If you are a foreign student eager to pursue higher education in Singapore, you are blessed with a variety of options, including three major universities, five polytechnics, and international institutions with local campuses. The government is keen to establish the country as a global education hub and is encouraging foreigners to exploit Singapore’s world-class tertiary institutes. Singapore offers world-class yet affordable post-secondary education at globally recognised learning centres. Around 80,000 foreign students study in Singapore with many opting for the three local public universities – National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU). You can also choose from famous foreign institutions such as INSEAD business school, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, DigiPen Institute of Technology and Duke University, all of which provide Singapore-based, brand-name courses. If you are unable to achieve the academic levels required by universities, Singapore has five polytechnics providing diploma courses that can subsequently lead to degree program at a local or foreign university.
Foreign Students Welcomed
Singapore universities accept secondary or high school-equivalent qualifications from around the world. Whether you are from Maldives or the United States, have sat for A Levels or SAT, your national pre-tertiary certificates are likely to be recognised by Singapore. If fees are a worry, you will be happy to know that Singapore’s three local universities are quite affordable. Their fees are lower than similar universities in the West, mainly because of generous government subsidies, and range from US$6,000 to US$25,000 per annum, depending on the course. However, private & foreign universities with Singapore campuses usually charge higher fees because they are profit-making organisations.
Singapore Public Universities
Singapore’s three public universities are the grand tertiary institutes on the island and attract thousands of foreign students. Their degrees are cherished by employers globally and they rank among the leading universities in the world.
National University of Singapore (NUS) – NUS started out as a medical school in 1905 and is now one of the leading universities in the world. In the QS World University Rankings for 2007, NUS was 33, having regularly featured in the top 40. NUS has more than 6,000 overseas students among its 28,000 enrollments. National University of Singapore boasts 14 faculties and schools offering courses in arts and social sciences, business, computing, dentistry, design and environment, engineering, law, medicine, music and science, among others. It has tie-ups with overseas universities, including with Duke University for the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) – NTU was established in 1991 and specialises in science and engineering with particular focus on research. NTU has four colleges, 12 schools and two autonomous entities and has more than 20,000 undergraduate students. Nanyang Technological University was ranked 69 in the QS world rankings in 2007 and is one of the world’s top 20 technology institutions.
Singapore Management University – SMU is the newest Singapore university, having opened in 2000. It is modelled on the successful Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and aims to produce outstanding business leaders. SMU has close to 6,000 students in six schools for business, accountancy, information systems, economics, social sciences and law.
Public University Fees
Singapore public universities’ tuition fees remain competitive in relation to most comparable universities around the world. In the US and Australia, fees for public universities are in the region of S$8,000 for domestic students and S$22,000 for international students. In Singapore public universities, foreign students pay only 10% higher fees than local students. Interestingly, Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE), can subsidize up to 80 per cent of tuition fees for local universities or polytechnics, even for foreign students. However, there is a condition. You must sign a deed with the Singapore government to work in a Singapore-registered company for three years after you complete your degree. For most foreign students, this is a welcome stipulation. The following is a rough guide to fees in local public universities:
National University of Singapore – international students would pay annual subsidized fees of anywhere between S$6,000 to S$20,000 depending on the field of study. Duke-NUS Medical School program costs approximately US$27,000 a year with financial aid provided by NUS.
Nanyang Technological University – NTU has similar fee structure and foreign students will pay anywhere between $6,000 to $15,000 a year after tution grant by the Singapore government.
Singapore Management University - Subsidized fees at SMU for foreign students range from S$13000 - S$15000 depending on your major. And apart from government subsidies, universities provide their own scholarships and financial aid packages to help you pay fees.
Singapore Polytechnics
Singapore has five polytechnics – Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Nanyang Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic – leading to various diploma courses. These institutes are generally for students who are unable to achieve the academic levels required by universities. However, the diplomas they offer are recognised internationally. Moreover, after completion of the diploma course, student with good grades have a very good chance of pursuing a degree program at one of the local or foreign universities. The polytechnic landscape in Singapore is further changing in a positive direction. Under the MOE's Polytechnic-Foreign Specialised Institution (Poly-FSI) programme, polytechnics can offer degree courses in partnership with an overseas university. By the end of 2007, there were two such programmes, both led by Ngee Ann Polytechnic. The MOE hopes to establish 10 such links by 2010 and other polytechnics are pursuing similar collaborations.
Polytechnic Fees
As a foreign student, if you study in one of the Singapore polytechnics, you will pay only about S$3,500 per annum under the MOE's subsidized fees scheme.
