Singapore, also known as the Lion City, is a city-state island nation located in Southeast Asia. It is commonly referred to as the Republic of Singapore, or simply Singapore. The country is situated at the southernmost tip of the Malay Peninsula, guarding the southern exit of the Strait of Malacca. To the south, Singapore is separated from Indonesia by the Singapore Strait, while to the north, it is separated from Malaysia by the Johor Strait. Singapore’s territory includes not only the main island of Singapore but also several surrounding islands, with Pulau Tekong being the largest offshore island. Since gaining independence, Singapore has undergone extensive land reclamation, increasing its land area by 23%, an equivalent of 130 square kilometers.
Education is highly valued in Singapore, with the Ministry of Education being the second largest spending department after the Ministry of Defence. Singapore follows an elite education system, with a curriculum similar to that of the United Kingdom, where English is the medium of instruction for most subjects except for language classes. Students typically complete ten to eleven years of primary and secondary education before proceeding to junior colleges, high schools or polytechnics. Over half of the students in junior colleges and high schools are able to gain admission to local universities. Singapore has five polytechnics and three institutes of technical education, and both the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University are highly regarded institutions in Asia.
Due to its British-based education system, many Singaporean students choose to attend universities in the United Kingdom or Australia. Schools also provide assistance to students applying to UK universities through the UCAS system. Singapore attracts many international students from countries such as China and Malaysia, making it a regional education hub in Asia.
