v256.0 · education · SG · verified 2026-04
Singapore education system
Education in Singapore — public + private K-12, international schools, university system, tuition costs, scholarships, language of instruction, and expat-family pathway.
System overview
MOE-led · PISA #1 globally 2022 · Bilingual (English + mother tongue) · Streaming abolished 2024 (full Subject-Based Banding)
K-12 schools
| Public K-12 | Compulsory 6yr primary · PSLE Class 6 · Secondary 4-5 yrs with SBB · Junior College 2yr univ prep · Polytechnic 3yr technical · ITE vocational · Free for citizens |
| Private K-12 | Small private sector · Most foreigners use International Schools · Private fees SGD 5-25K/year |
| International schools | SAS (Singapore American) IB+AP USD 35-50K · UWCSEA Dover+East IB SGD 38-50K · Tanglin Trust British SGD 35-45K · Stamford American · ISS · NPS International (Indian) · German European School · French International School |
University system
| University system | NUS (#8 world QS 2024) · NTU (#15) · SMU · SUTD · 4-year bachelors typical · Excellent global standing |
| Tuition costs | Citizens (subsidized): SGD 8-30K/yr · PRs: SGD 11-42K · International full fee: SGD 30-60K · Med/Law higher |
| Scholarships + financial aid | MOE Tuition Grant for foreign students (90% subsidy with 3-yr service bond) · ASEAN scholarships · SINGA PhD · Industry-sponsored |
Language of instruction
English primary · Mother-tongue mandatory: Mandarin, Malay, Tamil · Foreign-language electives common
Expat-family pathway
International schools USD 35-50K/yr for K-12 · NUS/NTU very competitive · IB Diploma + IGCSE most common · Multi-year waitlists at top schools
Recent changes (2023-2026)
2024: Full SBB replaces streaming · International school accreditation tightening · NUS+NTU continued global ranking rise · STEM emphasis with SkillsFuture · 21st-century competencies framework
Source: official Singapore Ministry of Education · Last verified 2026-04
See also: Singapore country profile · education atlas