Study In Singapore

Singapore, widely known among its multicultural and multinational residents as the Little Red Dot, has made its mark on the world with many top accolades.

There are countless reasons to love this garden city, from its well-structured urban planning, to its fast-paced economic development, and its status as one of the safest countries in the world.

Education has played a key role in the rise of this tiny island nation, and the Government of Singapore continues to place a great emphasis on it. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Singapore’s universities are among some of the most highly ranked and well-regarded in the world. One of its most well-known is the National University of Singapore (NUS), which has been consistently ranked among the top three universities in Asia since 2013.

With the coronavirus pandemic restricting international travel and disrupting global higher education, tertiary-bound students planning to study abroad have had to reconsider their options. For many, Singapore comes out on top.

NUS, in line with the Singapore Government’s push toward lifelong learning and digitalisation, has created high-value, future-oriented courses that enhance students’ competitiveness and ability to adapt in the workplaces of tomorrow. Some students are drawn by the university’s enviable academic reputation, while others hold its commitment to nurturing emerging change leaders and entrepreneurs in high regard.

For adventurous and ambitious learners who have their hearts set on broadening their horizons and experiencing life as international students, here are five reasons to consider Singapore.

Singapore has a reputation for academic excellence not just in Asia, but across the world. The nation’s education system is considered world-class and boasts academic talent that is both highly advanced and competitive.

For a continuous number of years, Singapore has been named the best-performing location for the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) test conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It is also home to universities that have won global recognition for both their top-tier academics and their advanced research facilities. For example, the QS World University Rankings® 2021 listed NUS as the top university in Asia and eleventh in the world.

Perhaps not surprisingly, many internationally renowned academics and scholars have been attracted to teach and study here. No matter where students come from, their experience studying in Singapore will build on their strengths and abilities, and boldly expand their horizons and perspectives.

Singapore gained its independence in 1965 and since then has flourished and grown into an economic powerhouse. Today, it is a leading industrial centre for aerospace, precision engineering, information technology, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, the creative industry, and professional services.

Many multinational companies have set up their Asian headquarters and global research and development laboratories in Singapore. Some notable examples include Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and, more recently, Dyson and Tencent.

Singapore’s connectivity and influence in the region, its integration of both eastern and western cultures and its welcoming stance towards foreign investment has made it an important business hub in Asia.

Students at NUS can leverage this and enjoy access to international networks and industries, with various channels to connect with leading industry players. Many courses at NUS offer students practical industry projects or internship opportunities, opening up even more exciting career opportunities.

Aspiring change leaders and entrepreneurs will also appreciate the fact that the university has formed collaborations and strategic partnerships with key industry players (as well as government agencies) to establish advanced research laboratories, innovation incubation programmes, as well as the entrepreneurial hub known as BLOCK71.

Singapore is a multi-cultural society where people are respectful of different religions, races, and cultures. There are four official languages in Singapore – English (the predominant language used in schools and the workplace), Chinese, Malay and Tamil.

Such diversity has enabled Singapore to attract international students from many places around the world. International students in Singapore thrive in this environment, experiencing a mix of multi-ethnic cultures while still being able to rely on English as the medium of communication in their daily lives.

There are many similarities between the lifestyle in Singapore and other parts of the world, so much so that familiarising oneself with everyday life is likely to be a walk in the park. That said, international students may still find something uniquely Singaporean around each corner.

Mercer, the world’s largest human resource management consulting agency, ranked Singapore as the city with the highest quality of life in Asia in its 2019 Urban Life Quality Survey.

Efficient city planning, a developed economy, superior geographical location, a sound legal system, convenient transportation, a warm climate, along with a tolerant and friendly social atmosphere make Singapore a study destination suitable for people from all walks of life.

Singapore also embraces a rich culture of art, history, architecture, food, natural scenery, leisure activities and festivities, attracting many international travellers every year.

International students in Singapore are set for a unique and immersive life experience. Learning here is not confined only to the classroom but goes way beyond into the world-at-large.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked Singapore as the second safest city in the world in the 2019 Safe City Index. Laws in Singapore are strictly enforced, which explains its very low crime rate and its reputation as one of the safest countries in the world.

