Quick Glance at Singapore as a country and a Study Abroad Destination
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Singapore, a small island country just south of the Malay Peninsula has a rather interesting history and more than that, a phenomenal growth story. One of the four Asian Tigers, Singapore gained its independence in 1963 when it joined Malaysia but was soon expelled out (in 1965) and was designated an independent nation. Challenges were many and resources were limited (a very small land size being one of them). And the small country surprised all. Its rapid development as a trading port, a hub of innovation and development led to a sharp rise in the economy that grew at a steady pace of 7% annually, year on year. Such was the rise that it was soon recognized as a developed nation of the world.
Quick Facts
- Singapore is extensively urbanized with rather limited original vegetation remaining
- A Law in 1995 was put in place to convert 10% of the land area into green areas to provide balance to the eco-system
- Its society is largely cosmopolitan in nature with people of different ethnicities forming its population; people from Chinese, Malaysian and Tamilian decent are not uncommon.
- The country is made up of 60 islands, with Singapore City being the largest island
- Its standard time is GMT+8 hours
- It has a population of just over 5 million, 40% of this population constitutes of permanent residents, foreign workers, and international students.
- 4 languages – English, Malay, Tamil, and Mandarin are recognized as official languages
- It is a Parliamentary state with Prime Minister being the leader, the President is a ceremonial post.
- Current ruling party (and also the party that has been in power ever since its independence) is People’s Action Party.
- Tourism, Logistics, Banking & Finance, and Bio-medical Sciences are amongst the top economic sectors of the country, Education is another emerging sector for the country
- It enjoys a rather high per capita income; its currency is called the Singaporean Dollar and its present exchange value is around Rs. 47
- The country also boasts of one of the best and most successful legislatures and crime rate in the country is really low
- The country has strict laws against serious offenses with murder and drug trafficking attracting the death penalty
Education System
With roots in the English Education System, the education system in Singapore is divided into
- Primary Level – divided into 4+2 levels of foundation stage and orientation stage respectively
- Secondary Level – extending for 4 or 5 years as per Special, Express or Normal (Academic/Technical) qualifiers of PSLE Exam
- Pre-University – which includes Junior Colleges, Polytechnics and Institutes of Technical Education which offer 2-year courses
- University – Public and Private Universities offering undergraduate and graduate courses
English is the official medium of instruction across all schools and colleges in Singapore.
Why Study in Singapore?
Singapore offers a unique blend of opportunity with facilities. World-renowned institutions offering affordable means to quality education, a highly developed industrial interface, easy immigration laws and strategic location all add to the attractiveness of Singapore as a Study Abroad Destination. Such is its popularity that many foreign universities of repute have set up campuses in Singapore. These International Universities in Singapore along with the world-class Singapore Universities offer the students the option of getting the best of the west in the heart of east. Easy access for Asian students, affordable tuition fee and cost of living all add to the many reasons why Singapore is a great study abroad destination.
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
You can learn more about Singapore through the Student Guide.
Summing up, Singapore has a lot to explore…a melting pot of many cultures and economies, the “Lion City” of the world roars high and helps you soar!
Q: Is Singapore Management University hard to get into?
According to various sources, Singapore Management University has an acceptance rate of around 45% which makes it moderately selective for international student admissions. Some of the general admission requirements at the university are given as follows:
- Academic Transcripts
- International Qualifications that are equivalent
- Standardized Test Scores
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
After the student receives an offer letter, they are required to give the admission interview to be enrolled.
Q: How can I apply for NUS Singapore from India?
Applications to all the courses offered by NUS are done via online application portals of the university. Check out the steps below to see how to fill undergraduate and postgraduate applications on dedicated portals:
Undergraduate Applicants:
International applicants need to follow these steps to apply to an undergraduate programme at NUS:
Step 1: Visit myaces.nus.edu.sg/uasonline2/catD/catDapplform.do and sign up to apply.
Step 2: Enter personal details and contact information.
Step 3: Enter details of academic qualifications.
Step 4: Enter information on university/tertiary education.
Step 5: Enter the information on all outstanding achievements.
Step 6: Insert the programme details and paste the application material in the boxes provided.
Step 7: In this step, input the following:
- Next-of-kin information
- Personal identification number
- Application fee
- Financial aid
- Other information
- Tuition grant
Step 8: Read the declaration carefully.
Step 9: Press the ‘Continue’ button to complete the application.
