Agree that the Australian lifestyle is very different. If you have lived all your life in Malaysia, you would probably feel a need (however small) for change, to experience a more liberal, open, "different" living environment - that's what a lot of people want or expect when moving to England, America, Canada, Australia etc. But living in Australia won't necessarily satisfy that need, and as a "Malaysian", for many there will always be the "comfort" of being "home".

But going to university for your first degree(s) only takes a few years. That's not a long time, as you will find once you attend uni in Australia. It's not like school, where you have to do a linear system of Year 10 and 11 to 12 (or 13) after Years 7 to 9. It's broken down into quick little semesters. Ironically the Aussie lifestyle is typically "laidback" but this system is somewhat "rushed".

ANU and NUS actually offer joint degree programmes in some disciplines. This is not like a private school in Malaysia where you get a degree from a programme that has been "endorsed" or "jointly awarded" by a foreign institution... this is actually being able to attend both schools to study that same programme split between them. On that basis I suppose that ANU and NUS are not that different from an educational standpoint, only in their cultural and geographical individuality. In places like Singapore and Hong Kong it is not unusual to get a lot of Asian (be it East Asian or South Asian) academic and teaching staff, even at the top schools, and this is also the case in Australia depending on the discipline of course. Would that make you feel more "at home"? Certainly not for me. Both schools attract some of the top students in the region (Asia Pacific). Expect competitive peers in the top disciplines (Medicine, Law, Engineering, Economics, Mathematics, Actuarial Science).

Consider also that Singapore is Singapore, the one city. In Australia your experience could vary significantly, and depends on where you choose to relocate to - Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, Brisbane etc.

Actually in the Times rankings Melbourne University is just before Australian National University (#37 and #38, while NUS is at #40). In the QS rankings Melbourne University is not far behind at #31 (ANU at #26, NUS at #28).

But we know these rankings are heavily biased towards scientific research publications and citations, and do not really reflect teaching standards or the satisfaction of undergraduate students (which I think is the most important factor).

They are possibly very prejudiced against social sciences and arts. Rankings also have high levels of inaccuracy (schools where specified subjects don't exist being names the top schools in that discipline or subject area is very common).

Go8 is quite wide. Compared to the specificity of the 2 in SG (but it is SG, so we understand). As a resident of Australia it is different for you (maybe you don't have to pay as much fees as international students, and can delay payments or enjoy discounts or borrow funds or whatever), but personally I would probably only ever consider Melbourne University and ANU (then *maybe* the Sydney schools), and NUS (probably not NTU) amongst your choices.

But I totally understand what you're saying. And it couldn't be more obvious that you would enjoy SG a lot more. Sounds like the part of Australia you lived in has some qualities that almost all Malaysians would sorely despise... food outlets close early, maybe quality of food not up to par (considering Australia's first world status, and the cost of living in major cities).

Most people are too pampered and therefore (in my experience) can hardly take the cold (which is not that cold, it's not Russia or Alaska or Canada). They also tend to exaggerate (negative temperatures aren't as common as people claim). This is not a shot at you, just an observation that most people (sometimes irrationally) feel it is too cold. It's hardly your fault that you prefer the hot/warm weather.

Those that think the weather might be nice and have never been, I can empathise. Malaysia is (too) hot almost everywhere (except Genting, Cameron, the mountains in the East maybe) all year and for people who don't get a chance to live in a cold place, they fantasise about not perspiring even while having a shower, being able to dress well without melting. Although they should enjoy cold showers while they can.

Weren't you going to study a course that was uber-competitive? Apply first and see what you get.

I don't think Sydney is very cold. But Sydney is big (I guess) and maybe the parts I've been to were not the coldest. In any case Australia does have negative temperatures.

And here I thought you had to suffer shops shutting down at 3-5pm! That truly is a luxury. Sydney is a great place! Compared to some other places/cities in Australia. But I guess I wouldn't know what your suburb is like, although it doesn't sound too bad. Because I have tasted great food like the kind you have access to now, too, but all at places I've only traveled to, not lived...