Study in Singapore

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Things to Know about Singapore

  • Singapore is a modern city-state and island country in Southeast Asia.
  • Capital city: Singapore City
  • Largest city: Singapore City
  • President: Tony Tan
  • Prime Minister: Lee Hsien Loong
  • There are four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. English is the common language of the country. Singapore promotes multiculturalism through a range of policies.
  • Major religion: Buddhist, Christian, Muslim
  • Population: 5,469,700 (as per 2014)
  • Calling code: +65
  • Currency: 1 Singapore dollar (SGD) = Rs. 46.69
  • Most popular sport: Popular sports include football, basketball, cricket, swimming, sailing, table tennis and badminton

Why Study in Singapore?

  • Singapore Education is a multi-government agency initiative launched by the Singapore Government in 2003 to establish and promote Singapore as a premier education hub and help international students make an informed decision on studying in Singapore.
  • Great option for the scholarship.
  • One of the best education systems in the world.
  • The degree is highly renowned by employers.
  • Tuition fees are affordable and the cost of living in Singapore is still significantly lower than of many developed countries.
  • Singapore is consistently acknowledged to be a global business hub with its developed infrastructure, political stability and open business policy.
  • The island’s strong reputation for quality education has drawn the world’s top institutions to set up campuses in Singapore.
  • The strength of Singapore’s Education system lies in its bilingual policy (English with Malay/Mandarin/Tamil) and a broad-based curriculum where innovation and entrepreneurship command a premium.
  • Singapore has been rated 3rd among 145 countries in terms of ease of doing business in World Bank’s doing Business 2005 Report.
  • Part time work of 16 hours per week during school term only for International students enrolled in Singapore’s public universities and polytechnics as well as foreign institutes of higher learning. The International students enrolled in the Private Education Organisations are not allowed to work part time during their course.

Intakes

  • All Singaporean University generally has intake in the month of September
  • 2-4 weeks to process the applications

Documents needed for making an application:

  • Attested copies of X, XII & Graduate Degree (if applicable), Mark Sheets including Backlogs (Re-sits)
  • Evidence of English Language proficiency e.g. IELTS, TOEFL, etc.
  • Standardized Tests e.g. GMAT, GRE (where necessary for the programme)
  • Two academic references
  • Two references from employers (where applicable)
  • Passport sized photographs
  • Statement of Purpose (SOP)
  • Resume/CV
  • Draft for application fees, if applicable
  • Portfolio (for Art, Design & Architecture programme)
  • Others Certificates & Achievements of Extracurricular Activities

Entry Requirements / Eligibility

1) Undergraduate – Bachelors

  • A good academic record in High School Certificate or 12 years of schooling.
  • The students must have completed higher secondary schooling or pre-university education and gained a passing certificate of GCE “O” level. Minimum 12 years of schooling from an overseas country to apply for the undergraduate courses in Singapore.
  • Some courses such as Computing and Engineering will require Mathematics and /or Science as pre-requisites
  • 0 IELTS

2) Postgraduate – Masters

  • A good academic record in Bachelors Degree from a recognized university.
  • Any work experience in the field will be helpful
  • For MBA programs at some Universities students need to have work experience along with their Bachelors Degree
  • 5 IELTS
  • GMAT (if any)

Education costs in Singapore

  • The costs of studying in Singapore depend on the institution and the level of study you choose.
  • As an international student, your tuition fees are payable before you study.
  • There is a considerable range in cost of living amongst the metros and non metros.

Cost of Studying & Living in Singapore

  • The cost of studying in Singapore, whilst not as affordable as other Asian destinations, is still reasonable compared to universities in the big three destinations (UK, USA and Australia). This is one of the factors that make Singapore an attractive destination for international students seeking a quality education. Singapore uses the dollar, although it is the Singaporean Dollar which has a different rate to it’s American counterpart. Bear this in mind when checking costs.
  • On average, you can expect to pay around US$10,000 per year for tuition fees, although it depends on the course and institution. Arts courses tend to be less expensive than Science courses.
  • All students, be it domestic or international, are eligible to apply for tuition grants with the Singaporean Ministry of Education. However, you can only apply for a tuition grant after having been offered a place on a course. Tuition grants cover most of the costs of the tuition fees.
  • Grants are not repayable, but in return, all international students are required to sign a bond that will commit them to work for a Singapore-registered company for at least 3 years after completing their degree. The period of the employment bond is longer for students of medicine (6 years) and dentistry (5 years).
  • The standard of living is high, so Singapore is an expensive place to live. The actual cost of living will vary depending on your course of study and your individual lifestyle though.

Cost of Education in Singapore

  • The education of education in Singapore is quite low as compared to other study abroad destinations like UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.
  • The cost of study in Singapore varies according to the institute, course and duration of the course.
  • You might end up paying S$5000 to S$ 20000 approximately for 6 months to 2 years Diploma course, S$ 24000 to S$55000 approximately for 2 to 4 years Bachelor Degree course and S$ 18,500 to S$ 30000 approximately for 1 to 1.5 years Master Degree Course.

Top 10 Universities in Singapore (QS World Ranking)

Sr. No
University
World Rank 2014-15
Fees
1.
National University of Singapore (NUS)
22
$20000 - $22000
2.
Nanyang Technological University
39
$8000 - $10000
3.
Singapore Management University
N/A
N/A
4.
National Institute of Education
N/A
N/A
5.
Singapore Polytechnic
N/A
N/A
6.
Ngee Ann Polytechnic
N/A
N/A
7.
Singapore University of Technology and Design
N/A
N/A
8.
Nanyang Polytechnic
N/A
N/A
9.
Temasek Polytechnic
N/A
N/A
10.
SIM University
N/A
N/A