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Planning For Long Term Study?

Q8 How much does it cost an international student to live in Singapore?
A. Below is a guide on the cost of living in Singapore. Some typical fees are:


Item


Average per month in S$


Accommodation

$200-$1,500(rental varies with geographical area, type of accommodation, demand, facilities provided and the number of people sharing)

Utilities

$50-$80

Food

$300-$450

Public transport

$20-$100(varies with types of student concession pass)

Telecommunications

$30-$50(varies with usage and package)

Books & Stationery

$30-$100(varies with courses)

Medical Hospitalisation Insurance

$5 - $8

Personal expenses

$100-$200(varies with individuals)

Estimated


$750-$2,000


Q9 What are the accommodation options available for international students and how much do they cost?
A. Below is a guide on types of accommodation available to international students:


Accommodation


Estimated Cost per month


University ~ Halls of Residence

$140 - $440

Boarding School

$8,000 - $15,000 per academic year

Private Hostel

$750

Room in public housing

$300 - $500

Whole unit in public housing

$850 - $900

Room in private housing

$800 - $1,100

Whole unit in private housing


From $1,000

  1. Please note that the estimates were derived based on prices as at April 2003. Rental varies depending on geographical area, demand, facilities provided and the number of people sharing.
  2. Boarding fees cover lodging, meals, laundry, tutorials, pastoral guidance, 24-hour security, recreational facilities, orientation & development programmes.
  3. Public housing refers to government-subsidised flats developed by the Housing and Development Board, commonly called the HDB flats.
The classified advertisements in the local newspapers are a good source of listing of rooms and apartments for rent.


Q10 Are Scholarships available to international students?
A. The table below shows the scholarships offered by the government and local educational institutions, which are open to international students.

Organisation

Scholarship

Applicable nationalities

A*STAR Agency
for Science
Technology
and Research


A*STAR
Graduate Scholarship

Open to nationals of ASEAN countries

Micron

Micron Scholarship

Open to students of all nationalities

Ministry
of Education

ASEAN
Pre-University Scholarships

Open to ASEAN nationals (except from Singapore)

Ministry
of Education

ASEAN
Secondary
Scholarships

Open to ASEAN nationals (except from Singapore)

Ministry
of Education
NUS
NTU

ASEAN
Undergraduate Scholarship


Open to citizens or permanent residents of ASEAN countries (except from Singapore)

Ministry
of Education


Ministry of
Education
Teaching Award

Open to all nationalities

Nanyang Scholarship
Open to all nationalities


NTU

Alumni Scholarship

Open to undergraduates of NTU


NTU
(Administered by)


Indeco Scholarship

Open to NTU students of all nationalities, if indicated so

NTU
(Administered by)


Molex Scholarship

Open to NTU students of all nationalities, if indicated so

NTU
(Administered by)


Isetan Scholarship

Open to NTU students of all nationalities, if indicated so

NTU
(Administered by)

Daimlerchrysler Scholarship

Open to NTU students of all nationalities, if indicated so

NTU
(Administered by)

Dorothy Cheung
Scholarship

Open to NTU students of all nationalities, if indicated so

NTU
(Administered by)

SMBC Global
Foundation Scholarship

Open to NTU students of all nationalities, if indicated so

NTU
(Administered by)


Tan Sri (Dr) Tan
Chin Tuan Scholarship

Open to NTU students of all nationalities, if indicated so

NUS

Donated Scholarships

Open to students of all nationalities (only those who have been offered a place in NUS)

NUS

NUS Undergraduate
Scholarship

Open to freshmen regardless of nationality. Based on academic merit.

NUS

NUS Bursary

Open to all nationalities

NUS

NUS Students'
Fund Bursary

Open to all nationalities

Singapore Institute
of Management


SIM
International
Scholarship

Open to all international students enrolling for full time studies at diploma and undergraduate levels at SIM


Students are strongly advised to refer to websites of the following organisations for the latest updates pertaining to the scholarships offered -

Ministry of Education, Singapore
www.moe.gov.sg

Agency for Science, Technology and Research
www.a-star.edu.sg

National University of Singapore
www.nus.edu.sg

Nanyang Technological University
www.ntu.edu.sg

Singapore Management University
www.smu.edu.sg

In addition, other private educational institutions may also offer scholarships. Please refer to their individual websites for more information.


Q11 As a foreign student at the local universities or polytechnics with a student pass, can I do part-time work during term time?
A. Full-time undergraduates of Polytechnics and Universities are allowed to work part-time of up to 16 hours per week during school term. However, they need to obtain permission from the Student's Liaison/Affairs Office of their respective Polytechnics and Universities. During their vacations, they are allowed to work full-time as the Ministry of Manpower has exempted them from applying for work permits.

Please note that other international students are generally not allowed to engage in any form of employment, whether paid or unpaid, or in any business, profession or occupation in Singapore during the validity of their Student's Pass, unless they have the consent in writing from the Controller of Immigration. Violators will be prosecuted by law.


Q12 Are there any special support services for international students?
A. 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.

The Singapore Tourism Board also has a dedicated Student Services Department who will provide information and advice to all international students, regardless of the school they are from. Students may call (+65) 6831 3764, Mondays to Fridays, during usual working hours.

International students are advised to seek resolution to any disputes within the school first. If the dispute cannot be resolved, the student may approach alternative redress avenues such as:

For schools with the CaseTrust for Education trustmark:
Consumers Association of Singapore
170 Ghim Moh Road
#05-01 Ulu Pandan Community Building
Singapore 279621
Tel: (65) 6461 1800
Email: casetrust@case.org.sg
Website: www.case.org.sg

For General Enquiries:
Singapore Education
Tourism Court
1 Orchard Spring Lane
Singapore 247729
Tel: (65) 6831 3764
Email: STB_Education_Services@stb.gov.sg
Website: www.singaporeedu.gov.sg


Q13 What are Research Institutes (RIs) in Singapore? Do they offer education programmes?
A. RIs in Singapore:
  • Bioinformatics Institute (BII)*
  • Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) *
  • Data Storage Institute (DSI)
  • Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) *
  • Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R)
  • Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology (IBN)*
  • Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC)
  • Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE)
  • Institute of Microelectronics (IME)
  • Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB)*
  • Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech)
* Housed in Biopolis at One North, Singapore

The Research Institutes in Singapore offer postgraduate research programmes in collaboration with Singapore's local universities (NUS and NTU). Students can go to the website of the RIs to learn more about these education programmes.


Q14 Are Orientation Programmes available to help students familiarize themselves to living and studying in Singapore?
A. Yes, orientation programmes are available to cater to the needs of newly-arrived international students. Education Services Division of Singapore Tourism Board (STB) organizes regular full-day orientation programmes and students can check on the dates and timing on our website (www.singaporeedu.gov.sg) or call (65) 6831 3764 for details. This programme comprises of 2 components - Orientation Talk (offered Free-of-Charge) which deals with topics on student pass matters, Singapore Education, law and order, accommodation matters etc and Orientation Tour (offered at special student rate) which highlights the housing estates, public amenities and facilities, key city sights and lifestyle in Singapore.

Some education institutions also organize their own programmes to cater to their students so check out the details with your schools.


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Last updated on 5 December 2006.
 
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