(Are you a school or organisation with great nursing courses we’ve yet to mention? Do get in touch!)
Ever thought of becoming a nurse?
With a rapidly ageing population and the rise of chronic diseases, the need for nurses in Singapore is stronger than ever. Increasing awareness of what a nurse’s responsibilities entail (which are far more than the clearing of bedpans and administering of injections, fyi), along with national plans such as the Healthcare Manpower Plan 2020, has seen increased interest in the profession. NUS, for example, has seen a steady increase in demand for their nursing degree, receiving 2,200 applications in 2017. This is 27% higher than the 1,730 applications NUS received in 2015.
Currently, there are around 42,777 nurses across the island (2019 figures) but this number is set to increase, as Singapore works towards growing the healthcare workforce by 30,000 strong. The local nursing intake increased to 2,200 in 2019, and the Ministry of Health also has plans to raise the salaries of nurses by 5-14 percent over the next two years.
Without further ado, Digital Senior presents you with a list of some of the available nursing courses in Singapore! Do bear in mind, however, that all nursing degrees except NUS’s are post-registration/top-ups, meaning that either being a registered nurse or having a diploma is necessary (or both, depending on the course) before you can take them.
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Course list:
*All course fees are for 2020/21 intakes unless specified, and are subject to changes depending on the school; fees do not include misc. fees.
NITEC (ITE)
The NITEC in Nursing trains students to be Enrolled Nurses. There will be 9 months of supervised clinical attachment. ITE also offers this NITEC as part of the Professional Conversion Programme for Enrolled Nurses.
Programme Duration: Full-time basis: 2 years
Accreditation: NA
Curriculum: The NITEC covers core modules such as Nursing Studies and Skills, Behavioural Science, and Patient Care. Elective modules include Mental Health in Nursing as well as Chronic Disease Management.
Course Fees: SGD 446 for Singaporeans, 5,634 for PRs, 15,270 for international students annually
Prospects: Graduates can go on to become Enrolled Nurses, and may apply for progression to the first year of a related diploma course at the Polytechnics should they attain a GPA of 3.0 and above.
Diplomas
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Parkway College – Diploma in Nursing
If you didn’t already know, Parkway College of Nursing and Allied Health is actually the education arm of Parkway Pantai Limited, which is Southeast Asia’s largest private healthcare provider! Established in 2008, Parkway College’s teachers are all healthcare professionals with years of experience, so rest assured – you are in capable hands. The College has 2 nursing skill labs for its students’ use, along with other useful facilities like a Clinical Simulation Centre that will prep you for emergency and clinical situations. For more information, read about the school here.
Programme Duration: Full-time basis: 36 months
Accreditation: The institute is EduTrust certified, and registered with the Committee of Private Education (CPE) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).
Curriculum: The course has a total of 41 modules delivered over 6 semesters, covering areas such as Behavioural Science and Pharmacology. Lessons are conducted in the form of lectures, tutorials, and include experiential learning as well as case study discussions.
Course Fees: SGD 9,000 for Singaporeans, 18,000 for PRs, 31,200 for international students annually
Prospects: Parkway College graduates are widely sought after, with a high employment rate of 95% (2019)!The College’s affiliation with the Parkway Group helps increases chances of embarking on a nursing career with its hospitals (Mount Elizabeth, Gleneagles, etc.), and its graduates typically earn a starting pay of 2-2.3k per month.
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Nanyang Polytechnic – Diploma in Nursing
Nanyang Polytechnic was the first polytechnic here to offer nursing courses, and has seen over 20,000 nursing students through its doors ever since! Students get to experience hands-on training in the school’s NYP-HIMSS Centre of Excellence that blends classroom learning with hospital and clinical settings, and train with the various technologies employed within them.
Nanyang Polytechnic also offers this Diploma as part of the Professional Conversion Programme (PCP).
Programme Duration: Full-time basis, 3 years
Curriculum: The Diploma exposes you to a little Management and Leadership, and covers Research Methods. Final year students are required to complete a nursing project.
Course Fees: SGD 2,900 for Singaporeans, 6,000 for PRs, 10,800 for international students annually
Prospects: Nanyang Polytechnic’s nursing graduates, according to the school, have gone on to pursue nursing at the degree level, examples being NUS and foreign universities. They also have the option of pursuing advanced diplomas with NYP in fields such as gerontology and midwifery. Apart from hospitals and other places of healing, graduates can seek careers with clinical and research organisations.
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Ngee Ann Polytechnic – Diploma in Health Sciences (Nursing)
Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Nursing Diploma boasts an impressive 43 weeks of clinical attachments in different specialities right from Year 1, giving you plenty of experience and exposure even before graduation. It also exposes its students to the Life Sciences and provides opportunities for overseas immersion trips, internships, and service-learning trips. Exciting!
