Why study in Singapore?

An International Centre of Art and Culture

Singapore is a unique blend of the best of the modern world and rich cultures to deliver enriching experiences. It is a dynamic city where you will find a harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture. Singapore is an exciting cosmopolitan city embracing the cultures and finest of East and West.

As an international centre of art and culture, there are almost 200 visual arts companies in Singapore, which includes photographic societies, art galleries, art auctioneers and other visual arts related businesses. The visual arts scene has experienced tremendous growth and development since the colonial days. There were 537 visual arts exhibitions in 2003, compared with 150 a decade ago.

Today, besides the museums and art schools (NAFA and LASALLE-College of the Arts, founded in 1984), the scene is enriched with numerous commercial galleries as well as non-profit art spaces like Sculpture Square and the Substation. Visual artists have also branched out from traditional 2- and 3-D artforms to embrace multi-disciplinary and new media works.

Singapore is a dynamic, cosmopolitan city bringing together both worlds of East and West, modern and ancient.

Institute Location

We are only a few minutes away from the Singapore Art Museum, and other art museums. In July this year, our campus within LASALLE - College of the Arts will move to the heart of the city in the Rochor area, near Prinsep Street, Short Street and Albert Stree. The new campus will be part of the area designated as the arts, culture, learning and entertainment hub of Singapore.

Campus map: lasalle.edu.sg/

Public Transport

Singapore has a well-established integrated Public Transport System (Transit Link) integrating fare, information and networks of the trains MRT and LRT and the buses SBS and Tibs.

The new ez-link Card available at any TransitLink Ticket Office (TO) means commuters can travel on all trains and buses in Singapore. The fare will be deducted automatically once the user passes through MRT gates or taps the card on the electronic readers of the bus.

Taxis can be flagged down easily unless it is raining, late Friday afternoon or before midnight, when everybody wants to get home, or 5pm when offices close and taxi drivers change shifts.

Taxis are metered and connected to a radio dispatch. The base rate (when you flag down a taxi) is S$2.80 and S$5.00; other surcharges apply - after midnight, Electronic Road Price (entering city districts during peak hours), on the eve of and on Public Holidays.

For further information see: Visitsingapore.com

Driving a Car

Cars in Singapore are right hand drive. Driving and owing a car in Singapore is very expensive. This has been made purposely expensive by the Singaporean Government to control traffic on the small island. The Vehicle Quota Scheme for a Certificate of Entitlement (COE) of 10 years from the date of registration limits the number of cars considerably and increases the costs.

Hire purchase is a viable alternative to buying a car. You pay a fixed monthly sum over two or more years. Servicing, road tax, insurance and any accident claims are taken care of by the leasing company and a replacement vehicle is also provided. At the end of the lease period you can exercise your option to purchase the car.

Note: drivers not used to driving on the left hand side should be extremely careful when driving in Singapore.

Converting a Foreign Driving Licence to a Singapore licence, you have to pass the Basic Driving Theory Test to familiarise yourself with Singapore's highway code.

To do the conversion, you need to apply in person at the Traffic Police Department.

For further information, please contact: Traffic Police Department
Republic of Singapore Police
Ministry of Home Affairs
No. 10 Ubi Avenue 3
Singapore 408865
Tel: (65)-6547 0000
Fax: (5)-6547 4900
Website: www.spinet.gov.sg/aboutus/org.tp

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