(Are you a school or organisation with great nursing courses we’ve yet to mention? Do get in touch!)
Increasing awareness of what a nurse’s responsibilities entail (which are far more than clearing bedpans and administering injections, fyi), along with national plans such as the Healthcare Manpower Plan 2020, has seen increased interest in the profession. NUS, for example, has seen a steady increase in demand for their nursing degree, receiving 2,200 applications in 2017. This is 27% higher than the 1,730 applications NUS received in 2015.
Currently, there are around 43,005 nurses across the island (2021 figures) but this number is set to increase as Singapore works towards growing the healthcare workforce. The local nursing intake increased to 2,200 in 2019, and the Ministry of Health also has plans to hire 4,000 more nurses by the end of 2023.
Since July 2021, fresh nursing graduates seeking employment at public healthcare institutions (PHI) have received higher starting base salaries, which come on top of fixed allowances and overtime pay. The Ministry of Health has also supported publicly-funded community care organisations to match entry-level salaries in the PHIs. Naturally, their pay will scale alongside their growth.
This came as Singapore saw a decrease in the number of nurses working here in 2020 for the first time in over two decades. It was despite the 2,356 new registered nurses and 661 enrolled nurses who joined the profession in 2020. The situation was worse in 2021 as about 1,500 healthcare workers resigned in the first half of the year as compared to about 2,000 annually pre-pandemic. Fresh blood is needed to bolster the ranks in this challenging, but rewarding profession.
Degree
1. CSM Academy International – Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Health (Top-Up)
Established in 2005, CSM Academy offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Health awarded by the University of Dundee. This Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Health programme is one of the top few nursing degrees in Singapore. The degree programme was developed specifically for Singapore’s nurses and healthcare needs. The lecturers are 100% from Dundee, and there are also local nursing leaders that'll provide tutorial support for students on their learning journey.
Programme Duration: Part-time basis, 24 months (minimum). Course intakes take place every January, May, and September.
Accreditation: CSM Academy has been EduTrust certified for 4 years, and its Bachelor of Nursing and Health has been accredited by the Singapore Nursing Board (SNB).
Curriculum: The course comprises 8 modules, including Managing the Complexities of Older People’s Healthcare and Contemporary Practice in Palliative Care. Lessons and assessments will be delivered via blended learning with essays, care studies, classroom discussions, and student presentations.
Course Fees: SGD S$21,200 before GST. SkillsFuture credit usable and 90% sponsorship available (T&Cs apply)
Prospects: Experience seamless progression to CSM Academy's Master of Science in Dementia Studies, awarded by the University of Stirling, even without an Honours degree.
Course list:
*All course fees are for 21/22 intakes unless specified, and are subject to changes depending on the school; fees do not include misc. fees.
2. National University of Singapore (NUS) – Bachelor in Science (Nursing)
Did you know that NUS started out as a medical school? The Nursing degree was first pushed out in 2006 and has experienced a burst of popularity in recent years. NUS promises an inter-professional education, where you’ll get to learn and study alongside healthcare undergraduates in different fields (medicine, dentistry, etc.), which helps foster teamwork skills and prepare you for multidisciplinary care work in the future.
NUS also offers this degree as part of the Professional Conversion Programme for Registered Nurses, and the Bachelor of Science (Nursing Practice) as a part-time option for Polytechnic nursing graduates.
Programme Duration: Full-time or part-time basis, 3 years, with the option to take an Honours year
Curriculum: Apart from learning about how to care for patients of different demographics and needs, you will also be exposed to Evidence-Based Health Care. Those who wish to do an Honours year must have a cGPA of 3.2.
Course Fees (2021/2022): SGD 8,950 for Singaporeans, 12,550 for PRs, 19,150 for international students annually
Prospects: Graduates can go on to pursue further studies (Masters, PhDs), and can await job opportunities as care coordinators, policymakers, and so on.
3. Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) – Bachelor of Science with Honours in Nursing (Top-up)
Singapore’s 5th university, the Singapore Institute of Technology is offering its Bachelor of Science in Nursing jointly with the University of Glasgow—one of Scotland’s 4 oldest universities, and part of the illustrious Russell Group. The programme was co-created with the Ministry of Health and practice partners.
Programme Duration: Full-time basis, 2 years (with Honours)
Accreditation: The degree is accredited by SNB.
Curriculum: You will study modules such as Development in Nursing Practice, Managing Long Term Conditions in Communities, Teaching, Learning and Assessing in Healthcare. You will also get to choose from electives (Palliative and End-of-life Care, Introduction to Data Analytics in Healthcare, Health Systems — Global Perspectives) during your final year and undergo a 6-week Integrated Work Study Programme.
