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5.6million 3,51,178 5,000

(2017) (2017) (approx.)
01
About Singapore:
Education System
Singapore has four national universities.
Then there are polytechnics which offer
tertiary education through diploma
courses, which are practical courses with plenty
of group work. Diplomas are offered in Tourism,
Biotechnology, Digital Media, Engineering, Business
Studies, Mass Communications, Accountancy, and
Hospitality Management. The five polytechnics
of Singapore are Nanyang Polytechnic, Republic
Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore
Polytechnic, and Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
For international students, Indian Standard 12
marksheet acts as the qualifier for entry into
undergraduate courses, whether it is CBSE, ISCE or
State boards. Admissions are based on academic merit
as well as competition among all eligible applicants. In
addition to fulfilling admission requirements for the
international student category, Indian students are also
required to fulfil the subject prerequisites for the
courses which they are applying for. For example, if you
are looking for admission in Business Administration,
then you need to have passed Mathematics in your
12th standard or at some other higher level. Or if you
are considering civil engineering, then you need to
have passed Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry
atleast on the school level.*
*These requirements differ from every institute. Some
polytechnics may not have these requirements while
universities might have them. Please check with the
institute of your choice before applying.
College Fit:
At the higher education level, students have a wide
range of options when they choose a college or
university. Although there are agencies that attempt
to place colleges and universities in rank order, the
concept of “fit” is also important. The GPA* of admitted
students are important, but majors offered, location,
number of students enrolled, and campus culture are
all factors in a prospective student’s decision.
*GPA means grade point average. It is the average of all
grades received.
The top universities in Singapore are:
Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
Singapore Management University (SMU)
*in no particular order.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, Information
Technology, Management, Finance/Accounting and
Engineering are a few popular courses Indian students
pursue in Singapore.
Safety in Singapore
Singapore has a well-deserved
reputation for being safe and relatively
crime-free. Major crimes like murder
and rape, are dealt with severely and swiftly. The
government has also made it known that extremism
originating from religion or race has no place in
Singapore, and it will not hesitate to take action against
any extremists or terrorist groups or individuals.
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 Weather
Singapore’s weather is warm and humid, ranging from an average of 31°C during the day and
24°C at night. It rains throughout the year with heavier rain during the monsoon season, which
lasts from November to January.
Lifestyle tips
Singapore is a multi-
cultural society where Malay,
Chinese and Indian traditions
coexist along with the western
cosmopolitan outlook. According
to the Asian cultural norms, older
people are treated with respect.
However nowadays wealth
and status are considered more
important than age distinctions.
A social superior or an authority
is treated with formality and
respect. Singaporeans claim they
are an egalitarian society like the
western countries, yet they have
strong hierarchical relationships
like those between parents and
children, teachers and students,
and employers and employees.
Indians Living in Singapore
There were nearly 351,700 Indian
immigrants living in Singapore in
2017. They represent 9.1 per cent
of the country’s population.
Student life
Accommodation
Firstly, you need
to decide whether you want
to live in university managed
accommodation, or with a private
landlord. Choosing university
managed accommodation can also
give you a catered or self-catered
option. Catered accommodation
being cooked for you and a degree
of certainty with meal costs.
If you have an idea about what
you prefer, the accommodation
to tell you what accommodation
they have available – so that’s the
place to start. If you are thinking of
renting from a private landlord or
you anything in its own residential
should be able to provide you
with a list of private properties and
landlords in the area.
Wherever you choose to live,
you should make sure that you
know your contractual rights and
responsibilities. In most cases you
will be asked to enter into a tenancy
agreement, which you should read
thoroughly before you sign.
Orientation
Orientation week is mandatory for
international students so you want
to be sure that you arrive before it
starts. This is the time where you will
be introduced to the university and
its services, as well as enroll in your
classes. It is essential that you read
your guidebook, which is provided
by the college. The guide explains
each part of the admission process.
Activities
Along with sports facilities, colleges
of experiences – intellectual, cultural
and relaxing. Music, drama, science
in all colleges, and there will be
opportunities for outdoor education
and other leisure activities. Visits
to theatres and concerts, to places
relevant to the courses of study
such as art galleries and museums,
religious centres or historical sites,
are all part of college life.
03
 Admission process Timeline
Most of the colleges in Singapore accept online
Requirements applications. You will have to visit each college’s
These vary between study programmes website to apply. In most cases you will have to make
and levels. For each course, Indian students will need an account on the college website to provide your
to meet a minimum English language requirement. basic information, submit the scanned version of
Along with that a minimum academic record of 70% your documents, and pay application fees. You will be
and above in Class XII will be required, if looking at informed about the application process and stages
getting admission to a government university. For through this account. Please refer to the website of
private institutes and polytechnics, students who the colleges of your choice to know the process of
have secured below 60% can also get admission. applying.
The student should have completed 18 years of age
before joining a degree programme. Application fee: All colleges require that you
pay an application fee while applying. The fee
It is important to note that these numbers are just amount will differ depending upon the college
for reference purpose, the actual numbers may differ and course being applied to, so check with
from university to university. individual colleges about their application fee.
The following documents also need to be submitted: Steps: The common steps to applying for admission
are:
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04
Admission process
SOP: A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is your
introduction to the college and admission officers.
It is always written in first person and describes
the reason for applying to a particular college. It
needs to highlight why you are a perfect fit for
the college and why the college should accept
you. The style of writing could differ from formal
to casual, but it is important to remember that
it should reflect your personality as well.
Essay: Essays are also required to be submitted by
a prospective student. Essays are an important part
of the university admissions process. Students may
be required to write one or two essays, along with
a few optional essays too. Common topics include
career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills,
experiences, and reasons for considering a particular
school.
Intake seasons
Singapore government universities generally have
two intakes i.e. August and February, with the private
institutes offering multiple intakes in January, February,
July, August, September and October. The intake
season for polytechnics is usually April and September.
You should start your admission process around six
months before the application deadline. Typically,
applications for admissions open in October. You
should be done with your language and aptitude tests
by three months before the deadline, if mentioned
otherwise. The last three months should be dedicated
to filling out the application form properly.

