Singapore is actually a very popular country for studying abroad. It is also recognized as a country with a high standard of living in Asia, but its consumption is very low and reasonable. So, what are the main living expenses for studying abroad in Singapore? The following is aboutWhat are the main living expenses for studying in Singapore?Cost of living in Singapore for international students, ,Studying abroad experience in Singapore, ,Life in Singapore as an International StudentThe problem.

What are the main living expenses for studying in Singapore?

What are the main living expenses for studying in Singapore?

1. Accommodation

Accommodation is an expense in the cost of living in Singapore. Private universities in Singapore generally do not have boarding or the accommodation conditions are poor. Government polytechnics and universities provide some accommodation. Generally, international students choose to rent off-campus housing in Singapore. New international students generally have three options: government housing or private apartments, luxury villa student apartments, and international student apartments. The cost is generally 300-1500 SGD/month, depending on the location, accommodation type, facilities and number of people living together.

2. Meals

Singaporean cuisine combines Chinese and Malay cuisine, drawing on the strengths of both, and has a unique flavor. The "Nyonya cuisine" that is a mixture of the two is even more unique. Many food centers in Singapore offer Chinese, Malay, Indian, Japanese, Thai and other fast food. Schools generally have canteens and restaurants. In general, students spend about 300-450 SGD per month on meals.

3. Shopping

During holidays or on Sundays, it is inevitable to go shopping. As Asia's shopping center and tourist paradise, Singapore has a wide variety of shopping malls. Buying school supplies, beloved gifts or daily necessities is an indispensable consumption. Chinatown, Little India, Orchard Road, Geylang Serai, Clarke Quay Flea Market, etc. are all good places to go on Sundays. Shopping with a few friends is also one of the necessary leisure activities. In short, the cost depends on your life plan.

4. Communications

Singapore has developed telecommunications, with a household telephone penetration rate of 100%. Public telephone systems are available in all districts, and telephone charges are low. International long-distance calls are charged at 0.5-1 SGD per minute. Using an IP phone card to call China is even cheaper, at 0.18-0.25 SGD per minute. SMS messages are charged at 1 SGD each, and are even cheaper if there are related business promotions. The total monthly expenditure is generally between 30-100 SGD.

5. Transportation

Singapore has fast transportation and few traffic jams. The subway runs throughout the island, which is safe, comfortable, punctual, fast, and inexpensive. Bus routes are also spread across the island, safe and convenient. There are more than 10,000 taxis in Singapore to serve those in need, and the call service is available 24 hours a day. Students attending government schools can enjoy transportation discounts. The average student transportation fee is about SGD 80/month.

Further reading: Misconceptions about studying in Singapore

1. Studying in Singapore can get you into a national university

Singapore's public universities are seriously "self-sufficient". There are only 3 universities, 4 polytechnics, 14 technical education institutes, 2 senior high schools and 14 junior colleges in Singapore's government schools. At present, the admission rate of Singapore universities is only 21% of candidates, and the school's enrollment capacity is far from meeting the people's demand for education. The Ministry of Education of Singapore stipulates that foreign students who want to study in "top" schools must take the unified qualification examination organized by the Ministry of Education of Singapore. Candidates can only obtain admission to these "top" schools after reaching the "0" level in subjects such as English, mathematics and mother tongue. Foreign students who cannot pass the examination can only go to other schools; in addition, the Singapore education department also stipulates that the places in Singapore's government schools must give priority to meeting the needs of local students. In other words, foreign students can only enter when these schools do not have full quotas for local students. At present, there are more than 1,000 Chinese students studying in Singapore's four government colleges, and basically these schools are undergraduates who are enrolled and enjoy scholarships according to the agreement between the Ministry of Education of China and Singapore, or graduate students and doctoral students enrolled by Singapore to attract talents. There are almost no Chinese students who have paid their own way into Singaporean institutions of higher learning. Moreover, some famous universities in Singapore generally only recruit graduate students, not undergraduates, so it is almost impossible for domestic high school graduates to study at the National University of Singapore. Unless you are particularly outstanding, you generally cannot enter public schools and can only go to a variety of private schools.

2. Private schools can award degrees

Some Chinese students and their parents think that they can get a diploma from a private school in Singapore as long as they pay. In fact, it is not easy to obtain a bachelor's degree or above from a university in Singapore. In the Singapore education system, there are only three government universities that have the right to award bachelor's degree certificates or above. In addition, Singapore's four polytechnics and all private colleges cannot issue diplomas above the junior college level. Some private schools that are branches of foreign universities in Singapore or jointly run courses with foreign universities can only be awarded degree certificates for some majors by the headquarters of foreign universities.

At present, there are at least 500 private schools in Singapore, including private schools, foreign schools and schools run by some business organizations and groups. These schools are corporate in nature, with the purpose of profit and operation according to industry. Business licenses are issued by the business administration department and registered with the Ministry of Education of Singapore. Most of these schools are computer, business and language schools and cram schools. There is no customized system of school system and enrollment quota, and the curriculum and charging standards are varied. They are only reported to the Ministry of Education for record and are not qualified to issue diplomas above college level. The teaching and teacher conditions are mixed, and the quality of education is uneven. The threshold is very low, the academic requirements are not high, and there is no need to pass the strict entrance examination. Generally, you can be admitted by paying money, but basically you cannot be awarded a degree or formal academic qualifications. Some branches and schools opened by foreign universities in Singapore cannot be taught full-time due to restrictions by the Singapore government, so they are basically remote teaching, or a temporary team is formed to deal with students, and students and teachers basically do not meet. There are also some foreign colleges and universities that do not hesitate to issue diplomas indiscriminately in order to make huge profits. Be especially careful about such so-called international schools.