Course Fees (2021/2022): SGD 20,640 for Singaporeans, 40,400 for PRs, 54,570 for international students
Prospects: Students can advance to become Senior Staff Nurses, Educators, Managers, and Clinicians. Should you choose to further your studies, you can expect chances to assume more senior positions such as Director of Nursing.
4. Singapore Institute of Management (SIM GE) – Bachelor of Nursing (Post-Reg or Honours)
SIM has been around since 1964 and first began accepting students after opening SIM Global Education in 2016. A leading private institution in Singapore, the school’s sprawling campus contains many facilities, including a Performing Arts theatre and a wellness centre. SIM GE’s degree is awarded by the University of Sydney, Australia’s first university, which ranks 13th globally in University nursing education and research excellence (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021).
Programme Duration: Part-time basis, 1-2 years for post-registration degree, and 2 years for an Honours degree
Accreditation: The degrees are accredited by SNB. SIM GE is also EduTrust certified.
Curriculum: The courses are fully taught by academics from Sydney’s Nursing School, delivered through blended learning in the form of activities, lectures, and online learning, for example. Do note that the Honours degree will require the writing of an honours thesis.
Course Fees: SGD 26,065.20 (23,540 for honours)
Prospects: SIM’s nursing graduates have said that the course has helped them broaden their knowledge and better assist patients. Graduates can go on to pursue further studies (Masters, PhDs), and can advance in any of the four nursing career tracks.
5. Curtin University – Bachelor of Science (Nursing) [Post-reg]
Curtin University ranks within the top 100 universities globally in the QS World Rankings by Subject for Nursing (2021).
Programme Duration: Part-time basis, 3.5 years or 23 months with Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) arrangements
Accreditation: The degree is accredited by SNB.
Curriculum: 8 modules across 4 semesters. These are Imagining Health in Social and Cultural Contexts, Health Assessment for the Clinician, Behavioural Perspectives of Lifespan, Inquiry for Professional Practice, Applied Bioscience for Chronic Conditions, Inquiry for Evidence-based Practice, Clinical Education for Practice as well as the Nursing and Midwifery Capstone.
Course Fees (2021/2022): SGD 20,080
Prospects: Graduates can go on to become Nurse Researchers, Educators or Clinicians.
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6. Ngee Ann Academy – Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honours (Post-reg)
Formerly known as the Ngee Ann Adelaide Education Centre, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honours is awarded by (and fully taught by the faculty of) King's College London! It's the first-ever degree of KCL to be fully taught outside the UK. KCL ranks 2nd in the world and 1st in the UK for Nursing (2021 QS World University Rankings by Subject). It is also the first in Singapore to offer electives in Older Persons’ Care and Palliative Care.
Programme Duration: 24 months, part-time
Accreditation: Ngee Ann Academy is EduTrust certified and the degree is accredited by the Singapore Nursing Board.
Curriculum: Modules such as 'Palliative and end of life care foundations', 'Teaching, learning and assessing for nurses', as well as 'Leadership and clinical governance in healthcare'.
Course Fees: SGD 30,000 (Excluding GST and misc fees)
Prospects: To find out more, sign up for an info session!
7. Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) – Bachelor of Science Nursing (Post-reg)
Established in 1956, MDIS is Singapore’s oldest not-for-profit learning institution. It has been ranked as the 2nd top Private Education Institution in Singapore by the Cybermetrics Lab in Jan 2017. Its nursing bachelor is awarded by Edinburgh Napier University, one of Scotland’s largest nursing and midwifery education providers, and ranked amongst the top 5% of the world’s universities by Times Higher Education. Come 2018, MDIS will have a dedicated nursing school, the first for a PEI.
Programme Duration: Part-time basis, 24 months
Accreditation: The degree has been accredited by SNB. MDIS is also EduTrust certified.
Curriculum: Some things that students will learn are the Management of Chronic Disease and how to promote Excellence in Older People’s Care.
Course Fees: SGD 19,260.00
Prospects: According to MDIS’s graduate surveys, 75-80% of their graduates generally find jobs within 6 months of graduation. For nurses specifically, you can expect more senior/graduate-level positions such as Clinical Nurse Consultant to be open to you.
NUS also offers this degree for mid-career individuals looking to become registered nurses. This is a 2-year programme combining theory and clinical practicum in community and hospital/healthcare settings.
8. National University of Singapore (NUS) – Bachelor in Science (Nursing)
NUS also offers this degree for mid-career individuals looking to become registered nurses. This is a 2-year programme combining theory and clinical practicum in community and hospital/healthcare settings.
