Top Colleges in Singapore: Courses, Eligibility Criteria, Scholarships and Fees 2024

Singapore is one of the most popular study-abroad destinations for Indian students due to its proximity. Universities in Singapore provide a wide range of courses in Business, Engineering, Medicine, and more along with career opportunities. According to the 2024 QS World University Rankings, there are the two top universities in Singapore namely the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University which are among the top 30. In 2024, Singapore gained the #15 spot in one of the most desirable student destinations in Asia and the world by QS ranking.

Even though the cost of living in Singapore is more expensive than in India, it is lower than in various European and American countries. Singapore offers a similar standard of living as these popular study destinations but at a lower cost. Government Universities in Singapore have two intakes, August and Feb intake while polytechnic universities have April and September intakes. Private educational institutions have several intakes throughout the year.

Top Colleges in Singapore

Here is a table featuring some of the top universities in Singapore for international students, along with their respective rankings according to the World University Rankings in 2024:

University QS World University Ranking 2024 Times Higher Education Ranking 2024
National University of Singapore #8 #19
Nanyang Technological University #26th #32
Singapore University of Technology and Design #=429th -
Singapore Management University #=545 -

According to the 2024 QS World University Rankings, there are the two top universities in Singapore namely the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University which are among the top 30.

Why Study in Singapore?

Higher educational institutions in Singapore offer a broad selection of educational programs to all students with exceptional career and internship opportunities. There are several international and government scholarships available for international students to ease the financial burden. Also, there are various study abroad collaboration programs.

  • High-quality education: A wide range of educational programs are available in Singapore.
  • Exposure: Students get exposure to different cultures and academic life which proves beneficial for leading an ambitious life.
  • Scholarships: Even though the tuition fee is high in Singapore, there are many scholarships available for international students to subdue their financial burden.
  • Employability: There are many options available for international students for their future career prospects such as work while studying, full-time and part-time work, internships, collaborative career programs, etc.
  • No Second Language Barrier: English is widely spoken in Singapore so language is not a problem for Indian students studying in Singapore.

Colleges in Singapore for Undergraduate Programs

In Singapore, most bachelor's programs are 3 years long while bachelor honours are around 4 years. There are some fast-track degree programs spanning from 2 to 2.5 years. It is highly recommended that international students opt for 3 or 4 years of degree programs.

Below is the average tuition fee to study for a popular bachelor's degree in Singapore in Singapore universities:

University Program Amount (SGD) Amount (INR)

National University of Singapore

Bachelor of Computing Information Systems 17,800 11 lakhs
Bachelor of Science [B.S] Physics 19,650 12.1 lakhs
Bachelor of Business Administration [B.B.A] 20,850 12.9 lakhs

Nanyang Technological University

Bachelor of Engineering [B.Eng] Computer Engineering 17,800 11 lakhs
Bachelor Business Analytics 20,400 12.6 lakhs
Bachelor Mechanical Engineering 17,800 11 lakhs
Bachelor Aerospace Engineering 17,800 11 lakhs

Singapore Management University

Bachelor Business Management 25,080 15.5 lakhs
Bachelor of Science [B.S] Economics 25,080 15.5 lakhs
Bachelor Accountancy 25,080 15.5 lakhs

Colleges in Singapore for UG: Eligibility Criteria

Some of the common eligibility criteria and admission requirements that are required are given below:

  • High school diploma or overseas equivalent for undergraduate programs
  • English language proficiency:

Colleges in Singapore for Postgraduate Programs

Generally, master's programs in the universities in Singapore take 1 to 2 years or 15 months to 18 months to complete. A wide range of postgraduate programs are available in Singapore universities, Indian students prefer Engineering, telecommunication, and business-related programs are preferred by Indian students.

Below is the average tuition fee to study for a popular master's degree in Singapore in Singapore universities:

University Program Amount (SGD) Amount (INR)

National University of Singapore

Master of Science [M.Sc.] Data Science and Machine Learning 41,181 25.4 lakhs
Master of Science [M.Sc.] Finance 41,181 25.4 lakhs
Master of Science [M.Sc.] Business Analytics 70,850 43.7 lakhs

Nanyang Technological University

Master of Science [M.S] Business Analytics 15,039 9.3 lakhs
Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence[MSAI] 15,039 9.3 lakhs
Master of Science [M.S] Aerospace Engineering 15,039 9.3 lakhs
Master of Science [M.S] Finance 15,039 9.3 lakhs

Singapore Management University

Master of Science [M.S] Management 54,500 33.6 lakhs
Master of Science [M.S] Applied Finance SGD 54,500 33.6 lakhs
Master of Science [M.S] Financial Economics 48,600 30 lakhs

Best MBA Colleges in Singapore

There is a very high demand for business-related courses in Singapore. The duration of the MBA program in Singapore is 1 to 2 years. Some of the top colleges to study MBA in Singapore are tabulated below along with their tuition fee.

College or university Program Tuition Fee (SGD) Equivalent Tuition Fee (INR)
National University of Singapore (NUS) Master of Business Administration [M.B.A] 87,000 53.7 lakhs
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Master of Business Administration [M.B.A] 75,000 46.3 lakhs
Singapore Management University (SMU) Master of Business Administration [M.B.A] 76,300 47.1 lakhs

Colleges in Singapore for PG: Eligibility Criteria

Some of the common eligibility criteria and admission requirements for PG programs are given below:

  • A good bachelor's or honours degree
  • 2-3 letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • Resume or CV
  • Bank statement
  • English language proficiency:
    • IELTS-6.0-6.5
    • TOEFL IBT - 90-100
  • Test scores:
    • GRE - 320 (Verbal and Quant) and 3.5 (Analytical)
    • GMAT - 650+

Scholarship Offered By Top Colleges in Singapore

Below is a table showcasing scholarships in Singapore for international students, along with the eligibility criteria and awards.

