About SINGAPORE

Study in Singapore

Singapore has four national universities. Then there are polytechnics which offer tertiary education through diploma courses, which are practical courses with plenty of group work. Diplomas are offered in Tourism, Biotechnology, Digital Media, Engineering, Business Studies, Mass Communications, Accountancy, and Hospitality Management. The five polytechnics of Singapore are Nanyang Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, and Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

For international students, Indian Standard 12 marksheet acts as the qualifier for entry into undergraduate courses, whether it is CBSE, ISCE or State boards. Admissions are based on academic merit as well as competition among all eligible applicants. In addition to fulfilling admission requirements for the international student category, Indian students are also required to fulfil the subject prerequisites for the courses which they are applying for. For example, if you are looking for admission in Business Administration, then you need to have passed Mathematics in your 12th standard or at some other higher level. Or if you are considering civil engineering, then you need to have passed Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry at least on the school level. *

College Fit: At the higher education level, students have a wide range of options when they choose a college or university. Although there are agencies that attempt to place colleges and universities in rank order, the concept of “fit” is also important. The GPA* of admitted students are important, but majors offered, location, number of students enrolled, and campus culture are all factors in a prospective student’s decision.

Popular student destinations: The top universities in Singapore are Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Singapore Management University (SMU), in no particular order. International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, Information Technology, Management, Finance/Accounting and Engineering are a few popular courses Indian students pursue in Singapore.

Safety in Singapore: Singapore has a well-deserved reputation for being safe and relatively crime-free. Major crimes like murder and rape, are dealt with severely and swiftly. The government has also made it known that extremism originating from religion or race has no place in Singapore, and it will not hesitate to take action against any extremists or terrorist groups or individuals.

Weather: Singapore's weather is warm and humid, ranging from an average of 31°C during the day and 24°C at night. It rains throughout the year with heavier rain during the monsoon season, which lasts from November to January.

Why study in Singapore?

55,000 foreign nationals’ study in Singapore yearly
Get visa within 4 weeks
Success rate of Singapore Student Visas is 93%
International students can work up to 16 hours per week

Singapore's citizen-friendly standards and exceptional quality of life make it an ideal destination for students. The country's safety and security provide a perfect environment for students to explore and engage in a wide range of activities, enriching their educational experience.

What is a Singapore Student visa?

For foreign students planning to study full-time in Singapore, a student visa is crucial, particularly for programs exceeding 30 days. Singapore has introduced SOLAR, the Student Pass Online Application and Registration System, to efficiently manage and monitor student visa applications.

Students applying for a Singapore Student Visa are suggested to apply for it at least a month before they start their academic year or semester
For students under 19 years of age, student passes are directly processed by the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
A student who is above 20 years of age and planning to study fine arts, vocational, language, or commerce programs must give an interview
Holders of Singapore Study Pass are allowed to work part-time jobs in the city. After completing the course, you will be asked to submit your Singapore Student Visa
In order to explore job opportunities in Singapore after completing their course, international students are required to apply for the 'visit' pass, which allows them to extend their stay for a year

Types of Singapore Student Visas

Type of Pass / Who can apply?

Training Employment Pass - Foreign professionals require this visa to undergo practical training. These employees must earn at least S$3,000/ month.

Work Holiday Pass (under the Work Holiday Program) - This visa is required for students and graduates who are between 18 and 25 years of age and want to work and have a holiday at the same time for 6 months.

Work Holiday Pass (under the Work and Holiday Visa Program) - Students and graduates of Australia between the ages 18 to 30 who would want to work and holiday both at the same time in Singapore for 1 year require this visa.

Training Work Permit - This visa is required by semi-skilled foreign trainees or students who are undergoing practical training in Singapore for up to 6 months.

Requirements to Study in Singapore

Valid Passport
Application form (ICA form 16) and fee payment receipt
Passport size photographs
Bank statements witnessing your financial ability to pay tuition fees
Standardized Test Scores (IELTS, GRE, GMAT, TOEFL)
Education Transcripts
If you have applied for a student loan, ICA might require a sanction letter from the bank with proof of investments
Vaccination certificates

How to apply for a Singapore Student Visa?

Step 1: Check your eligibility for a Singapore student visa

Step 2: Arrange the checklist of documents

Step 3: Apply for the visa online

Step 4: Wait for the status

Step 5: Fly to study in Singapore

Singapore student visa fees

Candidates looking to apply for a Singapore Study Visa should pay the following fee:

Processing Fee

Every applicant submitted to ICA must pay a processing fee of S$30 (Rs 1,841 approx.). This fee is non-refundable. To submit via SOLAR, you’ll need to make payment by Internet banking or credit/debit card.

