Once upon a time, a prince named Sang Nila Utama saw a creature in an island. He thought it was a lion and duly named that place Singapura, which means Lion City in Sanskrit. Interestingly, there were no lions ever in Singapore, except now, in the zoo. However, this is not an important thing that you need to know before you pack your bags to Singapore for higher education but following five facts are.
- Can you Afford the Tuition Fee?
Depending upon the programme that you choose, Singapore education can be a bit expensive, but not as costly as the US or the UK. For undergraduate students, it comes around Rs. 12 – 20 Lakhs per year. For postgraduate programmes, it comes around Rs. 12 – 18 Lakhs. However, international student will get the tuition fee discounted by singing up for a bond to serve Singapore government for three years. For medical programs such as physiotherapy and dentistry, fees for the clinical year are a quarter higher than the fees for regular programs.
- Important Universities
Like the Petronas Twin Towers, Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and National University Singapore (NUS) stand tall among its peers. Both are highly ranked in the QS World University Rankings 2019, offering courses in a wide range of subjects to their student populations of over 30,000 each. However, Singapore also boasts of several other premium institutions and globally-renowned universities, recognized for state-of-the-art academics, distinguished faculty members, and cutting-edge infrastructure that provide scope for higher education.
- Major Courses
As a global hub of higher education, Singapore has diverse fields of specializations that international students can choose from. For Indian students, engineering, business management and culinary arts remain favorites among the all. Considering reputation that the Singapore universities achieved in a global stage, many Indian students have taken up high end research also there. Courses like Creative Arts, Communication, and Design have also been attracting many international students in the recent times.
- Cost of Living
Among the Southeast Asian countries, Singapore has one of the highest living standards. As per various estimations, an international student in Singapore spends, on average, about S$750 to S$2,000 a month on living expenses. The cost may vary depending on your lifestyle and course of study. But, as Indians, we know how to manage our expenses smartly when we are out from our home.
- Earn while Learn
Regardless of the country, a part time job is lifeline for most of the international students. As per the rules of Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower, an international student with a valid student pass can work part-time for about 16 hours a week and unlimited hours during the vacation. However, there is a catch; students studying in the university/ institution, which is not on the list of approved institutions are not eligible to work part-time or full-time both during the term and/ or vacation. However, most of the universities in Singapore have collaborate with industrial houses where international students can take internship as a part-time work. This will not only give students a financial stability, but also the much-needed work experience.