Study in Singapore

STUDY IN SINGAPORE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Study in Singapore: Get Admitted to the Right University or College

You can study in Singapore if an approved institution accepts you into a full-time course, you meet its entry rules, and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) approves your Student’s Pass. AIA checks admission with you first, applies for you, and charges no fee for admission.

No admission fee. We apply for you.

35+ Years of Immigration Experience|25,000+ Clients Guided Since 1991

AIA supports your admission. The Student’s Pass is a separate application that you make with ICA.

2026 Canadian Choice Award

Independently verified excellence

35+

Years in immigration

25,000+

Clients guided

3 offices

Toronto, Dubai, Karachi

On this page

Why Singapore Admission Language Money Work Start dates How it works Who we are Visa Questions Check my chances

The key facts at a glance

Study levels: Diploma, bachelor, master and doctorate at approved institutions, full-time only
Language: Set by each institution
Money to show: No minimum balance listed. ICA fees are S$45 processing and S$60 issuance, plus S$30 for a Multiple Journey Visa if it applies (October 2026).
Pass: Student’s Pass from ICA, applied for 2 to 3 months before your course, usually processed within one week
Work in term: Up to 16 hours a week without a work pass at institutions on MOM’s list
After you graduate: You need a work pass, and the usual route is an Employment Pass applied for by your employer
Start dates: Set by each institution. Check the course page.
AIA fee for admission: None
Last updated: October 2026

Why do students choose Singapore?

Students choose Singapore because the Student’s Pass is applied for online, ICA lists a processing time of one week for universities and polytechnics, and students at the main universities and polytechnics can work part-time (ICA and MOM, October 2026).

Three reasons come up most often:

A fast online process: you apply through the ICA e-Service for a S$45 processing fee, and processing is within one week, or two weeks if a visa is required.
A clear list of institutions: ICA lists 6 local universities, 5 polytechnics and 6 offshore institutes with local campuses.
Part-time work: students at institutions on MOM’s list can work without a work pass, up to 16 hours a week in term.

Can I get admitted? What do I need for each study level?

To be admitted, you need the right education for the level, the language level the institution asks for, and a place in a full-time course at an approved institution. Each institution sets its own entry rules, so the course page has the last word. Use the table as a starting point.

Study level	Education usually needed	Language	What to know
Diploma (polytechnic)	Finished secondary school	Set by the polytechnic	ICA lists five local polytechnics. Each sets its own entry marks.
Bachelor (university)	Finished secondary school with strong results	Set by the university	ICA lists six local universities and six offshore institutes with local campuses. Entry is competitive.
Master	A bachelor degree	Set by the program	You apply directly to the institution.
Doctorate	A master degree	Set by the institution	Check the institution for its research requirements.
Private education institution course	Varies	Set by the institution	Only EduTrust-certified institutions can enrol foreign students on a Student’s Pass.

The examples come from ICA and MOM pages and institution admission pages, read in October 2026. Your institution sets the final requirement.

Popular program types

Business and finance

Diploma, bachelor or master. Check each course for its entry marks.

Engineering and technology

Bachelor or master. Strong maths marks help.

Computing and data

Diploma, bachelor or master. Check each course for entry steps.

Design and media

Diploma or bachelor. Some courses ask for a portfolio.

Hospitality and tourism

Diploma or bachelor. Check each course for work placements.

Health and life sciences

Check each course for extra entry steps.

Tuition varies a lot by university and program. We show your exact first-year fee when we match you.

What language level do I need to study in Singapore?

Each institution sets its own language level and language of teaching for each course. ICA’s Student’s Pass checklist names no language test, so your institution’s rule is the one that counts.

Where language matters	What it means
The institution	Sets its own language level and language of teaching for each course.
The Student’s Pass	ICA’s checklist names no language test.
Your registration letter	The Registration Acknowledgement Letter from your school is the main document ICA asks for.

Check each university’s rule before you book a test, because accepted tests and scores differ.

How much money do I need to show?

ICA’s pages list no minimum bank balance for the Student’s Pass, but you must describe your financial support in the application. You pay your institution’s tuition, plus ICA’s fees: a non-refundable S$45 processing fee, a S$60 issuance fee, and S$30 for a Multiple Journey Visa if it applies (ICA, October 2026).

What you must cover	Amount (October 2026)
Tuition and fees	Set by each institution
ICA processing fee	S$45, non-refundable
ICA issuance fee	S$60
Multiple Journey Visa	S$30, if it applies to you
Medical Examination Report	Needed before the pass is issued, if ICA asks for it
Minimum bank balance	Not listed by ICA
Student’s Pass format	Digital only, since 27 February 2023

What to ask your institution: the total first-year cost, including tuition, housing and insurance. Fees differ a lot between universities, polytechnics and private institutions.

