The Singaporean Dream... To Study Abroad?

The National University of Singapore (NUS) recently ranked 8th globally and 1st in Asia, based on the QS World Rankings. Throngs of international tourists visit our campus every year, bringing with them their hopes of one day joining the student population here. The same goes for the neighbouring Nanyang Technological University (NTU), which ranks 15th. Busloads of tourists create daily fusses at UTown in NUS and in front of the Hive at NTU, all with similar aspirations of wanting to be students at a Singaporean university.

Tourists at NUS - TodayOnline

And yet, step into any junior college in Singapore and you might find that the opposite is true. Instead of clamouring over a prestigious spot in our universities, students here have now set their sights on institutions beyond our borders. But this isn’t exactly a new trend. Singaporeans have long been sold the narrative that the grass beyond our little red dot is somehow greener. No matter how well-ranked our institutions are, why has it never been enough for Singaporeans to simply… stay? Why can’t our dreams just… stay here?

A Trip Down Memory Lane

The Singaporean obsession with studying abroad certainly has to do with our country’s youth. Not too long ago, there weren’t many options for pursuing higher education locally. And to receive a degree that was globally recognised and respected? The chances were close to zero. So began the trend of wealthy Singaporeans sending their children overseas to study at prestigious universities in the hopes of landing well-paying jobs after. And for a while, that belief held true. Having the name of a far-flung university on your résumé often led to murmurs of awe from employers — something about how different the experiences must have been and the wealth of knowledge that came with it. According to the QS Global Employer Survey Report, the biggest-ever survey on the topic, 6 out of 10 employers give extra credit for international student experience, and over 80% said they actively sought graduates who had studied abroad. (Not to mention, if you had enough money to get a degree overseas, your family probably also had the right connections to get you into high-earning places. Cycle of intergenerational wealth yada yada yada… I digress.)

This belief in the superiority of an overseas education was also mirrored by the government. (Yes, I know, “every school is a good school,” but hear me out.) Since the mid-20th century, cohorts of Singaporean students have been selected and sponsored for studies at elite universities abroad. These government scholarship programmes not only give recipients a coveted overseas education, but also bond them to the public service — offering a highly privileged route into eventual leadership positions. For many, a once-expensive and unattainable dream becomes possible with a little help from the state. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent educating scholars overseas, with the hope that they’ll bring their learnings back home.

Which made sense in the early days of a growing nation. But the question is: why is this still happening?

Why Study Overseas?

Singapore has achieved a lot for a country our size, especially in such a short time. We’re constantly praised for our education system, regularly ranking among the top globally. In international assessments like PISA, we perform well in math, science, and reading. Our universities are consistently lauded and often land among the top rankings.

And yet, many Singaporeans are still choosing to pursue their degrees overseas.

There are lots of reasons. Some practical, some aspirational, and some… just vibes. But broadly, the appeal of studying abroad boils down to three things:

1. The desire to be a global citizen

2. The desire to grow out of the often-sheltered Singaporean lifestyle

3. The desire to explore other options that are not available in Singapore

Let’s be honest — Singapore is many things, but messy it is not. Everything here works. Which is amazing (especially when you’re queuing at ICA or filing taxes), but it also means there’s very little chaos to figure out and not much ambiguity to navigate. So for many young Singaporeans, studying abroad becomes romanticised as a rite of passage into adulthood. A chance to struggle a little. To live in a flat with dodgy heating. To accidentally sign up for a phone plan you don’t understand. To miss the bus and wait in the snow, regretting all your life choices.

It becomes more than just an education. It becomes a proving ground.

Then, of course, there’s the CV. Even if Singapore’s universities are just as good — or better — there’s still that extra sparkle that comes with an overseas degree. A signal, whether fair or not, that you’re exposed to different ways of thinking. That you’re independent. Adaptable. Worldly.

In a globalised world where careers span continents and LinkedIn connections cross time zones, overseas education feels like a way to gain legitimacy beyond our shores. It’s not necessarily about escape. It’s about reach. Studying abroad signals that you can thrive anywhere, not just on this tiny island.

For some, that journey is almost pre-written. Students in the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, for instance, often see overseas education as the natural next step. Their curriculum, their classmates, even their citizenships are globally oriented from day one. Others look for courses that simply aren’t offered here; veterinary sciences, special needs, and other niche subjects that don’t quite exist in the Singapore system.

But maybe the more interesting question is this: when does Singapore become enough?

The Singaporean Dilemma: World-Class, But Not Quite “Home”

This, I think, is the real Singaporean dilemma. We have world-class universities. World-class infrastructure. World-class policies. But for many young people here, the instinct is still to look outward; for growth, for adventure, for meaning.

And maybe that’s where things get a bit existential.

Because wasn’t Singapore always designed to be a place good enough to keep its best and brightest? A place that competes not just regionally, but globally? A place you’d want to stay in, not just because it’s safe or efficient, but because it feels big enough for your dreams?

Yet here we are. Singapore has become both a launchpad and a gilded cage. Comfortable, yes. Safe, for sure. But for a generation raised on globalisation, TikTok, and dreams of remote work in a café somewhere in Europe, comfort can start to feel… claustrophobic.

There’s also this quiet fear that staying in Singapore means playing life on easy mode. Everything is structured and predictable. Maybe even a little sterile. (No offence to our gleaming MRT stations and cookie-cutter bubble tea chains.)

Going overseas? That’s hard mode. That’s ✨character development✨.

So… Will We Ever Stay?

This doesn’t mean everyone who stays is “settling”. Many choose NUS or NTU (myself included) because they believe in what Singapore has to offer. Getting a world-class education an hour from your childhood bedroom? Not bad, especially if you’re lucky enough to call this place home. Whether it’s for affordability, family, or a commitment to building something here, choosing to stay can be just as intentional.

And maybe that’s the version of Singapore we’re still learning how to believe in.

Because truthfully, many of those who leave… come back. They return with broader perspectives, bigger visions, and a new kind of pride. Not just in what Singapore is, but in what it can become.

Singapore doesn’t need to be just a stepping stone. It can be the place where global dreams are born and lived out. A home that’s small in size, but infinite in imagination.

And when that version of Singapore fully arrives?

Maybe we’ll all finally feel ready to stay.