Studying in Singapore: Advantages of having a family that owns a Singapore company
Singapore 
Updated on January 03 
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- 1. Education system in Singapore
- 2. Notes for parents when sending their children to study in Singapore
- 3. What is the AEIS test in Singapore?
- 4. Conditions to help foreign students live and study in Singapore
- 5. Registration process for children to study in Singapore
- 6. How does GLA support Businesses in registering for Employment Pass/Dependent Pass?
- 7. Frequently asked questions when transferring children to study in Singapore
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Nowadays, more and more business-parents, after having Singapore company registration, wishing to resettle their children's lives to Singapore to enjoy a prestigious and advanced education in Singapore. In Singapore, where the international education system is located, the conditions and quality of education are top-notch, there are many internationally certified schools, where students, talents, and world businessmen are trained, which is the reason why parents create conditions for their children to study in Singapore. Choosing a public, private or international school; how to choose a school so that your children can best integrate into the new life and learning environment.
The following article by GLA will provide an overview of Singapore's education system, school options in Singapore; some notes about studying in Singapore that any parent should consider.
1. Education system in Singapore
1.1 Preschool System in Singapore
The duration of the Preschool System in Singapore is 3 years, for children from 3 to 6 years old. The preschool education environment helps children learn how to behave with people around them and prepares them for the Primary education program.
1.2 Primary school system in Singapore
Primary School: Children in Singapore study the Primary School program for 6 years from primary 1-6. At the end of grade 6, students must pass the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).
1.3 Secondary School System in Singapore
Secondary school students must study this educational program for 4 or 5 years with 2 systems depending on each student's ability. Students who enter the Special system and the Express system will complete the secondary school program in 4 years. The Normal system will study for 5 years. After finishing secondary school, students take the O Level exam to have the opportunity to continue studying at the University Preparation program (Junior Colleges) or College (Polytechnic)...
1.4 University Foundation Program in Singapore
- Based on the O Level exam results, students can apply to study at Junior Colleges. The Junior College program will last about 2 years, helping students build a solid foundation for their future university studies.
- After completing the University Foundation program, students take the A Level exam to have the opportunity to study at Singapore Public Universities, or register to study at Singapore Private Schools or at Universities around the world.
1.5 College System in Singapore (Polytechnic)
If the O level exam results are not good enough to enter the University Foundation Program in Singapore, students can apply to colleges in Singapore. When studying the College program, students will have the opportunity to practice their profession to the maximum extent so they will not be surprised when going to work.
Nowadays, many students choose the College program because it saves time, gives them the opportunity to practice their skills and earn money sooner. After completing the College program, students can also apply to study at universities in Singapore.
1.6 University System in Singapore
After receiving A Level exam results, students can apply to study at one of the 5 prestigious Public Universities in Singapore:
- Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
- National University of Singapore (NUS)
- Singapore Management University (SMU)
- Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
- Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
If students fail to get into public universities, they can also choose prestigious private schools in Singapore that are affiliated with universities in the TOP 200 in the world. This is also a popular choice for students in Singapore.
2. Notes for parents when sending their children to study in Singapore
2.1 English is the main language of instruction
International students who successfully enroll in schools in Singapore should note that English is the main language of instruction. Therefore, students should prepare themselves for a new learning environment and a new training program.
2.2 Suitable age to enroll in Singapore:
International students should ensure that they meet the age requirements for their level and grade before enrolling in schools in Singapore. The Singapore Ministry of Education recommends that for each level, international students should not be more than 2 years older than their classmates.
2.3 Student Pass
Under immigration regulations, international students wishing to study in public, private, international schools, etc. in Singapore are required to apply for a Student pass, unless the student already has a Dependent Pass or Immigration Exemption Order (IEO) exemption.
2.4 Guardian
International students studying in Singapore government schools are required to have a guardian. The guardian is responsible for the child's care and must be contacted at all times by the school. Any change in the relationship between the guardian and the student must be reported to the school immediately.
International students need to provide guardian information to the school. The guardian should be:
- Singapore Citizen/Singapore Permanent Resident aged 21 years and above, or
- Parents of international students if the parents are living/working in Singapore.
2.5 Choose public, private or international school for your child
Singapore's education system is flexible with Public, Private and International schools, giving students many choices in their studies. However, which option is most suitable for their children is something parents should consider.
- Public schools in Singapore: These are government schools registered and managed by the Singapore Ministry of Education. The Singapore government invests a large amount of funds to prioritize the development of the public school system, implement preferential policies, tuition support, scholarship programs, subsidies, etc. for local and international students. Singapore's public schools are highly appreciated for their quality of teaching and modern facilities.
- Singapore Private Schools are schools owned and operated by private companies or non-profit organizations. Private schools in Singapore are allowed to enroll international students from Primary, Secondary to University Foundation, College, and University levels.
- International schools in Singapore offer training programs from Primary, Secondary, University Preparatory and University. The number of international students studying here is quite large, not only from Asian countries but also from European and American countries. Tuition fees at international schools are much higher than tuition fees at public schools (3-5 times higher), 2-3 times higher than tuition fees at private schools.
