Best universities in Singapore 2024

Singapore might not be the first country that comes to your mind when you start thinking about studying abroad, but it is definitely a destination to consider.

The only city-state – formed by over 63 islands in Southeast Asia – is a centre of innovation and successfully attracts foreign investment each year.

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The country, also known as the Lion City, prides itself on being one of the world’s leading financial centres that maintains strong connections with the West.

Singapore is known for its high quality of life and citizen-friendly policies focused on healthcare and safety.

Prospective students have the chance to immerse themselves in a rich cultural life, but also to build a successful career. The local government provides annual funding which makes it easier for graduates to start their own business or join start-up hubs especially designed to stimulate creativity and meet the needs of the local economy.

Studying in Singapore is a good decision for students who are willing to explore different cultures. From celebrating the Chinese New Year in a traditional setting to exploring superb regional cuisine, starting a course in Singapore is an attractive alternative to western universities.

The country is home to four large ethnic groups: Chinese, Eurasian, Indian and Malay, which each have their own mother tongues, creating opportunities for students to pick up a new language easily while studying.

Singapore's two main public universities , the National University of Singapore  Nanyang Technological University, Singapore both feature in the top 10 universities in Asia, and in the top 50 universities in the world, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024.

2. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore is a highly ranked publicly funded university in Singapore. 

Founded in 1981, the institution is committed to extensive research in seven different fields including engineering, business, humanities, arts and social sciences and medicine.

Located on the city’s periphery, its main campus Tunnan Garden covers 2km². With 16 halls of residence, previously an Olympic Village, the campus is considered to have the biggest on-campus residence infrastructure in Singapore.

T he university has joined efforts with international partners such as Imperial College London to open a new medical school. The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine is now actively engaged with research aiming to bring positive changes to healthcare in Singapore. 

The university’s award-winning courses help two-thirds of its graduates secure graduate employment prior to completing their course. Some of these employers include companies such as JP Morgan, Deusche Bank and Seagate. 

1. National University of Singapore

The National University of Singapore is home to a multicultural community, bringing together students and members of staff from over 100 countries around the world.

With over 370 different degrees including bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral degrees and graduate diplomas, the university has a lot to offer across its three campuses and 16 faculties. 

By focusing on students and their personal development, the university has supported the entrepreneurial endeavours of its students over the last few years. Together with its commitment to research, this has raised the university’s public profile and placed it among the world’s leading academic institutions.

NUS enables students to design their university pathway to focus on their preferred subjects. Resources include the 1.5 million titles kept in seven libraries. The NUS Overseas Programme and the partnership with other universities ensure that students can also study and travel abroad.

NUS has particular research strength in fields include engineering, environmental studies and physical science.

The university is associated with numerous figures from the Singaporean political elite including Prime Ministers Goh Chok Tong and Lee Kuan Yew and President Benjamin Henry Sheares.

Top universities in Singapore 2024

Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2024 results