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Cheapest and Affordable Universities in Singapore 2025

Cheapest and Affordable Universities in Singapore 2025

Edited By Piyush Kohli | Updated on Apr 01, 2025 09:25 AM IST

Cheapest Universities in Singapore 2025: Singapore is not just a country of wealth, efficient transportation, and a high standard of living. Some of the best institutions of higher education are located in Singapore. Including National University of Singapore (NUS), 4 more Singapore universities have been listed among QS 2025 rankings, indicating that the country has invested in quality education. International students are migrating to Singapore in search of better education and career opportunities. However, education is expensive for Indian students. Singapore is encouraging international students to come and study in Singapore by offering tuition fee discounts and the permit to stay in the country for up to three years without an additional work permit.

This Story also Contains
  1. Cheapest Colleges in Singapore for International Students 2025
  2. National University of Singapore (NUS)
  3. Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
  4. Singapore University of Technology & Design
  5. Singapore Management University
  6. Republic Polytechnic
  7. Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)
  8. Temasek Polytechnic
  9. Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)
  10. Top Courses in Singapore 2025
  11. Tuition Fees for Top Courses in Singapore 2025
  12. Can I Study for Free in Singapore?
Cheapest and Affordable Universities in Singapore 2025
Cheapest and Affordable Universities in Singapore 2025

Though the cost of studying in Singapore is high, there are many cheap universities to choose from. In this article, let’s look at the cheapest universities in Singapore for international students in 2025 along with tuition fees.

Cheapest Colleges in Singapore for International Students 2025

One of the top reasons to study in Singapore is the heavily subsidized education system in universities. The government has taken this step to attract international students to study and work in the country without many restrictions by introducing cheap university in Singapore. Following is the list of low cost universities in Singapore for international students.

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Cheapest University in Singapore for International Students 2025

University

Tuition Fees in Singapore 2025 (per annum)

Tuition Fees in Indian Rupees (per annum)

National University of Singapore (NUS)

SGD 17,650 – SGD 98,650

10.8 L– 60.1 L

Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

SGD 17,650 – SGD 75,550

18.9 L– 46.04 L

Singapore University of Technology & Design

SGD 29,900

17.7 L

Singapore Management University

SGD 51,840 – SGD 358,000

31.6 L – 2.18 Cr

Republic Polytechnic

SGD 12,041


73.4 L

Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)

SGD 8,200 for diploma courses

5 L

Temasek Polytechnic

SGD 11,400 for diploma courses

6.95 L

Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)

SGD 31,680–SGD 57,600


19.3 L – 35.11 L

*The above fees are after receiving grant from Ministry of Education, Singapore

Additional Read: Scholarships to Study in Singapore

National University of Singapore (NUS)

NUS (National University of Singapore) is a flagship university with a global reputation and approach for teaching and research. It is one of the cheap universities in Singapore for international students.
It has 17 faculties and schools along with 30 research centers across three campuses in Kent Ridge, Bukit Timah, and Outram. There is a choice of 68 UG programs and 216 PG programs at this one of the cheapest universities in Singapore for 2025. Around 38,000 students are studying at NUS hailing from 100 countries across the world making it a truly Global university to thrive. Admission deadlines vary according to the course.

Acceptance Rate: Less than 10%

Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore is the world’s #1 best young university for five consecutive years in QS rankings. Imperial NTU is a joint medical school of NTU in partnership with Imperial College London. However, NTU also offers courses in engineering, science, arts, business, humanities and social sciences, and education. 7,600 international students are enrolled at the university. As one of the cheapest universities in Singapore for international students 2025, Nanyang Technological University is frequently cited among top 15 beautiful universities in the world.

Acceptance Rate: 36%

Singapore University of Technology & Design

Singapore University of Technology & Design has been established in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology for giving responsible and capable leaders to the present society. It is also one of the affordable universities in Singapore. The curriculum followed at SUTD has been developed by MIT; 4-year degrees can be completed in 3 1⁄2 years itself. Doing foundation programs is mandatory at SUTD to establish a strong base in the courses they are going to do.

