This country in the Far East is a perfect blend of the region’s traditional Asian heritage amidst a rapidly developing modern backdrop. Singapore is a country that finds itself on the lists of several top study abroad destinations. A large number of students from over the world work tirelessly to study in Singapore and open doors of bountiful opportunities for themselves. Singapore is home to over 77,000 students from hundreds of countries across the globe who are studying courses in a wide variety of disciplines at the country’s 34 higher education institutions. If you are looking to study in Singapore, you will be exposed to world-class education, exceptional teaching facilities and cutting-edge student infrastructures throughout.
Education System in Singapore
Singapore has been consistently ranked among the highest in the world by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) over the years in terms of education. Unlike Western countries and Singapore’s other counterparts, the teaching system in the country helps students work through their syllabus rather than hurriedly complete it contributing to the rat race. This not only helps students study better by comprehensively understanding their coursework but also helps to significantly improve student morale and motivation.
There is a well-rounded education system in place right from when a child enrols in kindergarten. The education system in the country is divided into preschool for children between the ages of three and six, followed by six years of primary school and then six years of secondary school. Students in secondary school are classified into N-level or O-level based on their choice of programme. Students who wish to study further at university, have to take A-level exams after an additional two years of study.
The Ministry of Education oversees the structuring, maintenance of standards and development of education at several levels in the country. At postsecondary levels of education, the country has a couple of careers and technical education systems which guide students through the country’s higher education channels.
Despite being a foreign language speaking country, Singapore is home to people from all across the world. This has made English the most commonly spoken language at both school and work. If you are doubtful to study in Singapore owing to a possible language barrier, there’s nothing holding you back because a large percentage of the country’s native, foreign and ethnic populations converse freely in English.
Why Study In Singapore?
Study abroad in Singapore has been riding the high wave for the past few years for a variety of reasons. Among the major factors for increasing student influx is that the country has everything one can possibly want. Apart from its stunning architecture and contemporary cityscape, Singapore also has a solid welfare system in place for its residents. This fosters a safe and secure environment for young students coming from all parts of the world.
- Academic Excellence: A number of Singaporean universities can be found on a number of “The Best Universities in Asia” as well as “The Best Global Universities” lists. The country prides itself on providing an enriching, world-class and exceptional education. What sets Singaporean education apart is that it is global in nature so if you are an international student, you can fit right into their system without feeling left behind.
- Dazzling Career Prospects: Matching its steps with each revolutionary advancement of the 21st century, Singapore has thriving opportunities in each sector. Be it business, technology, engineering or medicine, there’s always something dynamic awaiting students post their graduation. It gives them the chance to advance in their careers like no other.
- Multicultural Society: People from different parts of the globe call Singapore home. Over the past several decades, people from neighbouring countries and continents migrated to Singapore in hopes of a brighter future. Not only are they reaping the rewards now but this has given rise to Singapore's multi-faceted culture. No matter where you come from, you will feel right at home in Singapore.
- Quality Of Life: Singapore prides itself on offering its residents a high-quality standard of living. For young students, the country does not compromise when it comes to safety and security. A low crime rate is evident throughout the country. And when it comes to welfare, the country takes the well-being of its residents very seriously too. The country’s people as well as students from international countries were well looked after during the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19.
Top Universities And Global Ranking
View all >
Queenstown, Singapore
Cost Of Living
S$ 20,154
S$ 15,836
#11
Cost Of Living
S$ 20,154
S$ 15,836
#1
The National University of Singapore is a national research university and Singapore’s oldest autonomous university. The higher education institution traces its roots back to 1905 when it was founded as the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States Government Medical School. Over the years, the institution underwent many changes and went by different names including the King Edward VII College of Medicine, University of Malay, Singapore Campus, University of Singapore, and Nanyang University before it came to be known as the National University of Singapore from 1980 onwards. The university is regarded as one of the most prestigious and esteemed academic institutions not just in Asia but also across the globe.
The university comprises several faculties and schools which provide a wide variety of courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It also houses a number of teaching centres including the Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning, the Centre for Instructional Technology, the Centre for English Langauge Communication, the Institute of Systems Science, and the Centre for Teaching and Learning at one of its colleges. It also houses 21 research centres and institutes that have played and continue to play a pivotal role in its endeavours toward research and development. The university’s various faculties and schools are listed as follows.
- Business
- Computing
- Dentistry
- Design and Engineering
- Duke-NUS Medical School
- Humanities and Sciences
- Integrative Sciences and Engineering
- Law
- Medicine
- Music
- Public Health
- Public Policy
- University Scholars Programme
- Yale-NUS College
NUS’s academic affiliations include the Association of Commonwealth Universities (AUC), the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), Universitas21, GEM4, the ASEAN Universities Network (AUN), the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL), the NUS High School of Math and Science, the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA), Washington University in St. Louis, and the University Alliance in Talent Education Development (UNAiTED).
