Study in Singapore: Tuition Fees & Scholarships

Tuition fees in Singapore depend on the university and program you choose to study and your nationality. Tuition fees for Singaporean schools might be more than for schools in neighboring countries. But Singapore’s public schools are a lot less expensive than many private and public schools elsewhere in the world. The main factor that affects the cost of tuition is nationality. In Singapore, there are four different categories depending on your nationality:

• Annual Subsidized Fees Payable by Singapore Citizens
• Annual Subsidized Fees Payable by Permanent Residents
• Annual Subsidized Fees Payable by International Students
• Annual Non-Subsidized Fees

Normally, it costs roughly SGD 8,000 to SGD 9,000 per year to study in a public university. But this is the subsidized price. It costs around SGD 10,000 or more for non-subsidized and non-Singaporean students. Some programs at Singaporean schools are subsidized by the government as well, regardless of nationality.

The substantial tuition subsidy from the Government of Singapore comes in the form of a MOE Subsidy which is administered by the Ministry of Education (MOE). It's offered to all eligible students. Students just need to apply for the MOE Subsidy if they are eligible.

International students studying a government-subsidized program can apply for the Service Obligation Scheme to pay reduced tuition fees. The Service Obligation Scheme allows international students to work in Singapore after graduation to help repay their tuition fees. This normally only applies to postgraduate students, however.