Singapore
A city-state the size of a large European city where four official languages, dozens of cuisines, and communities from across Southeast Asia and beyond coexist in one of the most organized and safe urban environments on earth. English is the working language, the infrastructure is world-class, and the location makes it a natural launchpad to the rest of Southeast Asia with budget airlines connecting you to Bali, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur in under two hours.
Average Monthly Costs (CHF)
Rent
CHF 699
Food
CHF 279
Transport
CHF 60
Fun
CHF 168
Averaged across profiled universities, converted at exchange rates as of 2026-08-14. Set your home currency under My Profile.
Climate
Fall semester (Sep-Nov)
26.9°C
Spring semester (Mar-May)
27.8°C
Average temperature in Singapore (2024), source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API.
Visa
Exchange students need a Student's Pass (STP). Your university submits the SOLAR application (e-Form 16) on your behalf. Total fees for processing and issuance run around 90 to 120 SGD depending on nationality, and ICA takes roughly 4-6 weeks to issue an In-Principle Approval (IPA). After arriving in Singapore, you complete formalities in person (biometrics, photo, physical card collection) at an ICA centre, usually in a group appointment arranged by your university. Student's Pass holders may not undertake any work or internship during the semester, paid or unpaid, in person or remote for a Singapore employer.
Singapore packs one of the world's highest GDPs per capita and 6.1 million people into a city-state you can cross in about an hour, and its airport, Changi, was named the world's best in 2026 for the 14th time. Everything simply works: the MRT is spotless and punctual, payments are cashless, the streets rank among the safest anywhere, and English is an official language, so there is no barrier in daily life or the classroom. Culturally you get four worlds in one, Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Western influences side by side, and the city's open-air food courts, known as hawker centres, serve some of Asia's best food, with meals averaging two to seven US dollars and a food culture recognized by UNESCO. Budget airlines turn the whole region into weekend territory, with Bali, Bangkok, and Vietnam two to three hours away. The trade-offs are real: Singapore ranks among the world's most expensive cities, driven by housing, rules are strict and strictly enforced, and it is around 30 degrees and humid year-round. Some find the island small after a few months, which is exactly why the regional travel matters. Singapore is the smoothest possible landing in Asia and the best base to explore it from.