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Are you an international student? Are you interested in learning more about Universities In Singapore application? Do you get overwhelmed by the amount of conflicting information you see online? If so, you need not search further because you will find the answer to that question in the article below.

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Singapore might not be the first country that comes to your mind when you start thinking about studying abroad, but it is definitely a destination to consider.

The only city-state – formed by over 63 islands in Southeast Asia – is a centre of innovation and successfully attracts foreign investment each year.

The country, also known as the Lion City, prides itself on being one of the world’s leading financial centres that maintains strong connections with the West.

Singapore is known for its high quality of life and citizen-friendly policies focused on healthcare and safety.

Prospective students have the chance to immerse themselves in a rich cultural life, but also to build a successful career. The local government provides annual funding which makes it easier for graduates to start their own business or join start-up hubs especially designed to stimulate creativity and meet the needs of the local economy.

Studying in Singapore is a good decision for students who are willing to explore different cultures. From celebrating the Chinese New Year in a traditional setting to exploring superb regional cuisine, starting a course in Singapore is an attractive alternative to western universities.

The country is home to four large ethnic groups: Chinese, Eurasian, Indian and Malay, which each have their own mother tongues, creating opportunities for students to pick up a new language easily while studying.

Singapore’s two main public universities , the National University of Singapore  Nanyang Technological University both feature in the top 10 universities in Asia, and in the top 100 universities in the world, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022.

1. National University Of Singapore

As the oldest higher education institution in the country the National University of Singapore (NUS) has a long history of development and reshuffle. 

By focusing on students and their personal development, the university has supported the entrepreneurial endeavours of its students over the last few years. Together with its commitment to research, this has raised the university’s public profile and placed it among the world’s leading academic institutions.

With over 370 different degrees including bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral degrees and graduate diplomas, the university has a lot to offer across its three campuses and 16 faculties. Its multicultural community brings together students and members of staff from over 100 countries around the world.

NUS enables students to design their university pathway to focus on their preferred subjects. Resources include the 1.5 million titles kept in seven libraries. The NUS Overseas Programme and the partnership with other universities ensure that students can also study and travel abroad.

NUS has particular research strength in fields include engineering, environmental studies and physical science.

2. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) is a highly ranked publicly funded university in Singapore. 

Founded in 1981, the institution is committed to extensive research in seven different fields including engineering, business, humanities, arts and social sciences and medicine.

Located on the city’s periphery, its main campus Tunnan Garden covers 2km². With 16 halls of residence, previously an Olympic Village, the campus is considered to have the biggest on-campus residence infrastructure in Singapore.

To guarantee the best possible service to its bachelor’s and master’s students, the university has joined efforts with international partners such as Imperial College London to open a new medical school. The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine is now actively engaged with research aiming to bring positive changes to healthcare in Singapore. 

The university’s award-winning courses help two-thirds of its graduates secure graduate employment prior to completing their course. Some of these employers include companies such as JP Morgan, Deusche Bank and Seagate. 

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® 2021, offering courses in a wide range of subjects to their student populations of over 30,000 each.

National University Of Singapore 

Singapore’s global superstar, the National University of Singapore (NUS) is currently ranked 11th in the QS World University Rankings, and first in the QS Asia University Rankings 2021. Within the QS World University Rankings by Subject, NUS displays a breadth of high performance which can be rivalled by very few universities in the world. The school is now ranked seventh in the world for the engineering and technology broad subject area, and sixth for civil engineering.  It’s also within the top 10 for social sciences & management.

Nanyang Technological University

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) was ranked just two places behind NUS in the QS World University Rankings® and two places in the QS Asia University Rankings, ranked 13th in the world and 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. In recent developments, NTU enrolled the first batch of students at its new Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in the summer of 2013, as part of a collaborative venture with the UK’s Imperial College London.

Trying to decide between NUS and NTU? Read a comparison of these two top universities in Singapore here. 

