Keywords: 5 reasons to study in Singapore, Top Universities in Singapore, Tuition Fees and Living Cost, Applying to Universities in Singapore, Eligibility Criteria, How to apply for Study Visa, Funding options in Singapore, life in Singapore.

5 reasons to Study in Singapore

Though Singapore is a small-sized country, it enjoys a stable and growing economy. Students have started opting Singapore for their higher education because of the endless career opportunities the country provides to the students. It is counted amongst the top educational destinations in the world. A study in Singapore is preferred by Indian students owing to the following 5 reasons:

#1. Top-class Education System

Universities in Singapore are known particularly for their technology and engineering courses, as well as those in natural sciences. Singapore is now the host of two universities ranked in the top 15 in the world and two in the top 3 in Asia, according to the QS World University Rankings 2016.

#2. English Speaking Country

English is widely spoken in Singapore and a majority of Singaporeans understand English. Even though the national language of Singapore is Malay, the 4 official languages are Malay, Tamil, English & Mandarin. Students won’t have any difficulty communicating in English as it is the main language of business & administration.

#3. Employment Opportunities

Most multinational corporate giants of the world have their presence in Singapore. The city ranks 11th in the employer activity index. And most employers are willing to sponsor the students once they accept the job offer after completing their studies. There won’t be any dearth of jobs in this country, which is quite a good reason for students prefer Singapore for their higher education.

#4. Cost of Education

The cost of living in Singapore is much lower than countries like Australia, Canada, the UK and the US. Studying in Singapore is one of the most economic options for students who desire to pursue international education. A student can do a course of his choice between 250,000 to 450,000 Singapore Dollars here. Students who come to study in Singapore are eligible to receive a grant for their tuition fees. You do not have to pay these fees back, but instead, students are required to stay in Singapore and work for a minimum of three to four years.

#5. Diversity

Singapore is a multicultural and diverse island nation. The people who study, work and live in Singapore have originated from all over the world and the country is the collection of diverse cultures, religions, and ethnicities. This incredible diversity functions in harmony, as the nation is relatively free from conflict.

 

Universities in Singapore

There are 34 universities in Singapore, of which six are national. The two best-known, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) both feature very highly in the QS World University Rankings 2019, offering courses in a wide range of subjects to their student populations of over 30,000 each.

National University of Singapore

National University of Singapore (NUS) is currently ranked 11th in the QS World University Rankings, and first in the QS Asia University Rankings 2019.

Nanyang Technological University

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) was ranked just one place behind NUS in the QS World University Rankings and two places in the QS Asia University Rankings, ranked 12th in the world and joint third in Asia. It’s highly regarded for its engineering courses, and in the QS World University Rankings by Subject features in the global top five for the broad subject area of engineering & technology, and is also ranked third for materials sciences.

Singapore Management University

Offering a more specialized range of subjects, Singapore Management University is another of Singapore’s best known institutions, ranking among the world’s leading providers of education in the fields of accounting and finance, computer science, economics, law and statistics. Ranked joint 500th in the World University Rankings and 78th in Asia, the university also places within the global top 100 for accounting, economics and business the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018.

SIM Global Education

Regarded amongst the leading colleges in Singapore, the SIM Global Education is a private academic institution that provides valuable degrees in the area of Business and Management. The degrees provided range from certificate courses to diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate level programs. The major courses provided by SIM Global Education are as follows:

  • Master of Science International Business
  • Bachelor of Computer Science (Game and Mobile Development)
  • Bachelor of Business (Management)
  • Master of Science in Supply Chain & Logistics Management
  • Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
  • Master of Science in Engineering Business Management

Management Development Institute of Singapore

The MDIS is one of the oldest management colleges in Singapore and was founded in 1956 as a private educational centre. Since then, Management Development Institute of Singapore is involved in changing the lives of students with the help of quality education and training programs. The institute is currently offering courses in the following fields:

  • Business & Management
  • Fashion and Design
  • Health and Nursing
  • Information Technology
  • Life Sciences
  • Languages and Education
  • Engineering
  • Psychology
  • Tourism and Hospitality Management
  • Media and Communications
  • Environmental Management

Other international universities in Singapore

Singapore is also home to a selection of recently established collaborative institutions, bringing together universities in Singapore with leading universities around the world.

One example is the Singapore University of Technology and Design, developed in partnership with the US’s Massachusetts Institute of Technology and China’s Zhejiang University.

Yale-NUS College is another international collaboration, launched in 2011 as the first liberal arts college in Singapore, as a partnership between the National University of Singapore and Yale University.

These collaborations reflect a wider focus on internationalization and innovation among universities in Singapore, which is generating a growing selection of exciting options for prospective students.

Planning to Study in Singapore? Click here to avail a Free Consultation Session with our Experts

Tuition and living costs

Singapore’s strong economy and high quality of living is accompanied by correspondingly high living costs, and some of the highest tuition fees in Asia. However, it’s still a relatively inexpensive option when comparing tuition costs internationally. Annual fees for international undergraduates currently average around US$14,400 but be aware that depending on the prominence of the university and the type of program you undertake, you may end up paying considerably more. The good news is that more than half of international students receive some form of financial aid.

To give you an example, the National University of Singapore’s current annual tuition fees  for international undergraduates range from S$17,550 (~US$12,750) to as much as S$50,800 (US$36,900) for programs in medicine and dentistry. These are for students with an MOE Tuition Grant (read more on this below) – fees for those not subsidized by the government start at S$29,850 (US$21,685). 

Living costs are another significant expenditure. Expect housing, bills and other necessary expenses to cost you, on average, around US$8,000 a year. 

Applying to universities in Singapore 

In order to study in Singapore as an international student, you will need to apply directly to your chosen institution. So your first port of call, to check deadlines, application procedures and any other details, will be with the institution itself – consult the official website, and contact the international office directly with any questions. There may be limitations on how many courses you can apply for at any given institution, so make sure you check the fine print. If you need help, you can contact us. At Road to Abroad we manage this for all our students free of cost. 

Eligibility Criteria

When you plan to study abroad, you have to fulfil certain parameters set by both the university and the country. So, in order to study in Singapore, here are the criteria or prerequisites you have to adhere with: 

  • You must have completed Class 12th or an equivalent exam to enrol in an undergraduate program.
  • For postgraduate courses, you will need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in the chosen field.
  • For some programs, GMAT/GRE scores may also be required.
  • English Language Test, IELTS or TOEFL as mentioned by the University
  • Clear the entrance exam, if any.
  • Ensure that you have a valid passport that has at least 6 months of validity.
  • Prepare a statement of purpose (SOP) and keep letters of recommendation (LOR) ready. 

Student visas for Singapore Student visa to study in Singapore

International students wishing to study in Singapore will need a student visa. This will be issued along with your letter of approval (also known as your in-principal approval or IPA) once your application has been accepted by a recognized university. Your application is subject to previous recognized qualifications, evidence of the required paperwork, and proof of sufficient English language skills. 

While this automatic issuance means you do not have to worry about applying for your student visa, you will have to apply to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for a Student Pass within two weeks of getting accepted. This also has to be no earlier than two months before and no later than one month prior to the start of your course. You will have to do this through the Student’s Pass Online Application & Registration System, known as SOLAR, which the institution at which you have been accepted will register you with. 

To apply online for your Student Pass, log on to SOLAR with the registration details your school has provided and fill in and submit eForm 16 via SOLAR. This will require valid passport details, the address of your university, your email address and a recent photo. 

To complete the process after arrival in the country, you’ll need to make an appointment with the ICA and bring your disembarkation/embarkation card granted on entry into Singapore, a passport-sized picture, a printout of a signed and completed eForm 16, a copy of your in-principle approval, and a recent medical report on the correct form. When collecting the Student Pass, a signed copy of the terms and conditions form must also be supplied. You will be charged S$30 (US$22) when submitting your application and a further S$60 (US$44) when the pass is issued. 

Your Student Pass will allow you to work full-time in the school holidays and 16 hours a week in term time for most students.

If you need help, you can contact us. At Road to Abroad we manage all visa related operations for all our students free of cost.

 

Funding to study in Singapore

Both domestic and international students are also eligible to apply to the Singaporean Ministry of Education for a tuition grant, after having been offered a place on a course. This covers much of the costs of university tuition fees. In return for this grant, however, international students must sign a bond committing themselves to work for a Singapore-registered company for at least three years after completing their degree, in order to ensure the country benefits from the skills of those it educates. The period of this bond is longer for students of medicine and dentistry (five or six years).

 

Life in Singapore

A crowded, yet safe and efficient city state, Singapore is one of the four “Asian Tiger” economies, along with South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, a group known for enjoying rapid economic growth in the second half of the twentieth century.

This fast development and prosperity has also given Singapore a population density among the world’s highest, with the allure of such a strident economy and the ease of doing business proving hard to resist for many immigrants. It is also known for its cleanliness – famously, you aren’t allowed to chew gum in Singapore, to ensure none ends up on the pavements – as well as for its punctual public transport and clear roads filled with gleaming automobiles, for which time-limited certificates of entitlement must be purchased. Singapore also has very strict laws against drug use, leading to one of the lowest rates of drug use in the world. 

But there’s more to this island republic than strict laws and a booming financial services sector. Singapore is a true melting pot of cultures, languages and religions, with its mixed Chinese, Malay and Indian population each contributing elements from their native cultures to create a hybrid identity which is unique to the city. 

British culture is also a big influence on Singapore, which comes as a result of both a large expatriate population and colonial past. This has led to the region being dubbed as a place where “East meets West”, which gives an insight into the cosmopolitan, inclusive nature of the place. One such example of Singapore’s diverse cultural influences is its food, with its authentic mixture of Asian, Asian-fusion and Western tastes and styles talked about reverently by nearly all who visit. 

Although a secular state, Singapore hosts an eclectic multitude of religious beliefs, making it not uncommon to find a mosque next to a temple amidst the gleaming skyscrapers, adding color and interest to the cityscape and reinforcing the ideas of mutual respect and social cohesion which are so important here. 

In recent years, Singapore has also invested heavily in arts and culture, to aid its plethora of festivals, museums and public gardens, with the goal of helping to develop its image as more than just a hub of finance and business.

Finally, we can say that you’re now aware of the heights that Singapore can bring into your career. If you ever want to use Road to Abroad as an elevator to reach the top, feel free to reach out to us.

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