Programme Duration: Full-time basis, 3 years
Curriculum: Interesting modules include a module on Medical Sociology and one on Emerging Clinical Trends.
Course Fees: SGD 2,900 for Singaporeans, 6,000 for PRs, 10,800 for international students annually
Prospects: Like Nanyang Polytechnic, graduates can go on to pursue nursing at an advanced level and become Nurse Researchers or Clinicians, for example. Alternatively, they can start out as Staff Nurses at various health institutions.
It’s no secret that nurses in Singapore do not have time to really form deep, life-long relationships with patients. If that‘s stopping you from pursuing a nursing career, this course may be the one for you: RHA Academy’s Certificate in Dementia Care
Degrees
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Curtin University – Bachelor of Science (Nursing) [Post-reg]
Curtin University ranks within the top 100 universities globally in the QS World Rankings by Subject for Nursing (2021).
Programme Duration: Part-time basis, 3.5 years or 23 months with Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) arrangements
Accreditation: The degree is accredited by SNB.
Curriculum: 8 modules across 4 semesters. These are Imagining Health in Social and Cultural Contexts, Health Assessment for the Clinician, Behavioural Perspectives of Lifespan, Inquiry for Professional Practice, Applied Bioscience for Chronic Conditions, Inquiry for Evidence-based Practice, Clinical Education for Practice as well as the Nursing and Midwifery Capstone.
Course Fees (2021/2022): SGD 20,080
Prospects: Graduates can go on to become Nurse Researchers, Educators or Clinicians.
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National University of Singapore (NUS) – Bachelor in Science (Nursing)
Did you know that NUS started out as a medical school? The Nursing degree was first pushed out in 2006 and has experienced a burst of popularity in recent years. NUS promises an inter-professional education, where you’ll get to learn and study alongside healthcare undergraduates in different fields (medicine, dentistry, etc.), which helps foster teamwork skills and prepare you for multidisciplinary care work in the future.
NUS also offers this degree as part of the Professional Conversion Programme for Registered Nurses, and the Bachelor of Science (Nursing Practice) as a part-time option for Polytechnic nursing graduates.
Programme Duration: Full-time basis, 3 years, with the option to take an Honours year
Curriculum: Apart from learning about how to care for patients of different demographics and needs, you will also be exposed to Evidence-Based Health Care. Those who wish to do an Honours year must have a cGPA of 3.2.
Course Fees (2019/2020): SGD 8,950 for Singaporeans, 12,550 for PRs, 19,150 for international students annually
Prospects: Graduates can go on to pursue further studies (Masters, PhDs), and can await job opportunities as care coordinators, policymakers, and so on.
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Ngee Ann Academy – Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honours (Post-reg)
Formerly known as the Ngee Ann Adelaide Education Centre, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honours is awarded by (and fully taught by the faculty of) King’s College London! It’s the first-ever degree of KCL to be fully taught outside the UK. KCL ranks 2nd in the world and 1st in the UK for Nursing (2021 QS World University Rankings by Subject). It is also the first in Singapore to offer electives in Older Persons’ Care and Palliative Care.
Programme Duration: 24 months, part-time
Accreditation: Ngee Ann Academy is EduTrust certified and the degree is accredited by the Singapore Nursing Board.
Curriculum: Modules such as ‘Palliative and end of life care foundations’, ‘Teaching, learning and assessing for nurses’, as well as ‘Leadership and clinical governance in healthcare’.
Course Fees: SGD 30,000 (Excluding GST and misc fees)
Prospects: To find out more, sign up for an info session!
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Kaplan – Bachelor of Nursing (Top-up)
Kaplan Singapore’s Bachelor of Nursing degree is awarded by Griffith University (Australia) and is fully taught by Griffith University’s faculty staff. Griffith University, which is Australia’s ninth-largest university, boasts a large health faculty with an international reputation in the teaching and research areas. It is also well-known for medical research.
Programme Duration: Part-time basis, 24 months (minimum)
Accreditation: Kaplan is EduTrust certified, and its Bachelor of Nursing has been accredited by the Singapore Nursing Board (SNB).
Curriculum: What we find interesting is a module on Contemporary Nursing, which discusses healthcare today in Singapore and the world, touching upon a range of issues that also cross the socio-economic, political, and other dimensions.
Course Fees: SGD 20,330.00, SkillsFuture credit usable
Prospects: Further studies are an option for Kaplan’s graduates, who can choose to read a Master’s Degree in Health Services Management (accredited by the Australasian College of Health Service Management).
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Singapore Institute of Management (SIM GE) – Bachelor of Nursing (Post-Reg or Honours)
SIM has been around since 1964 and first began accepting students after opening SIM Global Education in 2016. A leading private institution in Singapore, the school’s sprawling campus contains many facilities, including a Performing Arts theatre and a wellness centre. SIM GE’s degree is awarded by the University of Sydney, Australia’s first university, which ranks 13th globally in University nursing education and research excellence (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021).