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 at 511-520 in the World University Rankings and 99th in Asia, the university also places within the global top 100 for accounting, economics and business the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018.

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.

Fast Facts

  • Official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil, with over 75 percent of the population fluent in English.
  • Made up of over 60 islands, of which the biggest is Singapore Island, also known as Pulau Ujong.
  • Population: about 5.8 million, of which 62 percent are citizens and 38 percent are permanent residents or foreign workers and students.
  • Vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road.
  • Amount needed for living costs: US$8,000 per year.
  • Average tuition fees for international undergraduates: US$14,400 per year.
  • Students can work full time during holidays and up to 16 hours per week in term time.
  • Currency: Singapore dollar (SGD/S$)
  • Time zone: Singapore Standard Time (UTC +8)
  • Singapore was founded by Britain in 1819, gained independence in 1963, became part of Malaysia the same year and finally separated into an independent state in 1965.
  • The People’s Action Party has won every election since self-governance was granted in 1959.
  • Head of state is the President, a largely ceremonial role. Leader of government is the Prime Minister.
  • Around the same size as Fresno, California, but has a population of approximately 10 times larger.
  • Singaporeans are the fastest walkers on the planet – their walking speed is about 6.15km per hour

Singapore’s Six Public Universities

Singapore has six public universities offering different disciplines and programmes will lead to higher education degrees such as bachelor degree, master degree, doctoral degrees and graduate diplomas. These universities are funded by the government and open to both Singaporean and foreign students.

National University Of Singapore (NUS)

The National University of Singapore (NUS) is the first autonomous and research university in Singapore. It is a public university established in 1905 as former King Edward VII College of Medicine, and was established with the merger of the University of Singapore and Nanyang University in 1980.

NUS is a leading global university also a premier university in Asia. In recent years of all world reputed university ranking systems, NUS remain in the world top 100 universities. It also has particular research strength in fields of engineering, environmental studies and physical science.

Rankings of National University of Singapore (NUS)

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University RankingsRankTimes Higher Education (THE) World University RankingsRankU.S. News & World ReportRankAcademic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)Rank
QS World University Ranking 202011THE World University Ranking 201923Best Global Universities Rankings 201938Academic Ranking of World Universities Ranking 201967
QS Asian University Rankings 20191THE Asia University Rankings 20192N.AN.AN.AN.A
QS Graduate Employability Ranking 201933THE World Reputation Ranking 201924N.AN.AN.AN.A



Till today, NUS has 17 schools offers over 383 different courses and programmes which lead to higher education degrees such as bachelor degree, master degree, doctoral degrees and graduate diplomas.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

Nanyang Technological University is the second-largest university in Singapore. It is established in 1955 as former Nanyang University, and formed as NTU after the merge with National Institution of Education.

NTU has four major colleges, a medical school established in collaborating with Imperial College London, and host four autonomous research and educational institutes. They are:

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  • College of Engineering
  • College of Business (Nanyang Business School)
  • College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
  • College of Science
  • Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (partnership with Imperial College London)
  • Rajaratnam Institute for International Relations
  • National Institute of Education
  • Singapore Earth Observation and Research Institute
  • Singapore Environmental Bioengineering

NTU’s college of engineering is one of world largest engineering college. The MBA programme offered by the college of business (Nanyang Business School) is the world top 50 MBAs. The College of Science is the only science college in Singapore offering an honours degree in science, mathematics and mathematics science.

Rankings for Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University RankingsRankTimes Higher Education (THE) World University RankingsRankU.S. News & World ReportRankAcademic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)Rank
QS World University Ranking 202011THE World University Ranking 201951Best Global Universities Rankings 201949Academic Ranking of World Universities Ranking 201973
QS Asian University Rankings 20193THE Asia University Rankings 20196
QS Top 50 Under 50 20201THE Young University Rankings 20193
THE World Reputation Ranking 201951-60



Singapore Management University (SMU)

Singapore Management University is established in 2000, It is Singapore’s third autonomous university. SMU was launched in collaboration with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania which one of the world top business school. SMU is aiming to establish new frontiers in the business education for Singapore and Asia.

