Singapore has four national universities. Then there are polytechnics that 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, the Bangladeshi Standard 12 mark sheet acts as the qualifier for entry into undergraduate courses. 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, Bangladeshi 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 to Business Administration, then you need to have passed Mathematics in your 12thstandard 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.*
*These requirements differ from every institute. Some polytechnics may not have these requirements while universities might have them. Please check with the institute of your choice before applying.
- 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 is important, but majors offered, location, number of students enrolled, and campus culture are all factors in a prospective student’s decision.
*GPA means grade point average. It is the average of all grades received.
- 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.
- Lifestyle tips
Singapore is a multicultural society where Malay, Chinese and Indian traditions coexist along with the Western cosmopolitan outlook. According to Asian cultural norms, older people are treated with respect. However, nowadays wealth and status are considered more important than age distinctions. A social superior or an authority is treated with formality and respect. Singaporeans claim they are an egalitarian society like the Western countries, yet they have strong hierarchical relationships like those between parents and children, teachers and students, and employers and employees
University & Colleges
Below is a list of universities & colleges in Singapore:
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Singapore Polytechnic |
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National University of Singapore |
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Nanyang Technological University |
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Amity Global Institute |
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BMC International College Curtin University |
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Curtin University Singapore |
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Digipen Institute of Technology, Singapore |
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Dimensions International College, Singapore |
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Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School |
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EASB East Asia Institute of Management |
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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Universityn |
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ERC Institute, Singapore |
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ESSEC Business School |
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FTMSGlobal Academy, Singapore |
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Institute of Systems Science |
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Kaplan Higher Education Academy |
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Temasek Polytechnic |
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James Cook University |
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Lasalle College of Arts |
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Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS), |
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University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
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Republic Polytechnic |
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Yale-NUS College |
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S P Jain School of Global Management |
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Singapore University of Technology and Design |
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University of Chicago Booth School of Business http://www.chicagobooth.edu/about/campuses/asia |
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Singapore Management University |
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Type of Accommodation |
Estimated Cost for Accommodation per Month |
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University’s Halls of Residence |
S$ 155 – S$800 approximately |
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Boarding School |
S$ 6,000 – S$15,000 approximately per academic year |
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Private Hostel |
S$750 approximately |
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Room in Public Housing |
S$300 – S$600 approximately |
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Whole Unit in Public Housing |
S$1000 – S$2000 approximately |
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Room in Private Housing |
S$800 – S$1,200 approximately |
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Whole Unit in Private Housing |
S$1,000 and more approximately |
Public Housing in Singapore refers to government-subsidised flats (HDB flats) developed by the Housing and Development Board (HDB).
Hence, an average cost of living in Singapore is S$750 to S$2,000 approximately per month.
Health Insurance for Studying Abroad in Singapore
While studying abroad in Singapore, medical or health insurance is compulsory for students. The cost of health insurance will be S$45 approximately per year and it will cover all your medical expenses while studying in Singapore.
However, the cost of education is low in Singapore as compared to other study-abroad destinations but you can get financial assistance from the Government and Universities of Singapore through various scholarships and fellowships.
Singapore Visa and Immigration
Students planning to pursue studies in Singapore and whose application is accepted by an educational institute (valid for 2 weeks) are required to get Student’s Pass. Students who require Singapore Visa are required to apply for Student Visa to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) 2 months before the commencement of the course.
Students applying to Singapore colleges should have a six-month valid passport after the duration of the course as well as a valid Singapore visa.
What Would You Need To Study In Singapore?
For studying in Singapore, you will definitely need something, which is known as the student’s pass. However, there are some students who need to have a Singapore study visa along with the Student Pass that we were talking about.
The entire process of applying for the Student Pass is pretty much similar to the Singapore visa application process. However, there is one small detail that you have to take care of if you are applying for a Singapore visa. You have to make sure that you fill out the application for the student to pass from the home country. For the students who do not require a visa for coming to Singapore, this requirement isn’t important.
There are particular students from various nationalities that will require a visa for entering Singapore. The students are allowed to apply for the visa in the SOLAR+ online system, which is also known as the Student’s Pass Online Application & Registration system. You get a SOLAR+ number once the visa application is accepted.
The applications of a particular student for the Student Pass should be done with the help of SOLAR+. The application must be submitted one month before the study program commencement.
Documents Required
- Form 16 (Student’s Pass Application Form), Form V36 (Additional Information on Applicant for Application of Student’s Pass) and Form V39S (Sponsorship Letter) duly signed by the applicant and local sponsors.
- A notice of registration acknowledgement from the host, which acknowledges and confirms that you are successfully, registered to the SOLAR+ system
- All the essential details of your passport such as the passport number, the date of a query, and the nationality as well
- FIN/NRIC of the parents if they are residents of Singapore or if they working and living in Singapore
- A notice of registration acknowledgement from the host, which acknowledges and confirms that you are successfully, registered to the SOLAR+ system
- All the essential details of your passport such as the passport number, the date of a query, and the nationality as well
- FIN/NRIC of the parents if they are residents of Singapore or if they working and living in Singapore
- Two recent Passport- Sized Photographs (Colour/ BW).
- Applicant’s Birth Certificate in English.
- National ID
- Police clearance certificate
- Applicant’s mark sheets and certificates.
- TOFEL and IELTS score certificate whichever is applicable in the concerned educational institute.
- Banker’s Guarantee of SGD 5000 from cashier’s order or established bank in Singapore.
Passports:
To enter Singapore, a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of departure is required by nationals referred to in the chart above.
Visas:
Visas to Singapore are not required by nationals referred to in the table above if they are visiting for social reasons; instead, a visit pass is issued on arrival and is usually valid for up to a month.
Visa note:
Nationals not referred to in the chart are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements for Singapore.
Types and costs:
Entry visa (for those who do require a visa): £15.
Validity:
Visa validity varies by nationality.
Transit:
If a transit visa is required, it will be issued on arrival and have a validity of 96 hours. This allows passengers to leave the airport; bus tours of the city are available for passengers with sufficient stopover time.
Application to:
Consulate (or consular section of embassy/high commission). In certain countries, applications may be submitted online.
Temporary residence:
A long-term visit pass can be issued for the purpose of visiting family, seeking employment or accompanying a child studying in Singapore. There are long lists of requirements available on the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority website.
Working days:
Visa processing time varies by country, with two tiers: one takes an average of three working days, and the other an average of two weeks.
Sufficient funds:
Sufficient funds are required either for a visa or visit pass, although ‘sufficient’ is not explicitly defined.
Entry documents:
Yellow fever certificates are needed if you are coming from an infected area.
Extension of stay:
You can apply online for extensions to the visit pass up to 89 days beyond your date of entry. You must have at least two days remaining on your current visit pass when you apply. Extensions to visas depend on nationality.