Singapore is keen to encourage international students and a range of funding and support options are therefore available to assist postgraduates. Tuition fees for Masters programmes in Singapore can be expensive, but the exact amount you pay will depend upon the university you apply to and the subject area you are working within.
As a general rule, as an international student you can expect to pay an unsubsidised fee in the region of S$27,640 (USD $19,520) for a graduate programme at one of Singapore's top universities.
There are also some unique opportunities for fee subsidies in Singapore, offered through a system known as the 'service obligation' – you can read about this below. In most cases the fee you pay will be made up of several components, rather than being quoted as one lump sum.
Fees may also be quoted per semester or trimester but interestingly some institutions have three semesters per year (i.e. a semester is four months!) or only three trimesters per year so take that into account when calculating fees.
Tuition fee subsidy and Service Obligation
Foreign students at the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technogical University who self-finance can choose to pay a subsidised tuition fee rate. This is not open to students who receive any kind of scholarship. Not all programmes are eligible for the subsidy and these are selected based on the needs of the labour market. Individual universities also have the authority to decide which programmes can benefit from an MoE subsidy, so check the university’s website carefully.
The subsidy amount for overseas students ranges from S$5,000-S$40,000 (USD $3,700-30,000), depending on the subject area. To qualify, you need to sign an agreement, called a Service Obligation (SO) with the MoE to work in Singapore-based companies for three years after graduation. For more information, please refer to the National University of Singapore’s page on the Service Obligation Scheme.
Although attractive financially, the length of the SO is fixed at three years, regardless of how long your Masters programme is, so make sure you understand the terms and that you have plans to work in Singapore.
Masters scholarships and financial assistance
Financial assistance for graduate students is also available in the form of scholarships from universities and from external agencies. Graduate scholarships all have eligibility criteria, are highly competitive and generally awarded based on academic excellence. Scholarships will often cover tuition fees and associated fees. Examples include:
- ASEAN Scholarship (for nationals of the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
- APEC Scholarship (full-time MBA; selected nationalities)
- Tuition fee allowance from universities
- University scholarships
Other forms of financial aid include study loans and part-time jobs. International students with a Student Pass who are studying for a full-time degree may work up to 16 hours a week during the academic year and full-time during holidays, without having to apply for any additional permission.
Graduate students (excluding those who receive scholarships, fee subsidies and external funding) may also apply for a loan under the Tuition Fee Loan (TFL) scheme. The maximum loan amount is 90% of the tuition fees payable by Singapore citizens and available for selected Masters degrees. TFL providers are local banks and the loans are applied for through your institution.