Singapore's universities insure every full-time student through compulsory group plans paid with your fees — important, because international students get no public healthcare subsidies.
Compulsory for full-time students; S$160 per semester for international undergraduates (AY2026/27), S$165.50 for graduate students. Four parts: University Health Centre scheme (free consultations on campus), hospitalisation and surgical (B1 ward, up to S$30,000 a year for international students), personal accident, and specialist outpatient care including mental health. Insurer: Income Insurance.
Compulsory for full-time students; insurer AIA. Hospitalisation and surgical (4-bed ward at restructured hospitals, up to S$50,000 per policy year), personal accident, specialist outpatient and GP visits for a S$3 co-pay at the campus clinic (run by Raffles Medical since January 2026) or about 50 panel clinics.
Compulsory and non-refundable; S$268 a year for international students (2026). Insurer Income Insurance: cashless GP visits at panel clinics, polyclinic visits (reimbursed), specialist outpatient care including mental health, hospitalisation and surgical at restructured hospitals only (B1 ward, up to S$30,000 a year), personal accident and travel.
Optional. University plans cap hospital cover at S$30,000–50,000 a year and exclude or limit private hospitals. A private plan can add private-hospital cover, dental, vision and medical evacuation.
NUS requires dependants' insurance for the families of NUS-sponsored international graduate students (S$305.75 for 12 months, 2026/27). NTU offers optional cover for spouses and children, subject to medical underwriting. Otherwise, arrange private cover.
| Item | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| University insurance (in your fees) | S$160/semester (NUS) · S$268/year (SMU) | International undergraduates, 2026. NTU includes its premium in the Health Services Fee without publishing the amount. |
| Polyclinic visit (non-resident) | S$83.71–90.36 | Consultation fee for non-residents at National University Polyclinics and SingHealth Polyclinics (incl. GST). Citizens pay S$19.60. |
| Specialist visit (non-resident) | S$221.62–288.78 | First consultation at Singapore General Hospital, depending on the doctor's grade (from 1 October 2026). University plans with specialist outpatient cover pay part of this. |
| Emergency department (SGH) | S$172.90 | Attendance fee at Singapore General Hospital, including consultation, basic investigations and basic treatment. |
| Hospital stay | Covered up to S$30,000–50,000/year | University hospitalisation plans (B1 or 4-bed ward at restructured hospitals). Private hospitals cost far more and are excluded or only partly covered. |
Singapore’s universities — the National University of Singapore (NUS, #10 in the QS World University Rankings 2027), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU) and others — attract students from across Asia and the world. The city-state combines a global business hub with world-class education.
Singapore takes a straightforward approach: universities insure every full-time student through a compulsory group scheme paid with your miscellaneous fees — no paperwork, no separate purchase, no opt-out.
However, there’s an important distinction:
Singapore’s healthcare is known for its high quality. It uses a multi-tier model:
Restructured (Public) Hospitals: Government-owned, high quality and more affordable. Your university insurance pays here. Examples: Singapore General Hospital, National University Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Private Hospitals: Premium facilities with shorter waits but much higher costs. University plans exclude them or cover only part. Examples: Mount Elizabeth, Gleneagles, Raffles Hospital.
Polyclinics: Public outpatient clinics for basic care. Citizens pay S$19.60 per consultation; non-residents, including international students, pay S$83.71–90.36.
Each university offers on-campus or panel care:
These are the most affordable outpatient options for students.
Compare health insurance requirements across popular study destinations.
Read more →Tips for selecting the right insurance plan for your studies.
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University insurance covers the essentials. Compare supplementary plans for private hospitals, dental and family cover.
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