Study and find schools in Singapore

Studying in Singapore

Singapore is a city-state in South-East Asia and a regional centre for education. Its total population stood at 6.21 million in June 2026, according to the National Population and Talent Division, and about a third of the non-resident population is made up mainly of domestic workers, dependants and students. English is the language of instruction in the state schools, which makes Singapore an option for international pupils and students who want to study in English in Asia.

Singapore's education landscape has three parts that matter for international students: the state school system run by the Ministry of Education (MOE), the publicly funded post-secondary institutions (polytechnics, the Institute of Technical Education, arts institutions and the autonomous universities), and a large private sector of private education institutions (PEIs), many of which teach programmes awarded by foreign universities.

The education system

School education runs from Primary 1 (age 6) through secondary school. MOE's mainstream schools use English as the language of classroom instruction, and all students in these schools must also take a Mother Tongue Language (Chinese, Malay or Tamil); international students can apply to the principal for an exemption, which is considered case by case.

After secondary school, students choose between several post-secondary paths:

• Junior colleges and Millennia Institute, which prepare for the A-Level and university entry
• Polytechnics, which offer full-time diploma courses
• The Institute of Technical Education (ITE), which offers Nitec and Higher Nitec courses
• Arts institutions and the autonomous universities, which offer diploma and degree courses

From 2027, students taking the new Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) apply through the Post-Secondary Admissions Exercise.

Private education institutions must register with the authorities. Under the Private Education Act, a registered PEI may not offer a course longer than one month full-time and 50 hours without the permission of the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA, formed from the merger of SkillsFuture Singapore and Workforce Singapore). SWDA also runs EduTrust, a quality-assurance certification scheme for PEIs, and publishes a searchable list of PEIs and their permitted courses, which shows whether the certificate is awarded by the PEI itself or by a foreign institution.

Admission and recognition

How you apply depends on the level:

• Primary and secondary schools: international pupils enter MOE schools through the Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS), for Primary 2 to 5 and Secondary 1 to 3, or the Supplementary AEIS (S-AEIS) for Primary 2 to 4 and Secondary 1 to 2. All tests are held in Singapore and in English, and admission depends on the test results and on vacancies. The AEIS typically starts in July and successful applicants start school the following January.
• Junior colleges and Millennia Institute: international students apply directly to the school in December.
• Polytechnics: students with local or international qualifications can apply through the Direct Admissions Exercise (DAE).
• Universities, arts institutions and private schools: apply directly to the institution, which sets its own entry requirements.

Pupils should not be more than two years older than the normal age for the level they apply to, and they should know the English and Mathematics syllabus of the level below. For private programmes, check in the official PEI list whether the course is permitted and who awards the qualification, since that determines how it is recognised abroad.

Student's Pass and residence

International students need a Student's Pass, issued by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), to study full-time at an MOE school, unless they already hold a valid Long-Term Visit Pass, Dependant's Pass or Immigration Exemption Order. Children aged 12 and under who were not born in Singapore must meet diphtheria and measles vaccination requirements and obtain a Verification of Vaccination Requirement document from the Health Promotion Board before the Student's Pass application. For university and private-school students, the institution explains the Student's Pass application after admission; check the current requirements on the ICA website.

After graduating, Tuition Grant recipients can apply to ICA for a one-year Long-Term Visit Pass to look for work; once they find a job, the employer applies for a work pass from the Ministry of Manpower.

Costs

Fees at MOE schools are charged monthly and depend on the student's nationality and the type of school; fees for international students include GST. Polytechnics, ITE, arts institutions and independent schools set their own fees.

At the publicly funded institutions, international students can apply for the government's Tuition Grant for selected full-time diploma and undergraduate courses at the autonomous universities, polytechnics, ITE and arts institutions. Recipients pay subsidised fees, but international students and permanent residents must then serve a three-year bond, working full-time for a Singapore entity after graduation. The Tuition Grant does not apply to part-time courses or to any course at a private education institution. Check the subsidised and unsubsidised fees on each institution's website.

Where to study

As a city-state, all of Singapore's schools are in Singapore itself. The schools listed on this page include secondary and international schools and a design school, for example Damai Secondary School, an MOE government secondary school, the Insworld Institute, which teaches a British curriculum, and First Media Design School, a private design school. Use the list below this text to compare them.

Culture and practical life

Singapore lies near the equator and has a tropical climate with abundant rainfall, high temperatures and high humidity all year round. At the Changi climate station, the mean daily maximum is 30.6°C in January and 31.4°C in July, and it rains on average 171 days a year, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore. The Northeast Monsoon runs from December to early March and the Southwest Monsoon from June to September.

The mean annual relative humidity is around 82%, and short afternoon thunderstorms are common. Plan your budget with the fee and accommodation information published by your school or institution.

Frequently asked questions

Can international students attend state schools in Singapore?

Yes. International pupils can enter MOE primary and secondary schools through the AEIS or S-AEIS tests, held in Singapore, and junior colleges by applying directly in December. Places depend on test results and vacancies.

Do I need a visa to study in Singapore?

Full-time international students need a Student's Pass from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, unless they hold another long-term pass such as a Dependant's Pass. Your school or institution explains the application after you are admitted.

Is there financial help for international students?

The government's Tuition Grant lowers fees for selected full-time diploma and degree courses at public institutions. In return, international students must work for a Singapore entity for three years after graduation.

How do I check a private school in Singapore?

Search the official list of private education institutions on the SWDA's Training Partners Gateway, which shows the permitted courses, the EduTrust status and who awards the certificate.

What is the climate like?

Tropical: hot and humid all year, with daily maximum temperatures of about 30 to 32°C and frequent rain, especially from November to January.