Singapore's universities provide mandatory health insurance as part of student fees — giving international students access to one of Asia's finest healthcare systems.
Last updated: February 2026
Best for: NUS students (auto-enrolled)
Mandatory for all full-time NUS students. Covers hospitalization, surgery, and related treatments at restructured hospitals. Annual claim limit of SGD 100,000+. Underwritten by The Great Eastern Life.
Learn moreBest for: NTU students (auto-enrolled)
Mandatory. Covers hospitalization, surgery, personal accident, and outpatient clinical benefits. Included in the Health Services Fee.
Learn moreBest for: SMU students (auto-enrolled)
Mandatory. Similar comprehensive coverage for hospitalization, surgery, and personal accident.
Learn moreBest for: Students wanting comprehensive outpatient, dental, and specialist coverage
Optional but recommended as university plans focus on hospitalization. Covers GP visits, dental, vision, traditional Chinese medicine, and international clinic access.
Learn moreBest for: Students with accompanying family members
University and private plans available for spouses and children. Must be arranged separately.
Learn more| Item | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| University Insurance (included) | ~SGD 200/year (~€135) | Included in miscellaneous fees. Covers hospitalization and surgery at restructured hospitals. |
| GP Visit (out of pocket) | SGD 20–50 (~€14–34) | University health centers offer lower rates. Private clinics charge SGD 40–80. |
| Specialist Visit | SGD 100–300 (~€68–204) | At restructured hospitals with referral. Private specialists cost significantly more. |
| Hospital Stay (Class B2/C ward) | SGD 50–200/day co-pay | University insurance covers most costs at restructured hospitals. Private hospital costs are much higher. |
| Private Outpatient Insurance | SGD 1,200–3,600/year | Optional. Covers GP visits, dental, and specialist access beyond the university plan. |
University Insurance (included)
~SGD 200/year (~€135)
Included in miscellaneous fees. Covers hospitalization and surgery at restructured hospitals.
GP Visit (out of pocket)
SGD 20–50 (~€14–34)
University health centers offer lower rates. Private clinics charge SGD 40–80.
Specialist Visit
SGD 100–300 (~€68–204)
At restructured hospitals with referral. Private specialists cost significantly more.
Hospital Stay (Class B2/C ward)
SGD 50–200/day co-pay
University insurance covers most costs at restructured hospitals. Private hospital costs are much higher.
Private Outpatient Insurance
SGD 1,200–3,600/year
Optional. Covers GP visits, dental, and specialist access beyond the university plan.
Accept your offer from NUS, NTU, SMU, or another Singapore institution. Your university initiates the Student's Pass application.
ICA issues an IPA letter based on your university's application. Use this to enter Singapore.
Your health insurance is automatically included in the miscellaneous fees. No separate enrollment needed — you're covered from day one of the semester.
Visit ICA within 2 weeks of arrival to collect your Student's Pass. This is your primary ID in Singapore.
Visit your campus health center for affordable outpatient care. For anything beyond basics, your university insurance covers hospitalization at restructured hospitals.
Singapore hosts around 75,000 international students at its prestigious institutions — National University of Singapore (NUS, ranked #8 globally), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU), and others. The city-state offers a unique combination of Asian culture, global business hub, and world-class education.
Singapore takes a straightforward approach: universities include mandatory health insurance in your student fees. When you pay your miscellaneous fees, you’re automatically enrolled — no paperwork, no separate purchases.
However, there’s an important distinction:
Singapore consistently ranks among the world’s best healthcare systems. It uses a unique multi-tier model:
Restructured (Public) Hospitals: Government-linked, high quality, more affordable. Your university insurance typically covers treatment here. Examples: Singapore General Hospital, National University Hospital, Tan Tock Seng.
Private Hospitals: Premium facilities with shorter waits but significantly higher costs. University insurance may not cover these or may cover less. Examples: Mount Elizabeth, Gleneagles, Raffles Hospital.
Polyclinics: Government outpatient clinics for basic care. Affordable (SGD 15–30) but only subsidized for citizens/PRs. International students pay full rates.
Each university operates its own health center:
These are the most affordable outpatient option for students.
Yes. All major Singapore universities (NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD, SIT, SUSS) include mandatory health insurance in the miscellaneous or health services fee. There's no separate enrollment — you're automatically covered as a full-time student.
Primarily hospitalization, surgery, and personal accident at restructured (public) hospitals. It includes inpatient treatment, ICU, and related medical expenses. Annual limits typically exceed SGD 100,000. Most plans do NOT cover routine outpatient visits, dental, or vision.
Recommended. University insurance focuses on hospitalization. For regular GP visits, dental, specialist consultations, and prescriptions, you'd either pay out of pocket (relatively affordable) or get supplementary private insurance.
International students are NOT eligible for government healthcare subsidies, MediShield Life, or subsidized ward rates (Class C/B2). You pay unsubsidized rates at restructured hospitals, but your university insurance covers this.
Singapore has world-class but expensive private healthcare. Public/restructured hospitals are more affordable. A GP visit costs SGD 20–50, specialist visits SGD 100–300. Hospitalization can run SGD 500–2,000/day at private hospitals. University insurance makes this manageable by covering inpatient care.
University insurance covers the basics. Find supplementary plans for complete protection during your Singapore studies.
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