Different from other public universities in Singapore, SMU adopted the course credit system similar from American universities, and also the seminar-based teaching method.

Although SMU is a young university less than 20 years of history, it already at the forefront of world reputed university ranking systems. The Lee Kong Chian School of Business is the first and only triple-accredited business school in Singapore.

Rankings for Singapore Management University (SMU)

Overall RankingRankSubject RankingRank
Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University RankingsU.S. News & World Report
QS World University Ranking 2020477Best Global Universities 2019 for Economics and Business75
QS Asian University Rankings 201978
QS Top 50 Under 50 202071-80



All SMU students have the opportunities to enrol in overseas exchange programmes, the partner universities including the world top universities such as Carnegie Mellon University,  the Wharton School in the University of Pennsylvania etc. Besides that, SMU students can also take elective models that suit their needs across schools to pursue a second major. With these benefits, it can help SMU graduates gain more and better career opportunities.

As of today, SMU comprised six schools offering undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programmes, the schools are:

  • Lee Kong Chian School of Business
  • School of Accountancy
  • School of Economic
  • School of Information Systems
  • School of Law
  • School of Social Science

Singapore University Of Technology And Design (SUTD)

Singapore University of Technology and Design founded in 2009, it is the fourth autonomous and public university in Singapore after NUS, NTU and SMU.

Different from other public universities in Singapore, students can complete degree programmes in 3.5 years. Coupled with the academic terms starts in May, ahead of other universities which starts in September. SUTD students can graduate eight months earlier than the same batch of students.

In addition, starting from the 2nd academic year, SUTD students will have the Independent Academic Period. In this period, students have the opportunities to the courses outside their specialization or participate in the Internship Preparation Plan which allows students to communicate with instructors from the industry to help them prepare for the workplace ahead.

SUTD still is a young university and need time to have enough graduates to ranked in the global ranking system. SUTD has a strong connection and partnership with world top universities. It is established in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Zhejiang University.

Rankings for Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD)

Overall RankingRankSubject RankingRank
Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)U.S. News & World Report
Academic Ranking of World Universities Ranking 2019801-900Best Global Universities 2019 for Computer Science38
Best Global Universities 2019 for Engineering316
Best Global Universities 2019 for Physics582



SUTD offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in five different areas:

  • Architecture and Sustainable Design
  • Engineering Product Development
  • Engineering Systems and Design
  • Information Systems Technology and Design
  • Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Singapore Institute Of Technology (SIT)

Singapore Institution of Technology established in 2009. It is the fifth autonomous university in Singapore, also the first applied learning university in Singapore.

SIT is primarily intended for students who have graduated with an appropriate diploma from one of the Polytechnics in Singapore. Now, SIT also accepting students from Junior colleges in Singapore and students with other international qualifications.

Currently, SIT offers fifteen undergraduate programmes award by themselves, also offering thirty-four undergraduate programmes award jointly or with its nine reputable overseas university partners. Those degrees are grouped into five clusters, they are Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Food Technology, Infocomm Technology, Health and Social Sciences, as well as Design and Specialized Businesses.

SIT now hosting its students in five campuses located in the five polytechnics in Singapore. It going to move to its new Punggol North campus in 2023.

As a young university, SIT does no show much on the university rankings yet, it is doesn’t means the university is a bad university. University rankings usually take academic reputation, Research citations and papers published, those important factors heavily to measure the rank of a university. SIT just started to offer its own degree programmes in 2014, it is still cannot be measured.

Currently, the majority of SIT degree programmes are offered by the partnership with reputable overseas universities. Those universities either are the world top-ranking university or are the top tier of its subject field.

For degree programmes awarded SIT itself, it has the Integrated Work Study Programme (IWSP). This programme is compulsory and will be graded, though this programme, students will get a chance to do an internship with a relevant industry partner.

