Singapore luring Indian students

Singapore luring Indian students

T’PURAM: After China, United Kingdom and Russia, it is now Singapore’s turn to lure Indian students for degree-level courses at its universities. The five universities of Singapore including the prestigious National University of Singapore, Nengang Technological University and Singapore Management University as well as the five Government polytechnics - Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Nangang Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic - are on the look out for those who have passed plus-two for various territory level courses there.The students who seek admissions for territory level courses with a duration of three years would have to get a minimum of 75 percent marks in plus-two level. They should also have to pass the entrance test and interview conducted by the universities. The entrance test would have two papers each of 1.30 hours duration. The first paper will be for English and the second paper will comprise of Mathematics and Physics.Singapore Education Services (private) limited representing the universities and five polytechnics, all in the Government sector, has set up an office here.Singapore Education Services Director Ram Raj said that one of the advantages of the Singapore education is that Ministry of Education would provide the 80 percent of the fee for foreign students as scholarship. The tuition fee for degree education for a year would come to Singapore dollars 30,000 to 40,000. But with the 80 percent scholarship, the tuition fee paid by the student would come to only around 6,000 dollars, he said. The students availing of the scholarship have only to give a guarantee that they would work in Singapore for three years, he said. This would also work advantageous for the students as once they receive an appointment letter they would get a permanent resident status. The permanent resident would have all the rights of a citizen accept voting rights, he said.The advantage for Singapore was that the parents of the students would at least once visit Singapore which would give a boost to tourism.Moreover, students studying in Singapore would have a strong relation with the country and if at all they decided to set up any venture in their home country in the future, Singapore would be the preferred destination for their business, he said.