How to study in Singapore

PTE Author
PTE Author
Image- Singapore, 800px x 451px
Reading time: 5 minutes

Asian students have long been drawn to Western universities. In fact, in 2018 and 2019, China sent more students to study in the UK than any other country. But now as Asian countries seek to attract more international students themselves, many learners are choosing to study closer to home instead.  

After all, studying within the region offers plenty of benefits. Not only do Asian universities provide a world-class education at a more affordable price. But they are also “among the world’s best at enhancing their alumni’s job market prospects,” states the QS Graduate Employability Rankings. This is a big draw, considering a recent report found that 81% of respondents from eight Asian countries wanted to study at a foreign university to improve employment. 

So, what are some of the top study abroad locations for Asian students? And what do learners need to keep in mind when choosing a destination? In this guide, we’ll focus on Singapore: 

Singapore at a glance 

Singapore is modern, sustainable, and multicultural. This makes it an attractive place to study for students from around the region. Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, and English are all recognized as official languages, although English is most commonly spoken. In fact, almost 40% of the population in Singapore speaks English at home.  

Singapore invests heavily in human capital. For example, it spends more than 20% of its budget on education each year. It comes as no surprise, then, that Singapore’s education system is listed as one of the best in the world by OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). 

Universities in Singapore 

There are dozens of universities and colleges in Singapore. The two most popular universities are the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Both universities are ranked among the top 20 in the world. According to QS World University Rankings 2021, NUS holds the spot for 11. NTU is ranked number 13. About a quarter of learners at both universities are international students.  

Even more, according to QS, NUS ranks number 24 for graduate employability.  

To study at a Singaporean institution, you must apply directly through the admissions office. This is usually done at the beginning of the year. 

If you’re a second language speaker or haven’t studied full-time at an English institution, you will also need to prove your English proficiency. PTE Academic is a computer-based language test that provides unbiased and secure results and can help you qualify for studying and migrating abroad.  

Students wanting to attend a college in Singapore – including the Singapore Institute of Management Global Education (SIM GE), the East Asia Institute of Management, and LASALLE College of the Arts – will need a PTE Academic score of 42. In general, universities look for a minimum PTE Academic score between 55 and 62. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of what some popular universities require: 

  • National University of Singapore–62 

  • Nanyang Technological University– 55 

  • Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) – 62 

However, students are strongly advised to always check with their own university or college to see exactly what PTE Academic score is needed.  

Getting your visa 

If you want to study in Singapore, you will need to have a Student Pass. To apply, you must already be accepted as a full-time student at an academic institution. With a Student Pass, you’ll be able to work up to 16 hours a week during the school term. However, you can only do this if you go to an approved institution.  

Find out exactly how to apply for a Student Pass here.  

Cost of living 

Singapore is considered one of the best student cities in the world; it has great weather, a vibrant mix of cultures, and an excellent food scene. However, compared to other Asian countries, it is on the expensive side. International student tuition fees sit at about $18,700 USD a year. To get an idea about how much it costs to live in Singapore, check out the government’s cost of living calculator.  

Financial aid 

It’s important to keep in mind that Singapore does offer financial aid for citizens, permanent residents, and international students. The Ministry of Education provides these grants under The Tuition Grant Scheme.  

The amount of money offered depends on the area of study and the status of each student in Singapore. This table is a good resource, showing what was available to students studying at NTU in 2020. You can see that for international students, the grants start at about $7,700 USD.   

To accept a Tuition Grant, students who aren’t citizens must sign a Tuition Grant Agreement. This states that they will work in Singapore for a minimum of three years after graduation.  

For more grant information, visit the Ministry of Education website.  

Want to study in Singapore?

With PTE Academic you can achieve your dreams.  

Our unbiased English tests are trusted as proof of English proficiency by universities in Singapore –  and results are typically ready within 2 days. 

Find out where you can take PTE Academic now. 

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    Reading time: 4 minutes

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    Multiple-choice, Choose Single Answer

    For the first question type, you will need to complete is Multiple-choice, Choose Single Answer question, which is designed to test your reading skills.

    You will be shown a text prompt for this assessment that will be up to 300 words. Possible response options will be given, with only one being correct.

    For this question, you need to read the text and answer a multiple-choice question by selecting one response based on the content or tone of the text.

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    Multiple-choice, Choose Multiple Answer

    The second question type will be similar to the previous. Multiple-Choice, Choose Multiple Answer will test your reading skills.

    In this question type, you will be given a text prompt of up to 300 words. Like the previous questions, you will need to answer the question by selecting the most suitable responses from the list of options, based on the content or tone of the text.

    For each correct answer you will earn 1 point, however, you will lose -1 point for each incorrect answer. Don’t worry, you cannot score below 0 in this assessment.

    Re-order Paragraphs

    The third question type to test reading skills will be to re-order paragraphs.

    You will be provided with a text prompt of up to 50 words and will be shown some text boxes on the screen in a random order.

    To complete the question, read the paragraph, then drag and drop or click the arrows on the screen to put your chosen responses in the correct order.

    You will earn 1 point for every pair of sentences that you place in the correct order and receive full marks if the whole paragraph is in the correct order.

    Reading: Fill in the Blanks

    Your reading skills will be tested in the fourth question type, Reading: Fill in the Blanks. You will do 4-5 of these questions.

    For this question, you will be provided with a text prompt of up to 80 words. There will be 3-5 missing words from the text.

    You will need to select a single correct answer from the 6-8 words given to fill the blanks. Not all words in the box will be used.

    You will earn 1 point for every blank that is filled in correctly for this question.

    Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks

    The last question type will test your reading and writing skills. Reading and Writing: Fill in the Blanks is an integrated skills question type.

    You will be shown a text prompt of up to 80 words with up to five blank spaces.

    To complete the question, select one of the five options in each drop-down list to fill in the blank spaces.

    You will earn 1 point for every blank space that is filled in correctly.

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    If you have already attempted PTE Academic, were not happy with your score, and would like to improve, we recommend reviewing your test performance to see where you can improve.

    What's next?

    You can also read more about Part 3: Listening Test Introduction to learn everything you need for PTE Academic.

    Want more prep ideas?

    Plus, explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.

    • Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test

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    • Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.

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    Writing: Self-improvement
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    As part of the PTE Academic, you must demonstrate a certain set of core English skills to maximize your score.

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    • Did I use run-on sentences? If you have, change them to a compound or complex sentence.

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    Use the same method of taking notes as the Summarize Written Text question type.

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    More information on cohesive devices can be found at the below links:

    Then for a conclusion, link it by writing In conclusion, To conclude.. etc.

    In your writing, try to use complex sentences as you will score more points. Make sure to vary language by using synonyms, antonyms, and academic vocabulary.

    The use of appropriate idiomatic expressions or colloquialisms will help you score well, but do not use too many as your writing will not be entirely academic.

    Lastly, when it comes to spelling, make sure to spell each word correctly. Making more than 1 spelling mistake will mean you will score zero for this question.

    Always remember to proofread your writing to make sure there are no errors before clicking next.

    Want more prep ideas?

    Explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.

    • Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test

    • It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account

    • Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.

    Ready to get started?

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    Strategies to Improve English Listening Skills
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    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Part 3: Listening in PTE Academic requires many hours of practice to maximize your score. Whilst practicing other parts of the test you would have learned certain core English skills that are needed in Part 3 that you can further improve.

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    To learn more about how to apply listening skills and improve test results, view our self-improvement strategies: