Singapore Education and Training

The demand from international students for educational opportunities in the United States remains strong despite dips in enrollment post-pandemic. The Straits Times reported that Generation Z continues to strongly favor studying in the U.S., U.K. and Australia. Despite a decline in Singapore student numbers during the Covid-19 pandemic, recent estimates show that demand is returning to pre-pandemic levels and is expected to rise.

In 2022, U.S. universities enrolled 3,887 Singaporean students, around 17.9% of the total Singaporean students who studied abroad that academic year. In 2023, this number increased by 14.9%, with nearly 4,500 Singaporeans enrolling in U.S. universities. This total placed the U.S. as the third largest study abroad location for Singaporeans, behind the United Kingdom and Australia.  

Singaporeans interested in STEM-related fields, particularly computer science, have shown consistent interest in U.S. universities. These students often seek specialized STEM courses not available in Singapore or hope to gain work experience in the U.S.’s strong tech ecosystem. Additionally, Gen-Z Singaporeans have shown an increased willingness to explore a wider range of academic subjects during their overseas education post-COVID. Education counsellors have noted an increase in students traveling for courses in design, music, culinary arts, and other humanities subjects. 

Regardless of their academic field, Singaporeans often chose to study abroad to gain advantage in the job market. Singaporeans with an overseas education have a 23% higher chance of being hired and are 41% more likely to be offered a higher salary than students without experience studying abroad. The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), place large emphasis on their study abroad programs, and the Singapore Management University (SMU) requires students to participate in at least one overseas program.

The CS Singapore education team encourages interested education institutions to contact our office to participate in education fairs, recruit students and partner with local public and private institutions. 

For more information, please contact the U.S. Commercial Service in Singapore: Ms. Jayacely Joseph, Commercial Assistant.