After completing your research about studying in Singapore, you will need to make a list of universities that you’re going to apply to. This is a very important step and making wise decisions at this point can help you get into a university that will suit your needs.
Unlike other popular study destinations like the U.S, U.K, Australia and Canada, Singapore has a limited number of universities that offer undergraduate degrees. Vital information about a majority of the universities in Singapore has been given below to help you select the ones you should apply to.
National University of Singapore (NUS)
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is the most reputed and prestigious university in Singapore. It is known worldwide for its high academic standards and for the flexibility it provides its students in terms of course structures.
Course Content:
NUS offers undergraduate degrees in a large number of fields that include Architecture, Business, Computing, Engineering (various disciplines), Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Law, Industrial Design and Real Estate among others.
It also offers undergraduate degrees in Arts based courses with the option of 18 different majors such as Economics, Philosophy, Literature, Theater Studies etc. NUS also offers undergraduate degrees in Science based courses with majors in 15 different fields including Applied Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Statistics etc.
The duration of most undergraduate courses is 4 years with Honours and 3 years without Honours.
Competitiveness:
Getting into NUS is extremely difficult and admissions are extremely competitive. Indian students will generally need a minimum of 90% and above in your Class 12th boards to even be considered for admission. Apart from your academics, your extracurricular activities such as achievements in sports or arts will also be taken into account.
Reputation:
Not only is NUS one of the best universities in Singapore, but it is considered to be one of the best institutions in the world. It was ranked as the 22nd best university in the world as per the QS World University Rankings of 2014.
Cost:
At NUS, different programs have different tuition fees. The subsidized tuition fee rates (after Singapore Government Grant) for most courses are mentioned on the NUS website: https://share.nus.edu.sg/registrar/info/ug/UGTuitionCurrent.pdf.
NUS provides various forms of scholarships, aids and tuition grants to international students (apart from the Government Grant). Such financial aids can significantly reduce your total expenditure in Singapore.
Campus Life:
NUS has more than 30,000 students on campus and various clubs, associations and organizations through which students can explore other aspects of their personality apart from academics. The facilities available on campus (sports, arts etc.) are of a very high standard.
Visit the NUS website to know more: http://www.nus.edu.sg/.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
The Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is the second most reputed university in Singapore. It has made a name for itself in the international arena for its quality of education, faculty and research.
Course Content:
NTU offers undergraduate degrees in a variety of fields including Accountancy, Business, Animation, Filmmaking, Media, Product Design, Photography, Visual Communication, Communication Studies, Education, Engineering (various disciplines), Medicine and Sports Science.
It also offers undergraduate degrees with specializations in the various fields of Humanities such as Languages, Economics, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology etc. At NTU, you can also pursue undergraduate courses in the various disciplines of Science such as Mathematical Sciences, Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Physics, Biological Sciences etc.
The standard duration of most undergraduate degrees is 4 years.
Competitiveness:
Getting into NTU is very difficult and there is massive competition for places. As an Indian student, the minimum eligibility requirement to be considered for admission is to have scored a 90% in your Class 12th boards at the very least. Unlike the NUS, admissions in NTU focus primarily on academic results and there is very little weightage (if at all) given to achievements in other fields.
Reputation:
NTU is an internationally reputed university and was ranked as the 39th best university in the world as per the QS World University Rankings 2014. Not only that, but it was ranked as the best young university in the world (less than 50 years) as per the QS Top 50 under 50 University Rankings for the year 2014.
Cost:
Like the NUS, NTU also has different tuition fees for different programs. Visit the following website to know about the subsidized tuition fee rates (after Government Tuition Grant) at NTU: http://www3.ntu.edu.sg/oad2/website_files/finaid/tutionFees_1415.pdf.
International students at NTU are eligible for various grants, bursaries and aids that are awarded apart from the Government’s grant. These include need – based financial aids as well as merit – based financial aids. They will help in reducing your total expenditure as an international student in Singapore.
Campus Life:
NTU is a big university with more than 30,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students on campus. Campus life at NTU is dynamic and vibrant with a number of clubs, events and organizations enabling students to pursue their extracurricular interests.
Visit the NTU website to know more: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/.
Other Singaporean Universities
Apart from the NUS and the NTU, there are some other universities in Singapore that provide quality education in different fields.
Singapore Management University (SMU)
Singapore Management University (SMU) is a well known university in Singapore that offers undergraduatedegreecourses in Business, Economics, Information Systems Management, Accountancy, Law and Social Science.
Visit the SMU website to know more: http://www.smu.edu.sg/.
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) is a technical university in Singapore that offers undergraduate degrees in various fields of Engineering, Information Communications and Computing, Health Sciences, Design, Education and Social Sciences. Many of SIT’s degree programs are affiliated by foreign universities.
Visit the SIT website to know more: http://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/.
Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) is an Art, Technology and Design based university in Singapore. It offers undergraduate degree programs in various fields including Architecture and Sustainable Design, Engineering Product Development, Engineering Systems and Design, Information Systems Technology and Design, and Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.
Visit the SUTD website to know more: http://www.sutd.edu.sg/.
Yale NUS College
Yale NUS College is Singapore’s first Liberal Arts College. It is a joint venture between the Yale University and the National University of Singapore (NUS). The Yale NUS College offers undergraduate degree programs with majors in a variety of fields including Anthropology, Arts and Humanities, Economics, Environmental Studies, Global Affairs, History, Life Sciences, Literature, Mathematical and Computation Sciences, Philosophy, Physical Sciences, Psychology, Urban Studies, and Politics, Philosophy and Economics.
Visit the Yale NUS College website to know more: http://www.yale-nus.edu.sg/.
Singapore Art Colleges
Singapore is home to two of the bestArt colleges in Asia, namely NAFA and LASALLE.
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)
NAFA is a reputed Fine Art College in Singapore and it offers undergraduate Diploma and Degree programs in various fields including 3D Design, Arts and Management Education, Dance, Design and Media, Fashion Studies, Fine Arts, Music and Theater. Even though a lot of NAFA’s programs award Diplomas, students can choose to pursue ‘Top – Up’ programs upon completion of the Diploma that will award them with a Bachelors degree in the same or a related field.
Visit the NAFA website to know more: http://www.nafa.edu.sg/.
LASALLE College of the Arts
LASALLE College of the Arts is a very well known Arts College in Singapore. It offers 4 year Bachelor degrees in a variety of Arts related fields such as Animation Art, Acting, Arts Management, Dance, Design Communication, Fashion Design and Textiles, Fashion Media and Industries, Film, Fine Arts, Interior Design, Music, Musical Theater, and Product Design.
Visit the LASALLE website to know more: http://www.lasalle.edu.sg/.
Foreign Universities in Singapore
There are a number of Foreign Universities in Singapore that offer Diplomas, Bachelors and Masters Programs. Some of them are mentioned below. Visit their websites to get more information:
James Cook University, Singapore: http://www.jcu.edu.sg/
Essec Business School: http://www.essec.edu
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University: http://www.erau.edu/
University of Nevada Las Vegas Singapore: http://www.unlv.edu.sg/
Curtin University Singapore: http://www.curtin.edu.sg/
University of Adelaide, Ngee Ann: http://naa.edu.sg/
Temple University Singapore: http://www.temple.sg/