Singapore University Of Social Sciences (SUSS)

Singapore University of Social Sciences sixth autonomous and youngest university in Singapore. It is established in 2005 as former SIM (Singapore Institution of Management) University (UniSIM), and was renamed as Singapore University of Social Sciences in 2017.

SUSS has a strong focus on the areas of applied learning, lifelong learning, and the social sciences that dedicated to working professionals and adult learners. The degree programmes are available in a full-time and part-time basis to cater to its students.

SUSS offers more than 70 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through its five schools:

  • School of Humanities and Behavioural Sciences
  • School of Business
  • S R Nathan School of Human Development
  • School of Law
  • School of Science and Technology

Top 9 Private Universities In Singapore

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Private universities in Singapore are referred to those foreign and international universities with a local campus and also the local private education institution offering external degree programmes.

Besides the six local public universities, Singapore also the home of some world reputed universities’ Asia campus. Those foreign and international universities are offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree at their Singapore campuses.

Singapore Private University Ranking Comparison List

Name of UniversityParent University Rankings (QS 2020)Parent University Ranking (ARWU 2019)EduTrust Certification (by CPE Singapore)
Curtin University230 (Overall)201-300EduTrust
DigiPen Institute of TechnologyN.AN.AEduTrust
ESSEC Business SchoolN.A.N.AEduTrust
German Institute of Science and Technology – TUM Asia55 (Overall)48EduTrust
INSEADN.A.N.AEduTrust
James Cook University377 (Overall)201-3001st private institute to be awarded EduTrust Star
LASALLE College of the ArtsN.AN.A2nd private institute to be awarded EduTrust Star
Sorbonne-Assas International Law School – AsiaN.A.N.AEduTrust
S P Jain School of Global ManagementN.AN.AEduTrust



*University ranking comparison is based on QS world university ranking 2020 and Academic Ranking of World Universities 2019.

**CPE Singapore stands for the Committee for Private Education Singapore. The committee is in charge of ensuring academic standards and quality of service to students in the private education sector in Singapore.

Curtin Singapore

Curtin University Singapore campus was officially open in 2008 and is managed by the Curtin Education Center of the Navitas Education Group. It offers degrees in commerce, communication, management and health practices related degrees.

The Academic Ranking of World Universities 2019 ranked Curtin University in the top 2% of university worldwide.

Curtin Singapore is one of the private institutions who received the Singapore Education Trust Certification awarded by the Committee of Private Education Singapore. This award is for the Singapore private institution which provides their quality education and improvements leading to a good education outcome.

DigiPen Institute Of Technology Singapore

By invitation by Singapore Economic Development Board, DigiPen Institution of Technology set out its 1st international campus in Singapore in 2008.

DigiPen Institution of Technology ranked 4th in the Top 50 Games Design Undergraduate in 2019 and remain top 5 in the same ranking by Princeton review for last 10 years.

As of today, DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore offers five digital entertainment focusing bachelor’s degree programs in the areas of enterprise software, virtual reality, finance, digital entertainment, and automotive technology.

ESSEC Business School

ESSEC Business School set up its first overseas college in Singapore, the ESSEC Business School Asia-Pacific campus in 2015. They offering graduate programs offered include business administration, management, finance, international business, and healthcare management.

The programs have been offered in ESSEC Business school consistently recognised worldwide. ESSEC ranked 4th in Master of management and 5th in Master of finance by Financial Times. Also ranked 4th for Management and Business Analytics degrees by QS Business Masters Rankings 2019.

Students who enrolled in the ESSEC Global Business Management program must complete at least one year in Singapore and France, and do internships in a third country.

German Institute Of Science And Technology – TUM Asia

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) was invited by the Singapore Economic Development board and set up their branch campus subsidiary – the German Institute of Science and Technology – TUM Asia in 2002.

