THE UNITED KINGDOM – SINGAPORE STUDENTS’ COUNCIL 在籍英国新加坡学生理事会 Dear Pre-University & Prospective UK-Bound Students, You have reacHed yet another crossroad in your life and are considering hi gHer education, beyond Junior College or PolytecHnic. We understand the difficulty and complexity of making this decision, especially when there are so many factors to be considered, some of which include variety/types of courses, location, cost, and career prospects etc. To facilitate and help you in this decision-making process, the United Kingdom Singapore Students’ Council (UKSSC) and Partner Singapore Societies from the various UK Universities have come up with a University Write-up and City Guide. The Partner Societies have each come up with a succinct and informative write-up about their respective universities – the facilities, popular courses, student life etc. and we have compiled all of them together in to one single guide for your convenience and reading pleasure. The write-ups contain information about life as a Singaporean student in the UK as well as the general Singapore student communities in the various universities whicH you would be looking out for when cHoosing a suitable university. THere are also useful budget tips such as student meal deals that would help stretch your every £! Additionally, we have included a mini-UK Travel Guide featuring some of the major attractions within the UK so that you will be able to make full use of your time when visiting friends at other UK universities and cities. We sincerely Hope that this guide will be useful in enabling you to find out more about higher education in some of the universities in the UK. Do visit our website at http://www.ukssc.org to find out more about us, our initiatives and what we Singaporeans do while in the UK. If you are looking for other universities that are not listed in this guide, do visit http://www.ukssc.org/partner-societies/and feel free to contact us via http://www.ukssc.org/contact-us/ if you would like us to link you up to representatives from any university or Affiliated Student Organisations (ASOs). Thank you and hope to see you in the near future! Yours Sincerely, The UKSSC 14th Executive Committee (2011/2012) Contact Persons: Leong Shi Wei (General Treasurer) – [email protected] Haikal Yeo (Regional Director - Affiliated Student Organisations) - [email protected] THE UNITED KINGDOM – SINGAPORE STUDENTS’ COUNCIL 在籍英国新加坡学生理事会 Featured Universities Greater London University of Cambridge City University London Imperial College London King’s College London London School of Economics and Political Science University of Oxford University College London The South University of Bristol University of Exeter University of SoutHampton The Midlands University of BirmingHam University of Leicester Loughborough University* University of NottingHam University of SHeffield University of Warwick The North DurHam University* University of Leeds* University of MancHester* University of York* Scotland University of EdinburgH University of Glasgow University of StratHclyde University of St Andrews City Guides London City Attractions by London Universities’ Singapore Societies West Midlands & Stratford-Upon-Avon by University of Warwick Singapore Society by Oxford University Malaysian and Oxford Singaporean Students' Association (OUMSSA) Scotland – Glasgow, St. Andrews and ScottisH HigHlands by Scotland Universities’ Singapore Societies * Contains information from 2011/2012 version **Most University Writeups also contain brief information about tHe attractions and food recommendations in tHe respective cities. University of Cambridge Introduction The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 and is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is one of the most consistently top-ranked universities in the world, being ranked first in the world in both the 2010 and 2011 QS World University Rankings, and is famous for academic rigour and for producing distinguished alumni across many fields of study, both in the past and present. Want to see where the likes of Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin once studied in their youth? Or the lab where Watson and Crick discovered the structure of DNA? Or just sit on a punt and go down the famed River Cam? It can all be found in the beautiful city of Cambridge. Academic Matters Cambridge is a multi-faculty university offering a wide range of subjects, and the most popular among Singapore students include Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. That said, Cambridge is also popular amongst the non-science students for Law, Economics, and a range of many other arts subjects. The hallmark of the Cambridge learning experience is the supervision system – it is not unlike tutorials in Singapore JCs, but instead of having a class of some 20-odd people, you will experience learning in a small group of usually 2-3 people. Student Life Cambridge