Should you study in Singapore?
Singapore is the most expensive of our destinations and the strongest for employment afterwards. It is worth the money for a particular kind of student and a waste of it for everyone else. We will tell you honestly which one you are.
Taught in English- $13,000–35,000
- Tuition a year
- IELTS 6.0+
- Language needed
- Work rules vary by school
- Part-time work
- $900–1,850
- Living costs a month
Singapore works well if…
- Your matriculation results are strong. Singapore’s universities are genuinely selective and do not admit on ability to pay.
- Your family can fund it without borrowing against the house. This is the one destination where the numbers are unforgiving.
- You want to work in finance, technology or logistics, where a Singapore degree opens doors across the region.
Choose somewhere else if…
- You want the cheapest route to a recognised English-taught degree. Malaysia does that better.
- Your IELTS is below 6.0. There is no quick foundation route that fixes this here.
- You are counting on part-time work. Student pass holders at most institutions may not work at all.
If two of these apply to you, ask us about Malaysia. The degree is recognised, the teaching is in English, and the fee is a third.
From matriculation to a Singapore degree
Three to four years, with the hardest step right at the beginning.
- Before you apply · 6–12 months
Results and IELTS
Singapore admits on academic record first. Get your matriculation transcript certified and sit IELTS early. 6.0 to 6.5 is the usual bar.
- Application · one intake a year
Apply, and apply realistically
Most universities have a single annual intake. We shortlist three you can actually be admitted to, rather than three you would like to be.
- Years 1–4
Bachelor’s degree
Three to four years. The MOE Tuition Grant cuts the fee substantially, in return for a work commitment in Singapore afterwards.
- After graduation
Work in Singapore
If you took the Tuition Grant you are committed to three years with a Singapore-registered employer. For most students that is the point of coming, not the price of it.
The Tuition Grant changes the whole calculation
The published fee and the fee you will actually pay are very different numbers, and the difference comes with an obligation attached. Understand it before you apply, not after you accept.
$20,000–30,000
Evidence you can cover the first year’s fees and living costs. Singapore publishes no fixed figure. The institution sets it, and the pass is issued through ICA’s portal.
| Stage | Per year | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| With MOE Tuition Grant | $13,000–22,000 | 3–4 years |
| Without the grant | $22,000–35,000 | 3–4 years |
| Private institution | $9,000–18,000 | 2–3 years |
| Living costs | $900–1,850 / mo | Housing is most of it |
Indicative 2026 ranges. The Tuition Grant is a subsidy, not a scholarship: accepting it commits you to working for a Singapore-registered employer for three years after you graduate.
Our Singapore partners
Explore our current partner institutions and programmes. We can explain the application routes and support available for your chosen course.
Questions Myanmar families ask us
Short answers to what families ask most about Singapore. We confirm the details for your own case on the call, because rules and figures change.
What matriculation result do I need to be competitive?
Singapore admits on academic record first, and its universities are selective, so strong results are essential. The level needed differs by university and course. We compare your actual result with each admission range and shortlist three universities you can realistically be admitted to.
What is the Tuition Grant, and what does it commit me to?
It is a government subsidy that cuts the fee substantially. In return you commit to working for a Singapore-registered employer for three years after you graduate. It is not a scholarship, and we explain the terms before you accept it.
Can I work part-time on a student pass?
At most institutions, student pass holders may not work at all, and the rules vary by school. We confirm the rule for the institution you choose, and you should plan your funding without any income.
Is a private institution in Singapore worth the money?
It can be, for a student whose results fall below the public universities. Private fees are about $9,000 to $18,000 a year, and some private programmes lead to a degree awarded by a partner university, so the details matter. We compare it with Malaysia, where a similar route costs less, before you commit.
How much should my family budget in total?
Budget for tuition of about $13,000 to $22,000 a year with the Tuition Grant (more without it), living costs of $900 to $1,850 a month, and proof of funds of about $20,000 to $30,000 for the first year. We add it up for your own shortlist so the family sees one number.
What happens if I am not admitted anywhere?
Most universities have a single intake a year, so a miss costs a year. That is why we shortlist realistically and keep a second route, such as Malaysia, ready. If you are not admitted, we look at the next intake or another destination with you.
Talk to a counsellor about studying in Singapore
David Dhakal and the Think Asia team have placed 3,000+ Myanmar students abroad across all our destinations. Thirty minutes, free, at the office or on Viber.
