Looking to go to Singapore for doing MBBS? Know the Ranking of Top Medical Universities and Fees. ....
Feb 08, 2020 01:03:43
Singapore is also known as the Republic of Singapore. It is a city-state based on an island and located in southeastern Asia.
Apart from the main island, a few other islets comprise Singapore as well. It has been a century since Singapore has been the most modern city in Southeast Asia. The major section of Singapore’s population is urbanized. They have a high standard of living. Singapore is among the most expensive countries in the world.
Singapore’s economy is strong and features a high growth rate. Their economy is dynamic. The primary focus areas are business and education.
The climate of Singapore stays hot and humid throughout the year, and the daily temperatures are frequently in the line of 21-23 degrees. May to August is the hotter season. The capital of Singapore is Singapore city and the official currency is the Singapore dollar (SGD).
Singapore has a literacy rate of 96%, and the most frequently spoken languages are English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. Each of them is also the official language of Singapore.
There are several world-class institutions for higher education in Singapore. The nation is recognized for its student-friendly environment, and the number of top-rated medical universities is high as well. Their teaching methods are sophisticated.
Singapore ensures that it offers an unmatched environment for scientific research. They are ranked 7th in the INSEAD Global Innovation Index 2015 and 2nd in the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report for 2015-2016.
Indian medical aspirants have a choice at completing their medical education from Singapore. This lets them ensure that they complete their medical education from a nation located in Asia.
Singapore is India’s neighbor. It makes the option of medical education available for Indian students. A high number of overseas students study at Singapore’s medical universities.
Singapore universities do not accept a donation for enabling admission of Indian students into the universities. Similarly, a student also has a choice at opting for the scholarships made available by the government of Singapore. Even while laws in Singapore are strict, this makes the country safer for foreigners and natives alike.
To be eligible for admission to a Singapore medical university, an Indian student should complete 10 + 2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as the compulsory subjects.
A student must be atleast 17 years old at the time of seeking admission.
If the student scores 85% marks in his 10+2, it boosts his chances to be shortlisted for the admission process.
A student should qualify in the NEET test.
A student should also qualify in a language proficiency test, such as IELTS/TOFEL.
Another one of the mandatory exams for admission into a medical institution in Singapore is the MCAT/GAMSAT.
A student must try and make sure that he takes admission into a medical college in Singapore which is approved by (Medical Council of India) MCI. This would help a student derive the entire value of his medical degree in India. Alternately, one could start a medical practice in any country across the world.
The medical institution in Singapore approved by MCI is the National University of Singapore.
The availability of certain documents simplifies the procedures for admission to a Singaporean medical university. At the time of the admission process, a student must have:
Documents for academic qualifications for class X and XII.
NEET certificate
Scores of GAMSAT/MCAT test
Transfer certificate
Character certificate
A valid passport
Invitation letter from a Singapore medical university
Medical fitness certificate
For the students from Singapore, an MBBS course from a Singaporean medical institution lasts for 5 years. For overseas students in Singapore, the 5 years of the course are exclusive of the 1-year internship, which follows the 5-year course. The total duration of the MBBS course from Singapore for Indian students is hence six years.
During the internship, the students gain practical hands-on experience. This enhances their medical practice and skillsets and helps them at every stage in their career in medicine. The students pursue their internship at various hospitals in Singapore.
A student can also do his internship from India after he is through with the MCI screening test.
The program for medical education in Singapore is nicely divided into Singaporean medical institutions such that the students derive maximum value from the education.
The student should mention the following points in his admission application:
A 500-word long personal statement
Co-curricular activities in a list
An official testimonial, furnished by your junior college/high school
Once a candidate has been shortlisted, he must provide two referee reports that include the contact details of the referees.
Several factors are considered before a student takes admission into a Singaporean medical university. The fee structure of the universities is one of them and helps a student devise his expenditure based upon his budget.
Here is the fee structure for a few of the top medical institutions in Singapore:
|
Medical University/College |
Yearly Fee Structure |
|
Nanyang Technological University |
INR 34,14,534 |
|
Johns Hopkins International Medical Centre |
INR 19,00,987 |
|
National Skin Centre |
INR 32,47,000 |
|
SGH Postgraduate Medical Institute |
INR 12,00,000 |
|
Duke Nus Graduate Medical School |
INR 28,00,000 |
|
Academy of Medicine Singapore |
INR 27,00,000 |
In general, a student enrolled in a medical institution in Singapore must be prepared to pay INR 23, 60,000 yearly. This is exclusive of lodging and related expenses. While the tuition fees are the highest in Asia, it is lower as compared to the UK or Australia in numerous cases.