is a university town, with the University making up most of the town centre and population. As such, you will find that most things are a stone’s throw away. Cambridge is made up of 31 colleges, and all students and most academics are attached to a college. All faculties, departments, research centres, and laboratories belong to the university, which arranges lectures and awards degrees, but undergraduates receive their supervisions within the colleges. Colleges provide accommodation to students, both undergraduate and postgraduates, with most students living on the main college sites. However, alternative housing arrangements such as living in college-owned houses is also possible. Some colleges have a higher proportion of Singaporeans than others, but generally one should be able to find a few familiar sounding Singaporeans in each college. Colleges have their own sports teams and interest groups, and often organise many college events. As such, college life is definitely an integral part of the Cambridge student experience! Singapore Community There are around 200-250 Singaporeans studying in Cambridge, with a very active Cambridge University Singaporean and Malaysian Association (CUMSA). CUMSA aims to provide members with a home away from home, and organises various events throughout the year, ranging from a freshers’ camp, end-of-term gatherings, Oxbridge games, to the annual Asian Food Festival, where you can enjoy the taste of home despite being far away. The Singaporean community is close-knit and often get together for sports, formal halls, concerts and festive seasons. Things To Do It is definitely true that the academic aspect in Cambridge is as challenging as one can imagine it to be (or sometimes beyond imagination), but Cambridge students do not study all day – in fact they play as hard as they work. Whether you are an avid sports person, a budding young music talent, or a skilled orator, there is something for everyone. Most colleges have their own rowing clubs, so you don’t have to be rowing at the University level to be able to enjoy Cambridge’s favourite sport. The Cambridge Union, the oldest student-run debating union in the world, is also famous for the speakers it brings each term. Cambridge also has a strong music culture, with music societies both at the University level and the college level, catering to a wide range of players with different skill levels. All in all, activities at Cambridge can be as rigorous or as laid-back as you want it to be, there is really something for everyone as long as you want to be involved. There are also many places to visit in Cambridge, with the King’s College Chapel being one of the most iconic images of Cambridge. Other places of interest include the Bridge of Sighs at St John’s College (they filmed a scene of Harry Potter here!), the Fitzwilliam Museum, as well as the Mathematical Bridge at Queens’ college, which was built by Isaac Newton without the use of nails or bolts. In addition, being a university town, Cambridge also has fantastic student offers for all sorts of entertainment. Whether you desire a night out partying or simply relaxing in a nice restaurant overlooking River Cam, prices are definitely affordable for the average student. Food Most colleges have a dining hall that serves both lunch and dinner, and having lunch at colleges located in town is a popular option for many. Many students also prefer to cook their own food. There is a range of cuisine available with well known restaurant chains such as Jamie’s Italian, opened by Jamie Oliver, as well as La Tasca for Spanish tapas. Local pub food offers good and affordable meals. Some examples are The Regal Wetherspoons and The Eagle, where Crick and Watson announced their discovery of DNA. Asian food is also readily found, with Seven Days and Hong Kong Fusion being common choices. You can even have karaoke sessions at Hong Kong Fusion! Getting Around Cambridge is 50 minutes by train from London, which makes it readily accessible and convenient for a weekend down in London. The nearby village of Granchester is also known for its picturesque beauty and is especially popular in summer. Another landmark nearby is the tourist town of Ely. Within Cambridge, most colleges are centralised in town and the Cambridge town centre can be traversed on by foot. Cycling is a particularly popular mode of transport, as Cambridge lies on fairly flat ground and has minimal traffic congestion, especially for colleges that are further out. Cycling is sufficient to get you everywhere in Cambridge, including the town centre and most departments and faculties. Weather and Climate The weather in Cambridge is mild, ranging from 0 to 20 degree Celsius depending on the time of the year. There is a fair bit of snow in the winter, but it is generally mild compared to many other parts of England. However, regardless of the weather, there is always something to see and do in Cambridge.