Private & International Universities in Singapore
Well-known international universities have set up campuses in Singapore, providing high-quality programmes that mirror the courses in their native countries. Note that the fees for private & foreign institutes with Singapore presence could be quite high because no government subsidies are not available for such institutes. However, you may still be eligible for financial aid offered by many of these private institutes.
SMa - School of Management - a private educational institute in Singapore offers an extensive range of academic programmes from prestigious foreign universities and professional institutions including Edith Cowan University, City University of New York, and Murdoch University. SMa SOM currently offers more than 40 academic programmes at the doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s, graduate diploma, diploma and certificate levels and welcomes both local and international students.
Stansfield College - previously known as Stansfield School of Business was awarded the ‘college status’ by the Ministry of Education, Singapore in 2003. It is a leading business college with over 2,000 students studying for a wide range of University of London degrees and diplomas. The institute has been approved by the University of London to provide diploma courses in such fields as Accounting, Law, Economics, Social Sciences, English, and the Diploma in Computing. Upon completion of diploma courses, students gain access and and can complete an appropriate degree from the University of London in minimum duration.
TMC Educational Group - through collaboration with number of different foreign universities from Australia, UK and USA, offers full-time and part-time diploma and degree courses in various fields such as Accounting, Business, English Language, Hospitality & Tourism, Information Technology and Mass Communication. TMC claims to have over 50 full-time dedicated lecturers who are registered and approved by the Ministry of Education. More than 80% of them have over 5 years of working experience, with many holding Master Degree or higher.
The Harrah Hotel College of The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) – this offers two qualifications: Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel Administration and Executive Masters Degree in Hospitality Administration. The Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel Administration costs nearly US$50,000 for the full three years. The fees for the Executive Masters in Hospitality Administration degree is around US$41,000 for five modules.
University of New Brunswick (UNB) - an American university, has a Singapore campus as UNB college and offers diploma and degree courses in business administration and finance. It offers both part-time and full-time programs. INSEAD – this is a business-orientated, post-graduate learning institute that follows the Wharton model. INSEAD has a reputation as one of the most influential business schools in the world. An accelerated MBA program at INSEAD will cost you around US$75,000.
University of Chicago Graduate School of Business – this school was credited with creating the world’s first executive MBA programme in 1943. Now, its world-class programmes are available in Singapore. It offers mostly Masters courses. The university charges about US$44,000 for a MBA.
SP Jain Center of Management – with its headquarters based in Mumbai, India, S P Jain’s is ranked among the top 10 business schools in Asia. You will need to shell out around US$30,000 including compulsory hostel charges for a one-year Global MBA program.
ESSEC Business School – this Paris-based institution is a world leader in management education schools, with a focus on high-quality research. MBA courses from ESSEC cost from US$30,00 to US$52,000.
DigiPen Institute of Technology – this school is famous for offering the world's first Bachelor of Science degree program in game software engineering, a degree in Real Time Interactive Simulation that is available in Singapore. It also has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Production Animation degree course. Foreign students must pay about US$5,600 to US$7,200 each semester depending on how many credits you take.
Tisch School of the Arts Asia – this arm of the New York University offers Masters degrees in Animation and Digital Arts, Dramatic Writing and Film Production, the same as what is taught in New York City.
Stanford Graduate School of Business - offers excutive MBA program in collaboration with NUS Business School.
SIM University - provides university education to working professionals and adult learners.
Typical Entry Requirements
All three Singapore public universities and polytechnics accept qualifications from a long list of countries. So, wherever you are, if your grades are good, you can qualify to study in Singapore. Depending on the degree you want to pursue, entry requirements vary.
Generally, for universities, you are looking at three good Advanced Level passes, for those under the British system. Australian students need a score of 90 or better from their ENTER, TER OR UAI and Indian nationals require marks of 80 per cent or more in five subjects from their Central and ISCE Boards exams. International Baccalaureate students require a pass in three HL and three SL subjects and American-system students must have a good pass certificate after High School. If you have equivalent qualifications from Indonesia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Europe, and other countries, you can apply to Singapore universities.
Polytechnics usually ask for two A Level passes or its equivalent. English is essential. You may be asked to take a crash course in English once you land in Singapore so you can cope with the language of instruction. The international universities have their own entry requirements, which are usually high given their prestigious status.
Which Way To Go?
There is much for you to think about when it comes to studying in Singapore. The good news is that there are plenty of high-quality options and, if you choose the local public universities, as the majority of foreign students do, you will receive a quality degree without the need to pay exorbitant fees.
Post new comment