Singapore Education and Training Services Industry Snapshot
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Capital:  Singapore

Population:  5.9 million (2022 est.)

GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $531 billion (2020 est., in 2017 dollars)

Currency:  Singapore dollars (SGD)

Language:  English, Mandarin, other Chinese dialects, Malay, Tamil
 

 

UNESCO Student Mobility Number

Singapore has 21,666 students studying abroad according to UNESCO.  

 

CIA World Factbook  

27.81% of the Singaporean population is under 25 years of age.

 

OVERVIEW

Singapore is recognized as a global education leader and ranked as one of the finest in the world for its quality and consistency in producing students who are rated among the best in literacy, reading, mathematics and science.  As such, Singapore, with a population of 5.6 million, has been the choice destination for around 55,000 foreign students from around the world.  Singapore’s education system is in sync with the job market and stays current to ensure relevance to the local economy.

To further sustain growth and maintain a reputation for top quality education, Singapore has attracted various leading international institutions.  Partnerships such as research collaboration, joint degree or exchange programs are popular among local universities and colleges.  However, due to the competitive nature of higher education in Singapore and covid pandemic, around 22,000 Singapore students traveled overseas to further their studies.

The U.S. is a popular destination for these students due to the strong liberal arts education track; however, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar and a perceived less welcoming environment in the U.S. is causing student numbers to remain flat compared to other countries such as Australia, Britain, Canada, and New Zealand.  Despite this, U.S. higher education providers can expect favorable recruitment figures from Singapore for institutions that are internationally well-ranked and/or strategically marketed.

SUB-SECTORS

Based on International Student Data from 2022 Open Doors Report, Singapore has 3,901 students studying in the U.S.; this number has increased by 9.6% compared to the previous year and corresponds to the increased student visa numbers being issued to Singaporeans as shown in the table below

See figures table below at each September for the 5-year period ending in 2021:

Number of Visas Requested by Students/YOY Change

Year

Number of Visas Requested by Students

Year over Year % Change

2018

2,853

3.9%

2019

2,859

0.0%

2020

1,131

-60.4%

2021

1,392

23,1%

2022

2,733

96.3%

 

Out of the 3,901 students, 43% are pursuing undergraduate courses and 33% pursue graduate courses while the remainder are mainly undergoing practical training.  There is practically no demand for secondary or high school education while online programs are mainly taken up by adult students who do distance learning or skills upgrading. Several degree programs have become increasingly important and are expected to see increased demand from Singaporean and third-country students studying in Singapore.  These include:

  • Cybersecurity
  • Media and Animation
  • Hospitality and Tourism 
  • Sports Science and Medicine
  • Business Analytics and Digital Economy
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • Advance Manufacturing & Engineering

Singapore’s education market emphasizes, supports, and values higher education and skills upgrading.  The government awards funding for Singaporean workers to continually receive training to upgrade and sharpen their skill sets and be more knowledgeable in a globalized economy.  Many government agencies and private sector companies offer full scholarships for top students to pursue their undergraduate and graduate studies in foreign universities, including in the United States.  In line with the long-term commitment to continuing education and training, the government has topped-up the Lifelong Learning Endowment Fund by USD 357 million, bringing the total fund size to USD 3.3 billion.  A credit of S$500 (around USD 370) per Singapore citizen with a periodic top up has also given by the Singapore Government for Skills Future development and training.

The mandatory school age for Singaporeans begins at 7 years.  A pre-school education is catered for children under 6 years to prepare them for formal schooling.  There are more than 1,800 pre-schools and the Ministry of Education plans to increase this number. This is to emphasize the importance of starting a child’s learning journey early, so they have a head start when they begin mandatory school.  

For boarding schools, there is limited interest from Singaporeans since parents are not as keen to have their children leave home for an extended period at such a young age.  Moreover, Singapore male citizens must do compulsory National Service and, if they are out of the country from 13-14 years old onwards, they must apply for an exit permit which comes with a financial bond.  U.S. boarding schools can instead tap the expat students studying in Singapore and some of them have expressed interest in attending boarding schools.

Professional Training Services are becoming popular, especially, with MNCs and larger companies in Singapore, although competition is high.  Courses, such as, leadership, project management, six sigma quality, digital transformation, and continuous improvement, are the more common ones being offered by various local and even foreign companies who have a presence in Singapore.  SMEs who want to have their staff undergo such courses, which lead to professional development units, usually apply for government grants to cover the costs. However, mentoring courses are not so widely subscribed due to the Asian culture which values more of a top-down command and control approach.

OPPORTUNITIES

Singapore’s education system is well known for its quality which is why there is a strong demand from students in the region to study here.  The estimated number of foreign students in Singapore is around 50,000 (mainly from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, India, and South Korea) who are between the ages of 13-23 years old.  Hence, besides Singaporeans, U.S. universities and colleges should also take into consideration the large number of foreign students in Singapore.  In addition to recruiting full-time students (both local and overseas) to study in the United States, U.S. universities may want to consider offering their external degree and executive education programs in Singapore to international executives working in the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. universities and colleges interested in offering courses in Singapore have various market entry options.  These include, setting up a physical campus, partnering with local universities, polytechnics and private education institutions or partnering with an institution to offer online courses.  Having a local presence is beneficial in terms of creating visibility and being able to answer questions from prospective students face-to-face.  Many local universities and colleges welcome the various forms of partnerships, including R&D, exchange programs and the promotion of dual degrees.  Alternatively, U.S. universities and colleges can recruit students to study in the U.S.  Generally, there are Singaporean students who find programs that allow them to complete at least part of their course work in Singapore, a very attractive and financially viable alternative to completing their studies entirely in the United States.

Singapore schools are not new to digital learning, however given the pandemic much importance has been given to remote learning. The Singapore government is pushing universities and other schools to come up with innovative digital strategies to better prepare students for more digitized jobs in the future.

DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIES

The internet is widely used in Singapore, making digital marketing a useful tool. Students in Singapore use Google and government websites the most when doing research online, as well as libraries when researching off-line. Social media is also popular among students, with Instagram and Facebook being the main platforms used. Instagram and YouTube are the two main websites used to stream videos.

When seeking job opportunities, students turn to LinkedIn, GlassDoor, and Education Fairs. In-country schools and competitor countries use a variety of methods to reach out to students, including letters in the post, emails, education fairs, and visits by university staff. Additionally, students and parents in Singapore receive information about educational opportunities through flyers, education fairs, newspapers and various publications, the Internet, Facebook, and blogs. U.S. study state consortia and educational institutions looking to reach Singaporeans should consider using interactive flyers, digital marketing, and alumni videos,

U.S. universities and colleges will find a receptive market in Singapore, provided they are willing to invest in long-term branding and marketing with accredited programs in disciplines that offer strong career growth and high-income potential.  Additionally, Singapore is also a gateway to the ASEAN region which makes it an ideal location for U.S. universities to enjoy the amplifying effect and reach to the ASEAN market.

EVENTS

RESOURCES

U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE CONTACTS

Jayacely Joseph, Commercial Specialist

U.S. Commercial Service - Singapore, Singapore
Email: Jayacely.Joseph@trade.gov

Phone: +65 6476 9415


Yiu Kei Chan, Commercial Specialist

U.S. Commercial Service - Singapore, Singapore
Email: Yiukei.Chan@trade.gov

Phone: +65 6476 9037