Cost of Getting a Degree if you are a Singaporean

Studying locally or abroad makes a huge difference to your pockets

By Xavier 11/6/04

If you are a Singaporean and you want to further your studies, you have many choices nowadays.

NUS, NTU, SIM or SMU

Locally, you can choose between NUS (National University of Singapore), NTU (Nanyang Technological University), SIM and SMU (singapore Management University). Even if you cannot qualify for these four universities in Singapore, you can apply for the private degrees offered by the numerous organizations like TMC and Infomatics.

The only thing you need is either a scholarship or money to further your studies. The school fees for NUS and NTU are about S$5,000 a year and that is after subsidy. Naturally, the prices for entering the private universities are much higher. A one year course in Informatics can cost up to S$20,000 or more. How can you afford to further your studies and not get ridden in debts before you start working?

Studying Out of Singapore

If you decide to further your studies abroad, the prices are way higher. The cheapest country to study at would be to study at Australia where the cost can go as low as S$20,000 a year. Studying in Britain will set you back S$50,000 a year and the USA, at least S$60,000 a year. If you do not have a scholarship, it is extremely important that you get a student loan which you can afford to finance comfortably after you graduate.

Some people graduate with half a million dollars worth of debts and spend years repaying it.If your family can afford it, good for you; if not, then pick your loans carefully.