Study in the Lion city

Updated on: Monday, December 07, 2009

When it comes to study abroad, a number of destinations pop up in the mind. They vary from US to UK and from Australia to other European countries. One destination, which is equally potential, but has kept a low profile, is Singapore. A number of advantages pile up behind the ‘Lion city' when it comes to education.

Nilima Choudhury of Hub Synergy Consultancy Services, says, “The most important thing is, it is cost effective and one can feel at home despite, being away from it.”

The advantages

Singapore is just three-and-a-half hour flight from Chennai and a lot of Indians reside over there. One can even find a Saravanna Bhavan or Annapurna Mess outlet. The Singaporeans celebrate Diwali as a national holiday and in that small city there is place for a Balaji Temple and a Murugan Temple.

Though, it has got all the trappings of a western world, it is still conservative in its outlook and is considered to be one of the safest and stress free cities in the world. When it comes to cost effectiveness, a degree from any of the top colleges in Singapore would cost about Rs. 7 to 10 lakhs compared to Rs. 12 to 20 lakhs in other preferred destinations.

The cost of living in a private accommodation could range from SGD (Singapore Dollars) 300 to 400 per month compared to 500 to 800 pounds.

Another important aspect is the visa factor. Getting a visa to Singapore is said to be less cumbersome when compared to others

Visa process

. The entire visa process is online and one can just sit at home and apply. Moreover, it is the colleges and universities that take care of the visa process if a candidate gets selected.

The only disadvantage envisaged is that one is not allowed to take up part-time jobs during the study period.

But there are good opportunities to acquire PR (permanent residency) and jobs after study. MBA students are given a work permit for five years after study and others are given a permit for two years.

Thereafter, within six months he or she can apply for PR.

Colleges and courses

Basically, the education sector is divided into three sectors: Universities that are wholly Singaporean owned like the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University. These universities are considered to have world class infrastructure and faculty strength.

Reputed foreign universities having full-fledged campuses in Singapore: University of Chicago, Curtin University- Australia, INSEAD- France and University of Nevada- Las Vegas.

Affiliated colleges and universities: East Asia Institute of Management is affiliated to a number of universities like University of Southern Queensland, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh Business School and Griffith University. Auston Institute of Management and Technology is affiliated to Coventry University and Management Development Institute of Singapore is affiliated to a number of reputed universities like University of Bradford and University of Wales. In most of the affiliated institutes, the affiliation is extended to specific courses, depending on the strength and reputation of the parent university.

The universities and institutes offer both under graduate and PG programmes in all streams right from engineering to MBA and from basic sciences to humanities.

The universities and institutes also offer PG diploma programmes on specific courses like computer science, journalism and hospitality.

Selection process

Most of the colleges, except for a few do not insist on IELTS and TOEFL. The basic criterion for undergraduate course is good academic record.

A few universities like National University of Singapore and Nanyang at times demand for a GMAT score in the 600 scale and TOEFL for PG programmes.

Study in the Lion city

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