8 minsWhen a lot of Indian students go to study at universities in Canada, the UK, the USA and the like, several others prefer destinations that are a bit close by – for example, Singapore. There are several reasons why Indian students study in Singapore. It provides a multicultural environment, academically challenging courses, a liberal and safe atmosphere, and all these at a lesser tuition fee when compared to other popular study-abroad destinations. This article will help get a better understanding of the aspects of studying in Singapore for Indian students.
1. Which are some of the popular universities in Singapore?
Some of the top universities in Singapore include:
- National University of Singapore
- Nanyang Technological University
- James Cook University Singapore
- Curtin Singapore
- LASALLE College of the Arts
- RMIT University in Singapore
- Singapore Management University
- PSB Academy
2. How to apply to universities in Singapore?
Most universities in Singapore have an online presence so you can apply online at the universities’ websites. But oftentimes, you will find that government/public universities in Singapore accept online applications whereas private universities accept offline applications from international students.
Some universities offer both options.
3. What’s the application process like, at universities in Singapore?
The basic application process to Singapore universities remains the same.
- Shortlist the universities in Singapore where you would like to study.
- Understand the application requirements including the documents needed.
- Get the required documents ready.
- Apply offline/online as required, before the deadline.
In most cases, your application will be assessed based on your merit, but some universities may ask for SAT/GRE/GMAT scores depending on the programme of your choice. For example, to study Master of Science in Computing from Singapore Management University (SMU), you should have a good score on GMAT or the SMU Admission Test.
Proof of English language proficiency is also a requirement at some universities, especially the satellite campuses.
Learn how to study in Singapore after 12th
4. What’s the cost of studying in Singapore?
The exact cost of studying and living in Singapore might vary, depending on students’ living standards. The average tuition fee can range from SGD 11,000–35,000 per year, for both bachelors and masters courses.
For example, a Bachelor of Business Administration at the National University of Singapore costs around 11.6 lakhs rupee per year. Master of Science in Finance at the same institution costs around 34 lakh rupees per year.
Living expenses can cost more than 5 lakhs per year for international students.
The cost of MBA courses varies between private universities, public universities and satellite campuses. It is comparatively cheaper at private universities.
An MBA at NUS costs around 30 lakh rupees per year. At Singapore Management University, it can go up to 39 lakhs per year. At East Asia Institute of Management, a private university, MBA costs around 13.5 lakhs rupees per year.
*Note: If a student finds it difficult to meet the study cost in Singapore, he/she can apply for the Tier C Tuition Grant offered by the Ministry of Education. This grant is given to students based on merit and is hence highly competitive. Students are also bounded to work for a Singapore entity for 3 years after completion of the course.
The tuition grant can range from SGD 17,550 for arts courses to SGD 63,750 for Dentistry courses.
The subsidised tuition fee norm is applicable only for the publicly funded universities, and not to private ones. Also, irrespective of any universities, scholarships are available for Indian students, with a maximum of SGD 10,000 to cover their tuition and living expenses.
Get the details of the cost of studying in Singapore.
5. What’s the course duration at universities in Singapore?
Bachelors programmes:
Most bachelors programmes are 3 years long. Honours courses can be completed in 4 years. Many private and foreign leading universities also offer fast-track degree programmes that last nearly 2 or 2.5 years. However, 3 or 4 years of degree programmes are recommended because they are more suited for industries.
Masters programmes:
Masters programmes at Singapore universities can be completed in 1 to 2 years. 15 months and 18 months courses are fairly common in Singapore. You will also be able to find courses that can be completed in 10 months.
6. What’s the volume of Indian students going to Singapore?
As per the June 2021 report released by the Department of Statistics, Singapore, there are 5.45 million people in Singapore, of which 1.45 million are non-residents. This group includes international students too. There are an estimated 50,000 or more international students in Singapore. According to a Firstpost report, there were close to 3000 Indian students in Singapore in 2012. After a decade, the numbers would have only increased exponentially.
Indian students prefer to study in Singapore for both UG and PG courses. Students looking for a bachelors degree apply more to public universities like the NUS and NTU whereas masters students are more open to private universities like the MDIS, James Cook or Curtin University.
Universities like the NUS and NTU are favourites amongst the engineering students too for their bachelors degrees, owing to the strong research exposure and recognised degrees that are on offer.
Business-related courses are in high demand in Singapore. Diploma of Commerce, MBA (Global), Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication are some of the courses picked by Indian students studying in Singapore.
7. What are the eligibility requirements for studying in Singapore for Indian students?
The general eligibility criteria are as follows:
For UG/bachelors programmes:
Academic scores, convincing SOP, a CV that stands out, scores from other competitive exams etc are some of the expected entry requirements.
The documents you need to submit will include:
- 10th and 12th completion certificates and mark sheets
- Proof of English language proficiency
- SOP
- LOR
- CV
- Competitive exam scores
- Any other document to prove your academic or extracurricular achievements
Students applying for bachelors programmes at private universities must have a minimum score of 65% or above in their 12th grade. (*Please note IELTS is not mandatory especially if you are applying at private universities.)
On the other hand, students applying for bachelors programmes at public universities must have 90% or above in both 10th and 12th grade.
For PG/masters programmes:
The requirements vary based on the courses you opt for. For a few courses, GRE/GMAT/SAT scores might need to be submitted. However, most institutions require you have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject. Your academic scores also matter. Students applying for masters in Singapore must hold a recognised bachelors degree with a minimum of 55% or above.
Not all institutions ask for proof of English proficiency. Many institutions are ready to accept students who have had their medium of instruction in English for their Bachelors course.