Tuition support: international students can receive an MOE Tuition Grant for selected full-time diploma and undergraduate courses at polytechnics, ITE, arts institutions and autonomous universities. Recipients must serve a 3-year bond after graduation (MOE, June 2026).

Fees: We show your exact first-year fee when we match you.

Can I work while I study and after I graduate?

Yes, at certain institutions. Full-time students holding a Student’s Pass at an institution on MOM’s list can work during term without a work pass for up to 16 hours a week, or in an internship that counts toward graduation. The list includes NUS, NTU, SMU, SIT, SUSS, SUTD and the five polytechnics, and students can also work during vacation without a work pass (ICA and MOM, October 2026). MOM’s list does not include private education institutions, so students there need a work pass. Do not plan to pay your living costs from work.

Once you finish your studies and your Student’s Pass ends, you need a work pass, and your employer must apply for it. The usual route is the Employment Pass. It needs a qualifying salary of at least S$5,600 a month (S$6,200 in financial services), higher with age, and rising to S$6,000 and S$6,600 for new applications from 1 January 2027. The application must also pass MOM’s points-based COMPASS, and a degree from one of Singapore’s autonomous universities earns 20 of its qualification points (MOM, October 2026).

When can I start studying in Singapore?

Start dates and deadlines are set by each institution, so check yours first. ICA says to apply for your Student’s Pass at least 2 months and no more than 3 months before your course begins. You do not need to be in Singapore while ICA processes it (ICA and MOM, October 2026).

Step	What to know
1. Choose an approved institution and course	It must be a local university, polytechnic, offshore institute with a local campus, or an EduTrust-certified private institution. Only full-time courses qualify.
2. Apply to the institution	Ask for its entry requirements and dates. You need its Registration Acknowledgement Letter.
3. Apply for the Student’s Pass	Apply online with ICA at least 2 months and no more than 3 months before your course begins, and pay the S$45 fee.
4. Get your In-Principle Approval letter	If you need a visa, it is included. Show the letter at the checkpoint when you arrive.
5. Complete formalities in Singapore	Submit your medical report if needed, pay the issuance fee, and complete your biometrics at the ICA Services Centre or at your school.

Dates change every year, so check your institution’s current dates before you plan.

How does admission work with AIA?

We find courses that fit your marks, language level and budget, apply for you, and follow each application until you have an offer. There is no fee for this. You only pay what the institution charges, such as an application fee or a tuition deposit.

Step 1: Check your admission chances

Answer seven short steps. You see where you are strong and what to fix first.

Step 2: Send your documents

If you look admissible, we ask for your passport, transcripts and language score through a private link, and send you a short agreement to sign.

Step 3: We apply for you

We submit your applications, follow each task and tell you when an offer arrives. A conditional offer is not final enrolment, so we show you what you still need to meet.

Ready to see where you stand?

Two minutes. Seven short steps. No fee.

“Know where you stand first. Then choose the school.”

Amir Ismail · Founder, Amir Ismail & Associates

Why students choose Amir Ismail & Associates

Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We help you find programs that fit your marks, language level and budget, and we apply for you at no fee. Schools make the decisions, and your visa stays a separate step that you handle yourself or through a regulated adviser.

Honest admission check

We tell you when a plan does not fit, before you spend money.

Programs that fit you

We match your marks, language level and budget, not a template.

Free for you

Our admission help costs you nothing. You pay only the school’s own fees.

Clear on who does what

AIA supports your admission. You handle the visa yourself or through a regulated adviser.

A real application

We prepare your documents and submit your applications for you.

Since 1991

35+ years in immigration and 25,000+ clients guided.

What about the Singapore Student’s Pass?

If your institution is approved, you apply for a Student’s Pass online with ICA. You do not need to hold one if you already have a valid Dependant’s Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass or Immigration Exemption Order. ICA gives you an In-Principle Approval letter, and if you need a visa to enter, it is included. You then complete formalities in Singapore, and ICA issues a digital Student’s Pass. AIA supports your admission. The Student’s Pass is a separate application you make yourself or through a regulated adviser.

ICA asks for the Registration Acknowledgement Letter from your school, your passport bio page, personal details including your education, work history and financial support, your Singapore address, an email address and a recent photo. Documents not in English need an official translation. Read the official page: Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Becoming a Student’s Pass holder.

See where you stand

Two minutes. Seven short steps. No fee. We tell you honestly if you are ready to apply or what to fix first.