For parents who wish to send their children to Singapore public schools, the first thing to do is to register with the Singapore Ministry of Education. (Ministry of Education (“MOE”)).
Please note that getting a place in the public school system in Singapore is not always easy. This is because these public schools will give priority to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents in Singapore first. This means that if the local and permanent residents have full places, then international students will be considered. Furthermore, to get into Singapore public schools, students must attend AEIS exam.
3. What is the AEIS test in Singapore?
The Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS) is a centralized examination conducted by the Singapore Ministry of Education around September-October each year for international students who want to enroll in public primary and secondary schools in Singapore. The examination consists of two subjects, English and Mathematics, to test the students' language and numeracy skills. Candidates who pass the examination will be offered a place at a suitable public school and start studying in January of the following year.
Note: for students wishing to study at a public school, they cannot choose their school in advance, but which public school they choose will depend on the remaining space (after local and permanent resident students have found a place), the results of the AEIS test, and even the student's intended residential area.
If they fail to choose public schools, students and parents still have many options for private or international schools. In particular, international schools in Singapore will be a good choice for international students, because the cultural diversity in this environment will help students become familiar and bold with students from different countries, get acquainted and learn from other cultures, etc.
4. Conditions to help foreign students live and study in Singapore
Businessmen Singapore company registration and own Employment Pass in Singapore will be eligible to apply for a Dependent Pass in Singapore for relatives (spouses, children, parents), helping children to be eligible to move to Singapore to live and register to study at public and international schools in Singapore.
Conditions to help foreign students live and study in Singapore include:
- Have a relative (parent) holding a valid Employment Pass: Employment Pass (EP) holders must have a valid and valid EP.
- Possession of Dependent's Pass (“DP”): Children of Employment Pass holders need a Dependent's Pass (“DP”) to be allowed to live and study in Singapore. Applications for a Dependent's Pass (“DP”) must be made through the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
- Meet school requirements in Singapore: Owner's child Employment Pass can study in international schools or public schools in Singapore. However, it may be more difficult to enroll in public schools due to priority given to Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
5. Registration process for children to study in Singapore
The process of registering your children to study in Singapore will include the following steps:
Step 1: Apply for a Dependent Pass (“DP”)
- Owners Employment Pass Apply for a Dependent Pass (“DP”) for your child through MOM’s online system.
- You will need to prepare documents such as your child's passport, birth certificate, and other relevant documents.
- DP processing time can take several weeks.
Step 2: Prepare application documents
Basic documents required to apply for admission to Singapore include:
- Your child's passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
- Birth certificate notarized translation.
- Financial proof documents.
- Health insurance.
In addition to the above documents, Enterprises need to contact the Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Singapore school they wish to study at for specific advice on the documents needed to prepare for successful admission.
Step 3: Contact to register for admission
- If you choose an international school, contact the school directly to find out about the application process and admission requirements.
- If you want your child to attend a public school, contact the Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE) for guidance on the enrolment process.
- You need to prepare documents such as transcripts, health certificates, and other documents as required by the school.
GLA supports businesses in contacting international schools in Singapore to quickly register their children for study, in accordance with the school's regulations and requirements.
6. How does GLA support Businesses in registering for Employment Pass/Dependent Pass?
GLA with a team of professional consultants, supporting Singaporean entrepreneurs to move their families and children to live, work and study in Singapore will support businesses:
- Apply for an Employment Pass (“EP”) for business owners who have established a company in Singapore.
- Apply for a Dependent Pass (“DP”) for children and family members of business owners studying in Singapore.
- Consular legalization of documents and papers eligible for application for use in the registration process of procedures in Singapore.
7. Frequently asked questions when transferring children to study in Singapore
7.1 How long does it take to register a Dependent Pass for a child to study in Singapore?
The time to apply for a Dependent Pass in Singapore will depend on each specific case. It will take about 3-8 weeks to complete the application for a Dependent Pass if the relative (parent) already has one. Employment Pass.
7.2 Besides applying for a Dependent Pass, can children who want to study in Singapore apply for other forms?
In addition to applying for a Dependent Pass, children who want to study in Singapore can apply for a Student Pass for international students
7.3 What are the steps involved in applying for a Dependent Pass?
The Dependent Pass application process includes the following steps:
Step 1: Apply for a Dependent Pass (“DP”)
Step 2: Prepare application documents
Step 3: Contact to register for admission
Highlights- Education in Singapore is the leading education system in Asia and internationally.
- Businesses establishing companies in Singapore, business owners who own Employment Pass will be eligible to apply for Dependent Pass for their children.
- Foreign students with a Dependent Pass will have the opportunity to study at public universities and international universities in Singapore.
This article was published by GLA on 23/02/2016. Copyright and accompanying content are intellectual property of GLA. All rights reserved.
The guidance and content are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific guidance and advice on accounting, tax, legal or other professional advice. Readers should consult professional advisors on specific issues.
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