One can expect the accommodation expenses to be towards the higher side when residing in Singapore. If one rents a room, one pays around INR 25,000 to INR 50,000 monthly. Renting an apartment alternately costs one in the line of INR 1 – 1.5 lakh monthly. Renting accommodations privately would cost one double the amount.
Lee Kong Chain School of Medicine
SGH Postgraduate Medical College
Duke NUS Medical College
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Ascend Education Centre Pvt. Limited
The table above exemplifies that Singaporean medical universities are among the most expensive in the world. Studying medicine in Singapore nevertheless comes with certain advantages.
The standard of medical education in Singaporean medical institutions is world-class.
They have modern medical infrastructure.
The education that they impart for the students is futuristic.
A degree imparted by Singapore medical institutions is recognized at all places in the world.
The degree is also recognized by the top medical bodies, such as the WHO, MCI, and GMC.
While the fees are towards the higher side, parents/guardians of students are not required to make donations to ensure that the student gets admission.
The course lasts for 5 years. The medical student is hence empowered to save 1 year in his medical studies.
The presence of high profile hospitals eases the learning for medical students and later, helps them with medical practice.
Learning local languages seldom comes as an issue for Indian medical students in Singapore. The courses are primarily taught in English. But to enhance the communication skills in college or while the internship lasts, a student can opt to learn local languages as well.
A student must, however, remember that getting admission into a Singaporean medical institution is considered to be difficult. The eligibility criterion is strict and high. Similarly, the number of seats for Indian medical students is limited.
Fees at other overseas destinations are characteristically lower. Many students hence choose to opt for these medical institutions over Singaporean medical institutions.
A student is required to clear two additional tests for admission to a Singaporean medical Institution. They are Focused Skills Assessment (FSA) Test and Situational Judgement Test (SJT). The cutoffs for FSA and SJT tests are based upon a student’s high school, Diploma or A-level results.
FSA evaluates the specific skills of a candidate. It characteristically involves a station exercise and a face-to-face interview. The candidates are specifically trained over the station exercise, before being asked to do the exercise. The assessment lasts for over 60 minutes.
Similarly, SJT is an MCQ test that must be filled in with a pen and paper. It is also a compulsory test.
If a student gets admission into a Singaporean medical institution, Visa procedures are simplified as the institutions are renowned.
Here a list of steps to get a visa clearance for admission into a Singaporean medical university:
Keep the admission approval letter from a Singaporean medical institution handy.
Make an application for Visa.
The Singaporean medical institution in which you intend to take admission then files the approval request for Singapore student pass Visa. It is filed to the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoint Authority for a student cont concerned.
The process, while a student gets his visa, takes a few more days to accomplish.
The student then collects his Visa from the Singapore embassy in New Delhi. With his visa, he is empowered to move to Singapore for his academic classes.
Getting admission into a Singaporean medical university is considered to be challenging for an Indian student. Among the medical students studying in Singaporean institutions, less than 1% is Indians.
Overall, there is no solid scholarship program that prevails in Singaporean medical institutions for the benefit of Indian students. But some appropriate scholarship programs exist. A student has to put in efforts on his behalf to find out more about them. The scholarship programs vary from one college to the other.
Indians have invariably been delighted by Singapore’s economy. In numerous cases, Indian students prefer to settle down in Singapore after completing their medical education.
If a student is not interested in settling down in Singapore post the completion of his education, he can work from any place in the world that he desires. The degree in medicine awarded by Singaporean medical institution finds recognition at all places in the world. It is alternately approved by the WHO and MCI, and also the other prominent counsels worldwide. So upon completing his medical education from a medical institution in Singapore, a student can come back to India and practice medicine as well. But if a student intends to work in India as a doctor after completing his medical education in Singapore, he must clear FMGE, which is the MCI screening test.
The number of Indian medical students in Singapore is fewer, as compared to the numbers present in European medical institutions. But since a degree obtained from a Singaporean medical institution is recognized by MCI, the pass-out is empowered to work in Indian medical hospitals.
Odds of working in private medical institutions, such as Apollo and AIIMS will be higher. Alternately, a medical pass-out from a Singaporean medical university can also start a private medical practice in India. Clearing FMGE is a must for the same.
While being a multi-cultural nation, Singapore is a cosmopolitan city. Students in Singapore enjoy a vibrant lifestyle. The nation offers prime modern facilities for the students, which pertain to civic amenities, transportation, entertainment, leisure, and healthcare. A student also has a choice at touring other Asian countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand on a budget.
Singapore is among the safest countries. A student can move out at 2 am without the fear of being physically assaulted. Nut it is important to be aware of one’s surroundings and avoid bad neighborhoods.
It is a fine idea to carry the enrolment credentials with oneself, along with student visa when one ventures out of the university campus.
