Study In Singapore

Singapore’s reputation as a top destination for higher education has attracted international students to not only plan their academic stay there but has also produced good employment results for them, assisting them in finding jobs in a variety of industries. The “Lion City” is an economic powerhouse with a polished and widely respected educational system, maintaining excellent student satisfaction rates and security standards. For students who enjoy traveling and seeing beautiful places, the country is a blessing. It not only owns one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites but also has various visually appealing art galleries, parks, museums, and parks to offer.

Aiming to improve academic quality and research output while retaining the top-ranked status of many of its universities and institutes, Singapore is likely to establish its position as the top destination for international students in Asia. Although having four official languages—Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, and English—the fact that English is the language of instruction makes it easier for international students to complete their studies. Almost 85,000 international students from more than 100 different countries choose to attend school in the island nation of Singapore each year.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU), are ranked among the top 20 universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2023, are two of the renowned institutions that belong to the nation. These two are also Singapore’s top two institutions of higher learning, with the former holding the top position across all of Asia. Also, the country is ranked fourth in 2023’s QS Top Student Cities.

Why Study in Singapore

Singapore’s friendly regulations and high standard of living make it a comfortable place to live for students. They can visit new places and take part in a wide range of reviving activities thanks to the safe and secure atmosphere of the nation.

Other major reasons which are good enough to attract overseas students to study in Singapore have been listed below:

Cultural harmony and co-existence: The nation has been successful in attracting expatriates with diverse nationalities and religious practices from all over the world. Significant ethnic groups include the Malays, Eurasians, Chinese, and Indians live in harmony with the other groups while living in peace. This offers newcomers a fantastic opportunity to meet and connect with new people while learning about their customs, practices, and perspectives.

Ease of Convenience: In Singapore, there are lots of options for commuting and tourism for students. Due to its reasonable prices, sustainability, availability, output, etc., its transportation system is considered as among the greatest in the world. Singapore’s buses and trains run on time thanks to a strict schedule.

Safe Environment: The country has been acknowledged as having some of the safest cities in the world. According to a US-based firm called “The Swiftest,” it is the safest place in the world for international travel. The nation has strict laws and a zero-tolerance stance on any form of violence, whether it be physical or psychological. Students from abroad feel very comfortable both on and off campus.

Employment Opportunities: The island nation offers a large number of career opportunities to foreign nationals despite its small geographic location. The nation, which is regarded as a centre of worldwide economic activity, is home to some 25,000 international organizations. Students in universities or colleges can easily find a part-time job with a reputable company and make money to cover their extra expenses.

Education System in Singapore

Singapore uses a four-tier education system that includes primary and secondary schools, junior colleges of polytechnics for pre-tertiary education, and universities for post-secondary education. The primary level is where the first six years of education are completed. The length of education remains four years at the secondary level. A student may leave school and enrol in a two-year course run by the Adult Education Board if they have reached the age of 14 and are unable to complete the earlier (primary school) program. Students who want to continue their education in college must first finish an additional 2-year A-level course in high school that is part of the integrated curriculum.

The post-secondary education offers the following options to students:

Junior Colleges: Students can receive pre-university instruction at a junior college or centralized institute before enrolling in a university. They may be able to use this to obtain a GCE A-Level or International Baccalaureate diploma certificate.

Singapore School of Arts/Sports: A specialized education is an option for sports and artistic enthusiasts. So, they may be able to earn an International Baccalaureate diploma from both institutions or, at the Singapore Sports School, a Diploma in Business Studies.

Polytechnics: Full-time diploma programs are available at Polytechnics for those who want to study in a more hands-on way. O-level credentials or ITE’s Nitec and Higher Nitec credentials are required for eligibility. Moreover, top-performing secondary 4 N(A) students can apply to polytechnics through the Polytechnic Foundation Program. Students experience practice-based learning, which is a benefit of polytechnic education.

Institute of Technical Education (ITE): With higher Nitec programs, full-time Nitec, and traineeship courses, ITE leads to technical or vocational education. An N-level and O-level holder is needed in order to enrol in ITE. Students in Secondary 4 N(A) who meet the requirements are taken into consideration for some of the courses.

