Many fables have been told about the incredible island nation of Singapore - a melting pot of culture, art, education, and technology, making it a dream study-abroad destination for international students.
One of the happiest countries in the world, Singapore is a slice of heaven on earth because of its varied ethnic, multilingual population with an interesting blend of culture and lifestyle, all of which make studying here worthwhile.
But that's not the best part. Singapore is also one of the most affordable study-abroad destinations. Compared to other popular study destinations like the UK, the USA, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, higher education in Singapore is more affordable, and the lifestyle cost-effective.
What makes studying in Singapore a memorable experience and how to apply to the top universities in Singapore is an oft-discussed question. To that end, let's clear all your doubts with a few quick tips and best practices to apply to the best universities in Singapore.
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Top Universities in Singapore for International Students
Here's a list of top universities in Singapore that are popular for their affordable education, student services, career support, research facilities and futuristic learning solutions.
1. National University of Singapore
Ranked #11 in the QS World University Rankings 2022, the National University of Singapore is one of the top universities in Singapore renowned for its education, research facilities, multi-disciplinary courses and cross-faculty enrichment.
2. Curtin University
Ranked #36 in the Young University Rankings 2022, Curtin University is one of the top universities in Singapore renowned for its education and research facilities.
3. Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS)
One of Singapore's oldest non-profit educational institutions, MDIS is ranked 4th for the Enterprise 50 Award for its contributions to Singapore's economic development.
4. Kaplan Singapore
Kaplan University has students from over 35 countries with over 85,000 graduates across 450 programmes. A benchmark of excellent teaching quality, Kaplan University was the recipient of the "Best Private Education Institution" by JobsCentral Learning Training and Education Development (T.E.D.) Awards in 2018.
5. James Cook University
Ranked in the top 300 universities by the World University Rankings 2022, James Cook University is also the first Private Education Institution in Singapore to be awarded EduTrust Star in 2015.
6. William Angliss Institute
William Angliss Institute is one of the leading education providers in hospitality, tourism, cuisines and culinary arts in South East Asia. The institute also provides several qualifications and training opportunities, including Singapore's WSQ qualifications and short courses and Australia's AQF qualifications and short courses, making it one of the top universities in Singapore.
How to Apply for Universities in Singapore?
Here's a brief about the admission process for the best universities in Singapore that you should follow to get admitted into the university of your dreams.
Remember while applying to Singaporean universities to:
- Confirm if the application can be made directly with the institution and what the mode of application is (online/offline).
- If the mode of application is online, ensure to submit the documents via the international student portal.
- Apply to the preferred universities well before term time because admissions into universities in Singapore close before March or April.
- If you're seeking scholarship assistance, ensure to apply by January or February.
- English proficiency is mandatory for English-taught programmes, so ensure to send your IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo scores to support your proficiency levels.
Steps to be followed
1. Shortlist your preferred universities.
Make a list of your preferred universities in Singapore and prepare a checklist of the admission documents and proofs required. It is prudent to apply to more than one university to ensure you get admitted into any one of the chosen universities.
2. Consider the crucial factors before applying to the universities.
Do a comparative analysis of the universities concerning factors like affordability, reputation, course structure, English-taught programmes, international student population, etc., to make an informed choice on the best university for the selected course.
3. Review the admission process for each of the universities.
Check the university's websites for admission guidelines and recent developments/changes to plan your application process accordingly. Prepare a timeline and include details of the semester exams, scholarship programmes, student loans, and plan for your student pass.
4. Prepare your Statement of Purpose effectively.
A Statement of Purpose (SOP) provides the opportunity to let the universities understand your passion behind doing the course and your interests and preferences that make you uniquely qualified to pursue it.
A well-written statement of purpose could make your application more appealing and fastrack your entry to your desired course. Here are some tips to help with preparing your SOP:
- Create an outline of the SOP with relevant pointers on your academic achievements, volunteering experience, hobbies, and most importantly, your reasons for choosing the particular course at the university.
- Stick to information relevant to the course applied and highlight professional achievements.
- Avoid sensitive, personal information and unsupportable facts that could lead to rejection.
- Avoid stuffing the write-up with too many technical terms or flowery language, as that would shift the focus from your academic objectives, instead sounding pompous and overconfident.
- Ensure to follow the expected chronological order while drafting your SOP with a proper introduction and conclusion.
- If there's an academic gap, do not forget to state the reasons for the same.
- Keep your SOP short, crisp and comprehensible, clearly conveying your intentions and expectations with the course and the university you apply to.
5. Send out the application well before the deadline.
If the application is to be submitted online, ensure to send the same at least two weeks before the deadline and if the process is offline, ensure to submit the documents a month before the deadline.
How Does AECC Global Help?
AECC Global is an education consultancy dedicated to helping international students realise their study-abroad dreams by guiding them every step of the way, right from choosing the ideal course to helping them with the visa process for the desired study destination.
With AECC Global, it'd be a cakewalk to apply to the university of your dreams because of the following reasons:
- We understand your academic aspirations and help you evaluate your course and university choices based on your eligibility requirements.
- Once you work out your study preferences, we'll discuss the available financial assistance before proceeding with the application process.
- The next step would be to discuss the documentation for your student visa and ensure you satisfy the required conditions for obtaining a student visa in your chosen study destination.
- Finally, as the cherry on top, we'll also take care of the paperwork and liaise with the respective educational institutions to ensure your application gets processed.
What's Expected From You?
All you need to do is ensure that:
- You meet the eligibility requirements, including English language proficiency
- You have adequate health coverage and financial resources to support your study and stay.
If you have these covered, then you're all set to start packing your bags because your study-abroad dreams are about to become a reality.
If studying in Singapore is your academic goal, then get in touch with our counsellors at AECC Global for expert advice on applying to the best universities in Singapore.