Programme Duration: 2 years
Curriculum: Clinical Experience modules, Nursing modules such as Healthy Ageing and Well-being, Women and Children Health, and Palliative and End-of-Life Care, Introduction to Psychology, and Infection and Immunology
Course Fees (2023/2023): This programme is sponsored by Workforce Singapore (WSG) Ministry of Health (MOH) and a sponsoring healthcare institution. There will be a 3-year bond to be fulfilled with the sponsoring organisation upon graduation.
Prospects: Graduates can go on to become registered nurses.
Diploma
1. Nanyang Polytechnic – Diploma in Nursing
Established in 1992, Nanyang Polytechnic is a post-secondary education institution and statutory board under the purview of the MOE. The Diploma in Nursing is Singapore’s most established nursing programme, providing students with a comprehensive learning experience that prepares them for a career in this noble profession. Apart from learning to manage medical conditions affecting people — from infants to the elderly — you will also be trained to make critical decisions that can impact lives.
Programme duration: Full-time basis, 3 years
Curriculum: The Diploma exposes you to a little Management and Leadership, and covers Research Methods. Final year students are required to complete a nursing project.
Course fees: SGD 2,987.00 for Singaporeans, 6,117.00 for PRs, 11,150.20 for international students annually
Prospects: Nanyang Polytechnic’s nursing graduates, according to the school, have gone on to pursue nursing at the degree level, examples being NUS and foreign universities. They also have the option of pursuing advanced diplomas with NYP in fields such as gerontology and midwifery. Apart from hospitals and other places of healing, graduates can seek careers with clinical and research organisations.
2. Parkway College – Diploma in Nursing
Established in 2008, Parkway College of Nursing and Allied Health is the education arm of Parkway Pantai Limited and focuses in the niche fields of nursing, allied health and healthcare management. The Diploma in Nursing course provides students with professional skills and knowledge to prepare them for a career in nursing. It also provides students with an evidence-based education to meet the challenges in modern nursing. Students learn from current hospital practitioners with different nursing specialty to gain an understanding of the healthcare environment.
Programme duration: Full-time basis, 36 months
Accreditation: The institute is EduTrust certified, and registered with the Committee of Private Education (CPE) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).
Curriculum: The course has a total of 41 modules delivered over 6 semesters, covering areas such as Behavioural Science and Pharmacology. Lessons are conducted in the form of lectures, tutorials, and include experiential learning as well as case study discussions.
Course fees: SGD 9,000 for Singaporeans, 18,000 for PRs, 31,200 for international students
Prospects: Parkway College graduates are widely sought after, with a high employment rate of 95% (2017)! The College’s affiliation with the Parkway Group helps increases chances of embarking on a nursing career with its hospitals (Mount Elizabeth, Gleneagles, etc.), and its graduates typically earn a starting pay of 2-2.3k per month.
3. Ngee Ann Polytechnic – Diploma in Health Sciences (Nursing)
Established in 1963, Ngee Ann Polytechnic is a post-secondary education institution and statutory board under the purview of the MOE. The Diploma in Nursing (NSG) is a comprehensive course that prepares you to become a versatile healthcare professional equipped with problem-solving skills and an eye for detail. You will learn how to manage medical conditions and get trained to make critical decisions that impact lives. In addition to core nursing modules, you will learn about behavioural and human biosciences.
Programme duration: Full-time basis, 3 years
Curriculum: Interesting modules include a module on Medical Sociology and one on Emerging Clinical Trends.
Course fees: SGD 2,900 for Singaporeans, 6,000 for PRs, 11,000 for international students
Prospects: Like Nanyang Polytechnic, graduates can go on to pursue nursing at an advanced level and become Nurse Researchers or Clinicians, for example. Alternatively, they can start out as Staff Nurses at the various health institutions.
4. Nanyang Polytechnic – Diploma in Nursing (CCP-RN)
Programme duration: Full-time basis, 2 years
Curriculum: Study modules such as Introduction to Nursing Profession and Health Care, Health Promotion Across the Lifespan, Fundamentals of Innovation and Enterprise, Effective Communication Skills, Psychology and Sociology for Nurses, Anatomy and Physiology
Course fees: Fully Sponsored, with a 3-year bond to be fulfilled with the sponsoring organisation upon graduation
Prospects: You can go on to become a Registered Nurse
5. Ngee Ann Polytechnic – Diploma in Nursing (CCP-RN)
This diploma option is for mid-career individuals taking part in the Career Conversion Programme to become Registered Nurses.
Programme duration: Full-time basis, 2 years
Curriculum: Study modules such as Behavioural Sciences, Integrated Nursing Sciences, Mental Health Nursing and Palliative Care, Nursing Management and Professional Development, as well as Gerontology and Community Nursing.
