Study in Singapore for Indian Students


Singapore has attracted a lot of international students to continue their higher education in this country. Students and working professionals decided to get their degree in Singapore since this country is one of the best destinations offering advanced education systems. It has a lot of good learning institutions providing a variety to choose courses that suit your interests and needs. Its safe city makes the atmosphere in Singapore supports the learning activities of the students. In addition, the tuition fee is considerably lower than the education in advanced countries, such as US, UK and Germany. In fact, the study cost in Singapore is cheaper than pursuing education in Australia. All aspects of life in this Asian country are also well-organized. Therefore, Singapore is the perfect place for people who want to continue their education with high standards and tuition fees that are relatively low.

Based on several factors that have been mentioned previously, many overseas students, especially from countries in Asia like India, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Vietnam, continue their higher education in Singapore. Foreign students from western countries, such as Ireland, Switzerland, New Zealand, Netherland, Canada, France and Russia also chose Singapore to study arts and culture. Among those students from abroad, the number of Indian students is significant. They pursue their degrees in various top colleges in Singapore. In fact, they much prefer the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) which are the top universities recognized internationally.

In addition to high quality education, complete facilities, modern campuses and low tuition fees, many universities and polytechnics offer a variety of disciplines. Indian student can learn business management, accounting, technology, computer, hospitality management, engineering, law and politics in the learning institute offering the program. Studying foreign languages, such as Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Japanese is also possible since there are a lot of courses allowing students to learn the language they are interested in. Singapore also has many institutions that offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs. That is why Indian students make Singapore a popular option to earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

In many latest news articles or group posting on Facebook, Twitter, blog, it is mentioned that there are thousands of Indian students who come to Singapore to study. Each year, approximately 3,000 students from India continue their education at various schools or universities. At this time, there is up to 25% growth of Indians studying in Singapore year on year, making this country a favoured education destination for the Indian students. Many of them wish to study MBA or PhD program at one of the best universities in the country. Singapore Government provides an opportunity for them to learn certain subject with the support of the professional. In general, the requirements to study in Singapore can be seen on the site of Ministry of Education (MOE). For admission requirements and required examination, the universities provide the detailed information on their websites. Therefore, an international student who plans on studying in Singapore can visit the websites for the details.

If you are an Indian student and choose Singapore to pursue your degree, you must meet several general requirements. Here is a guide for Indian students who wish to study in Singapore:

Student Visa or Pass

After receiving an acceptance letter from the institution of your choice, you can apply for a student’s pass or visa. This is so you are eligible to stay in Singapore during your study. It is important to note that the acceptance letter is valid for 2 weeks only. Therefore, the visa application is made once you receive the letter. You should apply for the visa at the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) of Singapore. The application can be done online through SOLAR (Student’s Pass Online Application & Registration) system. Applying for a visa will require cost. The processing fee is USD 30 or INR 1,131.53. There is also an additional issuance fee. You will be required to pay USD 60 or INR 2,262.91. Having English proficiency is a must. You need to have a TOEFL or IELTS certificate to demonstrate your English language skill.  Click here to visit the website of the ICA.

Financial Assistance

Compared to most Asian countries, the cost of living in Singapore is relatively high. However, to ease the financial burden of overseas students, the Singapore Government provides many opportunities to get financial assistance. There are a lot of fellowship and scholarship programs offered by various agencies and the Singapore Government. Students with good academic skills can apply for the scholarships. However, not only good academic skills, scholarship providers also have other factors as their consideration in awarding the scholarship. That is why it is important to do research on the eligibility of the scholarships offered. SIA Youth Scholarships is a program for Indian students provided by Singapore Airlines. The purpose of the program is to help students who wish to continue their education in Pre-University 1. There is also a Singapore-based organization, the Singapore Millennium Foundation that provides scholarships to international post-graduate and post-doctoral students.

Work Permit

Students are allowed to find part-time jobs to earn extra income during their stay in Singapore. There are many companies that offer work opportunity that can help the students financially. However, there are several requirements regulated the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Students are required to have a work permit in order to find a part-time job. Visit this link to find a list of institutions that allow foreign students to find part-time work. If you are on a scholarship program, make sure you ask permission from your sponsor before looking for a job.

Types of work permit:

  • Training Work Permit
  • Training Employment Pass
  • Work Holiday Programme (WHP)

Estimated Study and Living Costs in Singapore

To study in Singapore, you have to prepare enough funds for living expenses and your study cost in this country. Here are the estimated study costs:

Dentistry/Medicine (paid annually)

  • Tuition per year: SGD 83,870
  • Ministry of Education Tuition Grant: SGD 64,600
  • Direct Payment (tuition fee payable): SGD 19,270

Based non-lab (paid annually)

  • Tuition per year: SGD 20,420 – 21,950
  • Ministry of Education Tuition Grant: SGD 13,700
  • Direct Payment (tuition fee payable): SGD 6,720 – 8,250

Based Lab (paid annually)

  • Tuition per year: SGD 22,420
  • Ministry of Education Tuition Grant: SGD 15,700
  • Direct Payment (tuition fee payable): SGD 19,270

Music (paid annually)

  • Tuition per year: SGD 40,330
  • Ministry of Education Tuition Grant: SGD 32,000
  • Direct Payment (tuition fee payable): SGD 8,330

Institute of Technical Education (paid annually)

  • Higher Nitec: SGD 2,000
  • Nitec: SGD 1,200

For your living costs, below is an estimate of your regular expenses:

  • Food: SGD 200 – 450
  • Accommodation: SGD 200 – 1,500
  • Utilities: SGD 50 – 80
  • Books and Stationery: SGD 30 – 100
  • Public transport: SGD 40- 100
  • Hospitalization Medical Insurance: SGD 5      – 8
  • Telecommunications: SGD 30 – 50
  • Personal expenses: SGD 100 – 200

To get more information on studying in Singapore for Indian students, you can join some forums discussing education in the country. You can post a question and get answers from the member. It is also advised to meet consultants who can assist you in finding the best university and learn about the admission and required test or exams. This will give you information on the terms and conditions you need to know as well. During your study, you might also undergo training as part of the study. After the completion of your study, you are free to go back to your home country or search for jobs in Singapore. However, since the Singapore Government has strict regulation regarding working in this country, you are advised to visit the site of MOM.

Source:http://studyinsingaporeguide.com/study-in-singapore-for-indian-students/