Private University Degrees in Singapore 2026: SIM, Kaplan, PSB Academy, MDIS Compared
Private University Degrees in Singapore 2026: SIM, Kaplan, PSB Academy, MDIS Compared
Study guide//Updated 21 Jul 2026
Compare private degree routes at SIM Global Education, Kaplan, PSB Academy, and MDIS using current official checks for the awarding university, PEI and EduTrust status, fees, fi...
Q: Are degrees from SIM, Kaplan, PSB Academy, and MDIS automatically recognised in Singapore? A: No single rule covers every degree or employer. Check the exact degree-awarding university, the Singapore private education institution, any profession-specific accreditation, and the requirements of the employer or university that will assess the qualification.
Last reviewed: 18 July 2026. Fees, intakes, partners, and course approvals can change. Recheck the linked official programme page before paying an application fee or deposit.
The most useful comparison is not simply SIM versus Kaplan versus PSB Academy versus MDIS. Compare the exact degree programme you would enter.
That means checking:
the university named on the final degree certificate,
the Singapore institution delivering the programme,
current PEI registration and EduTrust status,
total payable fees and what those fees exclude,
the credit exemptions confirmed for your qualification,
professional accreditation where the intended career is regulated, and
whether your target employers or postgraduate programmes accept that exact qualification.
What a private degree route means in Singapore
SIM Global Education, Kaplan, PSB Academy, and MDIS are private education institutions that deliver programmes from their own or overseas university partners. For a partner degree, the awarding body is normally the overseas university named on the programme page and certificate.
Do not infer the awarding body from the campus name. Ask the provider to confirm in writing:
the full degree title,
the awarding university,
the study mode and campus,
whether the transcript or certificate identifies the delivery location, and
the current programme registration period.
Some pages use terms such as "internationally recognised" or "same degree". Those statements do not answer whether a specific Singapore employer, professional regulator, or postgraduate admissions office will accept the qualification for your intended purpose.
PEI registration and EduTrust: what they do and do not prove
The Committee for Private Education under SkillsFuture Singapore regulates private education institutions through the Enhanced Registration Framework and EduTrust. SkillsFuture Singapore's student guidance tells applicants to check the school's registration, EduTrust status, fee protection, student contract, refund policy, partner institution, and course details before enrolling.
Registration is a legal operating requirement. It is not a blanket endorsement of every course or a promise that every employer will recognise the qualification.
EduTrust is a quality assurance scheme for PEIs. It covers areas such as school management, student protection, support services, and the Fee Protection Scheme. It is still not a substitute for checking:
the awarding university,
professional accreditation for regulated work,
the current programme registration, and
the acceptance policy of the organisation that will assess your degree.
Before enrolling, use the official PEI search linked from SkillsFuture Singapore rather than relying on a screenshot or an old brochure.
Recognition: use a purpose-specific test
Singapore does not have one central authority that gives every private qualification a universal recognition status. Acceptance for employment or further study depends on the receiving employer, institution, or professional body.
Use the route that matches your goal:
Your goal
What to verify
General employment
The employer's stated qualification and experience requirements
Regulated profession
The relevant Singapore professional regulator's approved qualification or registration rules
Postgraduate study
The target university's country, institution, classification, and prerequisite rules
Public-sector application
The exact job advertisement and hiring agency's requirements
Overseas migration or work
The destination authority's qualification assessment rules
Avoid provider-wide claims such as "SIM is recognised" or "Kaplan is not recognised". One provider can deliver several degrees from different awarding universities, with different accreditation and entry arrangements.
Financing: important corrections
Government support for students in private education institutions is not the same as support for students in MOE-subsidised programmes at autonomous universities.
MOE Tuition Fee Loan
The MOE Tuition Fee Loan covers eligible subsidised programmes at polytechnics, autonomous universities, LASALLE, and NAFA. It is not a general loan for degree programmes at private education institutions.
CPF Education Loan Scheme
CPF Board states that the scheme covers approved full-time courses that are MOE-subsidised and conducted locally at approved educational institutions. Its current degree list names the autonomous universities, LASALLE, and NAFA. Do not assume a SIM, Kaplan, PSB Academy, or MDIS degree is covered.
PSEA
PSEA can be used only for approved institutions and programmes. For private training providers, MOE describes approved government-subsidised full qualifications, modular courses, and short courses. A private bachelor's degree is not automatically eligible. Check the exact course in the SkillsFuture course directory and confirm with the institution.
SkillsFuture Credit
SkillsFuture Credit applies to eligible courses in the official course directory. It is not a provider-wide subsidy and should not be presented as funding for every private degree.
