Study abroad in Singapore
"A guide for Indian students intending to study abroad in Singapore"
This section is intended to provide students with an overview of the various opportunities on offer for international overseas students, more specifically Indian students wishing to pursue higher education in Singapore. The section includes a brief outline about the country itself, the lifestyle and culture, different kind of qualifications available in Universities in Singapore along with the basic eligibility factors, the student visa applications and financial aspects of study abroad in Singapore.
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Among the various destinations for Indian students who want to study abroad, Singapore has steadily gained a reputation as a foremost international study destination. Many Indian students opt to study in Singapore and enjoy learning in one of the world's leading international and commercial hubs.
Singapore: History, life and culture
Singapore is an island nation situated at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It is the smallest nation in the south-east of Asia. Primarily a small fishing town, it was ruled by the British since 1819 till the Japanese occupied it in World War II. In 1945, Singapore went back to the British, and remained with them till it became an independent country in 1965.
Although it is a small nation, Singapore has gained worldwide repute for creating a modern economy which is famous for its transparency and entrepreneurial capabilities. Singapore has also gained quite a reputation for being one of the most sought after travel and tourism destinations, especially for different shopping festivals.
Singapore is a multi-religious nation with the population consisting of Buddhist, Taoist, Christian, Muslim, Hindu and other faiths. Different ethnic districts are dotted all over Singapore, adding value to the colourful culture of Singapore. The country has four national languages but English has been adopted as the medium of communication in order to create a bridge across the cultural barriers.
Singapore is also home to quite a vibrant art and culture scenario. The Esplanade Theatres on the Bay regularly feature many famous artistes from around the world.
Singapore: Transport and costs
Singapore is well connected to the rest of the world by sea and air. The Changi Airport of Singapore has been named as one of the best airports in the world. Singapore is also well known as one of the most wired countries in Asia.
Singapore also has one of the most advanced land transport system which has become increasingly convenient since the introduction of the EZ Link card. This is a prepaid card. Commuters simply flash the card in front of a card reader and the cost of the trip is automatically deducted from the card.
Cost of living in Singapore is competitive and can vary from $750 to $2000 per month, depending upon the lifestyle one keeps and accommodation one avails of. Different types of accommodation are available on rent, right from houses in Government housing schemes to private residential buildings.
Singapore: A preferred educational destination
Singapore has the highest rate of literacy in the world. The education in Singapore is managed by the Ministry of Education. The ministry directs the education policy, controls the administration and development of state schools and maintains a supervisory and advisory role in private schools.
English has been incorporated as the first language in Singapore along with other mother tongues being taught as second languages. The bilingual policy and the merit-based educational system have proved to be distinctly successful in creating students who have excelled in international competitions in debating, mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology.
Singapore has 4 main Universities, 2 of which are public universities and the other 2 private universities. Other than these universities, there are 5 Polytechnics and several tertiary institutions which also give graduate and post graduate degrees. Besides these institutions, there are several international educational institutions which have set up their centers in Singapore. Click here to read more about Universities in Singapore.
If you are planning to study abroad in Singapore and want to apply to a Private Education Organisation (PEO), then as an overseas student, it has been advised to look for those PEOs which have the Student Protection Scheme (SPS) in place. Students applying to PEOs with a SPS enjoy a faster visa processing and a security deposit waiver. Another scheme called CaseTrust for Education has been launched to protect the interests of foreign students in Singapore.
Singapore: University application process
Overseas students wanting to study in Singapore can either apply directly to the universities or can apply via education agents. Applications are accepted all year round by the universities and are subject to the availability of vacancy.
The application must include the following:
- The required original documents.
- Details of a guardian for contact purposes. This guardian must be a citizen of Singapore or a Permanent Resident of Singapore who is over the age of 21. The guardian can also be the parent of the foreign student when the parent is working or staying in Singapore.
Normally all the schools and universities conduct a placement test for the applicants in the subjects of English, Mathematics and Mother Tongue.
There are two criteria on which the level of admission is decided in Singapore: documentary proof that the student has completed the previous level of study as per the age and his performance in the placement test.
A Letter of Acceptance is then sent out by the university to the student.
The student then has to apply to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for a student pass and then he has to register with the university. If both these things are not done within 2 weeks of receiving the Letter of Acceptance, the student will not be able to apply for the student pass and will also forfeit his admission to the school.
After the admission procedures are completed, the Ministry of Education will send the student a letter requesting for a biennial donation to the Education fund which is $1000 every 2 years.
Study in Singapore: Eligibility
In Singapore, admission into any school or university is dependant on the age of the student.
Typically students enter Primary school at the age of 6, Secondary school at the age of 12 and Pre-University at the age of 16.
Usually admission is not given to any foreign student in the last year of Primary school, the last 2 years of Secondary school and the last 2 years of Pre-University level.
The general trend observed is that students prefer to study in Singapore from the Pre-University level and then move on the university level of education. Alternatively, the students can directly apply to the Universities or Polytechnics. Each university and polytechnic has different entry requirements for different levels of admission.
Funding and scholarships offered for Indian students in Singapore
A variety of scholarships and grants are available for overseas students aspiring to study in Singapore. Often, this depends on the country of origin of the overseas student.
Study in Singapore: Visa requirements
Fluency in English is required to apply for a student visa to Singapore. The following certificates of English competency are accepted:
- GCSE - General Certificate of Secondary Education
- TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language
- IELTS - International English Language Testing System
Apart from the English test, the students must have also received their letter of acceptance from the university where they wish to pursue their course of study.
The international and overseas students should ensure that their visa application reaches the ICA at least 2 months before the date of commencement of the course.
Except for applications to certain local polytechnics and to the universities, an overseas student needs a local sponsor who is a citizen of Singapore or a Singapore PR above the age of 21 so that he can apply for a student pass.
Normally, it takes 4 weeks or more to complete the visa processing stage.
Singaporean embassies in India
Here are the addresses of the embassies of Singapore in India:
New Delhi:
E-6, Chandragupta Marg,
Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi 110 021
Ph: +91 11 2688 6506
Mumbai:
101, 10th Floor, Maker Chambers IV 222,
Jamnalal Bajaj Road, Nariman Point,
Mumbai 400 021
Ph: +91 22 2204 3205
Chennai:
No. 3, 8th Street,
Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore,
Chennai 600 004
Ph: +91 44 2847 1541
There are a number of airlines which operate flights between India and Singapore. The amount of baggage that you can carry with you into Singapore usually depends upon the airline and the kind of ticket you purchase. Typically, the baggage allowance for an economy class ticket is 20 kilograms, for a business class ticket it is 30 kilograms and for a first class ticket it is 40 kilograms.
Pack your bags and get ready to launch into a high-flying and demanding career which will be the result of the all-rounded education you will get in Singapore!
Do you want to read unbiased user reviews of Indian students studying abroad in Singapore please click here.
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