LOR: A letter of recommendation (LOR) is a reference

letter written by a third party describing the qualities,
characteristics, and capabilities of the prospective
student to recommend him to the college in terms of
that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or
function. The third party could be a professor, direct
manager etc.

05
 Exams General Exams

Langauge GMAT:The Graduate Management Aptitude Test is

International English Language Testing
System (IELTS), Test Of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL), and Pearson Test of English (PTE) are all
standardised language tests, which are required to
be taken for the purpose of getting admission to
ways but many colleges ask for any one of the results.
So it’s up to the student to decide which exam to
appear for.
Repetition of exams: IELTS can be taken unlimited
number of times. TOEFL can be retaken as many times
as wished, but cannot be taken more than once in a
12-day period. Same with PTE, it can be taken as
many times as desired. You must wait to receive your
scores before you can book your next test.
Fee: The fee for these exams is Rs 12,650 for IELTS, Rs
12,410 for TOEFL and Rs 10,900 for PTE.
Time to apply: Ideally, if you are aiming at the January
intake you should appear for these exams by June, a
universities you will be applying to will mention which
exam results they will accept. But if they give a choice
to go for either of these, then the choice depends on
you. The time required to prepare for IELTS/TOEFL/
PTE would depend on the existing English language
used to measure the abilities of the potential MBA
business or management. It measures mathematical,
English, and reasoning skills of the student.
GRE:The Graduate Record Examination is another
test required to be taken by students applying to
graduate schools to pursue MA or MS. Increasingly
many business schools are also accepting GRE scores
for the purpose to granting admission for MBA.
Repetition and Fee: You can give GMAT unlimited
gap of 30 days between two tests. The cost of GMAT is
Rs 18,250 and GRE is Rs 14,235.
Average Scores: The average GMAT score accepted
across universities is 520 and above 600 for the top
colleges. Average GRE score is 145 for Verbal, 160 for
Quantitative and 4.0 for Writing.
*It is Important to note that these numbers are just
for reference propose, the Actual numbers may
differ from university to university.

preparation before the exam date.

Score Requirements: For undergraduate

courses, you should have scored at least 6.5 in IELTS
and 80 in TOEFL. In case of a postgraduate course,
you need to have scored 7.5 in IELTS and 90 in
TOEFL.

