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Best University in Singapore for Early Childhood Education

The needs of quality early childhood educator have been raised locally and internationally in recent years. In Singapore, there are around 16,000 pre-school educators in 2017, and another 4,000 are needed by 2020 (Source: The Straits Times).

Two universities in Singapore offers quality early childhood education degrees which can well prepare the early childhood educator for their future career:

TheSingapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)

Singapore University of Social Sciences is the sixth autonomous and youngest university in Singapore. The university has a strong focus on the areas of applied learning, lifelong learning, and the social sciences that dedicated to working professionals and adult learners. The degree programmes are available in a full-time and part-time basis to cater to all its students.

SUSS is the only public university in Singapore to offer a full-time degree in early childhood education. Below are the programme details.

Programmes Singapore Citizens Tuition Fees (Subsidised) Singapore Permanent Residents Tuition Fee (Subsidised) International Student Tuition Fee (Subsidised) International Student Tuition Fees (Unsubsidised) Intakes Duration
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education with Minor $31,440 $62,880 $75,200 $125,760 Jul 4 years full time
All fees listed are FULL programme tuition fees in Singapore Dollars inclusive of local tax (GST) and apply for the 2019/2020 academic year

James Cook University Singapore

James Cook University Singapore is the 1st and only private education provider who gain the university status in Singapore. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in varies fields.

JCU Singapore’s Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) is fully accredited with ACECQA, the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority. This course also accredited through the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) in association with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT). Students who graduate from this course are eligible to apply for Teacher registration in Australia.

Programmes Domestic Tuition Fees International Tuition Fees Intakes Duration
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) $60,776 $62,916 Mar, Jul, Nov 3 years full time
All fees listed are FULL programme tuition fees in Singapore Dollars inclusive of local tax (GST) and apply for the 2019/2020 academic year

Besides the above two universities, several private institutions are offering Singapore government Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) accredited early childhood certificate and diploma programmes*. Singapore pre-schools highly recognize these programmes.

*These institutions are also offering early childhood education for people who already work in the field, we will exclude those continuing education and training programmes in this blog.

Asia International College (AIC)

Asia International College offers programmes that strongly focus on early childhood education. They provide a range of Singapore Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) accredited certificates and diploma programmes which prepare early childhood educators for vibrant start to their careers.

AIC has partnerships with local early childhood education providers to let students have the opportunities to gain practical experience. Here is the list of related programme details:

Name of Programme Tuition Fee (International student) Intakes Duration
WSQ Professional Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education $21,421 Feb, May, Aug, Oct 18 months full-time
WSQ Advanced Certificate in Early Years $5,899 Feb, May. Aug, Oct 8 months full-time
WSQ Higher Certificate Infant Care $4,879 Feb, May, Aug, Oct 4 months full-time
Fundamentals Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education $1,719 Feb, May, Aug, Oct 2 months full-time
All fees listed are FULL programme tuition fees in Singapore Dollars inclusive of local tax (GST) and apply for the 2019/2020 academic year

KLC International Institution (KLCII)

KLC International Institution is a member of the Crestar Education Group (CEG) which has more than 120 early year education centres in Asia. The institution is one of the Singapore leading institutions for the training of pre-school and childcare teachers, it offering programmes from certificate to diploma level.

KLCII has been appointed by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) as a programme partner for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) sector.  Many of the KLCII’s early childhood programmes are also accredited by Singapore Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). Here is the list of related programme details:

Name of Programme Tuition Fee (International student) Intakes Duration
WSQ Professional Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education* $17,098.60 Mar, May, Oct, Dec 20 months full-time
International Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education $15,386.60 Mar, May, Oct, Dec 20 months full-time
Fundamentals Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education $1,719 Feb, May, Aug, Oct 2 months full-time
All fees listed are FULL programme tuition fees in Singapore Dollars inclusive of local tax (GST) and apply for the 2019/2020 academic year

*Student are eligible to apply for teacher registration in Singapore upon graduation.

National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC)

National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC), is a national training institute set up by the Ministry of Education to deliver training to Singapore’s early childhood educators and deepen their professional development. Here is the list of related programmes and details:

Name of Programme Tuition Fee (International student) Intakes Duration NIEC Campus
Diploma in Early Childhood Development & Education $31,200 Jan 3 years full-time Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic
Higher Nitec in Early Childhood Education $40,720 Jan 2 year full-time Institute of Technical Education (ITE)
Advanced Certificate in Early Years $8,988 Oct, Jun 8 months full-time SEED Institute
Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Care & Education $8,731.20 Oct 13 months full-time SEED Institute
All fees listed are FULL programme tuition fees in Singapore Dollars inclusive of local tax (GST) and apply for the 2019/2020 academic year