Programme Duration: Part-time basis, 1-2 years for post-registration degree, and 2 years for an Honours degree
Accreditation: The degrees are accredited by SNB. SIM GE is also EduTrust certified.
Curriculum: The courses are fully taught by academics from Sydney’s Nursing School, delivered through blended learning in the form of activities, lectures, and online learning, for example. Do note that the Honours degree will require the writing of an honours thesis.
Course Fees: SGD 26,065.20 (23,540 for honours)
Prospects: SIM’s nursing graduates have said that the course has helped them broaden their knowledge and better assist patients. Graduates can go on to pursue further studies (Masters, PhDs), and can advance in any of the four nursing career tracks.
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Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) – Bachelor of Science with Honours in Nursing (Top-up)
Singapore’s 5th university, the Singapore Institute of Technology is offering its Bachelor of Science in Nursing jointly with the University of Glasgow—one of Scotland’s 4 oldest universities, and part of the illustrious Russell Group. The programme was co-created with the Ministry of Health and practice partners.
Programme Duration: Full-time basis, 2 years (with Honours)
Accreditation: The degree is accredited by SNB.
Curriculum: You will study modules such as Development in Nursing Practice, Managing Long Term Conditions in Communities, Teaching, Learning and Assessing in Healthcare. You will also get to choose from electives (Palliative and End-of-life Care, Introduction to Data Analytics in Healthcare, Health Systems — Global Perspectives) during your final year and undergo a 6-week Integrated Work Study Programme.
Course Fees (2019/2020): SGD 20,640 for Singaporeans, 40,400 for PRs, 54,570 for international students
Prospects: Students can advance to become Senior Staff Nurses, Educators, Managers, and Clinicians. Should you choose to further your studies, you can expect chances to assume more senior positions such as Director of Nursing.
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Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) – Bachelor of Science Nursing (Post-reg)
Established in 1956, MDIS is Singapore’s oldest not-for-profit learning institution. It has been ranked as the 2nd top Private Education Institution in Singapore by the Cybermetrics Lab in Jan 2017. Its nursing bachelor is awarded by Edinburgh Napier University, one of Scotland’s largest nursing and midwifery education providers, and ranked amongst the top 5% of the world’s universities by Times Higher Education. Come 2018, MDIS will have a dedicated nursing school, the first for a PEI.
Programme Duration: Part-time basis, 24 months
Accreditation: The degree has been accredited by SNB. MDIS is also EduTrust certified.
Curriculum: Some things that students will learn are the Management of Chronic Disease and how to promote Excellence in Older People’s Care.
Course Fees: SGD 19,260.00
Prospects: According to MDIS’s graduate surveys, 75-80% of their graduates generally find jobs within 6 months of graduation. For nurses specifically, you can expect more senior/graduate-level positions such as Clinical Nurse Consultant to be open to you.
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Nursing is a tough but rewarding profession, and we laud those who choose to become “angels in white” for their care and perseverance. Support for those who choose this path has increased: scholarships have been set up for those looking to take nursing degrees and diplomas, and recent years have seen increased career advancement opportunities. If you can see yourself embarking on a nursing career, go forth boldly, and we wish you the best in your pursuits!
