Four public universities have raised their school fees by up to 7.9 per cent for Singapore citizens enrolling in academic year 2014.

Life sucks when you realise that others all over the world are studying in these five awesome universities for free. According to QS World University Rankings, these five universities are top ranked universities.

They are ranked higher than University of St Andrews (Prince William studied there), University of Western Australia (Alumni include Australia's 23rd PM Bob Hawke and former Transport Minister Yeo Cheow Tong), and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Chinese President Jiang Zemin is an alumnus).

Disclaimer: By free, we mean you do not have to pay tuition fees at these universities, but you will still have to pay miscellaneous administrative charges per semester.

 

1. Heidelberg University

Want to soak in Oktoberfest? You can do so while you pay 134 euros in fees per semester at Heidelberg University. Fun fact: 55 Nobel prize winners are connected with Heidelberg University. 10 of them were or still are professors at the university.

QS World University Rankings: 50 vs NUS (24), NTU (41), SMU (unranked)

Famous Alumni: Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Classical composer Robert Schumann, philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach, poet Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff and Literature Nobel Laureate Carl Spitteler and political theorist Hannah Arendt.

 

2. University of Copenhagen

Technically, the University of Copenhagen is not free if you're Singaporean. It is free only for citizens in the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EAA) and Nordic countries. You could however try to apply for a permit with the possibility of permanent residence to be exempted from tuition fees. Fun fact: 8 Nobel Prize winners hail from the University of Copenhagen.

QS World University Rankings: 45 vs NUS (24), NTU (41), SMU (unranked)

Famous Alumni: Three Danish Prime Ministers Poul Schlüter (1982–1993), Jens Otto Krag (1962–1968, 1971–1972), Anders Sandøe Ørsted (1853–1854); Danish theologian and philosopher Søren Kierkegaard; Physics nobel laureate Niels Bohr, who contributed to development of the Atomic model and Quantum Mechanics, and Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger, poet and author of lyrics of the Danish national anthem Der er et yndigt land.

 

3.  Lund University

Again, if you are a Singaporean, the only way you can get a free education here is if you are an exchange student or convert to be a citizen of EU/EAA countries. Fun fact: At least one student per semester has attempted to eat the vegetation growing out of the campus building.

QS World University Rankings: 67 vs NUS (24), NTU (41), SMU (unranked)

Famous Alumni: Swedish Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson (1986-1991, 1994-1996) and Rupiah Banda (President of Zambia, 2008-2011, and Vice president from 2006-2008).

 

4. University of Glasgow

Source

Scottish ministers claim that thousands of European students are exploiting Scotland's free university system to avoid paying escalating fees in their home countries. It is a no-brainer because Glasgow is UK's first UNESCO city of music, has more parks that any other city in Europe, and is the only UK destination in the Lonely Planet’s top 10 world cities list.

QS World University Rankings: 51 vs NUS (24), NTU (41), SMU (unranked)

Famous Alumni: Philosopher Francis Hutcheson, engineer James Watt, economist Adam Smith, physicist Lord Kelvin, surgeon Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister, and two British Prime Minister (Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman and Andrew Bonar Law).

 

5. University of Helsinki

Rejoice because you can enjoy free undergraduate education at the University of Helsinki regardless of your nationality. Fun fact: Some quarters of the Internet likes to call Singaporeans 'Sinkies', not sure if it's related to Helsinki. Ok bad joke. Sorry.

QS World University Rankings: 69 vs NUS (24), NTU (41), SMU (unranked)

Famous Alumni: Nobel Laureate in Medicine Ragnar Granit, Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland, (2000–2012), and Harri Holkeri (Prime Minister of Finland, 1987–1991)

 

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