Cost of Studying in Singapore: Tuition Fees and Living Expenses
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Jul 22, 2025 • Money & Budgeting, Study in Southeast Asia
Singapore Citizens pay around S$8,250-9,700 a year in subsidised tuition at NUS and NTU, and about S$11,550 at SMU, for AY2025/26. International students pay 2 to 3 times more even with the MOE Tuition Grant, and hostel rooms run S$650-1,200 a month.
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NUS and NTU general degrees: about S$8,250-9,700 a year for Singapore Citizens, subsidised.
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SMU general degrees: about S$11,550 a year for Singapore Citizens, subsidised.
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Law at NUS and SMU: about S$12,750 a year, subsidised.
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Medicine at NUS: about S$33,200-36,100 a year, subsidised.
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University hall rooms: roughly S$650 a month, market-rate housing S$775-1,200 a month.
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The MOE Tuition Grant cuts fees sharply but bonds Permanent Residents and international students to 3 years of work in Singapore after graduation.
Tuition fees by residency status
Singapore's 6 Autonomous Universities set different fees for Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs) and international students. Citizens pay the lowest rate because MOE subsidises the bulk of the cost directly. For AY2025/26, general undergraduate degrees at NUS and NTU (Arts, Sciences, Business, Computing, Engineering) run around S$8,250 to S$9,700 a year for citizens, while SMU sets a flat subsidised rate near S$11,550 a year. PRs typically pay about 10-15% more than citizens for the same subsidised place, and international students pay roughly double the citizen rate even after taking the Tuition Grant.
Selective and professional programmes cost more at every residency tier. Law at NUS and SMU runs about S$12,750 a year for citizens, subsidised. Medicine at NUS is the most expensive undergraduate track, at roughly S$33,200 to S$36,100 a year for citizens, subsidised, reflecting the cost of clinical training.
The MOE Tuition Grant Scheme
Most students, citizen or not, take up the MOE Tuition Grant Scheme , which covers a large share of tuition for full-time diploma and degree study at polytechnics, ITE, arts institutions and the 6 Autonomous Universities. Singapore Citizens face no service obligation for accepting the grant. Singapore Permanent Residents and international students who take the grant are bonded to work for a Singapore-registered company for 3 years immediately after graduation, and breaking the bond triggers liquidated damages under the signed Tuition Grant Agreement.
Without the Tuition Grant, international students pay the full, unsubsidised fee, which can run several times higher than the subsidised rate, particularly in Medicine, Dentistry and Law.
Sample annual tuition (AY2025/26, subsidised, Singapore Citizen)
| Programme | University | Annual fee (S$) |
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| Arts, Business, Computing, Engineering | NUS / NTU | 8,250 - 9,700 |
| General degrees | SMU | ~11,550 |
| Law | NUS / SMU | ~12,750 |
| Medicine | NUS | 33,200 - 36,100 |
PR and international rates sit above these figures and vary by university and faculty, so confirm the exact number on your target university's official fee schedule before budgeting, since published ranges can shift between intakes.
Living expenses
Housing is the largest line item after tuition. University hall of residence single rooms run about S$151 a week (roughly S$650 a month) at NUS for AY2025/26, plus a compulsory meal plan that adds S$621 to S$1,148 per semester. Market-rate university housing aimed at graduate students and some undergraduates costs more, from about S$179 a week for a non-air-conditioned room (roughly S$775 a month) to S$272 a week for an air-conditioned single (roughly S$1,178 a month), based on published NUS Office of Student Affairs hostel rate sheets.
Beyond rent, budget for:
Food: hawker centre meals run S$4-6 each; a modest daily food budget lands around S$300-500 a month if you eat mostly local food.
Transport: a monthly concession pass for students on the MRT and bus network runs well under S$100.
Books, printing and course materials: budget S$50-150 a month depending on the field.
Phone and incidentals: S$30-60 a month for a basic prepaid or contract plan.
A realistic total monthly budget outside tuition, covering hostel accommodation, food, transport and incidentals, lands between roughly S$1,200 and S$1,800 for a student in university housing, higher for private rentals near the city core.