Quality education and globally valued qualifications, along with unique natural beauty and vibrant urban life, make Australia always one of the top desirable study abroad destinations.
But prolonged study can impose a cost burden. That's why the trend of studying abroad in Singapore is transitioning to Australia, opening up many unexpected advantages.
So what are those advantages? What are the conditions and costs of studying abroad using this method? All will be answered right in this article!
Table of Contents
What is the transition to studying in Singapore to Australia?
The route to study abroad in Singapore and transfer to Australia is a study route with the first phase (8 months - 2 years, depending on the program), you study at a Singapore University that is a branch/affiliate of an Australian school, then transfer all the accumulated credits to Australia to continue studying for the remaining time and receive an official diploma from the Australian school.
There are 3 forms of transfer that Vietnamese international students often choose:
Path 1+2 (Split Campus Program): You study 1 year at the Singapore campus of an Australian school (eg Curtin Singapore, James Cook University Singapore) and complete the remaining 2 years at the main campus in Australia.
Foundation/Diploma + University route: Complete the 8-12 month Diploma course at private institutions in Singapore (such as Kaplan or PSB Academy), then transfer to year 2 or 3 of the Bachelor program at partner universities in Australia.
Summer Study Abroad/Short-term Transfer Route (Study Abroad/Exchange): For students studying in Singapore, study 1-2 semesters in Australia to experience the culture and then return to complete the program in Singapore.
Why should you study abroad in Singapore and transfer to Australia?
There are many reasons why studying abroad in Singapore and transferring to Australia has become a trend. Specifically:
Australian visa approval rate is high
Applying for an Australian student visa directly can cause difficulties due to strict requirements on documents, financial proof or region. However, with good academic performance and support from Singapore's government in completing procedures to study abroad in Singapore and transfer to Australia, your profile will naturally be highly reliable and your visa approval rate will also be much higher.
Significant cost savings
Tuition and living costs in Singapore are cheaper than Australia. If you have 1-2 years of study in Singapore, you are saving significantly on costs. Thanks to that, you and your family will save a large amount of budget for your school years in Australia.
Shorten study time
The private education system in Singapore designs a curriculum with 3 semesters/year (no too long summer vacation). Thanks to that, the time to complete the College/Foundation program in Singapore is only 8 - 12 months, helping to shorten the total time to earn an Australian Bachelor's degree to only about 2 to 2.5 years.
Meanwhile, credits completed at schools in Singapore (such as Kaplan Academy or James Cook University Singapore) are still widely recognized when studying in Singapore for transfer to Australia.
Have an inclusive background
For those who have just graduated from high school, immediately moving to a distant country like Australia can cause culture shock or pressure.
Meanwhile, Singapore is a multicultural, safe environment and close to Vietnam, which can give you the experience of studying abroad first. Furthermore, the opportunity to use English 100% in school is very close to the lifestyle - it will be a great psychological preparation and skill training step before entering the bigger world.
Thanks to that, the transition process of studying abroad in Singapore to Australia went smoothly.
Conditions for studying abroad in Singapore to transfer to Australia
Stage in Singapore
Depending on each school in Singapore, entry requirements may vary. But in general:
Academic performance: Completed 9th grade program or higher, GPA from 6.0.
Age: High school graduate or 16 years old or older.
English: IELTS from 4.5 to 5.5 (or pass the entrance test). If you do not have enough English skills, you can take a preparatory English course before entering the main course in Singapore.
Transition period to Australia
At the end of your study period in Singapore, to be eligible to study in Singapore and transfer to Australia, you need:
Completion of study program: Graduated from Foundation course, College (Diploma) or year 1 in Singapore.
Grades (GPA): Maintain an average score from 6.0 to 7.0 (depending on school requirements), without failing subjects.
Foreign language requirements: Achieve IELTS 6.0 - 6.5 (no skill below 6.0) to enroll in regular courses in Australia.
Australian Visa: Have a letter of admission (COE) from an Australian University; Proof of financial eligibility as required by the Australian Immigration Department (savings book or source of family income to pay for tuition and living expenses from 30,000 to 45,000 AUD/year for the remaining years of study in Australia); Complete the explanation file (GTE/GS).
Costs when studying abroad in Singapore and transferring to Australia
It is estimated that the Singapore study abroad route to Australia will save about 30% - 40% of the total cost compared to flying to Australia to study straight from the beginning.