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 Cost of living Item Cost Per Month
The cost of living depends heavily on (Singapore Dollars)
what part of Singapore will you be living in along Accommodation Rent $200 - $1,500
with how much you will socialise. Some of the basic Utilities $40-$100
elements for living as an international student in Three meals a day $300-$450
Singapore are: Public Transport $20-$100
• Accommodation rent (on-campus or Mobile phone bills $30-80
• Groceries and food Books & Stationery $100-$250
• Utilities like power, water, gas, internet Personal Expenses $100-$300
• Phone bills
• Text and reference books
• Airfare for traveling back to India Scholarships
Merit and need based fee waivers are awarded
Other elements which may differ from person to international students. Candidate with strong
to person would be: academics, good performance on standardised
• Dinning out exams and extracurricular achievements would
• Travel and vacation
• Car rent and car insurance
has to make sure to send all the required documents
• Cable TV connectio
by particular deadlines. In addition to this, the
presentation of the application is also important
School Expenses
because one is judged by the image one projects.
universities, courses and the city. The tuition expenses Documents required: The documents usually
in Singapore for an undergraduate course might needed for a scholarship application are as follow,
be up to 12.05 Lacs per year for an undergraduate
course. And if you are thinking of applying to a • Academic records and photocopies
postgraduate course, the cost would be • A recent CV
approximately 17.04 Lacs per year. • A letter of intent, which acts as a cover page
of language (TOEFL or IELTS
Living expenses scores)
An international student in Singapore spends on • Letters of Reference
an average about 8.0 Lacs per annum a month on
living expenses. This amount varies depending on
individual lifestyle. These estimated costs below give
a rough guide to the basic monthly expenditure of an
international student in Singapore.

07
 Loans
Student Eligibility critieria:
thing to be aware of is whether you
are eligible to apply for the loan or not. The general
eligibility criteria that are followed by all the banks are
• You should be an Indian national
• You must have a strong academic record
• You must be seeking admission to a professional,
technical or other course of studies. Most banks
maintain that the selected course should be job
oriented
• You must have secured admission to a foreign
university institution
• You must be above the age of 18 years or else
your parents can avail the loan
 may not get a loan on
Eligibility of course: You
every course. Here are the kinds of courses that
qualify for the education loan.
• For Graduation: Job oriented professional or
• For Post-graduation: MCA, MBA, MS and also
diplomas
• These courses could be from foreign universities
or institutes approved by the state and central
government
Loan amount: if your total fee is Rs 10 lakh, the bank
you will have to put in the balance 20%. This is called
the margin amount. The maximum loan amount for
studies abroad is generally around Rs 20 lakh by the
bank. If your tuition fees amount is Rs 30 lakh, you’ll
have to manage the rest of the funds by yourself.
Some banks charge a processing fee, while others
total loan amount. So if the bank charges you one per
cent as processing fee, that will be an additional cost
you’ll have to cover.
Documentation required: You will have to provide
that you have been selected for the course and the
schedule of fees. You will also need to show the mark
sheet of the last qualifying examination to show your
academic record.
Repayment: Repayment starts only after the course
period. If the student gets employed within one year
after completion of the course, the repayment
should start immediately after the expiry of one
month from the date of employment.
If you do not secure a job within a year of
completing the course, then repayment starts
irrespective of whether or not you are employed.
The loan is generally to be repaid in 5-7 years after
commencement of repayment. If the student is not
able to complete the course within the scheduled
time or extension of time for completion of course, he
may be permitted for a maximum period of two years.
Generally, you will get up to a maximum number of
10 years to repay the loan.
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 Visa
Conditions
New applications for a Student’s Pass
must be submitted at least one month and not more
than two months before the commencement of the
course. Applications must be submitted through the
Student’s Pass On-Line Application & Registration
(SOLAR) system.
Following documents will be required for application
purposes:
• Valid passport – Your passport must be valid for at
least three months beyond your period of stay in
Singapore.
• Completed Student Visa Application Forms – ICA
form 16 & Form V36
• Application fee payment receipt, as you are
required to pay S$30, which translates roughly to
Rs 2,190. An issuance fee of S$60 (Rs 4,380) has to
be paid once the Student’s Pass is approved and
issued.
of place – You need to have an of place
from a Singapore institute/university. The forms
are usually issued after the tuition fees have been
received.
• Two passport sized photographs (if applicable)
Post-Studies Visa Process
After the degree program is over, international students
can submit an application for a one-year Visit Pass to ICA
(Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore),
if they want to look for employment opportunities in
Singapore. This can be done online through e-VP.
Work Permit
You can work part-time for up to 16 hours per week.
Work permits are not required for those who want to
work during holidays, as they can work full-time without
any visa restrictions.
Visa for Spouse
The spouse and children of full-time graduate
research students can get sponsorship from the
university for a Social Visit Pass to stay in Singapore.
The graduate students should get their spouse and
children to apply for an entry visa at Singapore’s
embassy. When the spouse and children arrive in
Singapore, they will be given a 4-week Social Visit
Pass at the airport.