Practical financing check
Ask each provider for a written schedule showing:
tuition fees including GST,
application and administration fees,
examination or awarding-university fees,
fees for repeated modules or extended candidature,
the payment schedule,
any grant or rebate terms, and
the refund and withdrawal policy in the student contract.
If the programme is not covered by a government scheme, compare the interest and repayment terms of commercial education loans rather than comparing tuition fees alone.
Provider comparison: what the official pages currently show
The examples below illustrate why programme-level checking matters. They are not provider-wide fee quotations.
SIM Global Education
SIM's programme directory lists degrees awarded by several overseas university partners. The official page for the University of London BSc (Honours) in Finance currently lists full-time and part-time study, a three-year standard route, and different estimated fees depending on exemptions and applicant type.
For local students, that programme page lists an estimated total of S$42,235 for the 12-module standard route and S$27,930 for an eight-module route with four full-module exemptions. It also says that application, examination, repeat, extension, and some course-material charges may be separate or may change.
The lesson is not that all SIM degrees cost within one range. Check the exact SIM programme page because the awarding university, duration, exemption structure, currency exposure, and fees differ.
Kaplan Singapore
Kaplan's current Murdoch University programme pages show that duration and fees can change substantially with exemptions. For example, the Murdoch Bachelor of Information Technology in Computer Science page lists S$22,628.40 for 12 units with exemptions and S$30,171.20 for 16 units, inclusive of GST, at the time of this review.
The same page says eligible polytechnic diploma holders may receive exemptions, but the exact outcome depends on the qualification and university approval. Do not budget using the shortest advertised duration until Kaplan confirms your exemptions in writing.
PSB Academy
PSB Academy's degree directory lists full-time and part-time partner-university programmes, with durations that vary by course and prior qualification. Its directory says relevant polytechnic graduates may receive direct entry or module exemptions, subject to the programme and university decision.
Use the individual course page for the awarding university, intake, tuition fee, additional fees, and accreditation. Do not rely on an old provider-wide partner list.
MDIS
MDIS's degree directory lists full-time, part-time, top-up, and online options from different partner institutions. The correct comparison therefore depends on the exact course page, awarding university, entry year, study mode, and non-tuition fees.
Ask MDIS to state the confirmed entry point and total programme cost for your qualification. A top-up duration advertised for one diploma is not automatically available to another applicant.
How to compare offers fairly
Create one row per actual offer, not one row per school.
Field
Offer A
Offer B
Awarding university
Degree title
Confirmed entry year or exemptions
Minimum and maximum completion time
Tuition including GST
Other compulsory fees
Funding or loan eligibility
Professional accreditation
Internship or placement terms
Target employer or postgraduate acceptance checked
If two offers have different exemption packages, compare total cost and time from your actual entry point. A lower headline fee can become more expensive if it excludes examination, awarding-university, repeat, or administration charges.
Questions to ask before signing the student contract
Which university awards the degree?
What is the current registration period for the institution and programme?
What is the current EduTrust status?
How does the Fee Protection Scheme apply to my payments?
Which exemptions have been approved for my diploma, and are they recorded in writing?
What is the total cost if I complete on time without repeating a module?
Which charges can change during my candidature?
What are the withdrawal, deferment, and refund rules?
Is the programme accredited for the regulated profession I intend to enter?
Will my target postgraduate programme accept this awarding university and degree classification?
Frequently asked questions
Is a private degree automatically equivalent to an autonomous university degree? No. Both can be bachelor's degrees, but the awarding institution, curriculum, admission route, funding, accreditation, and receiving organisation's policy differ. Compare the exact qualification for the purpose you need.
Can a polytechnic diploma shorten a private degree? Sometimes. The awarding university or provider may grant advanced entry or module exemptions for a relevant diploma. The amount is programme-specific. Get the approved exemption outcome before budgeting.
Can I use CPF, PSEA, or an MOE Tuition Fee Loan? Do not assume so. The MOE Tuition Fee Loan and CPF Education Loan Scheme are tied to approved, subsidised programmes. PSEA use depends on the exact approved course. Verify each scheme on the government site and with the institution.
How do I know whether an employer will accept the degree? Read recent job requirements and ask the employer or recruiter when the answer affects a major decision. For regulated work, use the professional regulator's rules. Provider marketing is not the final authority.
Can I progress to a master's degree? Possibly, but the target university decides. Check its requirements for awarding institution, degree classification, subject prerequisites, English language evidence, and relevant experience.
