Colleges in Asia: Hong Kong or Singapore?

Whether it’s the fact that Asia has the fastest growing economies or the opportunity to get world-class education that’s not a transatlantic flight away, college in Asia is an amazing opportunity for countless students every year. So let’s talk about two of the hotspots – Hong Kong and Singapore.

SIMILARITIES

Language: Like India, both Hong Kong and Singapore are former British colonies, and like India, you can get around by speaking English in nearly all circumstances.

Location and Safety: Both places have a modern city landscape and easy transport access. And moreover are pretty safe places to live. Singapore has a reputation for safety and security in particular.

Job Prospects: Different companies are headquartered in Hong Kong and Singapore, making job prospects after graduation much easier than the US or UK. But even if you aren’t planning to stay in the country, the degrees are internationally recognized and appreciated. Hong Kong and Singaporean universities are research-based and have rigorous education systems which bodes well no matter the country you end up in after graduation.

Flexibility of Curriculum: Rather like India or the UK, there is limited flexibility in the curriculum which means if you apply for a specific major, you need to do that major. The only exception to this is Yale-NUS which is modelled after the US education system (including the admissions requirement) and thus offers you a lot more flexibility.

Standardized Tests: Both Singapore and Hong Kong definitely require TOEFL or IELTS to prove proficiency in English (though there are exceptions for IB students) but when it comes to standardized tests, exams like the SAT or ACT are not required for admission, but if you have good scores send them in! They are internationally recognized exams. Again the exception is Yale-NUS.

DIFFERENCES (Largely in terms of Admissions Requirements)

Essay vs. SOP: HKU, HKUST and City University of HK all need an SOP or statement of purpose highlighting your chosen major and why you would like to do that major. As the name suggestions, this is a document conveying your purpose of applying to the college. The students need to keep their focus narrow and describe their reason for applying, their intended major or concentration, long term and short term goals and connect any coursework or extracurricular activities related to the major specifically.

Singapore on the other hand has essays, which are short (approx 300 words) and specify prompts. Yale-NUS too has essays though they are longer than those for NUS or SMU since Yale-NUS is based on the US admissions system and which requires multiple essays on a range of topics.

Grade Requirements: Because the universities haven’t seen the intense competition that Singaporean universities have their cutoffs or ideal grades are a little lower, right around 85% in the ICSE and CBSE board exams as of 2018 though each year gets more competitive. Singaporean universities are much more competitive hoping to see grades around 90-95% usually with the cutoff getting higher and higher each year.

Cost of Education: While the cost of education for international students are usually the same for both countries, Singapore offers bonds for students which are tied to a minimum time employed in Singapore or at a Singapore based company. With internationalisation efforts made by the Hong Kong government and universities, there are generous scholarships available based on merit or international accomplishments.

We can attest that, as in other Asian institutions, studying in a university in Hong Kong or Singapore is very rigorous and we have seen that with our students. But even though its tough, it is worth it. You walk away with a world-class education, an unforgettable experience and life adventure.