Top Universities in Singapore

Top Courses in Singapore

Although there are many courses that international students like studying in Singaporean universities, some of them are in higher demand than others. The courses that many international students choose to enrol in at Singaporean colleges are listed below.

Cost of Studying in Singapore

When submitting an application to an international university, the cost of tuition is the first and most important factor. Many times, despite having good exam results, a student cannot apply for a higher education program at a top institution because of the high cost of such courses. Nevertheless, to other popular study abroad locations, Singaporean education is fairly affordable. In Singapore, the amount a student must pay varies due to a number of things, including the level of study, the university, the course of study, the student’s nationality, etc.

Rough estimate of different University degrees

Cost of Living in Singapore

Going abroad for higher education necessitates that you consider not just your tuition and fees but also your living expenses and other extra expenses that you will spend. It will take you years to complete an undergraduate or graduate course, not a few days or weeks. Your spending should be managed in accordance with your needs, preferences, and likes. The cost of housing will differ depending on a number of things, including where you live, the amenities you have access to, and the type of room you have, etc.

Hence, if you intend to move to Singapore for study, prepare to spend, on average, S$750–S$2,000 per month on living costs.

As per the current conversion rate (December 26, 2022).

Displayed below is the estimated living expenditure at Singapore’s best institute, NUS, Singapore:

National University of Singapore Living Expenses

Singapore Student Visa

Student Visa requirements for Singapore

If you intend to enrol as an international student in an academic course at an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) that would last longer than 30 days, you must have a student visa or a student pass in Singapore. The Student’s Pass Online Application and Registration, or SOLAR, system should accept the applicant’s visa or pass application. This pass is accepted at all 34 of the country’s IHLs, where international students may continue their education. The duration of your course will determine the type of pass you get. A short-term student pass and a long-term student pass are the two different sorts of passes.

Processing of Singapore student pass

For up to 19 years: The Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will directly process the student pass applications for those who plan to study at a private university/college.

Above 20 years: An interview may be in line for those who want to pursue commercial, fine arts, language, or vocational courses.

You can begin the student visa application process after receiving an official admission offer letter from a Singaporean institution. IHLs in Singapore recommends that you submit your application at least one month before the start of your program or academic year. Generally, the processing of your visa application does not take very long. If you meet all the conditions for the visa, you should be able to get one in 15 to 30 days.

Student Pass fee for students

Documents Required for Study Visa

•        A valid (minimum 3 months) passport
•        Offer letter issued by an IHL (Institute of Higher Learning)
•        Visa Application fee original receipt
•        Completed visa application forms – Form 16 and Form V36
•        Proof (bank statements) that you can bear the expenses of your education and stay
•        Academic transcripts (degrees, diplomas, certificates) from an institute
•        GMAT/TOEFL/GRE/PTE test scores (if required)
•        Letter of loan sanction by a bank (if student loan required) and proof of investments

Singapore Permanent Residence Permit

Foreigners who wish to become permanent residents of Singapore can do so by getting an Entry Permit. One may qualify to apply for Permanent Residence Permit if one is:

• Aged parent of a citizen of Singapore
• Spouse of a citizen of Singapore/Permanent Resident (SPR)
• Unmarried kids, aged 21 and below, of a citizen of Singapore or PR
• Studying in Singapore as a student
• Investors from an overseas land
• Possessing employment or S pass.

Those who wish to apply for the same will have to submit the application online at e-Service. Applicants can also download the same and complete it offline. They can thereafter submit it online.

