Living
University & Higher Education
Children of expats often return to their home countries once they’ve completed secondary school. But for those who stay, Singapore has a number of excellent options in tertiary education. There are three local universities, each of which has its own strengths. The National University of Singapore is popular for its science, arts and social science courses and is the only local university to offer law and medicine. The Nanyang Technological University is best known for its engineering and business programmes and Singapore Management University, the newest of the three, offers mainly business-related courses.
There is also a wide variety of other higher education options. Numerous local institutions offer post-secondary programmes in arts and business fields. Two leading foreign business schools, INSEAD and the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, have established campuses here, while many other foreign universities offer courses through local partners.
Australia’s University of New South Wales will open a campus in Singapore in March 2007. Called UNSW Asia, it will be the first full foreign university in Singapore. The university will offer undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees in a variety of business, science and arts fields as well as foundation degrees, as of 2008. UNSW Asia will have a quota of 30% Singaporean student enrolment and promises to be a truly international campus.
Children of expats in Singapore who wish to study further here will need to apply as international students. Requirements vary but in general your children must have taken at least 12 years of primary and secondary schooling, meet minimum English proficiency requirements, and in some cases provide scores for internationally recognised tests like the SAT, ACT or GMAT. Once their application for enrolment in a local university or other post-secondary institution has been accepted, they must apply for a student pass as the privileges of a dependant’s pass don’t extend past their secondary education. Your children must apply through the student’s pass online application and registration (SOLAR) system, and will require the following items:
• A valid passport
• A letter of offer from a university in Singapore
• A notification from the university with information needed for the online application
For more information about applying for a student pass, see the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority’s website (www.ica.gov.sg).
There is also a wide variety of other higher education options. Numerous local institutions offer post-secondary programmes in arts and business fields. Two leading foreign business schools, INSEAD and the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, have established campuses here, while many other foreign universities offer courses through local partners.
Australia’s University of New South Wales will open a campus in Singapore in March 2007. Called UNSW Asia, it will be the first full foreign university in Singapore. The university will offer undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees in a variety of business, science and arts fields as well as foundation degrees, as of 2008. UNSW Asia will have a quota of 30% Singaporean student enrolment and promises to be a truly international campus.
Children of expats in Singapore who wish to study further here will need to apply as international students. Requirements vary but in general your children must have taken at least 12 years of primary and secondary schooling, meet minimum English proficiency requirements, and in some cases provide scores for internationally recognised tests like the SAT, ACT or GMAT. Once their application for enrolment in a local university or other post-secondary institution has been accepted, they must apply for a student pass as the privileges of a dependant’s pass don’t extend past their secondary education. Your children must apply through the student’s pass online application and registration (SOLAR) system, and will require the following items:
• A valid passport
• A letter of offer from a university in Singapore
• A notification from the university with information needed for the online application
For more information about applying for a student pass, see the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority’s website (www.ica.gov.sg).
