Study in Singapore: Find Program, Colleges, Costs, Scholarship, Visa details for International Stude

An island state, Singapore is very close to becoming a “Global Schoolhouse” offering world-class universities and a reputation for educational excellence. Singapore offers a variety of educational opportunities in different languages and cultures. It's known for leading in research and innovation. Emerging as one of the most popular study abroad destinations, specifically among Asian/Indian students, Singapore has 34 universities, out of which six are national universities.

Aspirants who wish to study in Singapore look forward to pursuing education at national higher education institutions. The NUS (the oldest university in the country) and NTU are the biggest and most well-known universities. They rank at #9 and #26 in the QS World University Rankings 2024. Apart from these public universities in Singapore, there is a large pool of autonomous universities and foreign campuses offering a wide range and choices of courses in Singapore for Indian students.;

What attracts international students to Singapore is that the country has outpaced most other Asian countries in offering world-class education. It is also often recognized among one of the safest study destinations with low crime rates. Irrespective of the current economic downturn, Singapore has also managed to maintain a low unemployment rate of only 2%. It can be concluded that collectively these aspects along with various others make Singapore one of the most popular Asian countries for international students.

Study in Singapore for Indian Students: Quick Facts

Top Universities in Singapore for International Students

With two of Singapore’s National Universities boasting among the 30 top universities in the world, choosing where to study in Singapore is not very difficult. With 40+ universities including both national and international universities, you have an abundance of options to choose from.

A range of collaborations with some of the world's leading education providers has brought some of the leading universities to Singapore. Some of these include MIT, Johns Hopkins University, Georgia Technological University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, INSEAD, and the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania. Some of the top universities in Singapore and their basic tuition fees are discussed below:

Why Study in Singapore?

Studying in Singapore offers students a whole bunch of attractive opportunities such as a wide range of courses, top universities, quality education, and high employability. Around 50,000 students study with various universities in Singapore. Here’s why studying in Singapore is one of the most ideal and considerable choices of international aspirants:

• Cost of Study: The tuition fees, cost of living, and other additional costs related to studying abroad are relatively lower when your choice of study destination is Singapore. As compared to other popular study destinations like the USA, Canada, UK, Singapore Universities offers you world-class education at cheaper rates.;
  • UG Degrees Cost: 30,000 SGD (18 lakhs INR)
  • PG Degrees Cost: 40,000 SGD (24 lakhs INR)
• Safety: Singapore’s no tolerance towards racism and strict law enforcement policies with a politically stable environment offer a student with safer living conditions. It is globally ranked as 6th safest place in the world by World Population Review.;
• English-taught Programs: A number of courses in all universities that are exclusively available in English. Language is not a barrier for an international student looking forward to studying in Singapore.
• International University Hub: There are 16 leading foreign universities with their centers being set-up in Singapore. Along with this, Singaporean Universities offer a variety of student-exchange programs with Australian, UK, and US universities.;
• Employability: Some of the top universities in Singapore enjoy employability ranking among top 50 universities in the world. Additionally, Singapore is rising as the Asian financial hub and its connectivity with other Asian countries brings in a lot of opportunities. Hence, the employability opportunities are in their prime in Singapore.;
• Business Opportunities: Singapore is among the top 20 for employer activity. It's the world’s largest business center with both local and global companies like United Overseas Bank, Flex, DBS Bank, Singapore Airlines, and Singtel. The US News score and rankings given to the business environment of Singapore is given below:

Source: US News and World Report

• Immigration Policies: You get your student visa as soon as you get accepted by a university.
• Funding: There are immense scholarships available for both international and domestic students. The tuition grant by the Singaporean Ministry of Education is one of the most popular grants for which you can apply as soon as you have received your acceptance letter.

