its downside. I prefer to rely on my own knowledge or our group knowledge. Well that's not accepted in the groups here, we have to look how others perform and we cannot just only look at our strengths.

Now it all sounds really negative, but that's definitely not the point I want to make! It's really interesting to work with students who are highly motivated, who put effort in their work all the time and ( most of the time) pay attention during the lectures. It makes me work hard and be serious before, in and after my classes. Another advantage; there are always people in the library to have coffee or lunch with or just have a chat with. On top of this, our study still didn't keep us away from going out on ladies night ;)

The university itself is amazingly modern and beautiful. The campus consists of 6 buildings, which are connected by a street under the ground (don't really know how to explain it), which they call the concourse. In the concourse there are a bank, a medical centre, a dentist, several shops, a bookstore, a food court, the mrt station and the gym located. In the evenings there are always student clubs active; art, music, dance, sports, everything happens in the concourse. The swimming pool is on the roof of one of the buildings.

Luckily I have some trips to look forward to, this weekend I'm going to the Philippines and the 30th of september I'm going to make a 10-day trip (because of recess week) to East-Java and Bali.