The total cost is divided into two separate stages:
Stage 1: Cost of studying in Singapore
Normally, students will study the College program (equivalent to year 1 of University) in Singapore for 8 to 12 months before transferring with the following tuition fees:
Tuition for preparatory English course (if you do not have IELTS): 2,000 - 3,000 SGD for 2 months.
Tuition fee for College course/1st year of University: 10,000 - 15,000 SGD (about 200 - 300 million VND). Note: If you study at 100% Australian schools based in Singapore such as James Cook University (JCU) or Curtin University, the first year tuition will be higher, ranging from 30,000 - 45,000 SGD/year. However, JCU has a very special program: you can go to Australia to study for 2 semesters with the same tuition fee as in Singapore.
Besides, the cost of living in Singapore is also a difficult problem, quite expensive:
Rent (Dormitory/HDB Shared Room): 600 – 900 SGD/month.
Meals (At Hawker Centers or self-cooked): 400 - 600 SGD/month.
Transportation (MRT, Bus) & Pocket expenses: 150 - 300 SGD/month.
So the total cost of studying in Singapore (1 year): About 450 - 600 million VND.
Stage 2: Cost of studying in Australia
Once you have completed the credits in Singapore, you will complete the procedures to study in Singapore and transfer to Australia to complete the Bachelor program (usually lasting from 1.5 to 2 years depending on the field).
Tuition fees in Australia will be paid according to the regulations of the Australian University you transfer to:
Mid-range/affiliated universities: 30,000 - 38,000 AUD/year (about 510 - 650 million VND).
Top universities (Go8): 40,000 - 48,000 AUD/year (about 680 - 820 million VND).
Besides, the cost of living in Australia is also expensive:
The Australian government regulates a safe living cost for international students currently at about 25,000 - 30,000 AUD/year (about 420 - 510 million VND/year, equivalent to 35 - 42 million VND/month) depending on the city you live in (Sydney, Melbourne will be more expensive than Adelaide, Brisbane or Perth).
So the total cost of studying in Australia: About 950 million - 1.3 billion VND/year.
Choose a school to study abroad in Singapore to transfer to Australia
When it comes to choosing a school to study in Singapore to transfer to Australia, students have two main options:
Official campus group of Australian University in Singapore
Because you study at the main campus of an Australian school, the curriculum, textbooks, and student management system are relatively uniform. When transitioning, you don't have to worry about being shocked. The credit exemption and reduction procedure is quick and the success rate is almost 100%.
Below are the most prestigious campuses worth considering when studying in Singapore and transferring to Australia:
James Cook University Singapore (JCUS)
Ranking: Top 2% of the world's leading universities (according to QS Ranking).
Transfer path: You can study the Foundation, College or University program at the Singapore campus, then transfer to the main campus in Townsville or Cairns (Queensland state, Australia).
Advantages: JCUS has a very famous Inter-campus Exchange program. Students are allowed to transfer to an Australian campus to study for 1-2 semesters with tuition fees remaining the same as in Singapore (helping to save an extremely large amount of money because tuition fees in Australia are often much higher than Singapore).
Strong fields: Business, Information Technology, Psychology, Tourism & Hospitality.
Curtin University Singapore
Ranking: Top 1% in the world, among the fastest growing schools in Australia.
Transfer path: Study year 1 or year 2 in Singapore, then transfer to the main campus in Perth (Western Australia) or other campuses in Sydney.
Advantages: Structure of 3 semesters/year in Singapore, helping you complete the program faster. Transfer procedures between Curtin campuses are extremely simple, just apply internally through the school office in Singapore.
Strong fields: Communications, International Business, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Marketing.
Singapore's major private academy group is affiliated with Australian Universities
The path to studying abroad in Singapore and transferring to Australia at a private school begins with a College course (Diploma) lasting 8 - 12 months in Singapore. After graduating, you will transfer directly to year 2 or year 3 of partner universities in Australia. There are many private university options if you follow this path:
Singapore Institute of Management (SIM GE)
Characteristics: Singapore's largest and most prestigious private academy, famous for its large campus and strict entry requirements.
Partner school in Australia: RMIT University (Melbourne); University of Wollongong (UOW); La Trobe University.
Kaplan Academy Singapore
Characteristics: Belonging to Kaplan education group (USA), located in the center of Singapore, the curriculum is highly applicable and has optimal study time (to graduate early).
