If you are looking for where to do a masters program with cheap tuition fees for international students, then think of studying in Singapore. Apart from the fact that masters programs are cheap and affordable, Singapore education system is one of the best in the world and some of it’s universities are ranked in top 20 universities of the world. Students also have the opportunity to work while they are studying. In today’s article we shall be looking at studying in Singapore, tuition fees, cost of living and much more
Situated in Southeast Asia, Singapore has a large land area of about 710 square kilometres and is one of the smallest countries in the world and the region as well. Singapore is renowned the world over for its free trade economy and a powerful workforce. On top of that, their masters programs are cheap and affordable for international students.
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Singapore at the moment is the fourth biggest commercial centre in the world, with major economic sectors in: trade, financial services, oil and petroleum refining, electronics manufacturing, biomedicine, and tourism to mention but a few.
By combining a healthy dose of modern teaching tools, technology and research facilities, Singapore’s universities deliver world class programs that develop your creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial mindset. The strong links between universities and neighboring industries ensure you will always find relevant courses for you to gain valuable practical skills.
If you did not know, Singapore is an open and cosmopolitan city-state and island country that attracts more than 86,000 international students from 120 nationalities every year. As a top destination for advanced tertiary education, Singapore is renowned for providing a safe and stimulating environment to develop the next generation of world leaders.
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How can I Apply to a Master’s Program in Singapore?
If you’ve made up your mind to study a Master’s degree at a university in Singapore, you will have to put together the right documents to prove that you satisfy the university requirements. Do well to complete personal information, previous qualifications, financial information, and a personal statement as well.
What documents would you need to provide to apply in Singapore?
In order to apply to a university in Singapore you will be required to provide some of the following documents:
- birth certificate;
- recent photos;
- Your international passport or national identity card;
- one or more reference letters from past employers or teachers;
- copies of previous diplomas or certificates, plus your graduated Bachelor’s degree;
- academic transcripts;
- letter of intent;
- Curriculum Vitae;
- Proof that you can support your stay in the country during your studies.
Based on the subject or specialization of your Master’s program, you might be required to provide scores for standardized tests such as the GRE, GMAT or LSAT. Check if your programme requires any of these, or others.
The list of documents required usually depend on the specific requirements of universities in Singapore so you might be told to include additional documents. It’s also possible you’ll have to provide official English translations of your documents, or translations in the local Singaporean language.
Prove your English skills
Since you’ll study an international degree in English, you’ll have to submit a language certificate. Some popular ones for international students are IELTS, TOEFL or C1 Advanced language certificates. You’ll be required to meet a minimum language score determined by the university, and your test scores should not be older than 1-2 years. If you fail to meet the minimum language requirements, you will have to improve your skills and scores by taking an English preparation course.
Application deadlines for Singapore
The deadline for applying to a Master’s in Singapore are usually during summer (June-July), or in winter (January-February). Bear in mind that some universities do not have application deadlines, which means you can apply anytime.
Inorder to avoid delays or missed deadlines, do well to submit your required documents with plenty of time in advance.
Tuition fees in Singapore
Sadly, most public institutions in Singapore charge high tuition fees that range from 9,000 to around 80,000 USD/per year. However, you are able to find affordable Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in social sciences, engineering or natural sciences that have low tuition fees between 8,000 and 11,000 USD/year.
Medicine and health-related programmes usually have higher tuition fees of around 43,000 USD/year and generally, private universities charge higher fees compared to public ones.
Accommodation Expenses
Since majority of Singapore universities do not offer campus accommodation, you can find student housing close to campuses; prices for a room are between 560 and 1,200 USD/month.
You are able to rent or share an apartment; rates start from 1,500 USD and can go up to 4,000 USD/month.
Health care
All international students have to arrange a private health insurance scheme to have access to medical services in Singapore. You can choose from two insurance schemes that cover any form of illness and injury for a sum of up to 36,650 USD/year.
Food costs
Purchasing food from the local supermarket is the surest way of saving money; your monthly groceries would go for roughly 300 USD/month.
Generally, restaurants from the city centre quote expensive prices, but you can also find fairly decent diners and for 12 USD per meal. Or try some of the street food at even cheaper rates.
On average, you’ll require at least 1,400 USD/month to live in Singapore.