Singapore universities are famous for academic programs in business and technology. Nonetheless, top universities in the country also offer excellent courses and programs in Humanities that go along with various disciplines. This interdisciplinary nature of Humanities programs provides students the flexibility to pursue a wide range of prospective careers in the future.
Another advantage of pursuing an Arts and Humanities degree in Singapore is the high quality of education and the huge number of opportunities to study in Singapore at a partner institution of its universities.
In addition to the high educational standards, Singapore’s high quality of life, multicultural environment, and widespread use of English in the classroom make it attractive for international students from neighboring Southeast Asian countries. However, the only downside is the high cost of living and education. Nonetheless, it is still relatively cheaper compared to its Western counterparts.
Below, you will find some of the best humanities universities in Singapore.
Top Schools Offering Humanities Programs in Singapore
1. National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore (NUS) initially opened as a medical school in 1905. The institution acquired its current name and status from the merger between the University of Singapore and Nanyang University in 1980. It is currently the top higher education institution in the country, hosting around 30,000 students, constituting over 40% of the university student population nationwide due to its outstanding reputation.
NUS is considered one of the best humanities universities in Singapore. Its College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) has a unique undergraduate program scheme where students can select from five pathways and three categories on how deep or broad they want their academic focus to be.
CHS has two faculties namely the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences (FASS) and the Faculty of Science (FOS). The two offer 13 common curriculum pillars, three cross-disciplinary programs, around 30 primary and 30 second majors, 69 minors, 19 specializations, and over 1,000 courses per academic year.
Students have the option to read a four-year Honours degree program leading to a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Sciences, or Bachelor of Science.
The fees for each academic year are published annually from February to April. Annual tuition fees for undergraduate programs under the Faculty of Humanities and Sciences range between SGD8,200 and SGD17,550, depending on students’ nationalities. These rates are subsidized by the grant provided by the Ministry of Education (MOE). Non-recipients of the MOE grant have to pay SGD34,050 per year.
2. Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) was formed in 1991 from the merger between the Nanyang Technological Institute (NTI) and the National Institute of Education. This relatively new yet fast-growing institution has consistently ranked high among the best young universities worldwide for the past several years.
Prospective students can select from NTU’s numerous undergraduate programs under the School of Humanities. The single-degree programs offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in any of the five majors: Chinese, English, History, Linguistics & Multilingual Studies, and Philosophy. Meanwhile, they may also opt for a double-degree program combining any two of the five majors. Aside from that, they can also pursue two other double majors in English Literature & Art History and Psychology & Linguistics & Multilingual Studies.
NTU also takes pride in its excellent research expertise that extends to the School of Humanities Graduate School. Graduates of BA degrees at NTU can pursue a Master of Arts in Translation & Interpretation, Linguistics, and Creative Writing & Publishing.
Further, there is a Ph.D. program that promises a career in research and teaching at world-class universities.
3. Yale NUS College
The Yale-NUS College was founded in 2011 through a partnership between Yale University in the US and the National University of Singapore. Its nature gives it a global mindset, compelling it to welcome international students who comprise 40% of its student population. Graduates of the college benefit from the high employment rate and numerous career opportunities globally.
The college has an excellent program that allows students of this humanities school to spend a third of their study period taking up courses under the Common Curriculum, which includes subjects such as Literature & Humanities, Philosophy & Political Thoughts, and more. This curriculum provides the breadth of Arts and Humanities courses that students need to maximize the program’s interdisciplinary nature
The institution offers Majors in Anthropology, Arts & Humanities, Environmental Studies, History, Philosophy, Literature, and Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE).
For Minors, Chinese Studies, Global Antiquity, and Innovation & Design are the only ones available. Other programs are a Double Degree in Law & Liberal Arts and Languages.
4. Singapore University of Social Sciences
In 2005, the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) was mandated by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to start a university dedicated to working adults. The institution was then called SIM University (UniSIM), and it opened in 2006. In 2017, UniSIM became autonomous and was renamed the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).
Among the best humanities universities in Singapore, SUSS offers part-time programs across various faculties and schools as part of its dedication to providing university education to working adults. Currently, it has one full-time and nine part-time undergraduate programs and seven graduate programs under the School of Humanities and Behavioral Science (SHBS).
Humanities programs available at SUSS that prospective students can choose from include Language and Literature, Sociology, Psychology, Translation & Interpretation, and Communication. The SHBS provides programs designed to help students gain professional skills and knowledge to give them a competitive advantage to secure a promising future career in their chosen field.
5. Singapore Institute of Management – Global Education
Singapore Institute of Management – Global Education (SIM-GE) is part of the network of leading private academic institutions of the Singapore Institute of Management. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in partnership with prestigious universities in the US, the UK, Australia, and Europe.
One of the best Humanities programs offered by the institute awards a double degree: Bachelor of Science in Geographic Information Science and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. SIM – GE awards the degrees on behalf of the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB). The program employs American standards of teaching, and students can learn from regular and visiting faculty from UB.
Students registered under the program can benefit from the relatively cheaper tuition fees at SIM-GE compared to obtaining degrees in the US while enjoying the status of a regular UB student. The whole program consists of 150 credits divided into 12 semesters (four years) and costs between SGD88,275 and SGD93,090, depending on the students’ nationalities.
By studying humanities in Singapore, you are assured of an enriching academic experience because of its high-quality education. Immerse yourself in the world of Humanities in Singapore for a promising future!
Hopefully, this guide to the best humanities universities in Singapore was informative and helpful. To know more information, especially about studying abroad, check out the Guide to Study in Singapore and Available Programs for International Students!
