In this modern interconnected world, studying overseas is now more accessible than ever. Options abound in terms of course and destination. Singapore, a rising powerhouse in the global education arena, is steadily beginning to attract attention over the more traditional overseas study destinations. Here are some of the reasons you should be among the thousands of students who are flocking to a higher education in the island state.
An Excellent Education System
The qualification on offer, its recognition worldwide and its accreditation in the industry are some of the first things anyone would look at were they to consider pursuing higher education. Fortunately, for anyone who chooses to study in Singapore, the island-state has one of the most well regarded education systems in Asia and the world. This due to the stringent oversight of the education industry as education is seen as one of the key drivers of Singapore’s thriving economy.
To ensure Singapore’s place as a reliable provider of education, the government ensures that not only are the public universities internationally recognised but all private education institutions are regulated by the Council of Private Education (CPE). This ensures that rights of students in private institutions are protected by making sure that any private school has the necessary ability and resources to run their advertised diploma and degree programmes.
Furthermore, there are strong ties between Singaporean institutions and other universities around the world. This ensures that a student in Singapore is able to access a myriad of opportunities worldwide thus making their education a truly international experience.
All of the above is easily discernible from employment statistics put out by the CPE’s Private Education Institution Graduate Employment Survey published in April 2018. The results of this survey showed that the overall employment rate 6 months after graduation for Public University graduates was 89.6% while the employment rate for Private School graduates was not far behind at 84.3%
Value for Money
While Singapore is among the more expensive cities in Asia, you definitely get what you pay for. You will have access to considerable top notch amenities during your time there. From the affordable world class public transportation system to 24 hour food, drink and lifestyle options, Singapore will afford you an unparalleled quality of life. Moreover, studying in Singapore is considered to be less expensive than studying in other popular higher education destinations such as the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
Cleanliness & Safety
With strict laws and a low crime rate, Singapore is considered one of the safest countries in the world. The reputation for safety is so substantial that the local police force had to run a campaign with the tagline ‘Low Crime Does Not Mean No Crime’ to prevent complacency setting in with regards to safety.
Regardless of gender, you can travel alone day or night, on the city streets or on public transport, to any part of Singapore. Ragging and hazing also is frowned upon and instances of such activities in higher educational institutes are few and far between.
Singapore also has a reputation for being a ‘City in a Garden’ with greenery and parks being found all over the island. The society has a culture of cleanliness and strict laws and regulations for littering and food hygiene.
Cultural Diversity
Singapore is known worldwide for being a harmonious multi-cultural and multi-religious society. Owing to its status as a global education and travel hub, studying in Singapore will mean that you will meet people from not only the four major ethnic groups of the nation but people of all sorts of diverse cultures, ethnicity, and religions. This will give you an advantage that you are unlikely to get anywhere else in the world. Being familiar and comfortable with people from multi-cultural backgrounds is highly sought after by employers in today's connected world. Furthermore, the global networking opportunity that this affords will stand you in good stead for your future career.
Personal Development with the command of English
Studying in Singapore, as with all study abroad, will allow you to break out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself, gain independence and learn self-reliance by immersing yourself in a new culture. It will also allow you to see your culture through the lens of your host nation and thus develop new perspectives.
However, in Singapore, you will be able to do this while still having easy access to the people and culture of your homeland. Whether food, religion or culture you should be able to easily find what you need due to the global nature of the Singaporean population.
Entertainment Options
The undergraduate experience is more than just slogging away at your assignments and studies. It is also a time to grow as a person, explore your interests and have a little bit of fun. There is no better place in the world to do this than in Singapore. Wherever your interests lie, Singapore has something to offer everyone.
Land of Opportunity
Singapore is considered among the friendliest countries in the world when it comes to employment of international students and expatriates. With the strong economy and the who’s who of multinational corporations having a presence in Singapore, there will be no shortage of employment opportunities in Singapore.
For those who prefer to forge their own paths and start companies of their own, Singapore is consistently ranked at the top of lists of easiest countries to do business with. It has one of the most vibrant startup scenes in the world and is home to many driven, idealistic international students and graduates. For example, Redmart.com, now Singapore’s leading online grocery service, was the brainchild of 2 international students during their time in Singapore.