For the bold and driven students, Singapore offers many reasons to love this tiny island nation. From its clean and green atmosphere to its well-planned infrastructure, it is no wonder it is an attractive country for international students. It is a home to top higher education institutions recognized worldwide and a place for limitless communication for English is widely spoken, especially in universities and colleges.
If you wish to study nursing in Singapore, you can expect several universities and colleges offering the program either a diploma or degree. To learn more, this article talks about how to study nursing in Singapore, including the steps and requirements needed.
Are nurses in Demand in Singapore?
The Singapore government estimates that the healthcare industry will need an additional 24,000 nurses by 2030 to fill the gap created due to nurses moving to other countries during the pandemic. Foreign-trained nurses can work in Singapore if they meet the requirements, like undergoing a competency assessment and sitting for a licensure examination.
See Also: The Best Medical Schools in Singapore
How to Study Nursing in Singapore
1. Know the Prerequisites of Nurses in Singapore
If you are interested in studying nursing in Singapore, you have two ways to earn a nursing education. Considering several factors that may influence your decision, you can either study through a nursing diploma or a nursing degree. You can opt for a nursing diploma completed in one to two years for a faster option and is usually taken at institutions or colleges. It may be a faster route, however, work opportunities may be limited compared to a nursing degree.
A nursing degree is a certificate given by a university or college completed in three to four years. With a more comprehensive education, you can have better work opportunities and expect a higher salary in return with a nursing degree. Before choosing a program, it is important to know your financial capacity and career plans to choose the most applicable nursing education.
Check Also: The Steps to Become a Doctor in Singapore
2. Know What Schools are Offering Nursing
For a nursing diploma, Parkway College and Ngee Ann Polytechnic offer a full-time three-year nursing diploma. At Parkway College, students will gain in-depth knowledge in behavioral, biological, and nursing sciences with the help of classroom lectures, e-learning, and clinical practice. Ngee Ann Polytechnic offers core nursing modules, as well as behavioral and human biosciences. The school promises students a secure job before graduation through hospital sponsorships.
If you want to study nursing more deeply in Singapore, you can take a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the National University of Singapore (NUS). Once you earn a degree and want to practice nursing in the country, you can already send your application to register at the Singapore Nursing Board. For further education, NUS also offers master’s and graduate programs, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Practice for nursing diploma graduates who wish to earn a nursing degree.
Click Here to See: The Best Nursing Schools in Singapore
3. Choose Some Nursing Schools that You Want to Attend
Before you choose a nursing school, think about your wants and needs that will help you decide. It is more than just having a diploma or degree as your end goal of studying nursing in Singapore. You will be spending two to four years of your life in this institution which will touch all aspects of your student life. You will be making friends, doing social extracurricular activities, and most especially enhancing your learning ability.
First and foremost, make a shortlist of possible schools you can attend in Singapore. Choosing a nursing school will be according to your criteria, depending on your wants and needs. These wants and needs can vary according to your desired location, type of institution, school size, school ranking, tuition fee, and more. To help you choose, you can make a pros and cons list to easily see which school is more probable to attend.
Since you can earn either a diploma or degree, you have to first ponder on your end goal or career plans. The most suitable nursing school should help reach your career goals and secure a future job for you with the school’s nursing curriculum and hospital or institutional connections.
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4. Become Proficient in English
The language curriculum in Singapore is English, which is one of the reasons why it attracts many international students. With that being said, among the requirements of studying nursing in Singapore is to have enough English language proficiency to attend the program.
To prepare for an IELTS examination, you can attend IELTS review centers that will help you hone your English abilities in speaking, listening, writing, and reading. If you feel that you are ready to take the examination, you can make a schedule with the testing center in your country and take the examination. Do not take the examination way too far ahead as most schools will ask for a two-year timeframe for your results before it is considered expired.
Learn More About: IELTS Band Requirements for Universities in Singapore
5. Prepare to Meet the Cost of Studying Nursing in Singapore
Upon making your wants and needs list, you should have already considered the cost of studying nursing in Singapore and how you can prepare for it. The cost of tuition for a nursing degree is generally higher than a nursing diploma. If the cost is the least of your concerns, you can pursue a nursing degree at NUS.
The cost of tuition for international students at NUS per academic year is SGD 19,150 for students with MOE tuition grants and SGD 37,250 for students without MOE Tuition Grant. If you wish to pursue a nursing diploma, Ngee Ann Polytechnic offers the course for SGD 11,000.
Check Also: The National University of Singapore Scholarships
6. Submit Your Application
Once you have listed down the schools you want to study nursing in Singapore at, you have to organize your application requirements and start as early as possible. Make sure to follow the school’s deadline and fill out the application form weeks before the deadline. In all forms and documents you submit, you have to be consistent with all the information such as your name, school history, and the like.
Moreover, always proofread your documents as little errors may affect your application. You can ask a friend or family member to double-check it for you since having a set of fresh eyes can easily spot mistakes.
Most nursing schools receive your application via email or through the school’s website. If you have to submit them by mail, always make sure to have extra copies to keep. The documents required by the nursing school should be prepared in advance. You can make a checklist of the list of documents you need so you will not miss out on anything.
For instance, the document checklist of NUS requires a copy of school examination transcript/result slip, copy of university academic transcripts (if currently or previously enrolled), copy of additional score report (IELTS, TOEFL, SAT and SAT Subjects, AP, ACT, and the like), copy of passport or birth certificate or identification card, copy of medical reports, and a copy of criminal records.
See Also: Universities in Singapore with High Acceptance Rate
7. Apply to Nursing Schools in Singapore
When you are all set, you can start the application process by submitting your application form. Generally, you submit all necessary documents to the nursing school and wait for an offer letter from them if you get accepted. For example, the application process from NUS involves four steps: understand admission requirements, submit an application online, upload supporting documents and make application fee payment, and check application status.
First, you have to meet all the course prerequisites before starting the application. This is also the step where you can check the tuition fees and other estimated expenses. Next, send an application form along with your supporting documents on the school’s website. Last, wait for an acceptance or rejection letter. At the last step, you can also submit an appeal if needed.
Check Also: Best English-taught Universities in Singapore
8. Apply for Student Visa in Singapore
When you get an acceptance letter from a nursing school, you can start applying for a student visa. A student visa in Singapore is also known as a Student Pass. A Student Pass is needed for students studying for more than 30 days and is applied through the Student’s Pass Online Application & Registration (SOLAR) system. The processing time can be about two to four months for a processing fee of SGD 30 and is needed if you want to study nursing in Singapore.
For the interview day, you will need an original copy, notarized copy, and photocopy of the notarized copy of your birth certificate, highest educational level certificate and academic results, and financial statements.
In addition, you will need to submit your overseas study plan (duly signed and dated), original copy and photocopy of identity card, household register, employment statements & letter from your respective employers (if applicable), monthly salary records for 3 months period before the interview, business registration certificates if you are self-employed (if applicable), and passport and photocopy of the passport bio-data page.
For more details, you can visit the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority website.
Singapore offers an opportunity for foreign nurses to nurture their careers in this global finance powerhouse. The above steps are straightforward, and doing thorough research and preparation will set you up to work as a nurse in one of the best countries worldwide. From having the appropriate academic credentials to understanding immigration procedures, you are one step away from actualizing your nursing dream. Be sure to check out our website for resources like how you can study in Singapore for Free and sample the government of Singapore scholarships to kickstart your dream career.
We hope that this article on studying nursing in Singapore was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students!
