Chinese students applying to Singapore prefer STEM fields

Engineering and technology programs dominate the application pool of Chinese students seeking overseas studies in Singapore, according to a report released by EIC Education consultancy in Singapore on Wednesday.

The report offers detailed insights into trends among Chinese students applying to the country's top universities.

According to the report, engineering and technology fields dominate the application pool, accounting for 48.13 percent of applicants to Singapore's four public universities, including National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University.

Business programs follow closely at 38.82 percent, while the liberal arts and social sciences make up just 10.52 percent.

The high number of applications in STEM fields is related to Singapore's Smart Nation 2025 initiative, a decade-long plan designed to attract and develop high-tech talent such as computer engineers, programmers, and data analysts.

Emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning align with both Singapore's strategic needs and the rising interest among Chinese students in STEM education abroad, the report said.

EIC Education's client service data revealed that, for the 2024 intake, over 80 percent of applicants to Singapore's public universities held GPAs above 80 percent, with IELTS scores exceeding 6.5.

Nearly 70 percent of students admitted to master's programs had GMAT scores of 650 or higher, it said.

The report also provides a breakdown of tuition and living costs for students. Undergraduate programs typically last three to four years, with tuition fees ranging from 120,000 to 250,000 yuan ($16,536 to 34,450) per year.

Master's programs last one to two years, with tuition fees ranging from 180,000 to 350,000 yuan per year. Living expenses are estimated at 80,000 to 100,000 yuan annually.

Singapore has also become a preferred destination for Chinese companies expanding globally, providing abundant internship and employment opportunities for graduates, according to the report.

The report, based on years of customer service data and application experience at EIC Education, aims to offer comprehensive and reliable information for Chinese students and their families considering studying in Singapore, EIC education said.