When it comes to studying abroad, institutions like Cambridge, Harvard, and the University of London often take center stage, overshadowing others. Why? Prestigious universities across the world continue to be overshadowed by the glory of a few stalwarts, but that doesn’t dim the light. Maybe we need to shift our attention from restricting comparisons. Singapore is one of the most promising destinations for overseas education in Asia, but it has remained relatively silent over the past decades.
Shaking things up to know why Singapore is less popular as a study abroad destination, it would be more rewarding to talk about the benefits of studying in Singapore for international students. Despite a world-class infrastructure and a revered education system, Singapore is yet to be counted among the top destinations for studying abroad. With this piece of content, we hope to throw some light on this matter.
Where Does Singapore Stand in Global Education?
According to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, the National University of Singapore ranked 17th, and Nanyang Technological University ranked 30th. Besides these two, the Singapore Management University and the Singapore University of Technology and Design also occupy important ranks and stand on par with other international universities. These make abroad studies in Singapore rewarding.
Singapore’s open economy creates a dynamic space for growth and expansion, making it one of the most competitive economies in the world. It even took up the topmost position in the World Bank Human Capital Index in the year 2020. It supports its education environment with a solid education infrastructure. The business ecosphere has an easy-going regulatory environment, one of the most investment-friendly ecosystems that encourages non-conservative investment in education, infrastructure, healthcare, and public services, subsequently helping the education environment of the nation.
Singapore meets the basic and advanced parameters required to ensure a thriving education environment. What’s even more inviting is that the mode of teaching or training isn’t Singaporean Mandarin, Malay, or Tamil but English, dissolving the language barrier. It is one of the benefits of studying in Singapore for international students. Often, due to an unfamiliar medium of instruction, students feel discouraged from attending the study sessions. This factor has been dissolved by Singapore’s medium of instruction in Singapore universities.
So, what after education?
Singapore is a bustling business hub as well. It is situated at the heart of Southeast Asia, providing convenient access to the ASEAN market, India, China, and other Asian regions. The Lion City is well-connected, boasting a solid infrastructure that includes an international port, a world-class airport, a brilliant network of roads, smoother logistics, and a robust supply chain. On top of that, Singapore has lower tax rates, several exemption categories, friendly tax agreements, incentives, and a transparent tax and legal system, along with strict IP protection. All of these create a favourable environment for businesses to thrive and provide lucrative job opportunities to the graduates’ adding to its thriving economy.
Despite all these, and also even though the cost of studying in Singapore vs other countries is lower, you still don’t hear much about Singapore. That’s unfortunately because of prejudices – that there aren’t enough career opportunities after studying in Singapore, the global reputation doesn’t match its global counterparts, and the like. However, ground reality is different.
Challenges That Affect Singapore’s Potential as a Global Education Destination
The Lion City’s potential as a promising destination for higher studies has often been overshadowed by a couple of undesirable factors. You may need us to elaborate on this, and here you go!
High cost of living
Accommodation, food, and transportation costs add up to quite a high amount, especially for international students who study in Singapore. The Lion City’s public universities are also among the top universities in Singapore for international students, and they offer subsidized tuition fees, unlike other western universities, which don’t charge any fees at all. In addition to tuition fees, international students also have to bear the higher cost of living, which eventually discourages students from pursuing higher education in Singapore.
Academic rigor
Discipline is something that is evident in the lives of everyone in Southeast Asia. It reflects in their superior quality of education as well. However, often the pressure becomes quite overwhelming for the international students because they are not familiar with such an environment. Dealing with the academic rigor is quite a mountainous challenge, especially for international students moving to study in Singapore.
Limited global recognition
Student life and work opportunities in Singapore are promising, but when it comes to recognition, Singaporean universities fall short. This is despite hosting some of the top-ranking universities in the world. They do not enjoy the reputation that most of the universities in the US or UK, or the rest of Europe enjoy. Why it matters is that this particular difference influences students’ choice of universities.
Distraction from intense tourism
This is an awkward reason, but a valid one nonetheless. Singaporean universities are very frequently visited by Chinese tourists. A late December report of 2024 by the Wall Street Journal reported that travellers from China often throng the universities in Singapore in large numbers, get into their classrooms, take selfies, and do other tourist activities that were causing immense distractions to the students.
The Unspoken Strengths of Singapore
Singapore is a thriving city with great opportunities and an ideal destination for quality education. However, its excellence has been thriving in silence; its success and expertise were not much talked about until now.
Academic Excellence
Three of the most prestigious universities of Singapore – the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, and Singapore Management University also occupy significant ranks in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. The students get to experience a world-class education system, interact with outstanding faculty, and get strategic industry exposure, which is the best suited for their careers. If anyone asks you, “Is Singapore good for higher education abroad?” then you can say that it IS.
Strategic Geographic Location & Industry Connections
Singapore is located at the heart of Southeast Asia, well-connected with a robust transportation network consisting of a highly advanced port, a strong supply chain, and logistics. It allows convenient access to the ASEAN countries, India, China, and other markets of Asia. It helps Singapore in getting better industry connections and thus builds a great business hub, besides a dynamic education system.
Advantage of Proximity for Asian Students
Singapore is closer to students from India, Southeast Asia, and China. A quality higher education destination close to home would be the best option to avail. That’s what Singapore as a higher education destination is and more.
Safety & Cultural Diversity
Singapore ranked 6th in the Global Peace Index 2025, in the world, and the most peaceful nation in Asia. Interestingly, the Lion City is also very culturally diverse. Students who come to Singapore for higher education abroad don’t just enjoy the brilliance of the Singapore education system but also get to interact with a widely diversified culture. This goes a long way in enhancing their personal development, adding an edge to their individuality and professional acumen as well.
When you seek one of the best countries for pursuing higher education with maximum career opportunities, choose Singapore. Excellence breeds in silence; over the years, Singapore has developed into one of the best destinations for higher education overseas. By now, you surely know why. So, bookmark or share, make sure you apply early at your desired Singaporean university.
Written by Mousumi Sarkar.