China's STEM Students Flock to Singapore: A Shift in Global Higher Ed Politics The migration of top science and technology students from China to Singapore has become a significant trend in global higher education.
For decades, these bright minds have been drawn to Western universities, but a combination of factors has led to a shift in their preferences. One key factor is the availability of scholarships.
The Senior Middle 2 (SM2) programme, launched in 1997 as a joint initiative between the Singaporean and Chinese ministries of education, offers fully funded undergraduate education in science and engineering, along with living allowances, to students who commit to working in Singapore for six years after graduation.