The main features about English courses in Singapore: cost, admission and study process, most popular language schools.
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Language courses in Singapore seem like an exotic choice, given that it is a city-state that is hard to pinpoint on a map. At the same time, the country is considered to be English-speaking. Moreover, migrants from all over the world come to Singapore, offering an ideal environment for students to practice their skills. At the same time, the cost of language courses is lower than in more popular countries, such as the United States and United Kingdom.
Split the payment into two years – enroll and start learning while staying on budget
| School | Program | Weeks | Tuition fee/week | Cities | Hotels | Apartments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSBF | Preparatory course in English (PCE) | 50+ | 165 USD | Singapore | 188 USD/day | 1,107 USD/month |
| Preparatory course for IELTS 15* | Weekly | 7,454 USD | ||||
| General Course 25* | 1-3 | 1,092 USD | ||||
| English Summer Camp 5* | SGD | 1750/course | ||||
| MDIS | Professional Certificate in English (for Tertiary Education) 30* | 50 | 280 USD | Singapore | 188 USD/day | 1,107 USD/month |
Certificate in English (for Secondary / Post-Secondary Education) 30* | 25 |
* number of hours per week
| Type of program | Intensity | Group | Min. language level | Cost per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General English | 10-15 | 10-16 | Beginner | 354 USD |
| Intensive English | 15-20 | 5-8 | Beginner | 201 USD |
| Academic English | 30 | 10-16 | Beginner | 207 USD |
| Business English | 20 | 10-16 | Elementary | 133 USD |
| Conversational English | 4-6 | 8-10 | Elementary | 90 USD |
| IELTS Preparation | 15 | 15 | Intermediate | 74 USD |
| Corporate English | Individual | 1-5 | Elementary | 1,328 USD/lesson |
| Summer Camp | 5 | 10-16 | Beginner | 1,292 USD/lesson |
| Private lessons | Individual | 1-3 | Beginner | 148 USD/lesson |
Some courses can be combined with each other — for example, an intensive and conversational program to develop speaking skills. Or, you can take a writing elective for a Business English course and learn how to competently conduct business correspondence in English.
University courses in Singapore aim to prepare students for studying at English-speaking universities. The duration of such programs is from 6 to 12 months. You can study with any initial language level. Classes are held in the format of lectures and emphasize academic writing and reading, along with presentations and critical thinking. The main advantage of such courses is access to and lessons within the university campus.
Language schools in Singapore offer special summer courses. In the morning, students study English with teachers, and in the afternoon they go on excursions, walk around the city, play sports, and participate in conversation clubs.
The program costs include English courses, extracurricular activities, accommodation with breakfast, and transfers from the airport. Students with any language level can attend a summer camp in Singapore. Duration — from 1 to 3 weeks.
Enrollment at language schools takes place all year round. For long-term courses, classes begin once a month, and for short-term courses — every Monday. To enroll in a language course, you need to:
Some language courses in Singapore require a certain language level, which you can find out by taking a test on the school website. The results will not affect admission in any way. Upon arrival, you need to take a test at the school to determine your language level. Based on these results, you will be assigned to an appropriate group.
Students are enrolled in university courses four times a year: in January, April, July, and October. The admission process at some universities in Singapore is similar to that of undergraduate or graduate programs. You must provide:
When choosing an educational institution, it is important to make sure that it has state accreditation. Otherwise, your visa will be denied.
University language courses in Singapore take place in the format of lectures and seminars. These courses are aimed at preparing students for studying at English-speaking universities.
Classes at language schools are more variable. You can take academic English courses, but in addition to them, summer programs, Business English, and international language exam preparations are available.
A distinctive feature of all courses in Singapore is a fixed duration. Schools rarely allow students to choose their own length of study. Moreover, the lesson plan is very clearly regulated. A detailed description of each lesson is given to students at the beginning of the course. Throughout the course, students take several intermediate tests and a final exam. At the end of the course, they are given a certificate.
Please note that language centers in Singapore do not provide accommodation. However, they can help find an apartment near the school.
| Accommodation options | Meals | Number of people per room | Avg. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotels | Optional | 1-4 | 188 USD/day |
| Apartments | None | 1-5 | 1,107 USD/month |
| Expense | Avg. cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Consular embassy fee | 22 USD | 35 USD |
| Registration fee | 355 USD | |
| GST | 7% | |
For additional costs, check the official website of the chosen school.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Complete guidance in registering for courses — language schools abroad | 302 USD |
| Complete guidance in the admission process — university language courses | from 605 USD |
| Visa guidance | 252 USD |
For courses lasting up to 30 days, you can apply for a tourist visa.
To study for more than 30 days, you need to obtain a student pass[3], which can be done directly through a language school or university.
To receive a student pass:
Documents for a tourist visa to Singapore:
It may be necessary to provide booking confirmation for flights and accommodation in Singapore. All documents must be translated into English and notarized. You can submit them online. The processing time for a tourist visa is up to 4 weeks.
It is worth bearing in mind that a student visa can be easily lost if you:
A student visa does not allow you to work in Singapore. An exception is an internship at a university. You can be deported and banned from entering the country in the future if you attempt illegal employment.
LSBF was founded in 2011. Since then, it has annually trained about 10 thousand students from all over the world.
The school offers general English courses, summer programs, and preparatory courses for IELTS exams or admission to English-speaking universities. Courses last from 1 week to a year, while summer programs go on for 1 to 3 weeks.
The average cost of courses is 369 USD per week.
MDIS offers undergraduate and graduate programs in areas ranging from psychology and media communications to engineering. You can also take academic English courses to prepare for high school and university studies.
The duration of the course for high school preparation is 6 months, for university admission — 10 months.
University preparation programs are only available to students who have already enrolled in MDIS for undergraduate or graduate studies.
The average cost of the course is 280 USD per week. Additional costs (registration fees, study materials, internal exam fees, health insurance, etc.) average at 1,070-2,066 USD.
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