Some courses have age requirements. For example, the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management and Global Logistics offered by Amity Global Business School in Singapore requires that the applicants are at least 20 years old.
Some of the other documents that you have to submit include:
- Certificates of your completed courses
- Mark lists/transcripts of each year/semester of your completed course
- CV
- SOP
- LOR (Some institutions may ask for 2 or more LORs)
- Proof of English language proficiency, if required
- GRE/GMAT/SAT scores, if required
*Institutes where IELTS is not required, a separate letter of instruction can be submitted instead by the candidates.
- For MBA programmes – Universities like the NUS/NTU/SMU/ SP Jain and INSEAD ask for 2–3 years of work experience from candidates seeking admission into their MBA programmes. The MBA programme at NUS requires that the candidate has a minimum of 2 years of full-time work experience after completing their bachelors programme.
- Private universities like the MDIS/PSB/JCU do accept candidates without any work experience into their MBA programmes. IELTS/TOEFL scores could be exempted depending on the candidature.
8. What are the intake periods of universities in Singapore?
Government universities like NUS, NTU and SMU offer two intake periods - in August and January. Applicants to both full-time and part-time courses can apply for either of these intakes.
August intake: At NUS, you can start sending your applications in December for the August intake. You get around 15 weeks from December to send in your application. However, it is always better to send in the applications early to avoid the last-minute rush.
January intake: For the following year's January intake, applications open in July. This application window will only be for 5 weeks.
- Private institutions like SIM, PSB, MDIS and Dimensions and other foreign leading university campuses have intakes every quarter.
- Curtin Singapore offers intakes in February, July and November.
- There are chances that some institutions in Singapore have intakes every month for programmes like Hospitality & Tourism.
9. What are the most popular courses amongst Indian students in Singapore, based on the job market?
Information Technology, Hospitality & Tourism, Banking & Finance, Supply Chain & Logistics, Art & Design, Construction and Electronics & Telecommunications are the sectors popular among Indian students. Off late, business-related programmes are trending.
Bachelors students prefer more business, economics and engineering-related courses whereas masters students explore more out-of-the-box options.
10. What are the post-study work options for Indian students studying in Singapore?
You should have a work visa to begin work in Singapore. If you manage to find employment, your employer can sponsor an Employment Pass.
If you are employed as a technician or specialist, your employer can sponsor your S Pass.
11. What are the part-time work options for Indian students studying in Singapore?
With government universities and polytechnics, 16 hrs per week of part-time work options are available for international students. However, students willing to work part-time while studying in Singapore must enquire with their universities for approval. Students can avail of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority’s Student Pass to seek part-time jobs in Singapore. Students can work during term vacations too, with this pass.
Even if you hold a Student Pass, you have to meet specific requirements to be eligible to work in Singapore. Your institutions should be on the ‘approved list of institutions’.
Exchange students are not eligible to work part-time in Singapore.
12. How to apply for a Singapore student visa?
The Student Pass requirements and procedures will vary based on the type of institution you apply to.
To apply for a Singapore student visa or the Student Pass, you need an acceptance/offer letter from a recognised university. The application for the Student Pass should be submitted at least 2 months before the course commences.
If you are pursuing your education from an EduTrust-Certified Private Education Institution (PEI) like the AMITY Global Institute or the James Cook University, or an Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) like the National University of Singapore or INSEAD (Singapore), you will need to submit the following documents for the visa processing:
- Registration Acknowledgement Letter from the institution
- Documents proving your identity, countries you resided in, educational background, employment history etc.
- Personal information of your immediate family members
- Colour photographs
- Proof of financial support
Upon approval of your Student Pass application, you will receive an In-Principle Approval (IPA).
SGD 30 should be paid as the processing fee.
It takes around a month for processing a Student Pass application if your institution is PEI. For applicants enrolled in an IHL, it takes 2 weeks for processing the application.
If you wish to attend a short course, you will be granted a Short-Term Visit Pass.
13. What scholarships are available for studying in Singapore for Indian students?
Start applying for scholarships a year before, to avoid missing the deadlines. Scholarships are available for Indian students enrolled at both government and private universities.
Usually, at government universities, students receive either partial funding from the Ministry of Education (MOE) Singapore or full/partial funding directly from the universities based on their academic records. Private universities award scholarships to students solely based on academic records.
Please read point 4, to know about the subsidised tuition fee norms, for students applying at government universities and polytechnics in Singapore.
Some of the popular scholarships include the Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) for PhDs, Commonwealth Scholarships, the Lee Kong Chian Scholar’s Programme for first-time undergraduate students, and the Singapore Millennium Scholarships for predoctoral and postdoctoral research.
14. Do universities in Singapore accept year gaps?
Yes, some universities in Singapore do accept year gaps. But a student’s year gap with relevant work experience is always given a greater priority than a year gap without any work experience.
15. What are the advantages of studying at satellite campuses (e.g., James Cook University, Australia) in Singapore?
Some of the benefits of studying at satellite campuses include:
- Affordable fees
- Identical degrees
- equal opportunities
The same level of exposure and networking are some of the benefits of studying at satellite campuses in Singapore. Also, students can opt for an exchange semester at the parent campus of the satellite university. They can opt for a complete transfer as well during the course if they want/ need to move out of Singapore.
Here you go, with all your key takeaways! Do let us know if any questions went unanswered. We wish you the best for your study abroad journey!
Editor's note: This article was originally published in August 201. Our content writer Roshna Mohan has edited it to include up-to-date information and made it comprehensive.
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