Travelogue

SINGAPORE OFFERS STUDENTS EXTENSIVE CHOICES FOR BACHELOR STUDIES
Singapore is an attractive education destination for prospective Indian students, as it offers diverse opportunities in almost any field of study. A leading destination for the pursuit of Bachelors' Degree, the high quality of education, training and exposure that students gain from studying in Singapore will open doors, not just in Singapore but globally as well.

Singapore's education system is known for its quality, comprehensiveness and industry-relevance. With the latest technology and research facilities, the educational institutions in Singapore deliver top quality courses that promote creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. Students can also look forward to an enriching and transformational learning experiences.

Singapore's global economy being home to more than 7,000 MNC's alongside 100,000 small and medium enterprises and to over 110,000 professional expatriates, offer students excellent networking and career opportunities in a myriad of industries.

School and tuition fees in Singapore have remained competitive and the cost of living in Singapore is significantly lower than that of many developed countries. To make education more affordable, the government provides tuition grants to international students enrolled at the public universities and polytechnics.

Education Landscape
Singapore's 5 polytechnics are renowned for their market-driven and practice-based courses. The polytechnics offer three-year full-time diploma programs that equip graduates with specialised industry knowledge in a wide range of disciplines. Many polytechnic graduates later pursue degree studies at top local and foreign universities.

Singapore's three local universities rank among Asia's best, and offer internationally recognised undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, as well as research in various disciplines.

In Singapore, there are more than 300 quality private schools offering IT, fine arts and language programmes. The courses offered range from certificate to postgraduate levels through partnerships with renowned international universities from countries such as Australia, UK and USA, private schools offer students the opportunity to attain international certification while studying in Singapore.

To ensure that the private schools in Singapore safeguard student's interest and welfare, Singapore has put in place an Education Excellence framework consisting of two key initiatives. The CaseTrust for Education Scheme which ensures student protection policies, as well as welfare practices and standards and the Singapore Quality Class for Private Education Organisations (SQC-PEO) Scheme which serves as an industry benchmark for academic and business excellence. SQC - PEO's enjoy various privileges such as fast-track visa processing and waiver of security deposits. All private schools in Singapore must have the CaseTrust for Education certification to enrol foreign students.

Fresh Graduates have numerous opportunities for professional and skill-based training, internships and attachments at leading international organisations enabling them to forge ahead in their chosen profession. The cultural similarities and geographical proximity also help Indian students to easily adjust into their new environment and they find Singapore to be a home-away-from home in all aspects amidst Singapore's safe, clean and green environment.

Living and Working in Singapore
In 2006, The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Singapore as offering the best quality of life in Asia. An international student in Singapore spends on average about S$750 to S$2,000 a month on living expenses. All foreign students are required to apply for a Student's Pass to pursue full-time studies in Singapore.

International students enrolled at Singapore's public universities, polytechnics, certain speciality institutes and foreign institutes of higher learning, are allowed to work part-time for up to 16 hours a week during term time. They need to obtain prior permission from the Student Liaison/Affairs office of their institute. There is no cap on the number of working hours during vacations. Students studying in private education organisations are not allowed to work part time.

Applications and Procedures
Entry requirements to enroll in Singapore institutes vary depending on the institute as well as the course applied to. Applications for Singapore's public universities, international universities and polytechnics are conducted directly online.

Most private institutions have rolling intakes and conduct their own admission exercises, applicants should check on the procedures with the institution directly or approach a Singapore Education Specialist (SES) for assistance. SES are education counselors, who have undergone a training programme conducted by the Singapore Tourism Board, to enable them to provide accurate information to students.