WANT to study in a cosmopolitan environment after your O levels?

There's no need to head overseas. Singapore is on its way to becoming a Global Schoolhouse, with 150,000 international students by 2015.

In 2007, there were 86,000 foreign students from more than 120 countries.

Many private schools here are melting pots of culture. One good example is the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM).

Its head of regional recruitment, Ms Judy Wong, said that one in four of its 10,000 full-time students is an international student. They are from more than 40 countries and mostly from places like China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar and India.

Ms Wong said it was important for students to learn in a culturally-diversified environment as this was a reflection of today's work environment, adding: 'They provide different insights to one another with refreshing perspectives.'

SIM has three international student associations, for the Indonesian, Vietnamese and international communities. These associations are open to students of all nationalities.

India

Smrithi Shekar, 20, from Chennai, India, is in the third year of her Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance course

MISSES... firecrackers during Deepavali.

'In India, you can hear firecrackers going off throughout the night. The noise is to celebrate the victory of the gods. People start setting off firecrackers a week before Deepavali and it goes on for two weeks after that.'

HUNGRYFOR... Indian-Chinese food.

'Indian restaurants prepare Chinese food in a completely different way.

'For example, Chicken Lollipop is a dish where the bone is wrapped in foil while the meat portion is roasted and dipped in a sweet sauce. It is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.'

SINGAPORE HAS...more organised road traffic.

'In India, it's so much more haphazard. I can cross the road wherever I want. Here, people actually use road crossings.'

Philippines

Jhoana Pagsinohin, 19, from Manila, Philippines, is in the second year of her Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance course

MISSES... the nine evening masses (which start on 16 Dec) before Christmas.

'The mass is either at 10pm or 4am. If you attend all nine masses, it is said that you can make a wish and it'll come true.

'In Singapore, there is only one mass on Christmas Eve.'

HUNGRY FOR... grilled chicken intestines.

'These are sold everywhere in Manila. They are quite 'dirty' because it is street food, but I still love to eat them.'

SINGAPORE IS... where everyone removes their shoes when entering homes.

'My family members still wear slippers or shoes into our home here in Singapore, but we mop the floor every day.'