Acceptance Rate: 36%

Singapore Management University

Singapore Management University is a private university in Singapore that is exclusively dedicated to business, economics, and finance studies. It is one of the cheapest colleges in Singapore for international students. Various undergraduate, postgraduate research, and professional programmes are offered at SMU through its eight schools to 12000 students. Business programs at the Singapore university of Technology & Design have been modeled following the Wharton School of Business curriculum. Despite being a private university, annual fees at SUTD are subsidized by the Ministry of Education, Singapore, thus offering one of the affordable universities in Singapore for international students 2025.

Acceptance Rate: 49%

Republic Polytechnic

One of the cheap university in Singapore for international students, Republic Polytechnic offers 43 Full-Time Courses to international students. Republic Polytechnic is known for its 100% placement experience with around 60,000+ alumni spread across the world. Republic Polytechnic boasts of its 2000+ industry partnerships across the world. High visibility among industry partnerships results in a high number of career opportunities offered to graduating students. The university offers courses in Applied Sciences, Engineering, Management and Communication, Hospitality, Infocomm, Sports, Health & Leisure, etc through its seven schools.

Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)

Founded as a private university, there are many diploma courses aided by public funding at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Exclusively dedicated to art programs, various courses are offered as diplomas and degrees. NAFA has partnered with University of the Arts London and Royal College of Music, London and is the founding member of University of the Arts Singapore. Students aiming to pursue courses in arts must choose NAFA for getting industry relevant education. International students looking for the Singapore cheapest university 2025 for Arts courses may apply to Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts now.

Acceptance Rate: 52%

Temasek Polytechnic

Temasek Polytechnic, a relatively young university established in 1990. It is a public university that receives funding from the Singapore government to deliver cost-effective education to talented students from across the world. Tuition fees of diploma courses after receiving subsidy from the government start from 6.95 Lakh per annum. The campus of Temasek Polytechnic has an impressive architecture, adding to the beauty of studying at Temasek Polytechnic.

Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)

The best reason to choose Singapore University of Social Sciences is not only the fact that it is among the cheapest universities in Singapore for international students 2025. But also the employment opportunities facilitated by the university. SUSS reports that every 9 graduates out of 10 receive employment offers every year. Supply Chain Management, Finance, and Accountancy are top courses to study at SUSS. Being low cost university in Singapore it is also one of the best universities.

Top Courses in Singapore 2025

Students can refer to the below-mentioned best courses in Singapore. As the country is renowned for its strong economy, creating ample job opportunities for international students; top notch educational system; English & rigorous courses, and more, thousands of students explore study in Singapore. Here are the high-paying courses in Singapore for international students:

  • Medicine
  • MBA
  • IT
  • Computer Science
  • Law
  • Banking
  • Hospitality & Tourism

Tuition Fees for Top Courses in Singapore 2025

The exact tuition fees vary depending on the level of study, university, and the type of course in Singapore. Students must explore the selected university website to learn more details. However, we have given a table with approximate tuition fees in top universities in Singapore 2025. International students might be able to receive some grants from scholarships and financial aid that can impact the cost of studying a course in Singapore.

Approximate Tuition Fees for Best Courses in Singapore 2025:

Some of the best courses of Singapore and their average tuition fees are mentioned below:

Best Courses in Singapore

Average Tuition Fees 2025

Computer Science

18,000 - 35,000

Medicine

50,000 - 70,000

Engineering

20,000 - 40,000

Nursing

18,000 - 30,000

Law

25,000 - 45,000

IT

18,000 - 32,000

Finance

20,000 - 35,000

Business

16,000 - 30,000

Can I Study for Free in Singapore?

There are hardly any Singapore universities that provide free education, but that is restricted to students who are of Singapore origin. International students have to pay tuition fees; however, they can obtain a scholarship or any form of subsidy.

Must Read:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the cheapest engineering universities in Singapore?

The cheap degree courses in Singapore in the field of Engineering are offered by the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Both universities are public universities and offer subsidized tuition fees to all students, including international students. In addition to NUS and NTU, the following universities in Singapore also offer engineering programs at relatively affordable tuition fees:

  • Singapore Management University (SMU)

  • Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)

  • Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)

2. What is the cheapest diploma course in Singapore?

Diploma in Data Analytics, Diploma in Information Technology, Banking and Finance, Logistics and Supply chain management are some of the diploma courses in Singapore to study. 

