Singapore conjures many different images among visitors. A convenient stop-over destination, a sterile city-state or a thriving metropolis in the heart of Asia? I had plenty of time to decide for myself during my semester on exchange at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

My semester abroad added a depth to my legal studies. Singapore's legislation is generally based on US, UK or Australian equivalents which means that classes have a distinct international flavour. I also had the opportunity to learn from visiting professors to the university. I undertook a course in Chinese Constitutional Law, a niche field unsurprisingly absent from my Australian studies.

NUS is a very international campus with a strong exchange culture. I was joined by nearly fifty overseas students in the law faculty alone. Meeting other students from all over the world was one of the most rewarding aspects of my semester. The other students I met proved to be a great source of travel companions, and partners in library procrastination!

Underneath the shiny veneer, Singapore is an interesting and diverse city. In the space of ten days, the city celebrates the conclusion of Ramadan, Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and Deepavali (Indian festival of lights). The nightlife is great, taxis plentiful and the diverse array of food reflects the various cultural influences in the city. I was also constantly amused by public service posters campaigning for several causes, including better aim in public toilets, increasing the national birth rate and killing mosquitoes for five minutes every day.

It's true that Singapore is perhaps the most 'western' part of Asia. With this in mind many exchange students set out to explore the surrounding area. Singapore is a hub for budget airlines and the lights of Hong Kong and beaches of Thailand are less than three hours away. One of the professors even provided a catalogue of his favourite 25 destinations in SE Asia. While I'm not sure if anyone completed his challenge of getting to all of them, we certainly had fun trying.

Believe the hype. Going on exchange is a decision that you will not regret, and an experience you definitely will not forget.