James Cook University -- James Cook University, Singapore
NUS -- National University of Singapore
Nanyang Technological University -- Nanyang Technological University
Singapore Management University -- Singapore Management University, Singapore
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Overview of Higher Education in Singapore
Higher education in Singapore includes well-respected public universities and numerous other higher education institutions which offer a vast array of programs. The largest university, the University of Singapore, is ranked 30th in the world and 4th in Asia. A common theme throughout the higher education sector is international involvement. Foreign university branches in Singapore are numerous as are collaborations with foreign faculty, students, research centers and schools.
Admissions to the public universities is based on secondary school grades, extracurricular achievements, work experience, interviews as well as SAT scores for some programs. Acceptance to some of the universities has become quite competitive. Admissions criteria and acceptance rates at private universities and other institutions varies by school.
Singapore's public institutions receive substantial public funding so Singapore citizens pay reasonable tuition fees which have recently been in the range of $6000 - $8000 US, but vary by institution and program. Non-citizen residents pay 10 to 20 percent more than citizens.
Types of Schools and Degrees
As of 2012 there will be four public universities as well as numerous public and private junior colleges, polytechnics, management institutes and vocational educational institutes. A substantial number of foreign universities, many of which are highly respected, have campuses or offer programs in Singapore. The newest university, the Singapore University of Technology and Design, focuses on technology and engineering and was established in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US.
Depending on the university, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees can be earned while at polytechnics, only three-year diplomas are awarded. Students can choose to continue on to a university program after completing a polytechnic, junior college or similar program.
International Students
According to the Singapore government, over 80,000 international students attended higher education institutions in 2006. Many students come from nearby Asian countries but many others come from the US and Europe as well. Courses are taught in English, which is the dominant language spoken there.
Admission requirements for international students typically include a secondary school diploma, SAT scores and, in some cases, an acceptable score on an English proficiency exam. International student's tuition fees at public universities are subsidized somewhat by the government. Foreign students pay between 10 and 40 percent more than local non-citizens.
About Singapore
Singapore is an island country located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Its population of over five million people lives in the second most densely populated country in the world. Over 40 percent of the population is foreigners which primarily come from China, Malaysia and the Philippines. English is the primary language while Malay, Mandarin Chinese and Tamil are also official languages.
Singapore's economy has been rated as the most business-friendly and one of the top 10 most open, competitive and innovative in the world. Its economy is driven by manufacturing and refining of imported goods in industries such as electronics, petroleum, chemicals, mechanical engineering and biomedical.
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