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Things to Know about Schools and Housing in Singapore
International Schools in Singapore
Besides housing, the next major concern for many families moving to Singapore is schooling. We are fortunate as Singapore offers an excellent choice of expatriate schools offering a variety of international curriculums. Education in Singapore is universally well regarded, and parents relocating here should feel comfortable with the school opportunities available.
There are sometimes “waiting lists” for certain classes/years in International Schools. The Admission Office for the relevant school will advise you in this area.
Most of the schools require the students to wear a uniform. Private buses service the majority of schools.
All foreigners must have a Student Pass before studying in Singapore. These applications are typically completed by the relevant school. Direct applications can be made using the prescribed form available at:
Pupil Placement Office
Ministry of Education
1 North Buona Vista Drive, Singapore, 138675
Tel No: (65) 6822 2220
Fax No: (65) 6776 8402
http://www.moe.gov.sg/esp/foreign/
email: contact.moe@moe.edu.sg
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Serviced Apartments
Until you find the house or apartment you will live in whilst in Singapore, you may require short-term accommodation. There is a wide choice of serviced apartments available. Our consultants can supply you with further details on the apartments available including the services they offer and indeed, if necessary, arrange the booking for you.
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Where to Live
One of the main concerns on arrival is “where shall we live?” Everyone in Singapore will tell you that accommodation is expensive. Our real estate consultants have more than twenty years experience in finding suitable properties for expatriates across a wide range of budgets. It is important before making a final decision that you are comfortable with the location in terms of its proximity to schools, work, and other amenities. Below you will find a general summary of the various areas in Singapore where most expatriates live.
Note: The various areas and suburbs of Singapore are known as “districts”
District 1-8
City & South West
Districts 1-8 incorporate the Business District and the West Coast. The housing in these areas vary considerably. Districts 2 and 3 make up Chinatown (adjoining the Central Business District)—which has become a trendy location with many bars, clubs, and restaurants. Chinatown has a number of charming streets with rows of Peranakan Shophouses (the very popular Singapore heritage homes, similar to the New York brownstone or the Victorian Terrace House). Districts 5 to 8 are more affordable areas conveniently located on the West Coast of the Island-- home to many multinational corporate headquarters and international schools. The West Coast also features a sailing club, a number of multi-use parks, and is adjacent to Sentosa Island- the premier resort/beach community of Singapore.
District 9
Orchard Road & River Valley
This district lies to the south west of Orchard Road and is adjacent to the central business district (CBD). District 9 features many high rise condominium projects which rank among the most exclusive in Singapore. It is particularly popular with all demographic groups: families, singles, & couples, largely because of its easy access to Orchard Road and transport links (MRT, buses, and taxis). Shopping malls, major supermarkets, restaurants, bars, and cinemas are scattered throughout the district.
District 10
Orchard Area, Tanglin, & Holland Village
District 10 is the largest of the residential districts in Singapore and is extremely popular with families. It lies to the West of Orchard Road and encompasses a very expatriate friendly area known as Holland Village. The area features a broad range of housing. Unlike District 9, the condominiums in this district are a combination of high and low rises. There are also many semi detached houses and bungalows in this district. Numerous international clubs (The American Club, The Tanglin Club, the Pines Club) are in this district, as are a number of international schools and embassies.
District 11
Newton, Bukit Timah, & Clementi
District 11 lies to the north west of Orchard Road and has a good mixture of condominiums and landed properties (bungalows, semi detached houses, and terrace houses). This area attracts families who are looking for houses as well as singles and couples who are attracted to the high rise apartments in the Newton area. Most of the European schools are located in this district, as are the British Club, the Raffles Town Club, the Swiss Club, the Polo Club, and the Island Country Golf Club. Orchard Road and the Central Business District are easily accessible.
Districts 15 & 16
East Coast
These districts make up the East Coast of the island, stretching from Marina South all the way to Changi International Airport. The proximity to both the airport and the Central Business District is appealing to many executives with heavy travel schedules. The East Coast offers more affordable real estate, while maintaining the same high standards that are found in the central districts. Condominiums with full facilities (pools, gyms, 24 hour security, and tennis courts), homes with pools, semi detached houses, and bungalows can all be found in these districts. East Coast Park is a great destination for sport, exercise, sailing, and outdoor enthusiasts.
District 20
Thomson
Lying to the east of District 11, District 20 features many new condominium projects as well as a pocket of established and large bungalows. More affordable than lower numbered districts, District 20 is still easily accessible to all areas due to its proximity to two major highways, the Central Expressway (CTE) and the Pan Island Expressway (PIE).
District 21
Upper Bukit Timah/Sunset/Clementi
This district lies to the west of Districts 10 and 11. District 21 is a mix of homes and newer condominiums. This area features parks with playgrounds, which are not common in Singapore due to scarcity of land. District 21 is conveniently located to all international schools (including the American School) and is slightly less costly than Districts 10 and 11.
District 23
Upper Bukit Timah/Chestnut
An area primarily composed of bungalows and larger homes, District 23 is becoming increasingly popular due to its proximity to the American and other international schools.
District 25
Woodlands
The Woodlands area lies to the north west of the island and is very close to the causeway which links Singapore to Malaysia. This is a newly developed area comprised of large bungalows (many with pools), semi-detached and terrace houses. The Woodlands was built when the American School moved to its present location and is therefore very popular with the American community. A large shopping complex caters to the needs of expatriate families. This district is serviced by the MRT, but is quite a distance away from the business and more central areas.
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Types of Housing
Bungalows
This is a free standing dwelling or house which can be single or multi-storied. There are many different influences on the styles of the housing in Singapore, so a bungalow can range from colonial to Balinese to ultra-modern. Given the scarcity of land in Singapore, a bungalow with a large garden and a pool is relatively expensive.
Semi-Detached Houses
Often called “Semi-Ds”, Semi-Detached housing consists of pairs of houses built side by side sharing a common wall and usually in such a way that each house’s layout is a mirror image of its twin. Semi-Ds are usually built on a small piece of land, but can be quite spacious.
Terrace Houses
This is a style of housing where a row of identical or mirror-image houses share side walls (also referred to as a rowhouse, or townhouse). The first and last of these houses is called an end terrace.
Black & White Houses
A black and white bungalow is a white-painted bungalow with black trim of a style once commonly used to house English and colonial officers in Singapore. Today these magnificent houses are leased out for residential and commercial purposes from the Singapore Government (although a few are privately owned) and can range in price from Singapore Dollars S$2,000 to Singapore Dollars S$20,000. There are many pockets of these homes dotted around the island.
Shophouse or Peranakan Townhouse
A shophouse is a type of building found in Singapore, predominently built to house Chinese merchants, craftsmen, and their families. Constructed during the colonial era, they are primarily two to three stories high. These served as both shop and house for their inhabitants: the shops being on the ground floor, with living quarters above. Most shophouses were built in the early 20th Century. Shophouses are located throughout the island, with major pockets in the city centre, Chinatown, and Little India. Immediately following independence, the shophouses became dilapidated, but in the past twenty years they have undergone a revival. Many have been restored and renovated to private dwellings, upscale boutiques, hotels, and restaurants.
Condominiums/Apartments
This is the most popular type of expatriate housing in Singapore, as well as the most common. Most complexes include a swimming pool and 24 hour security, and often a large range of facilities: tennis and squash courts, gyms, children’s playgrounds, BBQ areas, and saunas. The sizes of the units can vary from the smaller (and usually more modern) 900 square feet to very large 4000 square feet, to massive penthouses.
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