An island nation, Singapore is modern and vibrant. It has a rich and multicultural heritage, and offers a cosmopolitan and fast-paced lifestyle. Partner this with the number of world class universities, Singapore is the perfect destination for international students looking for a unique and contemporary higher education experience.
Singapore takes great pride in maintaining extremely high standards of teaching and learning. Singaporean universities also have a strong research focus. Many universities in Singapore have strong links with industry, meaning that you will be able gain practical experience alongside your degree. This not only makes your time studying more interesting, it can also mean that you will find employment more easily.
The country has a well developed educational system, providing numerous opportunities for international students. Education is a priority in Singapore and the nation is recognised as a ‘global schoolhouse’. A strong emphasis on education started when the British-based education system was introduced by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (founder of the Singapore Institution, now known as the Raffles Institution) in 1823. Today Singapore is one of the leaders in higher education both in Asia and Worldwide.
Two of Singapore’s universities are in the 2023 QS World University Rankings top 500. The highest ranked is the National University of Singapore (NUS), which is placed at 11th. The next highest ranked is the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU), which is placed at 19th.
International students are required to obtain a student visa to move to Singapore for their studies. For more information about this, please see our Singapore Student Visa Guide.
| Capital City | Singapore |
|---|---|
| Currency | SGD, Singapore Dollar |
| Language(s) | English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil |
| Universities on StudyLink | 13 universities |
| Major Student Cities |
The official languages of Singapore are English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. As well as these, there are many other languages you can expect to hear being spoken across the country.
It is extremely common for institutions to offer courses in English. If you choose to study in a non-native language, you will likely have to provide evidence of your language proficiency. If you do not meet the required standards, you may be able to take a language course to help you improve.
Even if you are able to study in English, living in Singapore is a great chance to learn more than one new language. Communicating with locals and other students is the perfect way to practice. Having another language is a skill that will look fantastic on your CV/resume.
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