Study in Singapore

Higher education in Singapore is overseen by the Ministry of Education (MOE): • Polytechnics (such as Singapore, Ngee Ann, Temasek, Nanyang and Republic Polytechnics): diplomas. • Bachelor’s: usually 3–4 years at the autonomous universities; longer for medicine. • Master’s: one to two years (coursework or research). • PhD: by research; university and A*STAR scholarships fund up to 4 years. Teaching is in English. At NUS and NTU the academic year starts in August, with the second semester in January, and graduate research programmes admit students in both August and January (SUTD’s PhD intakes are September and January).

1) Bachelor’s: apply directly to each university online. At NUS, applications with international qualifications for the AY2027/28 intake run from 16 December 2026 to 17 February 2027, with results released from mid-May to end-July; you need at least 12 years of general education. You can apply for university scholarships and, once admitted, for the MOE Tuition Grant. 2) Master’s and PhD: apply on the university’s graduate portal and indicate in the same application that you want a research scholarship. Closing dates vary by faculty — for example 15 January 2027 for international applicants to NUS College of Design and Engineering research programmes (August 2027 intake), 31 December 2026 for most SMU PhDs and NTU’s Nanyang President’s Graduate Scholarship, and 1 December 2026 for SINGA. 3) English: graduate programmes usually ask for TOEFL or IELTS if your previous degree was not taught in English — for example IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90 for the SUTD PhD and IELTS 7.0 at NUS College of Design and Engineering. 4) After the offer: the university registers you in the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority’s SOLAR system so you can apply for the Student’s Pass.

Annual tuition for AY2026/27 (including 9% GST) depends on whether you take the MOE Tuition Grant: • With the Tuition Grant (international students from outside ASEAN): about S$21,400 for most programmes at NUS and NTU, S$22,200 (NUS) or S$21,800 (NTU) for business, and S$26,200 at SMU; ASEAN students pay a little less (S$18,050 at NUS and NTU). • Without the grant: about S$36,350–43,050 at NUS and NTU, S$45,600 for business at NTU and S$47,700 at SMU; medicine costs far more (S$87,800 a year at NUS even with the grant). • Tuition Grant recipients sign an agreement with two sureties and must work for a Singapore entity for 3 years after graduation; students who pay full fees have no bond. Living costs (NUS estimate): S$1,200–2,100 a month living on campus (accommodation S$500–900, food 300–500, transport 100–200, personal 300–500), or S$1,550–3,400 off campus — roughly US$930–1,630 a month on campus.

International students on full-time courses need a Student’s Pass from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA): 1) After you accept the offer, the university registers you in ICA’s SOLAR system and gives you an application reference; apply no earlier than 2 months before the course starts. 2) Submit eForm 16 online and pay the S$45 processing fee within 7 days. Processing takes about one week (two weeks if you need a visa), and the In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter includes a single-journey visa if you need one. 3) Upload the documents requested in SOLAR, including a medical examination report for courses of 6 months or more, then pay the S$60 issuance fee (plus S$30 for a multiple-journey visa if applicable). 4) After arrival, book an appointment at the ICA Services Centre to enrol your biometrics and complete formalities; the pass is issued in digital form. Part-time, evening and weekend courses do not qualify for a Student’s Pass.

Full-time students holding a Student’s Pass at institutions listed by the Ministry of Manpower (including NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD, SIT, SUSS, the polytechnics and the University of the Arts Singapore) may work without a work pass for up to 16 hours a week during term, and during vacations without that limit; internships that count towards graduation are also allowed. Exchange students may not work, and working without a valid pass is an offence. After graduation: graduates of Singapore’s institutes of higher learning can apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) to stay while looking for work (MOE states one year for Tuition Grant holders; fees S$45 + S$60). To work, your employer applies for an Employment Pass: the minimum qualifying salary is S$5,600 a month (S$6,200 in financial services) for new applications, rising to S$6,000 (S$6,600) from 1 January 2027, and higher for older applicants.