An education in Singapore provides the opportunity to be part of our network system that promotes excellence in a progressive and cosmopolitan community. As a premier hub for educational excellence, Singapore offers several advantages such as a stable economy, well-developed infrastructure and accessibility, a multi-cultural and vibrant city with a high quality of life.
With more than 80,000 overseas students from 120 countries in our various institutions, ranging from the public schools, the three local universities, polytechnics, international universities with local campuses and private schools, Singapore is an established education destination for international students.
The quality of research and education offered has also lured leading lecturers and professors from around the world. We enjoy a thriving economy, safe and clean living and studying environment, a cosmopolitan society and an array of food choices. Living and dining is relatively inexpensive and Singapore boasts some of the best entertainment and leisure outlets in Asia.
Quality Education
While there are many secondary reasons to choose Singapore as the place to study, the main factor is the quality of education. In this respect, Singapore leads the way.
– Kindergartens –
A structured 3-year pre-school education programme for children aged 4 to 6. The 3-year programme consists of Nursery, Kindergarten 1 and 2. Kindergartens function daily, five days a week, with schooling hours averaging 3 hours to 4 hours each day.
– Primary Education –
A structured 6-year compulsory education programme which consisting of a 4-year foundation stage from Primary 1 to 4 and a 2-year orientation stage from Primary 5 to 6. The overall aim of primary education is to give students a good grasp of the English language, Mother Tongue and Mathematics. At the end of the 6th year, students have to sit for the national examination: Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), which determines the next major step in education for them.
– Secondary Education –
A 4-5 years programme which places students in the Special, Express, Normal (Academic) or Normal (Technical) course, according to how they perform at PSLE. The different curricular are designed to match the student’s learning abilities and interests.
At the end of this stage of education, students have to sit for a national examination, either the GCE ‘O’ Levels (for Special/Express courses) or the GCE ‘N’ Levels (for Normal/ Technical course – students who do well for their GCE ‘N’ Levels may wish to progress to the 5th year to take the GCE ‘O’ Levels).
– Pre-University Education –
This is a 2-year programme that prepares students for the GCE ‘A’ Levels examination. Depending on their course of studies and final grades, graduating students may be eligible to pursue their degree at our local universities.
– Polytechnics –
These institutions were set up with the mission to train middle-level professionals to support the technological and economic development of Singapore. Reflecting the wide range of abilities, aptitudes and interests of their students, the polytechnics seek to train students with relevant and specific skills for the workplace to give Singapore a competitive edge as we move into a knowledge-based economy.
Today, polytechnic graduates are valued as practice-oriented and knowledgeable middle-level professionals, much sought after by industry. There are currently five polytechnics in Singapore, all offering local diplomas in various fields such as engineering, business studies, info-communications and mass communications. Students who excel by the end of the 3rd year have the option the continue pursuing a degree.
– Singapore Universities –
Singapore’s university education aspires to prepare students not only for today’s world but also for a world where there will be jobs that have yet to be invented and challenges not yet foreseen. Singapore has three local universities, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore Management University (SMU), all offering internationally recognised degrees.– International Universities –
In recent years, leading foreign universities have either been actively setting up physical campuses in Singapore or entering into joint collaborations/programmes with our local universities and polytechnics. Some of the leading international institutions with an Asian Campus located in Singapore includes:- INSEAD
- University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business
- Duke
- ESSEC
- Digipen Institute of Technology
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
- New York University Tisch School of the Arts Asia
- James Cook University
- Kaplan Higher Education
- Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS)
- PSB Academy
- Curtin Singapore
Studies / Tuition Expenses
The current (2009) total monthly school and miscellaneous fees for government and government-aided schools is about:
Asean | Non-Asean | |
Primary schools | $146 | $156 |
Secondary schools | $211 | $226 |
Junior College/ Centralised institue | $352 | $372 |
2010 | 2011 | 2012 | ||||
Asean | Non-Asean | Asean | Non-Asean | Asean | Non-Asean | |
Primary | $146 | $156 | $196 | $256 | $246 | $356 |
Secondary | $211 | $226 | $276 | $356 | $341 | $486 |
Junior College / Centralised Institute | $352 | $372 | $452 | $572 | $552 | $772 |
For tertiary institutions, tuition fees are subjected to changes each year. Please refer to the respective institution’s website for the latest figures.
For studies at a local university or polytechnic, the Ministry of Education provides a Tuition Fee Grant that subsidizes up to 80% of tuition fees and is available to all students. As an international student, you are eligible for the same grant subject to the signing of a deed with the Singapore government undertaking to work in a Singapore-registered company for three years, upon completion of your programme.
More information can be obtained at either the following websites or at the respective institutions’ website.
Ministry of Education (MOE) @ www.moe.edu.sg
Singapore Education @ www.singaporeedu.gov.sg