Scholarship Name Eligibility Criteria Awards
Singapore International Pre-Graduate Award Must stay enrolled at home university during the attachment | Proficient in English | Passion for research career Monthly stipend of SGD 2,000
Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) Good skills in written and spoken English | Good reports from academic referees Tuition fees | Monthly stipend of SGD 2,200 which will be increased to SGD 2,700 after the passing of the Qualifying Examination | One-time airfare grant of up to SGD 1,500 | One-time settling-in allowance of SGD 1,000
INSEAD Syngenta Endowed Scholarship(s) for Emerging Country Leadership National of an emerging economy | Industry experience | Need based SGD 32,597
NUS Science and Technology Undergraduate Scholarship Citizens of an Asian country | Excellent co-curricular activities records | Outstanding high school results | Applying for a full-time undergraduate degree in Computing, Engineering, or Science (excluding Environmental Studies and Pharmacy) at NUS. Tuition Grant Subsidy | SGD 6,000 annual living allowance| SGD 1,750 one-time computer allowance upon enrolment | SGD 200 one-time settling-in allowance upon enrolment | Annual accommodation allowance equivalent to the lowest double room rate for on-campus accommodation | One-way air passage from home country to Singapore at the program start and return air passage to home country at the program end.
Dr. Goh Keng Swee Scholarship For citizens/passport holders of Asian countries | Meet university admission requirements, apply to designated Singaporean universities | Show leadership, strong academics, co-curricular achievements, and SAT scores or plans to take the SAT Tuition fees | Airfare to Singapore and return to the home country upon completing the study | Annual maintenance allowance of SGD 6,500 | Hostel allowance based on the institution of study

Settling-in allowance (one-time expense) of SGD 200 upon arrival in Singapore.

Prospective international students planning to get undergraduate or postgraduate degrees must always keep their eligibility documents ready. Students must apply at the earliest to get first come first serve benefits. Applicants are highly advised to check their preferred program on the official website to avoid any kind of hindrance.

FAQs

Ques. Which is the best institute in Singapore?

Ans. The best institutes in Singapore are listed in the table below:

University QS World University Ranking 2024 Times Higher Education Ranking 2024
National University of Singapore #8 #19
Nanyang Technological University #26th #32
Singapore University of Technology and Design #=429th -
Singapore Management University #=545 -

Ques. Which course is famous in Singapore?

Ans. A wide range of postgraduate programs are available in Singapore universities, Indian students prefer Engineering, telecommunication, and business-related programs are preferred by Indian students.

Some of the popular courses are as follows:

  • Data Science and Machine Learning
  • Finance
  • Business Analytics
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Management
  • Applied Finance
  • Financial Economics

Ques. Is Singapore good for Indian students?

Ans. Yes, Singapore is good for Indian students. Here are some of the reasons why:

  • High-quality education: A wide range of educational programs are available in Singapore.
  • Exposure: Students get exposure to different cultures and academic life which proves beneficial for leading an ambitious life.
  • Scholarships: Even though the tuition fee is high in Singapore, there are many scholarships available for international students to subdue their financial burden.
  • Employability: There are many options available for international students for their future career prospects such as work while studying, full-time and part-time work, internships, collaborative career programs, etc.
  • No Second Language Barrier: English is widely spoken in Singapore so language is not a problem for Indian students studying in Singapore.

Ques. Is ielts required for Singapore?

Ans. Yes, English language proficiency is required for admission to universities in Singapore. The specific requirements may vary depending on the level of study:

  • For Undergraduate (UG) Programs: The English language proficiency requirement is an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent.
  • For Postgraduate (PG) Programs: The English language proficiency requirements may range from IELTS 6.0 to 6.5, depending on the university and program.

Ques. How can I get admission to Singapore University?

Ans. To get admission to a Singaporean university, prospective students need to have:

  • High school diploma or overseas equivalent for undergraduate programs
  • A good bachelor's or honours degree for graduate programs
  • English language proficiency
  • Submission of required documents such as transcripts, recommendation letters, and a statement of purpose.

Ques. How long is college in Singapore?

Ans. The duration of the programs depends on the level of study:

  • In Singapore, most bachelor's programs are 3 years long while bachelor honours are around 4 years.
  • Master's programs in the universities in Singapore take 1 to 2 years or 15 months to 18 months to complete.
  • The duration of the MBA program in Singapore is 1 to 2 years.

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Found 2 universities

Sort By
CD RankCollege InfoTuition Fees & living Cost(Avg.)Top CoursesRanking & Reviews
#1National University of Singapore logo

National University of Singapore, Singapore

Singapore, Singapore25%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $14.4K/Yr (S$18,900/Yr)Living$5.6K/Yr (S$7,332/Yr)Admission B.A Communications and New MediaIELTS6.5PTE62$14.4K/Yr
S$18,900
Course duration: 4 years
Programs
5.7/10(8 Users)Ranked 19 by THE in 2024Ranked 8 by QS in 2025
#2Nanyang Technological University logo

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Singapore, Singapore36%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $14.4K/Yr (S$18,900/Yr)Living$11.2K/Yr (S$14,760/Yr)Admission B.A Photography and Digital Imag...SAT1250IELTS6PTE55$14.4K/Yr
S$18,900
Course duration: 3 years
1 More Program
9.0/10(3 Users)Ranked 32 by THE in 2024Ranked 15 by QS in 2025