Note Additional documentation may be required.

During the personal interview, additional documents
may be requested by the interviewer. These may be

status –
• Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or from
schools you attended
• Test scores that your college required, such as the
TOEFL, GRE, or GMAT
• How you will pay all educational, living and travel costs

09
 Things to cheques 4. Letter of Acceptance by the
check after • Check baggage and customs educational institution
submitting limitations 5. Key addresses and phone
• Clear all paperwork with your numbers
application home educational institution 6. A bank statement showing
€‚
 proof of funds
• Book airline tickets Get your documents in order and
7. Prescriptions for any
• Arrange accommodation in make photocopies to store in
medication you are carrying
Singapore your baggage and keep at home, 8. Traveler’s cheques—if
• Arrange transportation to/ including: applicable
from the airport to home in 1. Passport 9. Medical and immunization
Singapore 2. Airline tickets records
• Arrange your banking – 3. 10. Academic history and
consider buying traveler’s
university transcripts

Once you land
Homesickness: Homesickness is a
predictable problem faced by most
students at one point or another. It may occur at
the beginning or later. Homesickness will pass. Be
patient. Give it at least two weeks. If you are feeling
sad, explain what is happening to your friends. Do
not hide in your room; if you do, the homesickness
will only worsen. Find your counselor staff with
whom you can talk about homesickness or other
problems. Homesickness might be made worse by
frequent, long telephone calls home. Most
homesick students feel more homesick after a call
home than they did before they picked up the
phone. Try to limit yourself to one call home every
week. The sooner you integrate into the university
experience, the sooner your homesickness will pass.
Learning Basic Cooking: Cooking for yourself will
save you money. Indian food is expensive in
Singapore. It will also satisfy your urge to eat ‘your
food’ during moments of homesickness. You can
easily find many shops which sell ingredients used in
Indian food.
Travel: Each large city has and provides different
methods of public transportation, such as buses, taxis
or trains. You might wish to rely on a private car for
transportation. Even with the rising cost of petrol,
private cars are the most economical and convenient
mode of transportation because you get a lot of
flexibility and freedom with your car. You can travel
wherever and whenever you want, and don't have to
depend on the schedule of public transport.
However, before you buy your own car, you will have
to use public transportation or ask friends for rides.

Shopping in Singapore: Large shopping malls like
ION Orchard, VivoCity and Jurong Point in
Singapore are one-stop shops for all of your daily
needs. Bevigilant to ensure that all of your shopping
is properly billed and that you keep the bills with
you at all times.
Stay on Student's Pass: Upon completion of their
degree program, international students may submit
an application for a one-year Visit Pass to ICA, if they
wish to seek employment in Singapore. This can be
done electronically viae-VP.

10
 Post Study options course, you can apply for an ‘approval in principle
work visa’ which allows you to stay for a limited time
Work visa: In Singapore, if you
while looking for a job simultaneously.
accept a job offer before you
An employment pass is valid for only a few years
complete your studies then the employer needs to
(between three to five years). The visa is linked with
apply on your behalf for the employment pass. If you
the job that you are doing, so long as you are gainfully
do not secure a job before the completion of the
employed by the employer the work visa is in effect.

To explore more study options in New Zealand, click the following links.
MBA in Singapore BE/BTech in Singapore MS in Singapore

Did you find this guide useful? We would love to hear from you. Write to us at studyabroad@shiksha.com

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