Best Courses in Singapore for Indian students

Among some of the most popular courses opted while studying in Singaporean Universities and Polytechnics, certain courses are becoming more and more important. There is a growing need and demand for them among students from Singapore and other international students studying in Singapore. These courses are:

• Cybersecurity
• Media and Animation
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Sports Science and Medicine
• Business Analytics and Digital Economy
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering

Study in Singapore: Intake, Enrollment, and Graduates of Universities by Course

Source: https://www.moe.gov.sg/;

Study in Singapore: Intake, Enrollment, and Graduates of Polytechnics by Course

Source: https://www.moe.gov.sg/

Degree Courses to Study in Singapore

• Undergraduate Programs: Bachelor's degrees are usually 3-4 year programs offered by most of the universities in subject areas like business, medicine, engineering, creative arts, and more. You are usually required to have a high school leaving certificate to apply for these programs.;
• Various Certificates and diploma programs in Singapore are also available for undergraduate applicants.
• Postgraduate Programs: Master's degrees are often one-two year programs available as both coursework and research programs. You are usually required to have a relevant bachelor’s degree and English language proficiency to pursue a master's degree in Singapore. There are no additional test requirements to study in Singapore (IELTS/TOEFL) for most of the courses.
• PhD/Doctorate Programs: A number of universities offer Ph.D. programs to international students. Alongside a master's degree, language proficiency test scores (like IELTS/TOEFL, etc), you are required to submit a research proposal which if accepted results in your admission with Singapore Universities.;
• Exchange Programs: Singapore is a hub to many international universities and their center. Several exchange students study in Singapore each year. Some of the popular universities having campuses/centers in Singapore are MIT, Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania and more.

Read about Popular Programs to Study in Singapore:

Application Cycle to Study in Singapore

Generally, the two Semester system is followed across Singapore universities and institutes. However, some universities observe a Trimester system as well.

• Semester 1 (August Intake)
  • The August semester lasts for 18 weeks.;
  • The deadline for international students interested in an undergraduate program is March.;
  • The deadline for graduate programs extends till Mid November.
• Semester 2 (January Intake)
  • January semester is completed within 17 weeks’ time.
  • International students can apply till July for the undergraduate program.;
  • For graduate applicants, the deadline is in May.;
• Semester 3 (October Intake)
  • The deadline for the third-semester undergraduate program is in June.
  • The deadline for the postgraduate program is in July.

Study in Singapore: Application Process

Admission to universities in Singapore must be done through the individual universities’ websites. Most public universities in Singapore have two intakes, that is one around August and the other in January. Private universities, on the other hand, have numerous intakes throughout the year.

Searching for the course you want to study in Singapore is the most important step towards making applications with Singaporean universities. With a variety of courses available at your discretion, it is very important to choose the right type. Your choice, of course, would depend upon the following factors:

• You want to do a Diploma, UG, PG, or Ph.D.
• Future employment opportunities for the course you want to choose
• University Ranking, etc
• Zero-in on the course you want to study and start by filling the application form.
• Most universities provide an Application Checklist that you can refer and submit.
• Students will be informed well in advance if they receive an admission offer, so they will have ample time to make other arrangements before the semester begins.

Study in Singapore Requirements

Cost of Studying in Singapore for Indian students

The boosting economy of Singapore is accompanied by some of the highest tuition fees in Asia. Irrespective of the high cost of study in Asia, it is still one of the most in-demand study destinations. This is because when compared to other study abroad destinations, Singapore is rather cheap. Additionally, around 50% of the overall international student population studying in Singapore is awarded grants and funds to support their educational expenses.

Study in Singapore Fees

Cost of Living in Singapore

The average cost of living in Singapore is around 15,000 SGD (9.2 lakhs INR) a year. Given below is a detailed bifurcation of various costs involved in studying in Singapore:

Life in Singapore is a true melting point of cultures, with a mixture of authentic Asian, Asian-fusion, and western worlds. With a booming financial services sector, you can expect to live in one of the Asian Tiger economies with prosperity, scenic beauty, and safety.