Check Accreditation Before Applying to Private Institutions in Singapore: CSCSE Updates List on September 14
On September 14, 2026, the CSCSE released an announcement regarding the accreditation scope of private education institutions in Singapore, categorizing them into 4 types. It also explains how the degrees of currently enrolled students will be handled if an institution closes or its EduTrust certification expires. This article outlines the structure of the list, two special notes, changes to Singapore's private education regulatory body, and the verification steps to take before selecting a school.
Private universities in Singapore offer shorter programs and relatively flexible admission requirements, making them a popular choice for many Chinese families. However, the most important thing to confirm before enrolling is: whether the degree obtained after graduation can be certified by the China Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) under the Ministry of Education upon returning to China.
On September 14, 2026, the CSCSE released the "Announcement on the Scope of Certification for Private Education Institutions in Singapore," listing the Singapore private education institutions and programs currently within the certification scope. Those not on the list will face difficulties in getting their degrees certified in China. Below is a detailed breakdown of this announcement.
The List is Divided into 4 Categories
| Category | Institutions Listed in the Announcement |
|---|---|
| 1. Private University | SIM University (later renamed Singapore University of Social Sciences, now a public university) |
| 2. Private Education Institutions Receiving Singapore Government Grants | Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, LASALLE College of the Arts |
| 3. Foreign University Branch Campuses Exempt from Assessment | 6 institutions, see below |
| 4. Private Education Institutions with 4-Year EduTrust Certification or EduTrust Star | 49 combinations listed by "Awarding Institution + Singapore Private Institution + Start Date" |
Category 3 consists of foreign university branch campuses exempt from assessment under Singapore's Private Education Act Exemption Regulations 2013. The announcement lists:
- DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore
- ESSEC
- German Institute of Science and Technology – TUM Asia
- INSEAD
- S P Jain School of Global Management
- Sorbonne-Assas International Law School – Asia
Category 4 is the Most Common and Requires the Most Attention to Detail
Most Singapore private institutions considered by Chinese students fall under Category 4: studying at a Singapore private institution and receiving a degree awarded by a foreign university. The list for this category is not organized by "school," but by combinations of "Awarding Institution + Singapore Private Institution," and each combination has an eligible certification start date, based on the date the certificate is issued.
Some examples from the announcement:
| Awarding Institution | Singapore Private Institution | Eligible Certification Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| James Cook University | James Cook University, Singapore Campus | After July 2010 |
| Curtin University | Curtin Education Centre | After May 2011 |
| The University of Newcastle | PSB Academy | After May 2010 |
| University of Wollongong | Singapore Institute of Management | After May 2010 |
| University of London | Singapore Institute of Management | After May 2010 |
| University of Sunderland | Management Development Institute of Singapore | After December 2010 |
| University of Greenwich | London School of Business and Finance | After April 2014 |
| University of Northampton | TMC Academy | After May 2010 |
This means:
- Programs at the same Singapore institution partnering with different foreign universities must be evaluated separately. For example, the Singapore Institute of Management partners with multiple foreign universities, and each combination is listed on a separate line in the list.
- Only awarding institutions on the list are recognized. Studying at a Singapore institution on the list but receiving a certificate from an institution not on the list does not simply mean it is within the scope.
- Pay attention to the start date. Certificates issued before the start date are not within the scope of acceptance.
Please refer to the original CSCSE announcement for the complete list and verify each line when selecting a school.
Two Special Notes
The announcement concludes with two regulations concerning students who are currently enrolled or will enroll in the future:
- Closure of Category 1-3 institutions: For those removed from the certification scope due to closure, the certification of degrees obtained by students enrolled before the closure will not be affected.
- Expiration of EduTrust or program closure for Category 4 institutions: For those removed from the certification scope for these reasons, the certification of degrees obtained will not be affected as long as the student's enrollment date or certificate issuance date falls within the period when the institution held the 4-year EduTrust certification.
Simply put, the EduTrust certification status of Category 4 institutions is crucial. Holding a valid 4-year EduTrust at the time of enrollment is an important prerequisite for subsequent degree certification.
EduTrust and Singapore's Regulatory Authority
EduTrust (Education Trust Certification) is a quality assurance certification for private education institutions in Singapore.
Changes to Singapore's private education regulatory authority will take effect in 2026. The SWDA website shows that it is a new statutory board formed by the merger of SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG), with the full name Skills and Workforce Development Agency. According to the website of the Singapore private institution Furen International School, SWDA was established on July 1, 2026, falls under the Ministry of Manpower, and is jointly supervised by the Ministry of Education. It is responsible for enforcing the Private Education Act 2009 and managing EduTrust certification. When checking the qualifications of private institutions, please note the change in the name of the regulatory authority.
In the CSCSE list, EduTrust remains the threshold for Category 4 institutions to enter the certification scope.
Verification Steps Before Choosing a School
- Check the CSCSE list: Confirm that the combination of "Awarding Institution + Singapore Private Institution" is on the Category 4 list, and clearly note the start date.
- Check EduTrust status: Confirm that the Singapore institution currently holds a valid 4-year EduTrust certification, which can be verified through the official channels of the Singapore regulatory authority.
- Confirm the awarding institution: Clearly identify which school ultimately awards the certificate for the program and whether it matches the awarding institution on the list.
- Keep all documents: Safely preserve your admission letter, student pass, transcripts, graduation certificate, etc., as they will be needed for certification upon returning to China.
- Continuous monitoring after enrollment: The CSCSE will update the list. After enrollment, continue to monitor changes in the list and the institution's EduTrust status.
Impact on Working in Singapore After Graduation
If you wish to work in Singapore after graduation, under the COMPASS framework for the Employment Pass by the Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the qualification criterion (C2) awards 20 points for degrees from Singapore autonomous universities, top 100 QS universities, etc.; foreign degrees awarded by Singapore private institutions "may also be considered," with the specific scoring subject to MOM's assessment.
This article is for informational purposes only. Certification conclusions are subject to the announcements and review results of the China Service Center for Scholarly Exchange under the Ministry of Education.
Need Help?
If you are comparing public universities and private institutions in Singapore, or want to verify whether a specific program can be certified upon returning to China, you can first check out our Singapore University Application Services, or Book a consultation. We will help you verify each item against the latest list.