Q. Is it safe for a student to go to Singapore?

A. Definitely yes. Singapore is one of the most organized countries of the world and the crime rate is among the least. There has been strict law enforcement and very rare cases of drugs and other abuse have been found. Moreover, Singapore is still a conservative society, or at least definitely more than the US. But in the end, all depends on the scholar who goes there.

Q. How does one apply for SIA Youth scholarship?

A. There will be an advertisement in some of the top newspapers by mid-June which will also serve as an application. After submitting a portfolio, selected candidates will be called for an admission test, following which there will be an interview. Each year around 25 to 50 students are given this scholarship. For a brief timeline on an the scholarship procedure, click here.

Q. Is it necessary for a scholar to drop one year?

A. The schools in India follow a March to April schedule while the colleges in Singapore follow a January to December schedule. So to catch up with the schedule in Singapore, a scholar has to drop one year.

Q. How are the Junior Colleges assigned to the scholars?

A. Scholars are enrolled to the top 8 Junior Colleges in Singapore. There is no specific way (or at least not revealed) by which the scholars are assigned to the Colleges. Read more about Junior Colleges here.

Q. Is the 200 dollar allowance sufficient enough?

A. The 200 dollar allowance is just sufficient for the basic expenses of a scholars. Normally, some support from the family is needed. Also, these expenses do not include the cost of airfare during the holidays. To read more about money matters, click here.

Q. What are the options for a scholar after completing the Junior College education?

A. Since it is a non-bond scholarship, after completing the Junior College education, a scholar can decide to continue wherever he/she wants. It is the easiest to continue in one of the Singapore Universities itself and that too with a scholarship, provided the scholar gets good enough grades in the Final A-Level examination. He/She can also opt to continue his studies in India or US, but these may be more difficult to achieve. To read more about opportunities after 12th, click here.