About Singapore
Singapore was founded in 1819 and became an independent state in 1965. It has a population of 4 million people, comprising 70% of Chinese and a mixture of Malays, Indians and Eurasians. Singapore has always been seen as a garden city with a tropical climate of 27 degrees
celsius all year round.
Singapore is a highly developed and successful free-market economy with exports being the main drivers of the economy. It has strong international trading links and has one of the world's busiest ports. Its ultramodern Changi International Airport is often voted as one of the best airports in the world. Singapore's infrastructure consists of a comprehensive bus network and an efficient Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) subway system.
Singapore is aiming to be an educational hub in Asia by its numerous collaborations with top-class universities around the world. The education system in Singapore is already famous for producing high-caliber students. An increasing number of Asian students are opting to come to Singapore to study because of its close proximity and high quality education. Singapore prides itself in its multicultural heritage and a sense of camaraderie despite its varied cultures and religions. Singapore is looking to a future increasingly marked by globalization and is steadily positioning itself as the region's financial and educational hub.
Benefits of Studying in Singapore
Many students choose to study in Singapore because of the following benefits:
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Students can obtain a foreign university degree which is
recognized worldwide without having to travel to a western country.
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Singapore is a safe city with a low crime rate.
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The cost of living in Singapore is reasonable.
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China and Singapore are only a few hours apart from each other by air.
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English is a common language in Singapore - a conducive environment for students to improve their standard of English.
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As many international companies are investing in China and Vietnam, there will be good opportunities for management professional who are bilingual and familiar with both countries' cultures.
Activities for Students
Freely will
organize different types of seminars and activities for students on a regular basis. Students will also be invited to Live Freely Graduates Gathering delivered once every quarter. These activities will not only enable students to interact with senior executives, international students and renowned speakers, but also provide students the opportunity to improve their knowledge on business and related issues to prepare for their future careers. Freely will also arrange special events for students during traditional festivals.
Cost of Living
In addition to paying the full cost of the program, students must meet their own living expenses. The cost of living and studying in Singapore is quite reasonable. The amount to be set aside will depend on the kind of accommodation a student chooses. The following is a breakdown of the accommodation costs and daily necessities:
Accommodation
(2 persons per room): S$250 - S$500 per month
Food: S$300 - S$500 per month
Transportation and others: S$100 - S$200 per month
Accommodation
There is a wide range of rooms for rental available in Singapore. Students who require accommodation can approach Freely for assistance in locating a suitable place to stay in Singapore. Notice must be given to Freely at least 3 weeks in advance. Freely will recommend a professional service company to handle the students' accommodation in accordance with their budget and requirements. Depending on the locality and room type, rental rates range from S$250 to S$500 per month.
Student Care and Services
As settling into a new environment can be daunting for students, a full-time Program Manager will be on hand during office hours to assist the students in any difficulties they may face throughout their stay in Singapore. Freely will also arrange for a professional services company to provide airport pick-up service for the students if required.
Immigration Issues
Students are not allowed to engage in any undesirable or work-related activities for the duration of their studies in Singapore. The Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) reserves the right to cancel the student pass if students do not attend class without any valid reason for 7 consecutive days or their attendance is 90% and below. At the end of the program, students have to surrender their student pass to the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority for cancellation within 7 days.
The following information is extracted from the guidance notes issued by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority:
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Local Sponsor
A local sponsor is required for the application of a Student's Pass. The local sponsor must be a Singapore Citizen/Singapore Permanent Resident above the age of 21 years old or the school where the applicant intends to study in. Companies are not allowed to act as sponsors.
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Basic Documents Required
From Applicant:
a) 2 copies of Form 16, Form V36 and Form V39S duly completed and signed by applicant, local sponsor and school at the relevant sections (The first set of forms must be original. The second set may be photocopies of the original set).
b) Data Amendment Card [IMM(E)555] duly completed.
c) 2 recent passport-sized photographs (Color/Black & White) to be pasted on the top right-hand corner of Form 16.
d) Applicant's official Birth Certificate and Educational Certificates (original & photocopy).
e) Photocopy of applicant's travel document pages showing his/her full particulars and travel document and date of expiry.
From local sponsor:
f) Local sponsor's identity card (for Singapore Citizens) or Re-Entry Permit (for Singapore Permanent Residents) (original).
From School:
g) A Letter of Acceptance from the school issued not more than 1 month from the date of submitting an application for Student's Pass.
h) A copy of Form V36A duly completed by school.
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Processing Time
For new applications, the normal processing time is about 2 weeks upon receipt of your application and documents required. However, some applications may take a longer time to process. The local sponsor and the school will be notified of the outcome by post.
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Fees
The fee for a Student's Pass is S$40 per year or part thereof. The fee for the issue of a visa is S$20. The fee is payable when the successful applicant complete the formalities to collect the Student's Pass. Please make payment by NETS or Cash Card.
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Other Important Information
a) For the application of Student's Pass, an applicant must be accepted into an approved full-time course. An applicant who wishes to take up part-time course or course conducted in the evening or weekend will NOT be eligible for Student's Pass.
b) Holders of valid Dependent's Passes (issued by Ministry of Manpower) are exempted from having to apply to Immigration & Checkpoints Authority for permission to attend academic courses in Government, Government-Aided, Independent, Foreign System Schools and Kindergarten.
c) Applicant and local sponsor will have to furnish additional documents and information whenever necessary.
d) Please note that all original documents must be presented for verification. Official translation of the documents is required if they are not in the English language.
e) Please kindly ensure that all forms are duly signed and completed by applicant, the local sponsor and the school. Applications with incomplete forms or documents will NOT be accepted for processing.
f) Applicant needs to call in person with a valid immigration pass to collect the Student's Pass only after the application has been approved. Student's Pass will only be issued if the conditions as stipulated in the In-Principle Approval letter are fulfilled.
g) The student shall not enter or be retained as a student in any other school(s) or course(s) other than that indicated on the Student's Pass.
h) For change of local sponsor, the foreign student must submit a fresh set of application forms together with the new local sponsor's Identity Card or Re-entry Permit for our consideration.
i) Foreign students should surrender their Student's Passes for cancellation within 7 days from the date of cessation or termination of their study. The following documents are to be produced:
(i) A letter from the student/the local sponsor about the cancellation of the Student's Pass (original);
(ii) Confirmed return ticket (original);
(iii) Applicant's valid travel document (original);
(iv) Disembarkation/Embarkation Card;
(v) The original receipt for the security deposit (where applicable).
j) Information on Student's Pass application is available on and the application forms can be downloaded from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority website at http://www.ica.gov.sg.
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