These are the average costs per year for the following education institutes. Though some costs may differ depending on the institute, programme and level.
| Education level |
Ave. Cost for foreign students (per year) |
| Primary and secondary |
SGD $20,000 – SGD $40,000 |
| Diploma |
SGD $6,000 – SGD $18,000 |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
SGD $30,000 – SGD $60,000 |
| Master’s |
SGD $30,000 – SGD $50,000 (non-medical programmes)
SGD $50,000 – SGD $90,000 (medical programmes) |
An international student can expect to spend about SGD $750 to SGD $2,000 a month on living expenses, excluding the tuition fees, and this cost will vary according to your study programme and lifestyle.
The table below provides a rough guide in basic monthly expenditure for International students in Singapore:
| Food |
SGD $300 - $450/month |
| Accommodation |
SGD $200 - SGD $1,500 (Rental varies with area, type of accommodation, demand, facilities provided & the number of people sharing, etc) |
| Utilities |
SGD $50 - $80/month (not applicable for hostels) |
| Public Transport |
SGD $20 - $100/month |
| Telecommunications |
SGD $30/month and above |
| Books and Stationeries |
SGD $30 - $100/month |
| Public Transport |
SGD $100 - $200/month |
Some private universities like Kaplan Singapore provide hostels for students which will be slightly more affordable than renting out, and also come with facilities and housekeeping.
On average, international students should expect to set aside SGD $2,500 – SGD $5,000 in tuition fees and living expenses per month in Singapore.
Generally, local universities close admission applications in March or April, though it differs in private universities due to the frequent intake periods. We do recommend that you start preparing the necessary documents required for admission process once you are sure that you want to pursue an education in Singapore. We would advise that you submit the necessary documents 4-6 weeks in advance due to the processing time as well as the time needed to apply for your student pass once you have been accepted into the school.
Do engage our Study Trust consultant who will be able to assist you in the entire administrative process including specific deadlines to ensure that you have an efficient and smooth admission experience.
Diploma
To enter into a general diploma programme in Singapore, International applicants are required to have completed the GCE ‘O’ Level, Cambridge A Level qualification, International Baccalaureate (IB), International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), Unified Examination Certificate (UEC – Malaysia), Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), GCE ‘O’ Level (non-Singapore-Cambridge), or any other equivalent international qualifications are welcomed to apply. IELTS and TOEFL can also be alternate forms of English Language Proficiency proof.
Bachelor’s
International applicants of universities in Singapore should have completed 12 years of education and provide their most recent 3 years of high school grades with satisfactory grades,
A Level qualification, UEC/STPM or the equivalent. The requirements differ for different countries and programmes hence we advise that you research on the specific education institute(s) to find out the requirements. Do note that as the main language of instruction is the English Language, you do need to have to proof an adequate level of English Language proficiency to be accepted into the course.
English is the medium of instruction used in Singapore despite having four official languages, apart from specific language classes. Singapore universities have high entry standards especially when it comes to the English language.
For international students whose main language is not English, schools and universities will set their own required IELTS/TOEFL scores and students are expected to meet these requirements. Some schools also offer short English courses for students who do not meet the English Language requirements. We advise that you check on the specific schools and courses on the English Language requirements.
Some schools will require applicants to sit for an entrance exam and may also request for an interview session depending on the programme and individual applicants.
Parents can apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) via Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) which may take up to 6 weeks of processing time.
We suggest that you engage our Study Trust consultant who will be able to guide and advise you on the specific procedures and necessary documents to ensure a smooth application process and a higher chance of success.
With a Work Pass Exemption and also fulfilling other necessary requirements, International students from the list of approved schools are allowed to work a maximum of 16 hours per week in Singapore. For more detailed information about working in Singapore as a foreign student and the list of approved schools, do visit Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) website here.