Best universities in Singapore 2024

A unique city-country that combines modern technologies, oriental culture and European way of life is Singapore. According to the latest data, this country is one of the world leaders in the quality of university education, and this is not accidental, because about 20% of the state budget is spent on this area. And given the fact that, along with high quality, education here is distinguished by a relatively affordable cost, it becomes clear why a huge number of foreign students prefer to spend their student years here.

Singapore’s higher educational system follows the worldwide standards: for 3-4 years of study, a student can get a Bachelor’s degree, another 1-3 years will allow him to become a Master, and the duration of postgraduate studies will be 2-4 years.

At the end of the 20th century, the country's educational system underwent significant changes: English became the official language of all educational institutions, and the university system was divided into 4 categories.

1. State universities 

6 out of 34 universities in Singapore are state-owned, have financial support from the government and the highest quality education. The most prestigious university is the National University of Singapore (NUS), one of TOP-25 world universities in many respects. Also high places in world rankings are stably held by the Singapore Management University and the Nanyang Technological University.

2. Private universities

Independent private universities, as a rule, are not funded by the state and are not subordinate to the Ministry of Education, therefore they have a right to an individual program in a certain field. A good example of such a university is the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA).

3. Official branches of Western universities

In recent years, Singapore has established strong ties with European and American universities, whose campuses are now located on the territory of the country. This is a great chance for a foreign student, because studying in Singapore will cost an order of magnitude cheaper and studying will take less time, and the diploma received will have exactly the same strength and prestige as the diploma of the main university.

4. Polytechnic

In polytechnic schools, students study applied and technical sciences, preparing for professional activities, but they do not have graduate school. Graduates of these institutions can continue their studies at the best world universities, while having received a right not to attend subjects taught during their studies at polytechnic universities.

The course of full school education in Singapore is 12 years, so a foreign graduate will not be able to immediately enter the University of Singapore on the basis of his certificate. This situation has several solutions:

• Study for one course at a university in a student's country, and then enter the University in Singapore;
• Enter the so-called Foundation Course, which allows applicants to finish their studies the missing year, at the same time improve their English proficiency and prepare for the features of the educational system in Singapore.

Most Singaporean universities agree to conduct online interviews with applicants, which greatly simplifies and speeds up the admission process and reduces the time it takes to prepare documents. Therefore, if you are thinking about studying at the University of Singapore, a package of documents should be ready at least 4 months before admission.

All international students entering higher education programs must apply for a student visa. As a rule, the university assists in the preparation of documents by sending a letter of confirmation of enrollment to the applicant - this letter must be attached to the package of documents indicated on the website of the Singapore Consulate, pay a visa fee (about $ 25) and wait for a positive decision. As a rule, 99% of foreign students receive the approval of the consulate and go to study at the chosen university. A student visa imposes on the student several important obligations:

• You can study only at the university that you indicated in the visa application form;
• Any work on a student visa is prohibited and threatens with deportation.

Singaporean universities are an excellent option for studying abroad, because its quality is not inferior to the European one, and the cost is much lower than in England or Australia.

Traditionally, the most expensive specialties are medicine and dentistry: a year of study at Singapore Medical University can cost $40,000. And on average, the price for one course of study at a Singapore private or public university is in the range from $4,000 to $15,000. 

Unfortunately, most universities in Singapore do not provide international students with an opportunity to live on campus, so, as a rule, students independently rent a studio or apartment for several people - this will cost about $ 300-400 a month.

The cost of food and meals in the cafe is also low, city transport has an extensive route network and affordable price, and the huge amount of entertainment available will allow a student at a Singapore university to spend at least 200 - 300 $ per month.

All foreign students in Singapore can apply for grant support from the Ministry of Education of the country. An educational grant fully covers all expenses for studying, but establishes one rule - a graduate must work for at least 3 years in a company registered in Singapore. 

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