NUS has a typically low acceptance rate. It is known to be a highly competitive institution with an immensely strict admissions policy. The majority of the university’s applicants hail from Asian countries with students also from countries across the world vying to get a place at NUS. The university currently houses over 40,000 students enrolled in both its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. It is incredibly difficult for students to get in with the National University of Singapore’s acceptance rate of just 5%.
Jurong West, Singapore
Cost Of Living
S$ 32,596
S$ 17,548
#12
Cost Of Living
S$ 32,596
S$ 17,548
#2
The Nanyang Technological University, commonly abbreviated as NTU is a national research university in Singapore. The autonomous university was established 41 years ago in 1981 when it was known as the Nanyang Technological Institute. It was changed to NTU 31 years ago in 1991 and it is also the country’s second-oldest autonomous university. The university is among Asia’s and the world’s most prestigious and esteemed institutes of higher learning.
The university comprises a number of schools and colleges that provide a large number of courses in varied disciplines and fields of study. These courses are provided at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels. The schools and colleges at NTU are listed below.
- Nanyang Business School
- College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
- College of Engineering
- College of Science
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine
- Graduate College
- National Institute of Education
- S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
The university also houses a number of research centres and institutes that specialise in a variety of fields of research and intensive study. It houses two Research Centres of Excellence (RCE).
- The Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE)
- The Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS)
The university’s academic affiliations include the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), the Washington Agreement (WA), the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL), the ASEAN University Network (AUN), the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Global Alliance of Technological Universities and the University Alliance in Talented Education Development (UAiTED).
NTU welcomes students from nations all across the region as well as several nations from different parts of the world. This has resulted in a diverse mix of students at the university campus. Getting into the university is known to be quite competitive with the Nanyang Technological University’s acceptance rate being 36%. As a result, the admissions policy at the university is known to be quite strict.
Bras Basah, Singapore
Cost Of Living
S$ 20,340
S$ 21,400
#511 - 520
Cost Of Living
S$ 20,340
S$ 21,400
#3
The Singapore Management University commonly known as SMU is a public autonomous university in Singapore. The university was established 22 years ago in 2000, and it is the only city campus in the whole of Singapore next to just a handful in the world. The university is modelled after The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and ranks 3rd in Asia and is considered among the best universities across the world.
The university is organised into six schools providing a variety of courses both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It offers programmes in the areas of business administration, accountancy, economics, business analytics, information systems management, financial services, law, and the social sciences. The university’s six schools are listed below.
- The School of Accountancy
- The Lee Kong Chian School of Business
- The School of Economics
- The School of Computing and Information Systems
- The Yong Pung How School of Law
- The School of the Social Sciences
The university is also the first university in Asia to be accredited Ashoka which is a global non-profit organisation supporting the top social entrepreneurs across the globe as a Changemaker Campus. In addition, it is also the first university in Singapore to be accredited as a research organisation by the Association for the Accreditation of the Human Research Protection Programmes Inc. Its Lee Kong Chian School of Business is not only among the youngest business schools in the world but it is also the only Singaporean business school to achieve the triple-crown accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA), and the EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).
The university houses over 10,000 students enrolled on its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Its student crowd comprises mainly students hailing from Singapore and its neighbouring countries but a good percentage also come from different countries across the world. Singapore Management University’s acceptance rate is 49% making it a fairly competitive university to get into.
Singapore, Singapore
Cost Of Living
S$ 17,700
S$ 30,000
Cost Of Living
S$ 17,700
S$ 30,000
#47
INSEAD stands for the European Institute of Business Administration which is a non-profit business school that has its flagship campus in Fontainebleau, France and other campuses in Singapore, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and San Francisco in the United States. It was established in 1957, 65 years ago. It is an elite graduate-only business school which is among the most prestigious and esteemed schools in the world.
The INSEAD Asia Campus offers courses to only graduate and doctoral aspirants. It provides master’s courses, doctoral programmes, and executive education and foundation courses. Some of these courses can be taken collectively by an organisation along with individuals. It is renowned the world over for its executive MBA programme. Its other courses are ranked highly per several international metrics. It offers executive programmes in the following areas.
- General Management
- Corporate Governance
- Top Management
- Leadership
- Strategy
- Digital Transformation and Innovation
- Finance
- Marketing and Sales
- Research and Development and Operations Management
- Entrepreneurship and Family Business
- Partner Programmes
The school’s academic affiliations include the Conference of Grande Ecoles, the Sorbonne University Association, and the INSEAD-Wharton Alliance. It also holds the triple crown accreditation which includes the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Association of MBAs, and the EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).
