Life and Education in Singapore

Singapore is a modern city-state in Asia that attracts many students from all over the world. The metropolis is notable for its high-quality education, high standard of living and social development.

Top universities in Singapore

Education in Singapore

In Singapore, you can get quality education at various levels, including undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs, as well as certificate and diploma programs. It is the quality of Singaporean education, which is recognized worldwide, that attracts students here.

Higher education institutions

The university system of Singapore consists of four universities, five polytechnic institutes and a large number of private educational institutions. All private universities in the country accepting foreign students for study have EduTrust certification.

In addition, Singapore has branches of leading foreign universities - in particular, the French University of INSEAD and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as several American business schools (for example, the School of Business of the University of Chicago).

The quality of Singaporean education in the non-state sector is monitored by the Council for Private Institutions. The Council exercises accreditation and control over educational institutions, and also ensures high educational standards. 

University entrance

If you are planning to study in Singapore, you will need to start by choosing the university and the academic program of interest. Further, upon admission, the submission of student documents is carried out directly to the educational institution.

Usually, all information about the admission process and the necessary documents can be found on the official website of the university. In addition, through the Hotcourses website, you can directly contact universities and ask all your questions.

student visa

Before moving to Singapore you will need to obtain a student visa. A visa application is filed with the Singapore Immigration Services. The specific requirements and procedures related to applying for a student visa depend on the chosen program and educational institution.

Singapore education system

Tuition fees in Singapore

Student Life in Singapore

the cost of living

Singapore has a high quality of life. At the same time, prices here are lower than in Europe, especially for food and clothing.

The main expense items of any student are tuition, housing and meals. On average, the running costs of international students in Singapore are SGD750-2,000 per month. Of course, a lot depends on your lifestyle. So, housing rental, traditionally, costs more than living on the campus of the university, and eating in a restaurant is more expensive than cooking your own meals.

Cost of living in Singapore

Recreation and entertainment

A favorite pastime for Singaporeans is shopping. Here on Orchard Road are world-famous shopping malls and luxury boutiques. To enter them is at least out of interest, but the prices there are by no means student prices. Students mainly visit local markets: Lime Flea (open every second Saturday, you can buy vintage clothes and interesting accessories), Clark Quay (works on Sundays, sell funny trinkets) and the famous Thieves Market (open every Sunday, you can find almost everything )

And also, in Singapore they like to go to the cinema, especially since tickets are quite inexpensive, about 10 dollars. In addition to popular Hollywood films, they show good Chinese, Japanese and Korean films with English subtitles.

And, of course, Singapore loves to eat. Head to Chinatown or Little India, where you will find authentic Asian food - very tasty and inexpensive. Be sure to visit the Singapore Gastronomic Festival, which takes place in July, and you are guaranteed a new experience. Here you can taste the best of local cuisine, especially if you stock up on coupons with which you can get free refreshments. Importantly, do not forget to taste the famous chili crab!

Banking services

In Singapore, opening a bank account is very simple. You can do this even if you are not yet 21 years old. It will be enough to deposit the minimum amount into the account (about SGD100), present a passport and student ID or confirmation of enrollment in a Singapore educational institution.

You will be given a card with which you can withdraw money from an ATM and make payments in the NETS system (Singapore system of cashless payments).

 Food

If in Singapore you live in a local family or on a university campus, meals are likely to be included in the cost of living. If you rent an apartment or a house, from time to time you will have to cook it yourself.

Singapore has a wide selection of quality, fresh and affordable products. It’s probably the cheapest way to buy groceries and everyday goods at NTUC FairPrice supermarkets. In larger hypermarkets, the assortment is wider, but prices are usually higher, although there are good discounts.

Cafes and restaurants

Singapore's cuisine is as cosmopolitan as the local population. In Singapore, you can find absolutely everything - Italian, Japanese, Korean, Thai, American, Vietnamese, Indonesian and even African cuisine. What can we say about the variety of Chinese dishes! There are many world-class restaurants in Singapore. Of course, they are expensive, and still try to save some money in order to try the famous chili crab, preferably in the quarters of Clarke Quay or Boat Quay.

I must say that Singapore is full of very inexpensive and very tasty local food, which can be bought in many cafes and restaurants or right on the street. This kind of food is popular among students. Do not be afraid to buy food from trays, in Singapore adhere to the most stringent hygiene standards. Food from the trays is the cheapest, you can eat for only three dollars! The most popular dishes are laksa, satey, fried rice noodles and chicken with rice.

Most of the trays with good food are located on Bugis Street, Lau Pa Sat, Chinatown Food Street and Maxwell Road Market, but you will certainly find some good places in your quarter. By the way, in Singapore it is not customary to tip, since they are already included in the invoice in the amount of 10% of the order amount. In some places (for example, at the airport), giving and receiving tips is simply forbidden.

Work for students

According to the Singapore Labor Law, working and volunteering in the country, with rare exceptions, are prohibited to foreigners with student visas.

 

Medical service

After moving to Singapore, you must register with your local doctor. Students are not required to buy health insurance, but keep in mind that medical care in Singapore can be very expensive, and without insurance you risk a lot.

 

Emergency services

If necessary, in Singapore you can use the following numbers: 999 - police, 995 - ambulance and fire service.