| School | Programme Duration | Accreditation | Curriculum | Course Fees | Prospects | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIPLOMAS | Parkway College – Diploma in Nursing | Full-time basis: 36 months | The institute is EduTrust certified, and registered with the Committee of Private Education (CPE) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG). | The course has a total of 41 modules delivered over 6 semesters, covering areas such as Behavioural Science and Pharmacology. Lessons are conducted in the form of lectures, tutorials, and include experiential learning as well as case study discussions. | SGD 8,667 for Singaporeans, 15,408 for PRs, 28,248 for international students | Parkway College graduates are widely sought after, with a high employment rate of 95% (2017)!The College’s affiliation with the Parkway Group helps increases chances of embarking on a nursing career with its hospitals (Mount Elizabeth, Gleneagles, etc.), and its graduates typically earn a starting pay of 2-2.3k per month. |
| Nanyang Polytechnic – Diploma in Nursing | Full-time basis, 3 years | The Diploma exposes you to a little Management and Leadership, and covers Research Methods. Final year students are required to complete a nursing project. | SGD 2,700 for Singaporeans, 5,400 for PRs, 9,600 for international students annually | Nanyang Polytechnic’s nursing graduates, according to the school, have gone on to pursue nursing at the degree level, examples being NUS and foreign universities. They also have the option of pursuing advanced diplomas with NYP in fields such as gerontology and midwifery. Apart from hospitals and other places of healing, graduates can seek careers with clinical and research organisations. | ||
| Ngee Ann Polytechnic – Diploma in Health Sciences (Nursing) | Full-time basis, 3 years | Interesting modules include a module on Medical Sociology and one on Emerging Clinical Trends. | SGD 2,700 for Singaporeans, 5,400 for PRs, 9,600 for international students | Like Nanyang Polytechnic, graduates can go on to pursue nursing at an advanced level and become Nurse Researchers or Clinicians, for example. Alternatively, they can start out as Staff Nurses at the various health institutions. | ||
| DEGREES | National University of Singapore (NUS) – Bachelor in Science (Nursing) | Full-time basis, 3 years, with the option to take an Honours year | Apart from learning about how to care for a patients of different demographics and needs, you will also be exposed to Evidence-Based Health Care. Those who wish to do an Honours year must have a cGPA of 3.2. | SGD 8,950 for Singaporeans, 12,550 for PRs, 19,150 for international students annually | Graduates can go on to pursue further studies (Masters, PhDs), and can await job opportunities ascare coordinators, policymakers, and so on. | |
| Kaplan – Bachelor of Nursing (Top-up) | Part-time basis, 24 months (minimum) | Kaplan is EduTrust certified, and its Bachelor of Nursing has been accredited by the Singapore Nursing Board (SNB). | What we find interesting is a module on Contemporary Nursing, which discusses healthcare today in Singapore and the world, touching upon a range of issues that also cross the socio-economic, political, and other dimensions. | SGD 20,597.50, SkillsFuture credit usable | Further studies is an option for Kaplan’s graduates, who can choose to read a Master’s Degree in Health Services Management (accredited by the Australasian College of Health Service Management). | |
| Singapore Institute of Management (SIM GE) – Bachelor of Nursing (Post-Reg or Honours) | Part-time basis, 1-2 years for post-registration degree, and 2 years for Honours degree | The degrees are accredited by SNB. SIM GE is also EduTrust certified. | The courses are fully taught by academics from Sydney’s Nursing School, delivered through blended learning in the form of activities, lectures, and online learning, for example.Do note that the Honours degree will require the writing of an honours thesis. | SGD 24,824.00 (23,540 for honours) | SIM’s nursing graduates have said that the course has helped them broaden their knowledge and better assist patients. Graduates can go on to pursue further studies (Masters, PhDs), and can advance in any of the four nursing career tracks. | |
| Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) – Bachelor of Science with Honours in Nursing (Top-up) | Full-time basis, 2 years (with Honours) | The degree is accredited by SNB. | The degree, aside from modules such as Healthcare Ethics and Law, includes a mandatory 4 weeks of overseas immersion in the University of Glasgow. | SGD 20,520 for Singaporeans, 40,400 for PRs, 54,570 for international students | Students can advance to become Senior Staff Nurses, Educators, Managers, and Clinicians. Should you choose to further your studies, you can expect chances to assume more senior positions such as Director of Nursing. | |
| Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) – Bachelor of Science Nursing (Post-reg) | Part-time basis, 24 months | The degree has been accredited by SNB. MDIS is also EduTrust certified. | Some things that students will learn are the Management of Chronic Disease and how to promote Excellence in Older People’s Care. | SGD 19,260.00 | According to MDIS’s graduate surveys, 75-80% of their graduates find jobs within 6 months of graduation. After taking this course, you can expect more senior positions such as Clinical Nurse Consultant to be open to you. | |
| Curtin University– Bachelor of Science Nursing (Post-reg) | Part-time basis, 3.5 years or 23 months with Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) arrangements | The degree is accredited by SNB. | 8 modules across 4 semesters. These are Imagining Health in Social and Cultural Contexts, Health Assessment for the Clinician, Behavioural Perspectives of Lifespan, Inquiry for Professional Practice, Applied Bioscience for Chronic Conditions, Inquiry for Evidence-based Practice, Clinical Education for Practice as well as the Nursing and Midwifery Capstone. | SGD 20,080 | Graduates can go on to become Nurse Researchers, Educators or Clinicians. | |
| Ngee Ann Academy– Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honours (Post-reg) | 24 months, part-time | The degree is accredited by SNB. | Modules such as 'Palliative and end of life care foundations', 'Teaching, learning and assessing for nurses', as well as 'Leadership and clinical governance in healthcare'. | SGD 30,000 | To find out more, sign up for an info session with Ngee Ann Academy |
It’s no secret that nurses in Singapore do not have time to really form deep, life-long relationships with patients. If that‘s stopping you from pursuing a nursing career, this course may be the one for you: RHA Academy’s Certificate in Dementia Care
The post 11 Nursing courses in Singapore to launch your healthcare journey of a lifetime appeared first on Digital Senior.