Graduate Applicants
International applicants need to follow these steps to apply to a graduate programme at NUS:
Step 1: Sign up on the university’s application portal at inetapps.nus.edu.sg/gda2/Applicant.aspx/Account/SignUp.
Step 2: Click on ‘Create New Application’ and choose the following:
- Programme type
- Faculty
- Programme
- Department
- Specialisation (area of study)
- Source of finance
- Specify in case of ‘other source of finance’
- Academic load
Step 3: Read the instructions from the faculty/department/school carefully.
Step 4: Fill up the information as stepping through the application process.
Step 5: The system will perform an application completeness check for the selected programme.
Step 6: Once the above steps are completed, fill up the declaration section.
Step 7: Click on the 'Submit' button in the declaration page to complete the submission.
Step 8: To make an online payment for the application/acceptance fee and view details of your application (e.g. application status and admission status), click ‘View Application/Make Payment/Submit Reply on Offer of Admission’ at the menu on the left.
Step 9: To make changes to basic programme information for an application, click ‘Edit’.
Step 10: To apply to multiple programmes within the same application cycle and to change the order of preference, please click on the ‘Up’ and ‘Down’ links as required.
Q: Which are the popular courses at Singapore Management University?
Singapore Management University offers a range of undergraduate, graduate, research, and professional degree courses for international students. Some of the popular programs at the university are given as follows:
Others Denote Information Technology, Accounting, International Business etc.
Q: Is NTU Singapore expensive?
The NTU tuition fees is S$36,336.45 for international students. Apart from this, students also need to pay University-level miscellaneous fees The tuition fee for undergraduate courses for Nanyang Technological University is similar to NUS. First of all, students need to pay a non-refundable application fee of S$21.40. After accepting the offer, international students need to pay S$5,000 as non-refundable fee. This deposit fee can be used to offset the first tuition fee payment.
Q: What is the population of MBA students and faculty at INSEAD Singapore?
There are around 20,000+ students and 5,500+ faculty at INSEAD Singapore.
However, it is difficult to be sure about the same because of new admissions taking place.
The INSEAD website states that there are over 145 full-time faculty from more than 30 countries.
The exact numbers may vary depending on the year and the source.
Q: Does INSEAD - Singapore accept Indian students?
Certainly yes, INSEAD - Singapore accepts admission applications from all across the globe including India as well. Indian students applying at INSEAD - Singapore are required to meet the eligibility criteria for the respective choice of course along with a qualifying score in the English language proficiency test like IELTS.
Q: How can an Indian student get admission to INSEAD - Singapore?
As an Indian student, complete the following steps to be admitted to INSEAD in Singapore:
- Academic Qualifications: Ascertain that you have a solid academic background and a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a reputable institution.
- Work Experience: INSEAD favors individuals with relevant professional backgrounds.
- GMAT/GRE: Get ready for and take the GMAT or GRE because admissions officers frequently want these scores.
- English proficiency: You'll probably need to provide test results as confirmation of your English competence if English isn't your first language
Q: What is the JCU Singapore cost of living for international students?
James Cook University Singapore does not offer on-campus accommodation for their students. However, students can find various types of housing options nearby for accommodation purposes. Listed below is the JCU Singapore cost of living for international students:
Facilities | Cost of Living (per month) | Cost in INR |
|---|---|---|
Accommodation | SGD 550 - 2,000 | INR 33K - 1.2L |
Meals | SGD 450 - 600 | INR 27K - 37K |
Public transportation | SGD 100 - 150 | INR 6K - 9K |
Telecom | SGD 30 - 50 | INR 1.8K - 3K |
Personal Expenses | SGD 100 - 400 | INR 6K - 24K |
Train fare (Daily Average) | SGD 0.92 - 2.17 (per trip) | INR 50 - 150 |
Taxi fare (Daily Average) | SGD 3.20 to 3.90 (per trip) | INR 200 - 250 |
Bus fare (Daily Average) | SGD 0.92 - 2.17 per trip | INR 50 - 150 |
TOTAL | SGD 1230 - 3200 | INR 73.8K - 3.86L |
Conversion Used: 1 SGD (Singapore Dollar) = INR 61.69
Abhineet is armed with varied experiences ranging from teaching in a university and research to counselling students. Working for some time in Germany, and having a passion for travelling, he has gained much interna... Read Full Bio
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