Introduction
Advantages of studying in Singapore
Education opportunities and Universities in Singapore
Application Process
Financial Assistance
Career opportunities
USA, UK, Canada, Australia are the commonly known options for higher education abroad. But what if one gets a good quality of education at reasonable costs and nearer to one’s home country?
Singapore, is now establishing itself as an option for further education. It is a beautiful place and a melting pot of diverse ideas, cultures and people. This city is known as a bridge between the East and the West. It is also known across the world as a reputed financial center and a key regional trading center. Singapore is developing into a leading educational hub in Asia. About 66,000 international students from over 60 countries are studying in a safe and cosmopolitan environment in Singapore.
Especially for Asian students, education in Singapore is at an affordable cost and closer to home. At the same time, 7,000 multinational companies here offer unique industry networking and employment opportunities. Universities like National university of Singapore, Nanyang Technical University and Singapore Management University rank highly in the list of international institutions. Another important aspect of the education in Singapore is, 14 of the world’s leading international universities have set up centers of excellence in education and research in Singapore.
Advantages of studying in Singapore -
Affordable International Education – The tuition fees in Singapore are less than those for other study destinations abroad. The difference between the fees for Singaporean students and other students is nominal. Also the living costs are lower as compared to living costs for foreign students in the US and Europe. There are also some scholarships, fellowships available to cover the tuition expenses.
Singapore – a ‘Gateway to Asia’ – Singapore offers a cosmopolitan lifestyle with a mix of ethnic groups: Chinese, Malays, Indian and Eurasians etc. A veritable crossroads of cultures and civilizations, Singapore is considered the “gateway to Asia". Given that the Asian region is likely to see the largest economic growth rates in the coming years and will have one of the largest consumer populations, Singapore’s geographic location gives it a strategic position and exposure to the region and its people.
Education excellence framework – Singapore has an educational excellence framework which focuses on academic excellence, organizational excellence, student protection and welfare practices. Students have the advantage of getting the quality of education and degrees from well known USA, UK and Australian universities through studying in Singapore.
Placements- Students completing their education in Singapore are in demand as Asian experts in international markets as Asian countries like China, India are developing rapidly in global business. These students are more likely to get good jobs not only in Singapore but also in various other countries.
Visa – getting a Singaporean visa is comparatively easier than US or UK visas.
Education opportunities and Universities in Singapore -
Singapore has three local universities offering internationally recognized undergraduate as well as postgraduate degree programs and research opportunities in various disciplines: National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU).
NUS was ranked 18th in 200 top universities in the world by the Times of London in their 2004 World University Rankings.
http://www.thes.co.uk/downloads/rankings/world-rankings-16pages.pdf
NTU is ranked as among the top 10 schools in Asia by Economist Intelligent Unit (EIU) in 2005.
http://mba.eiu.com/index.asp?layout=2002rankings&rank_category_id=20000002®ion_id=290000429&x=25&y=7
Nanyang Business School is ranked in the top 100 B-schools in the world by Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) in 2005
http://www.ntu.edu.sg/corpcomms2/releases/23%20Sep%2005%20NBS%20EIU%20Ranking_NR.pdf
Numbers of leading international universities from across the world have collaborated with local institutes to launch their presence in Singapore. These institutes are listed below:
1. Top European Business School INSEAD (France) set up Asia’s first international business school with a full campus in Singapore.
2. The Singapore-MIT Alliance is a collaboration between NUS and NTU in Singapore and MIT in US. This alliance offers dual degree courses in Nano-systems, Computational Engineering, Manufacturing Systems and Technology, Computation and System Biology etc.
3. Georgia Institute of Technology and NUS offer postgraduate and executive programs in logistics and Supply Chain Management.
4. Wharton-SMU – Wharton Business School (US) and SMU collaborate in areas of curriculum development, research and executive business programs and offer specialized courses in management areas.
5. The University of Chicago Graduate School of business also has a campus in Singapore where it offers its Executive MBA program.
6. Johns Hopkins University and NUS offer postgraduate programs and clinical research opportunities.
7. Singapore-Stanford Partnership offers a postgraduate program in Environmental Engineering.
8. Technical University of Munich (Germany) and NUS offer Masters Programs in Industrial Chemistry, Industrial and Financial Mathematics, Risk Control.
