International students wishing to study in Singapore will need a student visa. This will be issued along with your approval letter once your application has been accepted by a recognized university. Your application is subject to obtaining previously recognized qualifications, submitting the required documents and demonstrating a sufficient level of English.

Although this automatic issuance means you don’t have to worry about applying for your student visa, you will need to apply for a student pass within two weeks of acceptance. This also has to be no earlier than two months before and no later than one month before the start of your course. You will have to do it through the Student’s Pass On-Line Application and Registration, known as SOLAR, in which you will be registered by the institution in which you have been accepted.

To request the student visa online, connect to SOLAR with the registration data provided by your educational center and fill out and submit electronic form 16 through SOLAR. To do this, you will need the details of the valid passport, the address of your university, your email address and a recent photo.

To complete the process after arrival in this popular student city, you will need to make an appointment with ICA and bring your landing/boarding card issued upon entry into Singapore, a passport-size photo, a printout of the signed and completed eForm 16, a copy of your approval in principle and a recent medical report on the correct form. When applying for your student visa, you will also need to present a signed copy of the conditions form. You will be charged US$30 when you submit your application and another US$60 when your pass is issued.

The student visa will allow you to work full time during the school holidays and 16 hours per week during the term for most students.

Living in singapore

A crowded but safe and efficient city-state, Singapore is one of four “Asian Tiger” economies, along with South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, a group known for enjoying rapid economic growth in the second half of the twentieth century.

This rapid development and prosperity has also given Singapore one of the highest population densities in the world, and the lure of such a raucous economy and ease of doing business is hard for many immigrants to resist. It is also known for its cleanliness – famously no gum chewing is allowed in Singapore, to ensure none of it ends up on the sidewalks – as well as its punctuality on public transport and its clear roads lined with shiny cars, for those that must be purchased authorization certificates for a limited time. Singapore also has very strict laws against drug use, making it one of the lowest rates in the world.

There is much more to this island republic than strict laws and a thriving financial services industry. Singapore is a true melting pot of cultures, languages and religions, with a mixed population of Chinese, Malay and Indian who bring elements of their native cultures to create a unique hybrid identity for the city.

British culture is also a big influence in Singapore, a result of both a large expatriate population and a colonial past. This has led to the region being dubbed as a place where “East meets West”, giving an idea of the cosmopolitan and inclusive nature of the place. One example of Singapore’s diverse cultural influences is its food, with its authentic mix of Asian, Asian-fusion, and Western flavors and styles, spoken of with reverence by almost everyone who visits.

Though a secular state, Singapore is home to an eclectic host of religious beliefs, so it’s not uncommon to find a mosque next to a temple among the gleaming skyscrapers, adding color and interest to the cityscape and reinforcing ideas of mutual respect and social cohesion that are so important here.

In recent years, Singapore has also invested heavily in arts and culture, to aid its myriad of festivals, museums and public gardens, with the aim of helping to develop its image as more than just a center of finance and business.

Interesting facts about Singapore

Below, we offer a series of quick facts about Singapore in order to familiarize you with the country in the event that it is finally the one chosen to carry out your university studies. Take note!

• Official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil, with more than 75{4ff670bb91f5a71bed27471ead6462c9b16f5bdce5956c8330f96255c052ee42} of the population fluent in English.

• Formed by more than 60 islands, of which the largest is the island of Singapore, also known as Pulau Ujong.

• Population: about 5.8 million, of whom 62{4ff670bb91f5a71bed27471ead6462c9b16f5bdce5956c8330f96255c052ee42} are citizens and 38{4ff670bb91f5a71bed27471ead6462c9b16f5bdce5956c8330f96255c052ee42} are permanent residents or foreign workers and students.

• Vehicles drive on the left side of the road.

• Amount needed to live: $8,000 a year.

• Average tuition for international students in Singapore: $14,400 per year.

• Students can work full time during the holidays and up to 16 hours per week during the academic period.

• Currency: Singapore dollar (SGD/S$)

• Time Zone: Singapore Standard Time (UTC +8)

• Singapore was founded by Great Britain in 1819, gained independence in 1963, became part of Malaysia that same year, and finally became an independent state in 1965.

• The People’s Action Party has won every election since self-government was granted in 1959.

• The Head of State is the President, a mainly ceremonial function. The head of the government is the Prime Minister.

• It is the same size as Fresno, California, but its population is about 10 times the size.

• Singaporeans are the fastest walkers on the planet: their walking speed is about 6.15 km per hour.