Admission Requirements to Study at Singaporean Universities

The general eligibility requirements for admission into undergraduate courses in top Singapore universities have been listed below:

• The applicant should have obtained an aggregate of 90-95% in both Class 10^th and 12^th.
• In case the applicant has not completed his secondary education at the time of applying for UG admission, he/she should submit a predictive score of Class 12^th.
• Universities such as SIM, NUS, and Yale-NUS will require the applicants to submit advanced placement test scores.
• SAT scores should be impressive. Also, it is mandatory for state-board applicants to submit their SAT scores.
• If the applicants have studied at an English-medium school and obtained more than 75% in English, they do not have to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Scholarships to Study in Singapore

Financial aids like scholarships, grants, and bursaries help students who have earned outstanding grades and are eligible to study abroad but are unable to do so due to financial obstacles. Even though tuition is often less expensive in most Singaporean institutions, the expenditures are still high. This section will give a brief overview of those that are most common and popular among international students.

Singapore International Graduate Award: Meant for PhD studies, this lends financial support for up to four years and includes a monthly stipend, full tuition fees, airfare grant, and settlement allowance.

Lee Kong Chian Graduate Scholarships at NUS: This will provide a monthly stipend of S$3,300 and annual book allowance of S$500 plus one-time laptop allowance of S$1,500. The student will also receive a travel allowance of two return tickets up to S$4,000.

INSEAD-Syngenta MBA Scholarships for Developing Country Leaders: Two scholarships are awarded per class amounting to €22,500 annually.

Education Loan for Studying in Singapore

Students who want to get an education loan should be informed of the requirements and meet them before applying to the bank or lending institution of their choice. Different banks have various requirements for eligibility for education loans.

The loan application guidelines listed below are applicable to majority of the nationalized banks:

• Foreign students who have obtained a place into selected educational institutions for higher education in Singapore can apply for education loan.
• Students can apply for a minimum loan amount of SGD 20,000 and maximum is up to 100% of the student’s (borrower) tuition fees.
• The Moratorium Period is 6 months before students have to begin repaying the loan amount. They under no circumstance have to repay the amount during the course’s tenure.
• Students have a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of five years to repay the loan once the Moratorium Period ends. But the loan term should not exceed 10 years under any circumstances.
• For every bank, the student/education loan interest rate is different.

Note: The aforementioned guidelines are only relevant to SBI.

Part-Time Work Options for International Students in Singapore

Students are not allowed to pick up any jobs in Singapore.

Universities in Singapore provide internships that are relevant to the courses that students want to take. Just these related internships are available to students. Also, the majority of institutions have established partnerships with businesses to offer their students part-time jobs. 

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower considers international students with Student Permits to be eligible for part-time work for up to 16 hours per week during the academic year and for as many hours as desired during vacations.

Please keep in mind that students attending a university or institution that is not on the list of approved institutions are not permitted to work full- or part-time jobs during the term or during the vacation.

Post-Study Work Permit in Singapore

Like in other European countries, students are not allowed to stay in Singapore on their Student Permit or Study Visa in order to look for employment. This need not imply that after they finish their education, they must go back to his or her country. One to three months of additional time are an option. When a graduate student’s student pass has expired or been cancelled, they are usually given a short-term visit pass replacement. Their stay in Singapore is limited to 90 days, during which time they may look for available job opportunities. However, being on this visa, one can one cannot take up any employment, only find job options.

Job Prospects in Singapore (ROI)

Singapore has evolved as one of the best destinations for international students looking for employment due to its wide range of career options, higher pay, and stable economy. The country is willing to hire people from abroad and gives good wages to do so. On the basis of their student visa, those who choose to stay behind after finishing their education can do so for a duration of one to three months. Depending on their student visa, students who want to continue in Singapore after completing their education can do so for one to three months. If they have completed their studies at a recognized and approved Institute of Higher Learning in Singapore, foreign students may also apply for a Long-Term Visit pass (LTVP) for a year to stay in Singapore and look for relevant employment.

Popular Job Sectors in Singapore

Candidates looking to work in Singapore can check out the following jobs sectors that require international talent. It goes without saying that some of the top paying jobs in Singapore are executive positions. A Michael Page study says that the yearly pay for C-suite positions including chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and chief operating officer start at S$300,000 and can exceed S$525,000. These statistics are relevant to positions in industries like business services, chemicals and engineering, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), financial services & fintech, and healthcare & life sciences.