TUM ranked within top 2 Germany university in the World University Academic Rankings (ARWU) for consecutive nine years from 2011. It also ranked within the top 25 worldly in the engineering and technology field for consecutive three years(QS World University Rankings by Faculty 2017-2019).

TUM Asia offers five masters of science programs in partnership with the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Two bachelors of science courses in the partnership the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT).

INSEAD

The European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD) opened its Asia campus in Singapore in 1999.

INSEAD ranked 1st in International MBA Programme by Bloomberg Businessweek 2017, Also ranked 2nd at QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019 – Business & Management Studies.

INSEAD Asia campus offers a range of business programmes in degree and PhD programmes, also provides executive education for management and leadership programmes.

James Cook University Singapore

James Cook University Australia established its Singapore campus in 2003 and offering a series of excellent degree programs suits Singapore campus. James Cook University Singapore offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the field of Business, Information Technology, Psychology, Education, Accounting, Arts, Aquaculture, Environmental Science, Games Design, Tourism and Hospitality.

In 2015, JCU Singapore was the 1st institution received the Singapore Education Trust Certification Star Rating (Edu Trust Star), and obtain it again in 2019. This is the highest level of award in the non-public university sector to the institutions who were managing their institutions and providing an outstanding quality of education and welfare for their students.

The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) has ranked James Cook University top 2% of universities worldwide for the past seven years (2013 – 2019).

JCU Singapore provides an opportunity for students to study in both Singapore and Australia. Students have opportunities to choose to complete their degrees in Singapore, or start their degree studies in Singapore first and complete their degree in Australia later.

LASALLE College Of The Arts

LASALLE College of the arts founded in 1984, It is a non-profit private educational institution funded by the Singapore Ministry of Education and the only pure arts institution in Singapore that providing master degree programs.

In 2015, Lasalle College of the Arts had become the second institution to win the Singapore Education Trust Certification Star Rating that awarded to the private education sector for meeting all key areas of management and providing quality education services.

LASALLE has eight art and design schools that offer more than 30 contemporary arts and design education programmes in diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Sorbonne-Assas International Law School – Asia

University Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas launch a range of law programmes in Singapore and branded as Sorbonne-Assas International Law School – Asia in 2011.

Sorbonne-Assas International Law School – Asia offers LL.M in international business law, and two short programmes aim for preparing the future financial and legal directors, managers of holdings or big companies, or their counsels, to their positions.

S P Jain School Of Global Management

By the invitation of the Singapore government, S P Jain School of Global Management established their Singapore campus in 2006.

S P Jain School of Global Management’s Global MBA program has been ranked 4th in the world in the Times Higher Education-Wall Street Journal Business School Rankings of one year MBA degrees.

S P Jain School of Global Management Singapore campus offers one undergraduate program in  Bachelor of business administration, and three postgraduate programs in Master of global business,  Global MBA, and Executive MBA.

Universities In Singapore

TitleBachelorMaster
11Harvard University66,900 USD66,900 USD
22Massachusetts Institute of Technology58,240 USD58,240 USD
33Stanford University47,331 USD44,184 USD
41University of Cambridge24,831 USD24,831 USD
54California Institute of Technology48,111 USD48,111 USD
62University of Oxford21,693 USD21,693 USD
75Princeton University41,820 USD43,720 USD
86University of Chicago48,253 USD45,000 USD
93University College London25,237 USD24,948 USD
107Yale University45,800 USD44,800 USD