Partner school in Australia: Murdoch University (Perth) - Kaplan's largest partner, allowing you to choose from more than 250 diverse majors from Economics, Psychology, to Communications and IT.
PSB Academy
Characteristics: Dubbed the "academy of the future" in Singapore, PSB has great strengths in Engineering, Technology and Life Sciences.
Partner school in Australia: University of Newcastle (UON); La Trobe University; Edith Cowan University (ECU).
Choose to study abroad in Singapore to transfer to Australia
When choosing a major to study abroad, prioritizing compatible training programs between the two countries makes adaptation happen faster. In addition, industries that provide settlement and employment opportunities cannot be ignored:
Information Technology (IT) & Cyber Security sector
Both Singapore and Australia are promoting comprehensive digital transformation, leading to a need for high-quality technology human resources. Positions such as Software Engineer, Cyber Security Specialist are always given priority for settlement with the opportunity to apply for a skilled visa (Subclass 189, 190).
You can consider specific majors to study abroad in Singapore to transfer to Australia such as: Computer Science, Software Development, Cyber Security, Data Orientation.
Business, Finance & Data Analysis sector
Today's business sector is flexible, but is gradually shifting to prioritize highly algorithmic thinking, especially in the position of Business Analyst or supply chain coordination experts.
You can consider specific majors to study abroad in Singapore to transfer to Australia such as: Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Business Data Analysis (Business Analytics), Accounting (especially Management Accounting), Digital Marketing.
Life Sciences & Biotechnology sector
This smart direction is for people who are passionate about scientific research and health but avoid following General Medicine too strictly. You can still take advantage of Asia's leading biological research infrastructure in Singapore, creating a solid foundation before moving to Australia.
Positions such as Biotechnologist and Biomedical Engineer are on the list of skilled human resources shortages, funded by the Australian Government and expanding many job opportunities after graduation.
You can consider studying majors in Singapore to transfer to Australia specifically: Biotechnology, Biomedical Science.
Answers to frequently asked questions about studying abroad in Singapore and transferring to Australia
How to choose the right school?
This depends on your priorities. For example:
Prioritize quick transfer procedures, consistency in teaching quality and qualifications => Choose the official campus of an Australian school in Singapore (James Cook University, Curtin University).
Prioritize the choice of diverse schools in Australia, learning has practical applications => Choose affiliated private schools (SIM GE, Kaplan, PSB Academy).
Prioritize cost optimization => Choose a mid-range Australian university such as Murdoch University or Newcastle University with fairly easy tuition fees.
How to choose the right industry?
Similar to choosing a school, each group of majors studying abroad in Singapore to transfer to Australia has its own advantages and disadvantages. You should consider based on your actual wishes. For example:
Find the biggest advantage of settling in Australia today, with 100% curriculum compatibility => Choose Cyber Security & Data Science, Software Engineering, Business Analytics.
Search for a major that meets the ability to care for people, with many job opportunities => Choose Biotechnology / Biomedical Science; Psychology.
How to save money on studying abroad in Singapore and transferring to Australia?
Clear strategies for each stage help optimize cost efficiency. Here are some tips to master:
Prioritize the "Constant Tuition" program: Australian universities with official campuses in Singapore such as James Cook University (JCU) have a program that allows students to transfer to the main campus in Australia (Townsville or Cairns) to study for 1 to 2 semesters but only have to pay the same tuition fee as in Singapore.
Get IELTS/PTE certificate in Vietnam: With this certificate, you will save 3 - 6 months of time and about 100 - 200 million VND in money for studying English for preparatory courses + living expenses incurred in Singapore.
Scholarship hunting: Kaplan, PSB, SIM or JCU regularly have entrance scholarships worth from 1,000 SGD to 100% of tuition based on high school GPA, to help students reduce their financial burden.
After studying in Australia, can I work part-time?
Yes. The law is very open. Australian students are allowed to work 48 hours/2 weeks during the semester and full-time (unlimited) during all vacations.
Unlike Singapore, the Government controls very strictly. International students studying at private universities/institutes are absolutely not allowed to work part-time in any form.
Conclusion
The Singapore study abroad program to transfer to Australia is a perfect "stepping stone", both optimizing costs, familiarizing yourself with the previous study program, and increasing the Australian visa approval rate to an almost absolute level.
Choose this route if your family does not have a very good financial foundation, and loves safety. In case you still have questions or are not sure about the legal regulations in Singapore and Australia, please contact tuansing immediately for complete answers!
