Important Documents (PDF)
Please bring along:

1. A valid passport
   
   
2. Student pass approval letter (for students who require a visa to enter Singapore). The approval letter includes a single-entry visa for a one-month stay in Singapore.
   
   
3. SMU Letter of Offer
   
   
4. All original academic transcripts and high school results, SAT I report for verification at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions (applicable only to those who have yet to have their original documents verified by the university.)
   
   
5. Other personal identification (birth certificate, driving licence, family records)
   
   
6. Passport-sized photographs (35mm x 43mm)
   
   
7. In-Principal-Approval Letter & Form 16
   
   
8. A copy of the bio-data page of the passport.

NB: Official translations of these documents are required if they are not in English.

Student’s Pass Application

SMU's Office of Undergraduate Admissions will assist all international students, who have been admitted to SMU, in their application for a student's pass. The pass, which is valid for the entire duration of the course of study, will be processed and approved by the Immigration Checkpoints Authority (ICA). You shall be receiving instructions from Office of Undergraduate Admissions after you have accepted the offer. Correspondences will be sent by email, thus please ensure that you have stated a valid email address in your application.

Please take note that you must have In-Principal-Approval Letter before matriculation.

Visa Requirement

For students who require visa to enter Singapore, the student pass application includes a Single-Journey Entry Visa for ONE-MONTH stay in Singapore till all formalities has been completed upon your arrival in Singapore. We will send the approval letter via registered mail once your student pass is approved, so that you may use the letter as a visa to enter Singapore. You are not required to apply for a separate visa.

Student Accommodation / Hostel

SMU Hostel

Located between Short Street and Prinsep Street, SMU's newest hostel, with a capacity of up to 250 students, will be opening at the end of this year. More details will be made known soon.

For more information, please click here.

Student Hostels

Students who require accommodation will be pleased to note that SMU students enjoy preferential rates at various privately-managed student hostels.

For more information, please click here.

Private Apartments

If you prefer private apartments, you can engage the services of a property agent to help you find an apartment. There will be an agent's fee for this.

Points to Consider When Choosing Accommodation:

• Rent - This includes the rental amount of the unit, rental deposit, security deposit, administrative charges, agent fees for service rendered, etc.
  
  
• Location - Do check whether the apartment/hostel is conveniently located and if public transport, grocery stores, food outlets or banks are easily accessible.
  
  
• Length of Lease - The lease of a unit is normally for at least a year. Landlords of private apartments usually ask for up to 3 months' rent as deposit. However, short term lease is available but usually at a higher rental.
  
  
• Others - The cost of accommodation depends on several factors such as the locality, type of premises, size, furnishings provided, recreational facilities available, length of lease. Housing in Singapore is generally expensive, especially within the city.

Do note that the contract / tenancy agreement will be solely between the student and hostel management / owner. Please read the contract / tenancy agreement carefully before you make any commitment.

Medical Check-up

All students are required to undergo a compulsory medical examination with Raffles Medical Group (RMG) in Singapore. For more information, please click here.

Note: Medical report must be completed in English and submitted to ICA on Matriculation Day. It must not be issued more than 3 months before the time of submission of student pass application.

Financial Preparations

Make sure you bring enough money to cover the first weeks of your stay in Singapore. It is advisable to carry a small amount of cash (e.g. S$1,000), together with larger amounts in bankdrafts or travellers' cheques for the initial period. Take note that bankdrafts drawn on overseas banks take about 3 weeks to clear.

Dos and Don’ts

Safety
Singapore has a well-deserved reputation for being safe and relatively crime-free. Major crimes, e.g. murder and rape, are dealt with severely and swiftly. The government has also made it known that extremism originating from religion or race has no place in Singapore, and it will not hesitate to take action against any extremists or terrorist groups or individuals.

Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in public service vehicles, museums, libraries, lifts, theatres, cinemas, air-conditioned eating places, restaurants, hair salons, supermarkets, department stores, government offices, and now even night spots, except in designated smoking zones. Offenders can be fined up to S$1,000.

Drug Abuse
The death penalty is mandatory for those convicted of trafficking, importing or exporting more than 15g of heroin, 30g of morphine, 30g of cocaine, 500g of cannabis, 200g of cannabis resin or 1.2kg of opium. Possession of such quantities is deemed as prima facie evidence of trafficking. For unauthorised consumption, there is a maximum of 10 years' imprisonment or a fine of S$20,000 or both.