This is undoubtedly a draw for many international students. Living away from home can cause worries for both international students and their families, which is why NUS has its own security team that patrols its campuses 24/7, 365 days of the year.

More generally, Singapore has a relatively stable political and social environment. Government agencies and commercial entities alike tend to be efficient and systematic, and the average Singaporean on the street is tech-savvy and well-informed.

Even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Singapore has managed to control the spread and number of infections, and is regarded as a model for other countries to emulate.

Secondary Schools in Singapore can be government funded, government aided or independent. Students attend four or five years of secondary education under the Special, Express or Normal Course.  The Special and Express Courses prepare students for the Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education ‘Ordinary’ (GCE ‘O’) Level examination in four years.

Students in the Normal Course can opt for the Academic or Technical stream, both of which prepare students for the Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education ‘Normal’ (GCE ‘N’) Level examination after four years of study and upon satisfactory completion, the GCE ‘O’ Level examination in the fifth year.

Secondary education curriculum includes English, the Mother Tongue, Mathematics, Science and the Humanities.  At Secondary 3, students can opt for electives of their choice, depending on whether they are in the Arts, Science, Commerce or Technical stream.

Singapore’s secondary school curriculum is recognized worldwide for its ability to develop students with critical thinking and intellectual skills. Foreign students are accepted at secondary schools subject to availability of vacancies.

Two private academic institutions in Singapore also offer international students a unique and alternative opportunity to pursue their primary, secondary and post-secondary education. San Yu Adventist School operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Mission (Singapore), provides primary, secondary, and post-secondary education to students of diverse culture and nationalities.

St. Francis Methodist School is affiliated to the family of Methodist Schools in Singapore and offers secondary and post-secondary courses to local and international students. Both schools are registered with the Ministry of Education and offer their students an academic curriculum that is flexible, broad-based yet rigorous.

Upon completion of the GCE ‘O’ Level (General Certificate of Education ‘Ordinary’) examination, students may apply for entry to a junior college for a two-year pre-university course or a centralized institute for a three-year pre-university course.

Junior colleges and centralized institutes prepare students for their entry to the university and lay the foundation for tertiary education.

The curriculum of junior colleges comprises two compulsory subjects, namely General Paper and the Mother Tongue, and a maximum of four Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education ‘Advanced’ GCE ‘A’ Level subjects from the Arts, Science or Commerce Courses.  At the end of the pre-university course, students sit for the GCE ‘A’ Level examination.

Foreign students are accepted at Junior Colleges and Pre-Universities subject to the availability of vacancies.

In addition to local universities, many of the world’s leading foreign universities have also established their presence in Singapore. These leading foreign universities have either set up a physical campus (institutes of higher learning) or have joint collaborations/programs with local universities (local tie-ups).

Some leading international institutions with Asian campuses located in Singapore are:

Leading international universities that have collaborations with universities in Singapore are:

In addition, the country’s local universities, the National University of Singapore and the Nanyang Technological University also have joint programs with more than 16 other institutions around the world.

Some of these include:

There are also foreign specialized institutes in Singapore that have either set up campuses in the country or have tie ups with the local polytechnics. Many international students opt to study in the many famous MBA colleges in the country. These enable polytechnic students to pursue a degree in related courses after they have completed their diplomas at the polytechnics.

The grading system in Singapore depends upon the type of the institution and the level of studies. At the primary, secondary and junior college level, local system is generally preferred.

Singapore-Cambridge GCE “O” Level Examination

Secondary 9-point

Secondary Letter Grade

A minimum GPA of 2.0 is usually required for promotion

Junior College

Most Common

A student’s examination performance in individual subjects is scored on a scale of 1–7 points with a further 3 points available based on a matrix of performance in the theory of knowledge (TOK) and the extended essay components. Students who display satisfactory levels of performance across all subject areas and achieve a minimum of 24 points (out of a possible 45) are awarded the IB diploma. All others receive a certificate of results for the subjects examined.

University Level