Being among the most prestigious business schools in the world, the institute has a very strict admissions policy. The INSEAD Asia Campus acceptance rate is 31%, one of the highest acceptance rates of the top business schools. Some of the notable alumni of the Singapore campus include Jusuf Kalla (Vice President of The Republic of Indonesia), Henry Engelhardt (CEO of Admiral Group), Tidjane Thiam (CEO of Credit Suisse), Wopke Hoekstra (Dutch Minister of Finance), Perry Lim (Chief of Defence Force), and Paul Desmarais (Chairman of Power Corporation of Canada).
Dover, Singapore
Cost Of Living
S$ 14,268
S$ 29,757
Cost Of Living
S$ 14,268
S$ 29,757
#6
Commonly known as SIT or Singaporetech, the Singapore Institute of Technology is a public autonomous university located in Singapore. It traces its roots back to 2005 when the Polytechnic-Foreign Specialised Institutions (Poly-FSI) initiative was introduced by the Ministry of Education. The initiative was driven toward finding an establishment of a dedicated publicly funded institute that would join hands with international university partners in Singapore. Fast forward 4 years, the university was founded by Tan Chin Tiong in 2009.
Being an autonomous university, it confers its own degree programmes along with specialised degree programmes with overseas universities. These degree programmes are grouped into five separate clusters which are listed as follows.
- Engineering
- Chemical Engineering and Food Technology
- Infocomm Technology
- Health and Social Sciences
- Design and Specialised Businesses
Its overseas university partners with which the university jointly offers programmes are listed below.
- DigiPen Institute of Technology
- Newcastle University
- the Technical University of Munich
- The Culinary Institute of America
- Glasgow School of Art
- Trinity College - Dublin
- the University of Glasgow
- University of Liverpool
- Massey University
Since the university offers industry-specific programmes and courses, it has a fairly strict and competitive admissions policy. The SIT acceptance rate is 53%. A good chunk of its students come from the region with the rest of them hailing from different countries all over the world. Some of the notable alumni of the university include Choon Lee Chew - Electronics Circuit Design and Semiconductor Fabricat, Bee Ching Kong- a specialist in Electronics Circuit Design and Testing (DCM and Information Systems for Automotive Industry), and Cherine Siew - a specialist in Embedded Systems and Data Encryption.
Available courses to study
Singaporean universities provide courses spanning a multitude of disciplines. Certain universities specialise in certain areas of research and study meanwhile others provide a plethora of options for students to pick from. This wide variety attracts students from all across the world who wish to study abroad in Singapore as they get the opportunity to pick diverse and obscure subjects of study. Some courses with the highest footfall at universities across the country are listed as follows.
With a world that is advancing with every passing minute, one can find boundless opportunities in computer science and technology upon which we are becoming increasingly reliant. Singapore has some of the best computer science and technology programmes in universities such as the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and the Singapore Institute of Technology. Students can study areas like data structures, system software, programming, web development, and cybersecurity under this discipline.
Engineering is the backbone of every developed and developing country there is and it is all-pervasive. The support of engineering is apparent in a number of sectors and the discipline itself includes areas like electrical, electronic, civil, aerospace, mechanical, and chemical among others under its umbrella. The National University of Singapore, regarded as the best in Asia and among the best in the world, provides some of the best programmes in a variety of subjects in the branch of engineering.
National and international markets are unable to function without sound business management and entrepreneurial skills. That’s the reason proficiency in these subjects has become much required and appreciated in recent times. The discipline of business management deals with the facets of finance, marketing, human resources, international business, business analysis, operations management and much more. Nanyang Business School and the Singapore Management University are famed for their fantastic programmes in the discipline.
The study of the government and political practices has become quite popular in several places mainly due to the need for sound and just governance and political practices. Initially regarded as an unpopular field of study, it has risen to prominence owing to an educated and socially sensitive generation that seeks positive change. The National University of Singapore, Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and the Nanyang Technological University have a number of programmes in political and social sciences.
Legal studies have become a social requirement in the seemingly turbulent world of justice. Legal professionals can be found practising in areas spanning crime to civil, business to environmental law. Some of the best law programmes in the country are offered by the National University of Singapore, Singapore Management University and the Sorbonne-Assas International Law School (Singapore Campus).
FAQs
If you are a student withholding a valid student pass and are enrolled at a recognised IHL in the country, you are eligible to work part-time for up to 16 hours a week during your university term.
There are a variety of scholarships available for international students. Institutes and the government alike have made provisions for scholarships to help students hailing from different parts of the world get a chance to pursue higher education in Singapore.
IELTS and TOEFL are mandatory English proficiency tests required to pursue university programmes in Singapore. PTE and SAT are also required by several institutes in the country.