What changed recently
- Employment Pass minimum qualifying salary rises from 1 January 2027: general sectors from SGD 5,600 to SGD 6,000/month at age 23 (up to SGD 10,700 to SGD 11,500 at age 45+); financial services from SGD 6,200 to SGD 6,600/month at age 23 (up to SGD 11,800 to SGD 12,700 at age 45+). Relevant to any Indian graduate planning to stay on and work after a Singapore degree. Source: https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/eligibility
Watch out for
- A degree from Singapore does not carry an automatic post-study work visa - budget for the possibility that you may need a qualifying job offer and enough COMPASS points for an Employment Pass, or fall back on an S Pass with its own separate criteria.
- If taking a Tuition Grant, the 3-year post-graduation work bond in Singapore is a binding condition - factor it into career planning before accepting the grant.
The basics
- Bachelor's
- 3-4 years (bachelor's)
- Master's / PhD
- 1-2 years (master's, coursework); PhD typically 4-5 years
- Intakes
- August (August) — main · January (January)
- Exams — bachelor's
- No standardised national test; institution-specific requirements (SAT/A-levels/IB accepted by some universities)
- Exams — master's
- Varies by programme; GMAT/GRE for some business/technical courses
- Work after graduating
- Singapore has no dedicated post-study work visa; graduates who want to stay must secure a job that qualifies for an Employment Pass (or S Pass). The Employment Pass requires meeting a minimum qualifying salary (from SGD 5,600/month at age 23 in general sectors, rising to SGD 6,000/month from 1 January 2027) plus at least 40 points on the COMPASS framework (salary, qualifications, nationality diversity, local employment share, skills-shortage bonus, and strategic economic priority criteria).
Your timeline from India
for the main intake- After receiving a Registration Acknowledgement LetterApply for the Student's Pass online via ICA's e-Service, at least 2 months and not more than 3 months before the course begins
- With the applicationProvide personal background, education, employment and finance details, plus a recent photo and translated documents where needed
- PaymentPay the non-refundable S$45 processing fee
- DecisionICA states applications are processed within one week (two weeks if a visa is also required); apply before travelling to Singapore
The student visa
- Visa
- Student's Pass ↗
- Fee
- SGD 45 · about ₹3,376
Non-refundable processing fee per ICA; requirements and exact document lists differ slightly by institution type (Institutes of Higher Learning, Private Education Institutions, etc.). - Money to show
- Not stated as a fixed figure on the ICA pages read; the application asks for personal finance information as part of the background declaration.
- Processing
- ICA states most applications are processed within one week, or two weeks if a visa is also required.
Steps
- Get admitted and receive a Registration Acknowledgement Letter from the institution
- Apply online via ICA's e-Service (SOLAR) 2-3 months before the course starts
- Submit personal, education, employment and finance details plus supporting documents
- Pay the S$45 processing fee
- Receive the In-Principle Approval / Student's Pass before or on arrival
Where to apply, funding, official help
Scholarships
- Tuition Grant Scheme — UG; eligible international students at selected full-time diploma/degree courses get reduced fees in exchange for a 3-year work bond in Singapore after graduation
Top universities in Singapore
by ARWU 2025 world rankThis guide was built from: ica.gov.sg/reside/STP/apply · ica.gov.sg/reside/STP/apply/ihl · moe.gov.sg/financial-matters/tuition-grant-scheme · mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/eligibility — checked 2026-09-28.