Study in Singapore
In addition to being a tourist destination, Singapore is a place where students from abroad come to study. It is known as a country with advanced education system and is able to generate highly skilled professionals. Singapore has a lot of top learning institutions offering quality education. In fact, many of them are internationally recognized and make the institutions among the best in the world. No wonder that Singapore is able to attract many foreign students who want to continue their education to higher levels.
Why Study Abroad in Singapore
There are many reasons why Singapore could be the right place for you to study. The Singapore Government has allocated a huge amount to education. This certainly makes a significant impact on the quality of education and the learning facilities in this developed country.
Singapore is also a melting pot of many people from different backgrounds and nationalities. The cultural diversity will enable you to learn more than just academic science. In fact, it would be very helpful if you are planning to study business, social and political science, where the diversity could be your study materials.
There are many benefits that you get if you study abroad in Singapore. You do not need to spend a lot of money to study in western countries because Singapore offers excellent educational system. You can get a foreign university degree in Singapore that is internationally recognised.
Where to Study in Singapore
As for the learning institutions available in this country, you will find a variety of school, university as well as the private institution. They offer various majors or branches of study. Therefore, you will not have any difficulty in finding the right place to study.
In addition to various private institutions, this country has 2 public universities:
- Technological University
- National University of Singapore (NUS)
Singapore also has 5 polytechnics offering 3-year diploma courses:
- Nanyang Polytechnic,
- Ngee Ann Polytechnic
- Republic polytechnic
- Singapore Polytechnic
- Temasek Polytechnic
Once you find the right school for you, you need to prepare a budget with a certain amount for the tuition fee of the program you choose. However, there are many educational institutions, including NUS, which also offers scholarships for those who meet the specific criteria. Scholarships are another benefits that you get if studying in Singapore. Government’s aim to strengthen its position as a country with a high quality education system and international standard is supported by the offers of scholarships to foreign students.
In addition to studying certain subject, you can improve your English skills. English is the common language in Singapore. In fact, English will be the unifying language considering there are many people with diverse cultures and languages. With the intensive communication using English, your linguistic skill will increase from time to time.
Of course, to study in Singapore, you must meet several requirements. You will need a student visa when applying. To get the visa, you also need to have a certificate that shows your competence in English, such as TOEFL and IELTS. Once you have the complete documents, you can submit your application to Student’s Pass Online Application & Registration (SOLAR).
Another benefit that you can get by studying in Singapore is employment. Through internships, you will get the chance to get work experience. There are many bona fide companies investing in the country. This will open your door to work in one of these companies. If you are a management professional, this also would be a good opportunity for you to develop your career. Additionally, you may get compensation and benefits during the internship.
There is also Work Holiday Programme which also provides an opportunity for you to experience the working environment in many companies in Singapore. The real-world work situation there will make you as a professional. It is valuable lessons that will provide many benefits for your work in the future.
Transportation and Accommodation During Study
In addition to the matters related to education and employment as described earlier, you can make the means of transportation in Singapore your consideration. This country has a good transport system where you can go anywhere by bus to trains. That way, you do not have to face various problems, such as congestion. This convenience is still rarely found in big cities in the Southeast Asia region.
The next thing you need to consider is the accommodation. When the words “I want to study in Singapore” appear in your mind, in addition to thinking about the courses or school you need to choose, you also have to consider the accommodation. There are many types of places to stay that you can choose, such as the Housing Development Board (HDB) and apartments. However, you need to prepare extra budget to stay in an apartment because it is quite expensive. You can make private student hostel accommodation as the alternative choice.
Compared to other Southeast Asian regions, the cost of living in Singapore is quite high. However, if you are able to manage your finances, you only need to spend S$800 – $2,000 for the cost of living. You can also search for part-time jobs to earn extra income. In some cases, you do not need a permit to work. Otherwise, you need to have a work permit under certain conditions. You can click here to find out more about the types of work permit.