3. Singapore is a springboard for studying abroad

Some people hope to use Singapore as a springboard for studying in the West, thinking that once they arrive in Singapore, they can easily apply to schools in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries. In fact, this is wishful thinking. Chinese students have different identities from local students in Singapore. When applying for a visa to study in Western countries, they are still listed as Chinese students, and the difficulty of examination is the same as in China.

4. You can work legally

Many people think that Singapore is a Chinese country, and that they can work and study, and after graduation, they can find a job in Singapore to make a living. In fact, students who are allowed to study in Singapore schools are issued student passes by the Singapore Immigration Bureau, and Singapore law stipulates that students with student passes cannot work, let alone find employment. Secret employment, including tutoring, is illegal. Chinese students cannot automatically become citizens or permanent residents of Singapore. Among them, doctoral students and graduate students must find an employer before they can find a job in Singapore; undergraduate Chinese students who enjoy Singapore scholarships generally sign a contract with the school to serve Singapore for 5-6 years after graduation. After graduation, they must complete the contract to serve Singapore before they can choose a job or continue their studies in other countries. For other Chinese students, once the student pass expires, they cannot stay in Singapore unless an employer applies for a work permit for them.

5. Companion students can work legally

Some parents of students have been misled into thinking that they can apply to enter Singapore to accompany their children to study abroad, and plan to work in Singapore to earn money to support their children's schooling. The fact is that foreigners must hold an employment pass or work permit issued by the Ministry of Manpower to work in Singapore. Unless the applicant is a talent urgently needed by Singapore or has a special background, accompanying students cannot apply for employment and work permits at all.

Extended reading: Detailed introduction to Singapore study abroad companion permit

1. What is a Dependent Study Permit?

Singapore is an important educational center in Asia, and it implements bilingual education. Many parents in China choose to send their children to study in Singapore. In order to ensure that children can study here with peace of mind, Singapore has introduced a more humane policy - the accompanying study permit.

For children who come to Singapore to study, their mothers/grandmothers can apply for a study permit to legally reside in Singapore and take care of the children.

During the period of holding a dependent study permit, you can enter and exit Singapore at will without having to apply for a tourist visa separately.

2. The relationship between the student ID and the accompanying study permit

Generally speaking, children can only apply for an accompanying study permit if they have a student ID card, but having a student ID card does not necessarily mean they can apply for an accompanying study permit.

In other words, having a student ID is a necessary but not sufficient condition for applying for a dependent study permit.

3. At what age can a child apply for a study-with-child pass?

What is the age requirement for a child to apply for a study permit? There is no exact rule, but according to general application rules, 3-16 years old is a safer age.

The reason why the lower age limit is 3 years old is because we understand that it is easier for children over 3 years old to apply for a student pass when they come to Singapore to attend government kindergartens. The rejection rate is higher for children under 3 years old.

The reason why the upper age limit is 16 years old is because the Singapore government believes that children can basically take care of themselves at the age of 16 and no longer need family members to accompany them.

4. Can accompanying mothers work?

Regarding the work of accompanying mothers, you cannot work directly with an accompanying mother pass. You need to apply for a work permit first. Previously, accompanying mothers had to stay in Singapore for a full year before they could apply for a work permit, but now the policy has been relaxed:

If you are applying for EP and SP, as long as there is an employer willing to hire a study-accompanying mother and there is a quota for applying for a work permit, the study-accompanying mother can apply for a work permit and work legally in Singapore. The number of study-accompanying mothers is no different from that of ordinary foreigners.

If you are a WP, you need to stay in Singapore for a full year to enjoy the special treatment of the WP quota - two local residents can apply for one WP quota for accompanying mothers.

Further reading: How to get along harmoniously with strangers when studying in Singapore

1. Mutual Respect

Respect is the basis of equal communication. When we arrive in a strange country and join a strange family, in an unfamiliar situation, at least respect is necessary. Equal status can be more conducive to our communication.

Although there are many Chinese people in Singapore, there are still relatively large differences in social life and historical culture. When friction occurs, everyone needs to learn to compromise, adapt to local customs and adjust to their lives.

2. Proactive Communication

A host family is not only a place for everyone to eat and sleep, but also a place for everyone to communicate. A complete family can provide everyone with a better communication atmosphere, and their existence itself is to reduce the barriers between everyone.

So no matter whether you encounter happy things or unhappy things, you can communicate with your family members, so that you can cultivate relationships with your family members more quickly.

3. Take the initiative

Although everyone has paid for their own accommodation, it does not mean that they don't have to worry about anything. Because everyone lives in the same space, if they cannot understand and compromise with each other, it will be very detrimental to improving the quality of life.

Everyone at home should also take the initiative to do things within their ability. Working together can bring us closer to each other and exercise everyone's ability to take care of themselves.

4. Participate in activities

In an unfamiliar environment, how can we quickly narrow the distance between each other? Of course, it is to participate in outdoor activities together. Through mutual cooperation, we can observe each other's true situation and everyone can be exposed to new social interactions.

Don’t just reject invitations from family members. This is a very good opportunity and you must seize it and participate actively and generously.

What are the main living expenses for studying in Singapore? Summary

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