Singapore’s population is aging quickly, and this shift is increasing the need for healthcare services and trained healthcare professionals. In June 2025, 20.7% of Singapore citizens were aged 65 and above, and this proportion is projected to reach about 23.9% by 2030.
As healthcare needs rise, nursing remains an important profession in Singapore. The country continues to expand and plan for its healthcare workforce, making nursing education relevant for both local and international students who want to build careers in clinical practice, education, research, management, or specialized care.
In 2024, Singapore had 50,389 nurses and midwives, according to the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health has also projected that Singapore’s healthcare workforce will grow from 129,000 in 2024 to about 156,000 in 2030.
In this article, we will delve further into the nursing profession in Singapore, along with its availability, accessibility, and affordability, not only to local students but also to international students. It includes some of the best nursing schools in Singapore and information about the nursing programs offered at each institution. Every nursing school in Singapore has good and bad points, but some are also featured among the top nursing schools in Asia. Below are some of the best nursing schools in Singapore.
Top Schools Offering Nursing Programs in Singapore
1. National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore’s Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, under the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, was established in 2005. It is a pioneering institution in Singapore for undergraduate nursing education and offers nursing degree programs from baccalaureate to doctoral levels.
NUS offers a full-time Bachelor of Science (Nursing) that takes three years to complete. Students who perform well and achieve the required minimum grade point average may apply to proceed to the Honours year, leading to the Bachelor of Science (Nursing) (Honours).
At the postgraduate level, NUS offers pathways such as the Master of Nursing, Master of Science (Nursing), Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing. It also offers continuing education and training options, including graduate certificate programs, professional certificates, and short courses for nurses and healthcare professionals who want further development or specialization.
2. Singapore Institute of Technology
Next on our list of best nursing schools in Singapore is the Singapore Institute of Technology. SIT offers a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Nursing jointly with the University of Glasgow. This post-registration program has been co-created with inputs from practice partners and the Ministry of Health, and it is accredited by the Singapore Nursing Board from November 2024 to November 2029.
The SIT-University of Glasgow Nursing program is listed with a duration of one year and eight months and a total of 120 credits. It aims to develop critical, analytical, innovation, leadership, research, teaching, and clinical competencies. The curriculum includes core modules, elective modules, university modules, and an honours thesis. Applicants should be qualified as registered nurses, hold current Singapore Nursing Board registration, and have successfully completed an eligible Singapore Nursing Board-accredited nursing diploma.
SIT also offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Pre-registration and Specialty Training) – Master of Science in Nursing. This integrated BSN-MSN program takes four years and eight months, carries 240 credits, and was developed in collaboration with SingHealth. Students who complete the BSN portion can deepen their skills in one of four specialty areas through the MSN program: Medical/Surgical Nursing, High Acuity Care Nursing, Peri-operative Nursing, or Intermediate and Long-Term Care Nursing.
3. Nanyang Polytechnic University
Nanyang Polytechnic, a top nursing school in Singapore, offers the Diploma in Nursing (C97). Its official page describes it as Singapore’s most established nursing program, and NYP states that it was Singapore’s first polytechnic to offer a nursing diploma, having trained more than 20,000 nurses since 1992.
The diploma is a three-year program that includes professional nursing and healthcare practice, anatomy and physiology, health assessment, nursing skills, clinical practice, research skills, mental health, evidence-based practice, leadership, management, and clinical decision-making. Students also gain supervised clinical experience in hospitals and community settings.
After graduation, students may pursue further study at institutions such as the NUS Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, the University of Glasgow through SIT, the University of Sydney through SIM, or King’s College London. Graduates can also build careers in hospitals, polyclinics, specialist clinics, aged care facilities, community nursing, palliative care, home care nursing, operating rooms, clinical research trials, and other health or education-related fields. NYP also offers Advanced and Specialist Diplomas in Nursing with specialization pathways such as Critical Care, Community Health, Emergency, Gerontology, Management, Medical-Surgical, Mental Health, Midwifery, Paediatrics, Palliative Care, Perioperative Nursing, and more.
With a well-developed healthcare system and a growing need for trained healthcare professionals, Singapore can be an excellent place to study nursing. Students can choose from diploma pathways, post-registration bachelor’s programs, integrated degree pathways, postgraduate research programs, and continuing education options, depending on their qualifications and career goals.
We hope this article on the best nursing schools in Singapore was helpful. Make sure to also check out our Guide to Study in Singapore and more of the Available Programs for International Students!
