Fee hikes for all six local universities due to rising operating costs

There is always a price to getting the best education in academically focused Singapore, and with that in mind, all six local universities have raised their tuition fees for the new academic year.  The six institutions include the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore Institute of Technology and SIM University. In a trend that started in 2010, university students have to fork out more cash every year to pay for rising operating costs — and as with previous hikes, the increase will be bigger for permanent residents and foreigners, The Straits Times reports.  The rise in fees range from 0.6 percent to 8 percent, while for most undergraduate courses, the increase is about 1 to 1.5 percent for the new intake.  The tuition fee hike this year has been attributed to the establishment of digital classrooms, e-learning infrastructures and varies across different degree programmes.  If students require financial assistance, scholarships, bursaries and loans are available at all six institutions.  Photo: smuconlaw via Flickr