3. How much does a masters degree in Singapore cost?

A masters degree in Singapore costs from SGD 30,000 – SGD 60,000 per annum. It is approximately 18.4 lakhs-43 lakhs in Indian rupees. Cost of living in Singapore is SGD 1500-2000 per month.

4. How much are tuition fees for international students in Singapore?

Depending on the university and the programme, different international students in Singapore pay different tuition. Generally speaking, though, foreign students should budget between SGD 10,000 and SGD 20,000 for undergraduate programmes and between SGD 20,000 and SGD 50,000 for graduate programmes annually.

5. Is a student visa necessary to study in Singapore?

Yes. A student visa is mandatory to study in Singapore. It takes 2-4 weeks to get the Singapore student visa after applying through the Singapore Embassy.

6. Is Singapore affordable for students?

Singapore is a relatively expensive country to live in, but it is still affordable for students compared to other popular study destinations such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. The cost of living in Singapore will vary depending on your lifestyle and choices, but you can expect to spend around S1,500toS3,300 per month on living expenses, including tuition fees, accommodation, food, and transportation.

7. Is it expensive to go to university in Singapore?

Whether or not it is expensive to go to university in Singapore depends on a few factors, including the university you choose, the program you study, and your nationality. Public universities in Singapore offer subsidized tuition fees to all students, including international students. This means that international students can expect to pay lower tuition fees at public universities in Singapore than at public universities in other popular study destinations such as the United States and the United Kingdom.

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Questions related to

Get answers from students and experts

Hello Aditi,

Doing B.Com (//B.Com) without math is possible, but for a masters in buiseness analytics at NUS, strong quantitative skills and maths background are usually required. if not eligible, you can pursue BBA in buiseness analytics fom indian colleges like NMIMS, Christ University or Symbiosis, which accept non- maths students. these programs build foundational skills needed for future analytics studies.

Pursuing an MBA in Singapore is a good choice due to its global recognition, job opportunities, and multicultural exposure.

Top Private Universities :

1. INSEAD Asia Campus – Globally renowned MBA program.

2. James Cook University (JCU) – Industry-focused MBA.

3. SP Jain School of Global Management – Global MBA with multiple campuses.

4. MDIS – Affordable MBA programs with international affiliations.

5. Kaplan Higher Education Academy – Offers MBAs with global partnerships.

Hello aspirant,

Through the official website, international candidates can apply to NUS Singapore for admission to the undergraduate and graduate programs. University admission is determined by open competition and academic achievement. In order to gain admission, candidates ensure that they meet the National University of Singapore's admission requirements. For UG entrance, they must finish secondary school, and for PG admission, they must earn a bachelor's degree.

To know the complete information, you can visit our site through following link:

https://studyabroad.careers360.com/singapore/universities/nus-unpg

Thank you

Hello,

Hope you are doing great.

To answer your question To gain admission to the Computer Engineering program at the National University of Singapore (NUS), it is crucial to comprehend the admission criteria

JEE Mains Percentile:

The anticipated JEE Main Cutoff for 2024 across different categories is as follows:

General: 89+ percentile

EWS: 78+ percentile

OBC: 74+ percentile

SC: 44+ percentile

PwD: 0.11+ percentile¹.

A commendable percentile in JEE Mains 2024 falls within the range of 90-95 percentile³.

However, it is important to note that meeting the previous year's cutoff does not guarantee admission for the current year.

Hope this helps!!



Dear Aspirant,
Singapore is one of the best country across the world for Business and Finance Studies. Some of the best institutions for Masters of Business Adminstration (MBA) are as follows-
1. INSEAD
2. NUS (National University of Singapore)
3. Lee Kinf Chian School of Business
4. Manchester Business School
5. Nanyang Business School
6. ESSEC Global MBA
7. The Strathclyde MBA

You can visit the respective websites for details .

Hope this helps you !

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