Studying in Singapore as an international scholar

Language barriers, culture shock, high expectations, homesickness and loneliness - these are some challenges international scholars in Singapore already face, and COVID-19 has added another layer of stress atop all that.

As the pandemic drags on, being away from loved ones for such an extended period of time has taken a toll. Presca Lim, a scholar from Malaysia, has been calling her parents every day since the borders closed. "The homesickness has gotten worse. You can only see what's going on on a screen, but you can't experience it."

"Helplessness" is how Zhang Shukai, a scholar from China, describes his state of mind. His mother is a medical doctor working on the frontline in Hangzhou.

For Vedant Sandhu, a scholar from India, "drowning myself in work and not focusing on what I'm missing out on" is his way of coping whenever he feels homesick.

0:00 Struggles of international scholars in Singapore
0:45 How to get a scholarship in Singapore
3:46 What life is like studying and living in a school dormitory
4:19 Overcoming challenges of language and race
6:17 Dealing with homesickness
7:54 Building friendships
9:07 Plans for the future

For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER!
https://cna.asia/insideryoutubesub

Follow CNA INSIDER on:
Instagram:   / cnainsider  
Facebook:   / cnainsider  
Website: https://cna.asia/cnainsider