Advantages Of Universities In Singapore

  • Positions in ratings. According to the international rating QS, National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University share 11th place in the world and occupy 1st and 2nd place in Asia, respectively. And the THE rating put NUS and NTU on 25th and 61st place worldwide, respectively.
  • Language of instruction. One of the official languages ​​of the country is English — training in all educational institutions is conducted in it. For everyone who wants to get quality knowledge using an international language, which can subsequently be used in many countries of the world, Singaporean universities are an excellent choice.
  • Admission transparency. Universities provide a complete step by step guide on admission online. For each program, clear requirements are indicated. Sometimes these websites can even have so much information that applicants can get confused, but universities have their own representatives who are always ready to help applicants.
  • Freedom to learn. The country’s universities have a flexible system of programs and choice of subjects. For example, in some universities, students have the opportunity to combine undergraduate and graduate programs, get a double degree, and study an exchange semester at another university. To reduce the study duration and tuition fees, you can choose a more intensive schedule and reduce practice hours.
  • International environment. Singapore is a real melting pot of Asia. It unites Malay, British, Chinese, and Indian cultures, and this affects the study environment at the universities themselves. Students from foreign countries are actively coming to Singapore, which creates a unique atmosphere of dynamism and a variety of opinions, languages, ​​and cultures at universities.

Disadvantages Of Universities In Singapore

  • High cost. Despite the fact that the cost of education in Singapore is lower than in the USA or the UK, it can still be quite expensive. Moreover, living costs are added to the price, which makes studying in Singapore even harder on the wallet. However, it is worth noting that Singaporeans themselves regard paid education as a matter of course. Because they believe that the high quality of knowledge and prestige of the diploma will help to find a well-paid job. And this will make the money spent on education well worth it.
  • Tough competition. Higher education is highly valued by the local population, so there are more people who want to enter the best universities in Singapore than there are vacant places. It is also worth noting that the state does not allocate quotas for foreign student
  • Autonomy. Singapore has developed its own secondary education system, which is similar to the British and consists of several stages and the GCE exam. On university sites, the criteria for 12 years of secondary education are often indicated for admission to bachelor’s programs. If you have studied for 11 years, then you will need to contact the university and present your case. They will either accept your education with the condition of passing the SAT exam and an excellent secondary education certificate, or you will need to study for an extra year at the Foundation or IB program or at a junior college.
  • Work while studying. Under Singapore law, students are allowed to work 16 hours a week. But the Ministry of Labor has defined a list of universities whose students may be employed. If your university is not listed, then you can not count on a part-time job. But even if this is not the case, other difficulties may arise. Some universities do not approve of work outside the campus, as the main task of the student is to gain knowledge, and not to earn money. If the administration decides that the vacancy does not increase your professional competence, the work will not be approved.

Requirements For Admission To Universities In Singapore

ProgramAgeDurationMin costAvg. costMin. language proficiencyExams
Foundation16+1 year2,975 USD7,438 USDB1IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL 66
Bachelor’s17+3-4 years8,926 USD44,631 USDB2IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 85
MBA20+1-2 years29,754 USD59,507 USDC1IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 85
Master’s20+1-2 years22,315 USD66,946 USDC1IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 85
Doctoral20+2–5 years10,414 USD26,778 USDC1IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 85



Universities in Singapore offer training that meets the international standards: bachelor’s degrees (3-4 years), master’s degrees (1-2 years), doctoral degrees (2-5 years). For admission to each level of education, a student needs to prepare the documents and present himself and his achievements in a favourable light. The admission committee draws attention to academic performance, exam results, and student motivation. The language of teaching and communication in universities is English. Therefore, foreigners need to pass international exams IELTS/TOEFL. In addition to language exams, universities also request results of GRE/GMAT/SAT and conduct interviews. Admission requirements vary depending on the program and university.

