Foreign Students Face Housing Hassles on Their NUS Exchange Stints
Dreams Meet Reality: Short‑Term Scholars and Long‑Term Woes
After COVID‑19 travel restrictions eased, the National University of Singapore (NUS) welcomed more than 2,300 international exchange students for programs that can last up to nearly a year. While the numbers look great on paper, many students say the reality of finding a place to crash was anything but smooth.
On‑Campus Housing: A Mythic Gift
- Limited Rooms: The university’s on‑campus residences—mainly UTown in Kent Ridge—capable of housing around 1,700 students, don’t guarantee a spot for every newcomer.
- Official Warnings: NUS advises incoming scholars to budget for off‑campus rentals and to secure accommodation before leaving home.
- Communication Breakdowns: Several students reported no direct notification from NUS or their home institutions about housing availability, despite being told during the application that on‑campus rooms were not assured.
First‑Person Tales of Chaos
- Antonio Lobeck (Warwick University) – He was told, a month before his course kicked off, he’d be denied an on‑campus room. After three days of support‑team back‑and‑forth, he finally got the rejection notice. He found a place in Chinatown, paid $1,100 a month—well above his budget—and even flew to Malaysia for 12 days to cut costs before moving back into a hostel for the final two weeks of term.
- Estelle Orient (UIC Barcelona) – After renting a room in Clementi, she had to flee midnight after her landlord got drunk. A faculty friend offered her a temporary spot, but campus staff insisted she stay elsewhere, threatening “demerit points.” Finally, she secured a room in UTown the next day, yet flagged the whole process as “stress‑inducing.” She’s refusing to return in the following semester.
- Harry Vellios (Cambridge University) – He had to submit a separate module application before being permitted to apply for housing, causing him to miss the first housing round. He only got a room three weeks before his flight from Britain, leaving him scrambling for a place decades away from campus.
The Rental Market’s Crunch in Singapore
According to Ms. Christine Sun, senior VP of research at OrangeTee & Tie, landlords in Singapore prefer leases of at least one to two years—exactly the opposite of most exchange programs, which run for less than a year. Rental prices are up by 20–40%, and short‑term seekers may face sky‑high rates or last‑minute cancellations. “The market’s fierce demand means less flexibility for someone looking for a 12‑week lease,” she noted.
Conclusion: A Call for Clearer Communication and More Room Flexibility
As NUS reopens its doors to international scholars, students meanwhile urge the university to provide transparent, actionable housing guidance and to expand on‑campus options. With the influx of global talent, clear steps are essential to ensure that these scholars feel welcomed without the scramble that their stories reveal.