9. TMC Academy - This institute, collaborated with The DEAKIN University and Monash University, Australia. The institute offers a full time course in master of Business Administration.
10. Raffles Design Institute – Most of the degree courses in design are validated by Northumbria University, Newcastle, United Kingdom. This institute also conducts bachelor courses in India.
11. University of New South Wales, Asia – This is a branch of one of the top 5 Australian universities, opening in Singapore in 2007. This university is offering a range of bachelors and masters courses in disciplines from accounting to technology.
12. Management Development Institute of Singapore – This institutes is a partner of 8 international universities: University of Bradford (UK), University of Cambridge International Examinations (UK), University of Wales (UK), Edith Cowan University (Australia), Macquarie University (Australia), Southern Cross University (Australia), Oklahoma City University (USA) and Ottawa University (USA).
13. Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management – The Hospitality management course offered by this institute is conducted 6 months in Singapore and 6 months in Cornell (US).
14. PSB Academy – This institute, in its collaboration with The University of Newcastle, Australia in Singapore offers a full time course in master of Information Technology. The institute also has collaboration with The University of Western Australia, Australia in Singapore and offers a full time course in master of Business Administration.
Institutes in Singapore offer education in a number of fields like, management, engineering, performing arts, architecture, accounting, finance, fashion designing, applied sciences, humanities, social sciences etc. According to the survey by Singapore Education, Indian students going to Singapore for education are mainly interested in pursuing post graduation courses in electronics engineering, computer engineering, management and designing.
Application Process -
Course duration - Postgraduate program durations vary from 15 months to two years according to the type of course. There are generally two intakes a year, in January and July. Applications for higher degrees by research may be submitted at anytime but well in advance before the desired intake date.
Entry requirement - Institutes in Singapore recognize the 15 year undergraduate education for entry into post graduation courses. Some of the institutes require TOEFL score (minimum 600) for admission, if the candidate’s mother tongue is not English.
Some of the universities also ask for a good GRE score for admission. GMAT is required for post graduation in the Business/ Accountancy disciplines. Most of the business schools require a minimum of 2 years of work experience to apply for the post graduate degree.
Expenses – The tuition fee for post graduate education ranges from S$6000 (around $3600) to S$15000 (around $ 8950) for traditional courses and around S$23,000 (US$12025) for MBA courses. The monthly living expenses of an international student range from S$800 (around $500) to S$1500 (around $920).
Financial Assistance -
Singaporean institutes offer limited scholarships to students. A*STAR International Graduate Scholarship, Singapore Millennium Foundation Scholarship, ASEAN Graduate scholarship, MOE Scholarship/Bursary, NUS Research Scholarship, PSC Scholarship/Bursary, SAF Awards etc. are some of the sources of financial assistance available. Along with this, candidates, applying for some of the Singaporean schools, are eligible to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan of up to 80% of the fee amount.
Career opportunities -
Student employment - According to the survey of Singapore education, almost all Indian students, who passed out from reputed Singaporean institutes in the year 2004, got good jobs within four months of their graduation. These ex-students are mainly working with IT companies, Petrochemical companies, in research fields and in international banks like HSBC etc. in Singapore and 16 other countries.
Career development - Singaporean universities have career development centers for students. These centers help students to direct their career through self regularization process, market trends survey, skills development, career profiling, preparation of a resume, career fairs, company visits etc.
Singapore Market- Foreign countries are investing more amount of money in biochemical, electronics, chemical industries and education in Singapore. Singapore is the one of the best petrochemical hubs in the world. Singapore is known as a country of young global bankers. There are around 12,000 software developers in Singapore.
To summarize, it can be said that, education in Singapore is getting more and more recognition across the world. Advanced studies in Singapore are an affordable and beneficial option for Asian students nearer to their home country.
6bridges.com has a team of education strategists who provide advisory services designed to help professionals from select universities in their application process for further studies. Please let us know if you are interested in availing of our strategic advisory services. You are welcome to write to us your queries either onsite or via email to
thedesk@6bridges.com.,,,,
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