All documents must be translated and uploaded online

Types Of Educational Institutions In Singapore

The system of higher education in Singapore is somewhat unique and represented by the following types of institutions:

  • Junior colleges and Millennia Institute. These are pre-university educational institutions in Singapore. Their graduates can continue their studies at polytechnics or universities;
  • Singapore Sports School (SSP) and School of the Arts (SOTA) are specialized independent schools that offer education for students in a variety of sports and arts;
  • The Institute for Technical Education (ITE) provides students with technical and vocational education through full-time NitecHigher Nitec, or internship programs with employers. After graduation, you can find a job or continue training at polytechnics;
  • Polytechnics are educational institutions in which students are taught technical and applied specialties. The education process is based on project training and practical immersion. After a polytechnic, students can go to a university or start working;
  • LASALLE and NAFA. LASALLE College of the Arts and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) — are institutions that offer diploma programs and bachelor’s degrees in visual and performing arts, such as music, theater, dance, fashion, and interior design. After graduation, students can immediately start looking for a job;
  • State subsidiary educational institutions. They offer industry programs to applicants. For example, BCA Academy, Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA), IP Academy;
  • Autonomous universities. There are only 6 autonomous universities in Singapore. These large universities provide the widest range of academic, research, and future employment opportunities for its students.

Colleges In Singapore

Junior Colleges and Millennia Institute. Junior colleges are pre-university institutes in which studies last for 2 years. College graduates receive a GCE of level “A” or an IB diploma.

Millennia Institute is the only centralized institution in Singapore offering a three-year pre-university education. At the end of the school, students take the “A” level GCE exam. Unlike junior colleges, at the Millennia Institute, students have an extra year for project work, in-depth language learning, and preparation for national exams.

Junior colleges and the centralized institute offer a wide selection of programs and subjects. The curriculum in them is versatile and includes disciplines from different fields: mathematics and natural sciences, humanities and art. After graduating from a junior college or a centralized institute, graduates can continue their studies at polytechnic schools or universities if they pass the “A” level GCE.

International students wishing to enroll in JC or MI must apply directly to schools from October to December. However, the Ministry of Education emphasizes the fact that the admission of foreign students is not guaranteed. Admission committees evaluate the applicant’s compliance with the admission criteria. A large role in admission is played by the availability of free seats[1].

Institute of Technical Education (ITE). This is a public vocational education institution in Singapore. ITE prepares high school graduates for employment or for admission to a polytechnic, and has programs of continuing education for already working adults. The following disciplines are taught at the institute: engineering and technology, applied sciences, accounting, business administration, medicine, architecture, law, design, media, and cooking.

Until 2005, 10 colleges were located in Singapore, but then the state adopted the “One ITE system, 3 colleges” education model. As a result, 10 colleges merged into 3: ITE College CentralITE College East, and ITE College West. They offer:

  • National ITE Certificate (NITEC);
  • Graduate NITEC;
  • Technical diploma;
  • Work-Study diploma.

It is worth noting that for most graduates, and generally Singaporeans, it is a very important step to continue their education and improve their skills. ITE in this case acts as a springboard to the next stage of training. According to the Minister of Education, 7 out of 10 graduates receive higher qualifications after technical education throughout the career. According to statistics, about half of NITEC graduates continue their studies at Higher NITEC courses at ITE, and the rest — at diploma programs in polytechnics and ITE

Polytechnics. They offer three-year training in various disciplines and accept students on the basis of “O” and “A” level GCE or the results of studying at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). For foreign students, certain diploma requirements are set. For example, Singapore Polytechnic, if your country is not listed, assesses qualifications based on their equivalence to GCE level “O” exams (certificate 11). Polytechnic schools offer three-year full-time and part-time programs in various disciplines, as well as programs of continuing education for working adults who already have diplomas and degrees and want to update their knowledge and skills, and maybe even change their profession.

There are currently 5 polytechnic universities in Singapore: Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), Republic Polytechnic (RP), Singapore Polytechnic (SP), Temasek Polytechnic (TP).

Areas of study at polytechnics include business, accounting, tourism and hotel management, mass communications, biotechnology. More specialized courses are also available, such as marine engineering, aeronautical research, optometry, and nursing.

One of the features of polytechnic education is a strong emphasis on practical training. Internships are part of the curriculum and can last from 6 weeks to six months. This gives students valuable experience and the opportunity to work with experts in their respective fields. After graduating from polytechnic universities, students can go to university or start working.

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