SMU: A Review

By Courtney Blincow, Singapore Management University, Singapore

It’s that time of the year again. All exams are complete and summer is approaching. Usually, this is my favourite time of year; the responsibilities of uni are gone and I can just focus on enjoying my time off. This year is different because, although I have no more academic stresses, I am being hit with the reality that my year abroad is over.

SMU has been an amazing and exciting adventure that has consumed my life for the past year and the fact that I now have to say goodbye is crazy. Having spent so much time on campus and with the SMU cohort, I thought I would provide a little review for those of you considering SMU for your international placement.

Firstly, the lifestyle at SMU is so so good. The campus really has a community feel to it and it is one of the things I loved most about attending this uni. Having come from UoM, where the campus is quite big and your cohort is spread out across it, I was really surprised when I attended SMU and realised that all law students’ classes were in the Law School. This may not sound very significant, but actually it had a massive impact on my time at uni. Being all in the same building meant that I would often bump into friends and end up going for an impromptu lunch or study session. It meant I was always surrounded by people I felt comfortable talking to which made me feel so supported in my studies. This sense of community is something I hadn’t really experienced before and I absolutely loved it.

Not only did the campus play a massive role in that, but also the amount of events and clubs ran at SMU. Almost every week there would be some form of event taking place, for example I attended a global fair in which there were stalls from all around the world with different carnival games and food treats. Events like this are such a fun way to have a break from studying and meet more people because it provides a space away from academics where we can all relax and make new connections. The extensive list of clubs offered at SMU also add to the community. In my first semester I was a part of the Ballare club where I attended once a week to learn different ballroom dances. At first I was so nervous to join, but the students made me feel so welcome and became a massive part of my social network at uni. I also joined the Gourmet Club which played a big part in supporting me in my studies, for example during semester 1 exams, they gave us free snacks to give us a little boost whilst revising.

Things like a well-connected campus and regular events have really made my time at SMU. It has helped me in times where I have felt overwhelmed by the work and when I have been struggling to adapt to the teaching style here. These are common struggles at SMU because I found that the learning style is very different to Manchester because I felt it wasn’t as structured, but more discussion based. This did take a lot of adapting to because it wasn’t something I was familiar with in a lecture, as discussion is more present in workshops at Manchester. However, as time went on, I did become more comfortable and actually found that I enjoyed participating in class. It is also important to say that the local students were always very helpful when I asked for help with content or resources. Before I came to SMU, I had the perception that it was very competitive and therefore, the local students wouldn’t be approachable. This perception was wrong. I have some great local student friends who have helped me whenever I have needed it. I never felt like we were competing against each other, but instead that they wanted to help me as much as they could because they knew this experience was all new to me. This support was invaluable during my time here.

Although, the learning here can be difficult at times, the range of modules that you can study is amazing. I have had the opportunity to be taught by partners from Wong Partnership LLP where they provided lessons on all different areas of commercial law. This module was brilliant at increasing my commercial awareness and offered invaluable insight into the practical reality of a commercial lawyer, rather than just theory-based content. In second semester I took a module called Sustainable Ocean Law and Governance. I hadn’t ever considered that I would be able to study a module such as Ocean Law so when I saw it as an option I knew I had to do it. This topic became one of my favourites because it offered a whole new discourse surrounding law and its relationship with the environment. It really broadened my understanding of the tangible impact the law can have on issues such as loss of marine biodiversity and climate change. These are just 2 examples of an extensive list of module options and it shows that SMU really does provide a range of different classes.

If I could sum up my time at SMU in one word I would say unforgettable. There will be tough times when you’re having to adapt to, not only a new uni, but also to a whole new country. But, these times are outweighed by the amazing experience you will have when studying at SMU. SMU made me feel extremely welcome and that I was a part of a community which is something I will always appreciate.