Study in Singapore

Singapore as a higher studies destination has not only prompted overseas students to plan their academic tenure in the country but has also yielded excellent employment outcomes for them, helping them secure a job in multifarious fields. Maintaining a high student satisfaction rate and security parameters, Singappore is an economic powerhouse with a polished and globally acknowledged education system.

Undoubtedly, getting a chance to study in Singapore is a boon for Indian students. It not only owns one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites but also has various visually appealing art galleries, parks, museums, and parks to offer.

Although, there are four official languages in Singapore namely Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, and English, the last one (English) being the medium of teaching instruction. This makes easy and convenient for Indian students to communicated with others and study without any language barrier. Each year, over 85,000 students from abroad, representing more than 100 nationalities, opt to study in the island country of Singapore.  The country also ranks 11th in the QS Best Student Cities, 2026.

Why Study in Singapore

Students find Singapore comfortable due to its citizen-friendly norms and good quality of life. The country’s safe and secure environment makes it favourable for them to explore different places and participate in a variety of rejuvenating activities. Other major reasons which are good enough to attract overseas students to study in Singapore have been listed below:

• Best Universities: The National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University are consistently ranked among the top universities in the world.

• Language: English is an official language, easing adaptation for international students.

• Tuition Grant Scheme (TGS): The government covers up to 80% of fees for international students. Only condition is that you need to sign a 3-year work bond in Singapore. This is to ensure you will work in Singapore workforce immediately after your degree.

• Safe Country: Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world. According to the Global Peace Index 2025 reports, Singapore is on 6th rank. Overseas students feel absolutely safe both on and off campus. 

• Job Opportunity: Although the island nation occupies a tiny space on the world map, the job opportunities it offers to foreign nationalities are plenty. Considered a hub of global economic activity, the country roughly has over 25,000 international organisations. The job market of Singapore offers high employment rates. Also, there are officies of popular MNCs.

• Student Visa Process: Student Pass is mandatory document to study in Singapore. It is approved by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

• Demanding Courses: In the today's era, universities in Singapore offers demanding courses like AI, data science, business, healthcare, engineering, law, and architecture courses.

• Reputed Education System: The education system of Singapore is reputed in the world for offering skill based education, especially strong in STEM fields.

• Cost of Living in Singapore: The monthly living expenses in Singapore for Indian students is SGD 1,480 ( INR 95,129) excluding rent and tuition fees.

• Cultural harmony and co-existence: The country has been able to pull in expatriates from different regions of the globe, holding distinct nationalities and practising different religions. Major ethnic groups such as Malays, Eurasians, Chinese and Indians peacefully co-exist with the rest of the groups, creating a harmonious living atmosphere. 

Study in Singapore 2026: Highlights

Singapore Permanent Residence Permit

Foreigners who wish to become permanent residents of Singapore can do so by getting an Entry Permit. One may qualify to apply for Permanent Residence Permit if one is:

• Aged parent of a citizen of Singapore
• Spouse of a citizen of Singapore/Permanent Resident (SPR)
• Unmarried kids, aged 21 and below, of a citizen of Singapore or PR
• Studying in Singapore as a student
• Investors from an overseas land
• Possessing employment or S pass.

Those who wish to apply for the same will have to submit the application online at e-Service. Applicants can also download the same and complete it offline. They can thereafter submit it online. Check out, how you can apply for PR in Singapore. 

Top Universities in Singapore

When choosing where to study in Singapore, Indian students have options to prestigious institutes, including National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU), ranking among the world’s top 15 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2026. These two are also the top two higher educational institutions in Singapore, with the former being at the first position in entire Asia.

Top Courses in Singapore

Although there are multiple options available for those who wish to study in Singapore, a few courses are significantly more in demand than others. For those students who are interested in advancing their careers can explore our comprehensive guide to pursuing an MBA in Singapore, a hub for world-class business education and global networking opportunities.

Below, we have listed some popular courses according to their streams:

Admission Requirements to Study in Singapore

Singapore is a great place for Indian students to study. It has top colleges and is close to India. Here are the rules to get into a degree course in 2026.

• High Grades: You need 90% to 95% marks in Class 10 and Class 12.
• Predicted Scores: If you are still in Class 12, you can apply using your expected marks.
• Special Tests: Top schools like NUS and SIM might ask for Advanced Placement (AP) test scores.
• SAT Exams: You need a high SAT score. This is a must for students from state boards.
• English Skills: You do not need IELTS or TOEFL if you got 75% in English at an English-medium school. These are popular exams to study in Singapore

Scholarships for Indian Students

Living and studying abroad can be expensive. Scholarships help pay for your fees and daily costs. Here are the list of scholarships to study in Singapore for Indians: for 2026:

• Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA): This is for PhD students. It pays for your tuition, flights, and gives you monthly pocket money for 4 years.
• Lee Kong Chian Graduate Scholarships: This is for NUS students. It gives SGD 3,300 every month. It also gives money for a laptop and books.
• INSEAD-Syngenta MBA Scholarships: This is for MBA students. It gives SGD 33,365 per year to help leaders from countries like India.

Education Loan for Studying in Singapore

Students planning to borrow education loan to study in Singapore should be familiar with the guidelines for the same and qualify them in order to apply to their choice of money lending institution/bank. The Education Loan eligibility criteria vary for different banks.

The loan application guidelines listed below are applicable to majority of the nationalized banks:

• Indian students who have obtained a place in selected educational institutions for higher education in Singapore can apply for education loan.
• Students can apply for a minimum loan amount of SGD 20,000, and the maximum is up to 100% of the student’s (borrower) tuition fees.
• The Moratorium Period is 6 months before students have to begin repaying the loan amount. They under no circumstances have to repay the amount during the course’s tenure.
• Students have a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of five years to repay the loan once the Moratorium Period ends. But the loan term should not exceed 10 years under any circumstances.
• For every bank, the student/education loan interest rate is different.

Note: The aforementioned guidelines are only relevant to SBI.

Part-Time Work Options for Students in Singapore

Unlike other countries, your right to work part time work in Singapore depend on your university.

• Public Universities: Students are allowed to work 16 hours per week during term time. No limit on working hours during vacations.

• Private Universities: Most students studying at private institutions are NOT permitted to work part-time in Singapore. Always check if your institution is on the Ministry of Manpower's 'Approved List' before applying for jobs. Also, working illegally can lead to deportation.

The average salary in Singapore for a full-time worker is approximately SGD 70,000 (INR 43.15 Lakhs) per year. Check out information about part time work in Singapore.

Cost of Living in Singapore

Planning your budget for 2026 is crucial, as Singapore remains one of the world’s most expensive cities for international students. While costs are high, choosing shared housing and eating at local hawker centres can significantly lower your monthly spending. Check out a quick overview of the total cost of living in Singapore for an Indian student for a month: