Study in Singapore
Although Singapore is very small in size, the country has a booming and extremely stable economy. Singapore is considered among the top educational destinations in the world. Two of the Singaporean public universities- Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and National University of Singapore (NUS)- are ranked top 3 in Asia and both ranked 11th in QS World University Rankings in 2020. This attract students from all over the world to enrol in Singapore’s universities and earn a world-class degree, ranked alongside other elite institutions in the UK and USA.
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Besides, Singapore has been named as Garden City because the streets are lined with trees. There are so many green parks designed all around the island. The city is very clean and has very strict punishments for people who litter around (a fine of SGD 1000 if you litter for the first time and a fine of SGD 5000 if you repeat the offence). The crime rates are low, the streets are safe - even late in the night.
Steps to study in Singapore
STEP 1:
Research your options
Singapore tertiary education is made up of public and private education providers. We will cover the essentials of applying to private education providers to Singapore here.
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The main advantage to studying at a private institution in Singapore:
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Earn a UK or Australian degree
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Qualifications can be attained in a shorter time-frame, i.e. a 3-year UK degree can be completed in 2 years in Singapore
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Save time and money
There are a number of Australian degree options in Singapore such as those awarded by Curtin University, Edith Cowan, James Cook, LaTrobe, RMIT and more. UK degrees that are available in Singapore include those awarded by Coventry University, Edinburgh Napier, Manchester Metropolitan and more.
STEP 2:
Applying to university
You can submit an application directly to the education provider or get the help of an education agent or consultant.
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Academic requirement: Students who have completed high school, i.e. IGCSE/ SPM in Malaysia are eligible to begin their tertiary studies in Singapore. Depending on your programme of study, you may or may not need A-levels or pre-university qualification.
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English: Students who wish to study in Singapore need to fulfil English language requirement by either showing that they have a good score for English in their high school certificate, or taking an approved English test such as IELTS or TOEFL. Many education providers also offer their internal English test which students can take for free.
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Students who are submitting applications to education providers will also submit the required forms for a student pass at the same time.
STEP 3:
Study pass application
As an international student, you must apply for a student pass after being accepted for a full-time study program by an educational institution in Singapore. It is recommended that you apply for a Student Pass at least 4 to 6 weeks before starting your studies. You can submit your application for the pass on the official registration system but usually, the education provider will handle your student pass application so you need not worry about the process.
STEP 4:
Living and accommodation
Once your student pass is approved, you can make arrangements to fly to Singapore to begin your studies. Most education providers will help students with accommodation arrangements.
Living in Singapore can be a costly affair. The average cost for an international student in Singapore is around SGD1,500 per month.