Singapore is a popular country for international students for research and development, dual degrees, exchange programs, practical exposure and more. It is considered the top study destination in Asia and the fourth-best in the world. According to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the country offers the finest education in the field of technology, engineering and science. Indian students consider it a suitable abroad education choice due to its proximity and affordable cost.

Important Things You Need to Know Before Studying in Singapore.

Are you planning to study in Singapore? You must keep the following factors in mind before applying to any university in Singapore:

Economic Outlook

Singapore’s economy is a free market and one of the stable economies all over the world. It has the 3rd least corrupt economy in the world and has low tax rates. According to reports, the country has the world’s second-highest per capita GDP, a lot higher than the US. The current GDP is around 390.00 billion USD.

Relations with India

Singapore and India share a friendly cultural and commercial relationship. India and Singapore signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and a strategic relationship agreement to increase trade, investments and economic cooperation. They also joined hands to expand the bilateral cooperation on maritime security, training forces, developing military technology and combating terrorism.

Career Prospects

If you are planning to study in Singapore, you must be aware of the career prospects in the country. The country is known to being open to outsiders and provide a safe environment. According to the HSBC Expat Explorer Survey 2018, Singapore ranked as the top 1 location for work for international students. Popular careerprospects in Singapore are healthcare, engineering, marketing, sales, information technology (IT), accounting, banking and finance.

Education Prospects

Singapore is one of the best destinations for international students for various reasons apart from its high-quality education. The universities in Singapore offer a home-like environment for students.

The total tuition cost per annum for international students for a Bachelor’s degree at a university in Singapore ranges from SGD 51,840 (INR 28.6 Lacs) to SGD 115,350 (INR 63.8 Lacs), depending on the subject.

The famous courses to study in Singapore are engineering, IT, banking & finance, law and medicine. There are five types of universities in Singapore:

• Public Universities
• Private Universities 
• Institute of Technical Education
• Local Polytechnics
• Specialised Arts Institutions

There is a total of 34 universities in Singapore, six of which are national, offering a wide range of courses. There are four Singaporean universities featured in Asia’s top 10 universities as per the QS Rankings 2021: National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), University of Hong Kong (HKU) and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

According to International Trade Administration, there were more than 70,000 enrolments of international students, out of which 5000 are Indians, and the number is growing. 

The most common languages used in Singapore are English, Malay, Tamil, and Mandarin Chinese.

Academic Requirements: A Copy of Passport| High School Transcripts| Sufficient TOEFL/IELTS Scores| SAT scores required for few courses | LORs | Health Insurance| Essay/Personal Statement.

Fun Facts

• In July, foodies are in for a treat with the Singapore Food Festival, where they get to savour uniquely Singaporean dishes and modern Singaporean cuisine, which gives a modern twist to traditional flavours.
• Singaporeans use exclamations such as ‘lah’ and ‘leh’ in their sentences and use Singlish in their everyday conversation. 

Local Cuisine

Singaporean cuisine is as diverse as its people; it has a mix of Malay, Chinese, Indonesian, Indian and Western influences. The most famous local cuisines are Hainanese chicken rice, Chilli crab, Laksa, Char kuayteow, Hokkien prawn mee and the list goes on. 

Famous Travel Destinations

The famous travel destinations in the country are Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Botanic Gardens, Singapore Zoo, Orchard Road, Singapore Flyer and many more.

Final Words

International students who wish to stay in Singapore and look for work after graduation can apply for a work visa. After their student pass gets expired, students can get a Short-Term Visit Pass, which will allow them to stay in Singapore for 90 days and look for a job. 

They can also get a one-year (non-renewable) Long-term Social Visit Pass if they graduate from an institution on the list of Institutes of Higher Learning. The popular work visa permits are:

• Employment Pass: This is one of the most common work visas for international students working in management, executive or other specialised positions.
• S Pass: This work visa is for international mid-skilled workers like technicians.
• EntrePass: This is an option for international graduates who want to establish a private limited company registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) of Singapore. 

If you have a current work permit like Employment Pass, EntrePass or S Pass and have worked for six months in Singapore, you are eligible to apply for Permanent Residence Permit.

To conclude, the high living standard, friendly lifestyle, affordable cost of living, rapidly growing economy and top-notch education make Singapore a perfect study destination for international students. So, if you are an Indian student wanting to study in Singapore, you are in for a treat!