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sociological
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« on: March 27, 2007, 11:34:06 AM » |
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I'm considering a postdoctoral fellowship in Singapore. The pay works out to low 30s (US$), though I might stay for less than a year. From what I can see on Craigslist, housing looks very expensive. Does anyone know about the housing situation in the areas near the university (NUS)? How much do studio or 1 bedroom apartments go for? Is it possible to get leases that are less than 12 months?
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minor_t
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« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2007, 01:22:32 PM » |
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I know some people in Singpore. Send me a PM and I'll get you in touch with them.
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sunny_side_up
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« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2007, 12:13:56 PM » |
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I don't know what your position as a postdoc means here, but expat faculty can usually stay in university subsidized housing that is actually quite cheap. Make sure you ask for that. If you are only staying for a short time (i.e. won't bring a lot of stuff) it might also make sense to stay in student housing. NUS has quite nice dorms. Not sure if they let postdocs in and if there is grad student and postdoc housing. Again, something to ask for. By all means, take the offer! NUS is an awsome school and you don't get the chance to live in a place like that so often.
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sociological
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« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2007, 03:54:36 PM » |
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Thanks for the tip on faculty and student housing. I just sent the housing office a message to see if I'm eligible for grad housing, and I'll ask the folks who offered me the fellowship about faculty housing. Glad to hear NUS is seen as a great place!
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unoriginal
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« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2007, 10:39:29 PM » |
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I grew up in Singapore, my mother is still trying to get me to move back there.
I took a quick look on Craigslist, and the housing does indeed look expensive, but the majority of those rentals are houses or condos, and in particularly expensive parts of the country. I'd guess that you'd be able to find cheaper housing, even if the faculty/student housing doesn't work out.
Housing aside, COL is quite low, if you want to think in terms of US$. Specifically, it can be very very inexpensive to eat, if you eat like the locals. That US$30K salary is well above average for the country, unless things have changed a LOT since I've been there.
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histdd
New member
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« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2008, 12:24:12 AM » |
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No no no - you can NOT live in Singapore for that much, and you will not be offered faculty housing as a postdoc. I have known three pds who simply left because they were unable to support themselves on their salary.
As far as NUS being awesome - I wont comment specifically, but the fact is that they ALWAYS have plenty of openings. I wonder if there is a reason for that...
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mingus
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« Reply #6 on: January 14, 2008, 08:21:24 AM » |
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A salary of low $30ks in Singapore? You'd be better off at your local McDonald's. *That* is about what you can expect to spend on decent housing, since the university supplies cheap housing to profs. (who are already earning $100k+). You might be able to get a cheap hole in the wall, but then you will not afford to travel, wil not save, etc. On top of that, as a post-doc, your status will not be much better than that of a grad student, whose status is at about the same level as the Filipino maid.
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mingus
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« Reply #7 on: January 14, 2008, 08:25:56 AM » |
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That US$30K salary is well above average for the country, unless things have changed a LOT since I've been there.
Yes, but Singporeans living on that also live in cheap HBD housing, which our friend here will not get. As for dorms and faculty housing, unless a miracle has taken place recently, he also won't get that. So, to say, "apart from housing ...". NUS is undoubtedly an excellent universities, and it would be a good experience---provided one keeps in mind the unofficial rules: expats are paid to work not to think. |
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sociological
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« Reply #8 on: January 16, 2008, 03:22:48 AM » |
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Well, for your info, Mingus, I did end up getting HDB housing in Singapore (foreigners now have access to it). It took a while, but I found a great apartment that is affordable on my salary, and in a terrific location. I don't have tons of spending money, but enough to live reasonably well. I would definitely advise anyone thinking of a postdoc in Singapore to look into public housing.
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mingus
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« Reply #9 on: January 16, 2008, 03:54:49 AM » |
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Well, for your info, Mingus, I did end up getting HDB housing in Singapore (foreigners now have access to it). It took a while, but I found a great apartment that is affordable on my salary, and in a terrific location. I don't have tons of spending money, but enough to live reasonably well. I would definitely advise anyone thinking of a postdoc in Singapore to look into public housing.
Well, that's great! Yes, things certainly have changed. I wish you the best in Singapore. |
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