Visa to success
A session to brief students on courses in Singapore, held in Chennai recently.
How to apply
Most of the institutions including the top three - the National University of Singapore (www.nus.edu.sg) , the Nanyang Technological University (www.ntu.edu.sg) and the Singapore Management University (www.smu.edu.sg) - have departments to deal with international students.
The website www.singaporeedu.gov.sg is a gateway to higher education in Singapore.
Check whether you have the right qualification. If you do not, it may still be worth contacting the schools that can advise you on doing a bridge course. Send your application directly to the university. In most cases, you can apply online.
Checklist
Keep other options open in case your first choice does not come through.
Have all the relevant documents in the required format, with sufficient number of copies,
Ensure that all the documents are original.
Ensure that the applications have your signature at all the relevant places and that all the papers are signed by the right persons.
You may be asked to take a test or to appear for an interview. If your application is accepted, you will get letter of offer. The acceptance should be signed and returned.
Immigration process
International students opting for a full-time course in Singapore should apply for a Student's Pass, unless you have a Dependant Pass or an Immigration Exemption Order. It takes at least four weeks to get it. The visa application procedure varies for different levels of education and different institutions. Visit the website www.ica.gov.sg for details. The schools can also guide you.
Cost of study
Information regarding the fee structure is available with the schools. Your monthly expenditure, however, is highly dependant on your course of study, lifestyle and personal needs. Generally, foreign students need to have a monthly budget between Singapore $ 700 and $ 2000, including the cost of accommodation, utilities, food and clothing, transport, telecom, books and stationery and medical and hospitalisation insurance.
Financial assistance
There are various schemes for foreign students. Banks have tie-ups with the schools, universities and colleges. Bursaries are also available in some institutions. If you have an excellent academic record, you stand a good chance to obtain a scholarship. Alumni associations of many institutions too have scholarships or funding schemes.
Working part-time
Full-time undergraduates of polytechnics and universities can get permission from the Students' Liaison Office to work up to 16 hours a week during the school term and full-time during the vacation. The full-time students of universities and institutions approved by the Ministry of Manpower can also work less than 16 hours part-time a week during the school term and full-time during the vacation.
Seek prior approval from the institutions before starting a job hunt.
Foreign university campuses
From the United States: Chicago Graduate School of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology; Johns Hopkins University; MIT (in alliance with NUS and NTU among others); Wharton School of Business.
From Europe: Technical University of Munich; Technical University of Eindhoven; INSEAD Business School.
Academic year
In most universities, it is from January to December.
Choosing a quality school
Look out for the Singapore Quality Class (SQC) that distinguishes the schools with a commendable level of performance. The SQC is awarded only to private schools by the Singapore Standards Body (SPRING) that recognises the quality process.
RAMACHADRAN K.
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