Issuance Fee

Every student's pass issued is charged an issuance fee of S$60 (Rs 3,685 approx.) and a further S$30 multiple-entry visa fee. The fee must be paid when the successful applicant completes the formalities to collect the Student's Pass.

Proof of funds needed to support yourself and your family

Living expenses in Singapore (excluding rent)

Average cost

Single person per month - 1,429 SGD

Single person per year - 17,148 SGD

University student, per year - 6,000 SGD

4 person family per month - 5,186 SGD

4 person family, per year - 62,232 SGD

Benefits of studying in Singapore

The cost of education is cheaper compared to the USA, the UK, or other study-abroad destinations
The success rate of Singapore student visas is around 93%
English is the medium of instruction in Singapore universities; there is no language barrier here
Multicultural exposure is where people from across the world come to study together
Singapore has a highly developed transportation system, well-developed infrastructure, and safety
Plenty of job opportunities and easy route to work after study abroad

Top Universities in Singapore

PSB Academy
Nanyang Technological University
East Asia Institute of Management
INSEAD
Dimensions International College
National University of Singapore
Curtin University
Heart power Tesol and Teacher Training Centre
Leadership and Management Institute
London School of Business and Finance, Singapore

Top Scholarships in Singapore for International Students

There are scholarships in Singapore for international students. If you are looking to study in Singapore for free, you should apply for the fully funded scholarship which covers both your tuition fees and living expenses while studying. Here is the list of scholarships:

SIA Youth Scholarship
ADB - Japan Scholarship for Developing Countries
GIIS Singapore Global Citizen Scholarship
Singapore International Graduate Award
Singapore Millennium Foundation Scholarships
Lee Kong Chian Graduate Scholarships
Commonwealth Scholarship for Integrated Science
ASEAN Foundation Scholarships

Eligibility to study in Singapore for Indian students

To study in Singapore, students have to fulfil specific eligibility requirements of the University that are listed below:

Students should submit their 10th and 12th-grade transcripts and show their English language ability with IELTS and TOEFL test scores. The Singapore IELTS test requires 6.5-7 points, and the TOEFL test requires 90-100 points in order to be considered for undergraduate admissions.
Private institutions require applicants with a minimum grade point average of 65% or above for bachelor's programs.
If you are applying for private universities, IELTS is not required. Students can also study in Singapore without IELTS. The universities consider other English language tests like TOEFL, CAEL, PTE, etc. or ask for proof of education where the language of instruction is in English.
Public universities require a cumulative grade point average of 90% or more in both 10th and 12th grades for bachelor programs.
Applicants, while submitting their applications to Singapore institutions, must have their SOP/LOR on hand.
Students must submit 10th, 12th, and bachelor's grade reports, SOP, 2LORs, a CV, as well as their master's report cards (if possible) while applying for Master's Programs.
In Singapore, the GRE, GMAT, or SAT test scores may be required for some courses.
Singapore requires applicants to have a recognized bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 55% or above for master's programs.
Some universities, like the NUS, NTU, SMU, SP Jain, and INSEAD, may require students to submit proof of two to three years of work experience when applying for their MBA programs.
Candidates without any prior job experience will be accepted into the MBA programs at private colleges, including the MDIS, PSB, and JCU.

Singapore Post Study Work Permit Options

Singapore post-study work visas are of different types:

Short-term visit pass

A short-term visit pass is a visa type granted to students who have recently graduated from Singapore University and whose student visa has expired. This visa allows students to stay up to 90 days in the country and provides them with time to look for job opportunities. However, employment is not allowed on this visa.

Long-term social visit pass (LTVP)

Students who graduate from a Singapore University listed with the Institute of Higher Learning and are looking for employment in Singapore will have the option to apply for a long-term social visit pass (LTVP). This visa gives you one whole year to look for a job and work on it.

Employment pass

Employment pass is for international students who have graduated and now work in managerial and specialized jobs. This visa has to be sponsored by their employer.

S Pass

S Pass is a common visa given for international students who have completed their graduation in the country and are mid-skilled like specialists and technicians. This visa can also be sponsored by the employer.

Entrepass

Entrepass is the visa given to graduates who are willing to develop an idea or entrepreneurial skills by setting up a business in the country. You need to set up a private limited company registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.