Course fees: Fully Sponsored, with a 3-year bond to be fulfilled with the sponsoring organisation upon graduation
Prospects: You can go on to become a Registered Nurse
NITEC (ITE)
The NITEC in Nursing trains students to be Enrolled Nurses. There will be 9 months of supervised clinical attachment. ITE also offers this NITEC as part of the Professional Conversion Programme for Enrolled Nurses.
Programme Duration: Full-time basis: 2 years
Accreditation: NA
Curriculum: The NITEC covers core modules such as Nursing Studies and Skills, Behavioural Science, and Patient Care. Elective modules include Mental Health in Nursing as well as Chronic Disease Management.
Course Fees: SGD 446 for Singaporeans, 5,634 for PRs, 15,572 for international students annually
Prospects: Graduates can go on to become Enrolled Nurses, and may apply for progression to the first year of a related diploma course at the Polytechnics should they attain a GPA of 3.0 and above.
Scholarships
Whether you’re embarking or are already on your nursing journey, here are some scholarships you may be eligible for!
1) Integrated Nursing Scholarship
Open to: Outstanding O-Level graduates who have applied to the nursing diplomas offered by Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) or Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP).
Requirements: Open to Singaporeans, with an ELR2B2 of 10 points and below
Covers: This is a full-term scholarship that covers tuition fees and other compulsory fees, allowances, and sponsorship for approved developmental programmes.
Remarks: There will be a 3-year bond, applicable to candidates that go on to study in both local and overseas universities. The application period is from September to March.
2) Community Nursing Scholarship
Open to: Singaporeans and Permanent Citizens willing to take up citizenship. There are various categories for this scholarship.
Full-term | Mid-term | Degree Conversion | |
Open to: | Recent O-Level, A-Level, or Diploma graduates, as well as those with equivalent qualifications | Current Nursing Diploma students, NUS Nursing Degree students | Third-year Nursing diploma students, recent Diploma in Nursing graduates or existing nurses keen to pursue a degree conversion course at SIT or MOHH-approved overseas universities |
Requirements: | Good results, and must have applied for nursing studies at NUS, NP or NYP | Good results, on track to achieve Merit/Distinction in Diploma studies or Second Upper (Honours) in Degree studies for nursing studies at NUS, NP or NYP | Good results, on track to achieve Merit/Distinction in Diploma studies or Second Upper (Honours) in Degree studies |
Covers: | Tuition fees and other compulsory fees, allowances, and sponsorship for approved developmental programmes. It also covers airfare for overseas studies only. | Tuition fees and other compulsory fees, allowances, and sponsorship for approved developmental programmes. | Tuition fees and other compulsory fees, allowances, and sponsorship for approved developmental programmes. It also covers airfare for overseas studies only. |
Remarks: | The application period is from September to March. There will be a 3 or 4-year bond, depending on education path, and a 1-year developmental programme after graduation. | ||
3) Healthcare Merit Scholarship
Open to: Singaporeans and Permanent Citizens willing to take up citizenship. There are various categories for this scholarship.
Full-term | Mid-term | Degree Conversion | |
Open to: | Recent O-Level, A-Level, or Diploma graduates, as well as those with equivalent qualifications | Current Nursing Diploma students, NUS Nursing Degree students | Third-year Nursing diploma students, recent Diploma in Nursing graduates keen to pursue a degree conversion course at SIT or MOHH-approved overseas universities |
Requirements: | Good results, and must have applied for nursing studies at NUS, NP or NYP | Good results, on track to achieve Merit/Distinction in Diploma studies or Second Upper (Honours) in Degree studies for nursing studies at NUS, NP or NYP Completed at least one semester of study in health science disciplines | Good results, on track to achieve Merit/Distinction in Diploma studies or Second Upper (Honours) in Degree studies |
Covers: | Tuition fees and other compulsory fees, allowances, and sponsorship for approved developmental programmes. It also covers airfare for overseas studies only. | Tuition fees and other compulsory fees, allowances, and sponsorship for approved developmental programmes. | Tuition fees and other compulsory fees, allowances, and sponsorship for approved developmental programmes. It also covers airfare for overseas studies only. |
Remarks: | The application period is from September to March. There will be a 3 to 6-year bond, depending on education path. | ||
Nursing is a tough but rewarding profession, and we laud those who choose to become “angels in white” for their care and perseverance. Support for those who choose this path has increased: scholarships have been set up for those looking to take nursing degrees and diplomas, and recent years have seen increased career advancement opportunities. If you can see yourself embarking on a nursing career, go forth boldly, and we wish you the best in your pursuits!
Disclaimer: Programmes are listed in no particular order; fees and other data are accurate as of Jan 2022 unless otherwise reflected. This list is not an endorsement of the programmes within, always do adequate research to see if a programme is a good fit for you!
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