Q1 What are the entry requirements to study at educational institutions in Singapore?

Entry requirements vary from institution to institution. As English is the common language of instruction, most institutions require students to meet a minimum standard of English. Generally, certification of competence in English is in the form of: 

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
Test of English As a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Besides English, different institutions and courses have different minimum requirements. Generally, for government, government-aided and independent schools, the general application procedures will be as follows: 

Step 1: Apply at school of choice
The parent / guardian submits the completed application form for school admission together with all the necessary original documents directly to a school of choice.

Step 2a: School conducts placement test and issues Letter of Acceptance

School will conduct placement test for the applicant if there is a vacancy.

If applicant passes the placement test and the school accepts him/her, the school will issue a Letter of Acceptance. The Letter of  Acceptance will indicate in-principle acceptance of the applicant to the school. The applicant can proceed to ICA to apply for a student's pass with this letter.

Acceptance to the school is subject to the applicant obtaining and returning with a student's pass from Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) within 2 weeks from date of issue of the Letter of Acceptance.

Step 2: School issues Letter of Referral to ICA

for clearanceApplicants with parents working in Singapore but not eligible for DP need to be referred to ICA before the school can conduct the placement test. School will fax a Letter of Referral to ICA.

ICA will follow up with the applicant directly on matters regarding immigration clearance and issue a letter of clearance to the applicant. The applicant can then approach the school for a placement test with this letter.

Step 3: Apply student's pass at ICA

The Letter of Acceptance is valid for 2 weeks from date of issue. Upon receiving the Letter of Acceptance, the applicant should proceed to ICA immediately to apply for a student's pass. Applicant must produce the original Letter of Acceptance endorsed by the School to ICA.

Step 4: Return to school within 2 weeks with student's pass 

The applicant must return to school with a valid student's pass within 2 weeks from the date of the Letter of Acceptance. The applicant will forfeit his/her admission to the school if he/she does not return within 2 weeks.

Q2. How do I find out which institution offers courses I am interested in?

For a list of educational institutions in Singapore, please go to the pages on Ministry Of  Education (MOE). You may also surf the institution's website for a complete listing of courses available.

Q3. What is the difference between private and public institutions?

Public Schools are government schools. They are registered and managed by the Ministry of Education, Singapore.

In Singapore, there are 11 gazetted public holidays and three scheduled school holidays in a calendar year.For more details on scheduled school and public holidays for 2004.

Private Schools - There are various types of private schools in Singapore. Private schools are generally run by private companies or non-profit organisations. There are also some private institutions that receive public funds, eg. NAFA (The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts), SMU (Singapore Management University) and LASALLE-SIA college of the Arts. 

Q4. Do I need a Visa and Student's Pass to study in Singapore?

Any international student wishing to study full-time in Singapore is required to apply for a Student's Pass and visa (if applicable) from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). For applicants who require a visa to enter Singapore, please ensure that your application for the Student Pass is submitted to the ICA at least 2 months before the commencement date of the course.

Basic requirement:
Applicant must first be accepted by an approved Singapore institution to pursue an approved full-time course.

A local sponsor is required for the application for a Student's Pass. Local sponsor must be a Singapore Citizen/Singapore PR above age of 21 or the educational institution where applicant intends to study.

Student's Pass application must be submitted at least 2 months in advance and not more than six months from the course commencement date.

The normal processing time is about 4 weeks, though some applications may take a longer time to process.

Q5. How much are the school or tuition fees?

School or Tuition Fees may vary according to type of course and type of school (private or public). For course fees of private schools, please check directly with the institutions.

Q6. Are there any special support services for international students?

Educational institutions generally provide special support services for international students.  Some even have an International Students Office to cater to your specific needs.  Assistance rendered range from helping you look for accommodation to advice on financial, social and other matters.  Please approach your school's Student Services or International Students Office for more information.