Why Is Singapore The Best Place To Study Games And Animation? - mages

Are you on the lookout for the perfect destination to get a headstart in the creative industries of games and animation? A place with quality, affordable and specialised education, reasonable living standards and a thriving job market? 

Singapore… is your answer.

Choosing a degree, institution and place to study can be tough and life-changing. Especially when you’re looking to study abroad.

Although countries like the US, UK and Australia have been popular destinations for studying, none of them matches the affordability and panache of education in Singapore.

Especially when it comes to creative courses.

Creative courses, especially in games and animation, are scarce and are often offered at a premium price, animation courses, for example. And most of the aforementioned countries are home to big universities that offer generalised courses.

You don’t want to drown in education debt. Or invest in programmes that only promise to develop a generalised skillset (which doesn’t help you stand out).

A vibrant, cosmopolitan Southeast Asian nation, Singapore has emerged as a global education hub with a lot to offer in the creative industry segment.

Wondering why you should study games and animation in Singapore?

Singapore is an Asian hub for education, and there are several good reasons for that –

Affordable Education

Studying in Singapore is more cost-effective than studying in countries like the US, UK or Australia.

This is one of the special things about the country. You can generally study for cheaper than other places and still have a good experience and get a good degree!

On an average, an undergraduate program (including living costs) in the UK and Australia will cost you over SGD 48,000 and more than SGD 64,000 in the US. While in Singapore, the average cost for a quality graduate program (including living costs) is about SGD 34,000.

MAGES offers Diplomas (and other courses) and a majority of students are able to land jobs just from that.

Additionally, there are options to go abroad and study for a year or two to finish the Diploma with a degree.

You can get a degree from UK/Canada/Ireland and save loads on tuition and living costs since you’ll only be attending the last year or two years of the programs at the Universities.

It’s a great life-hack for getting a quality foreign education without breaking the bank.

After all, you don’t want your education to become a financial burden.

Or spend the first few years of your career repaying heavy education loans.

Or spend your parents’ entire life’s savings on a single course!

There’s no point shelling out thousands of dollars on a single course alone when you can get

quality and affordable education in creative professions like games in Singapore.

At MAGES, we offer you specialised and several other programs in the fields of games and animation at an affordable price point.

Skill-based Universities With Unique Programs and Strong Industry-Connections

A career in creative industries like games, art or animation demands specific skills.

Specialisation is key to making it big in these industries. A generalised course can be followed by a specialisation in game design courses.

Although there are several big universities in Singapore offering games and animation courses – their course programs are pretty generalised. Generalised programs (in any given field), while informative, rarely make any successful impact on your career.

This is even more true for creative professions like games and animation where:

  • A one-size-fits-all policy doesn’t get you anywhere.
  • Proof of skills through practical application is a must.

You have to make sure you stand out. And it’s easier to stand out in specialised institutions than in large, generalised universities.

Want to learn more about why you should go for Skills based institutions over large universities for a career in the creative industries? Check out our post on Skills Based Institutions vs Big Universities – Everything You Need To Know

Luckily, Singapore is home to specialised institutions that focus on niche programs, especially in the fields of games and animation. Such institutions offer you:

  • Programs focused on your goals
  • Personalised attention and feedback from mentors
  • Equal access to opportunities
  • Space to work on industry-relevant projects and opportunities
  • Flexible curricula to accommodate your needs and interests

MAGES offers specialised education that sets you up for a career in the Games and Animation Industries. We offer nothing but the most relevant programmes and work opportunities that align with the latest developments in the media industry.

Take a look at our programmes to decide for yourself!

What About The Games and Animation Industry In Singapore?

There are at least 52 games companies in Singapore, according to GameDevMap. Some of the popular ones are listed below:

  • Blizzard Entertainment
  • Ubisoft
  • Gameloft
  • General Interactive
  • Gattai Games
  • Konami Digital Entertainment
  • Genki Singapore
  • Tyler Projects

Besides that, there’s work for Games and Animations students in industries such as Software, Film, AR, VR, Gamification, App Development, Animation and so on.

Here are some stats on average monthly salaries for roles such as a game programmer, game developer, game designer and 3D animator in Singapore (according to Glassdoor):

  • Game Programmer – SGD 3,500
  • Game Designer – SGD 3,900
  • Game Developer – SGD 3,300
  • 3D Animator – SGD 2,990
  • 2D Artist – SGD 2,000

The country also hosts industry events such as Casual Connect – which brings developers together from Asia and even Europe and the Americas.

Industry events are excellent spaces for networking and establishing human connections.

They tend to have a huge impact on the success of your career in professions such as games and animation.

Such events help you:

  • Build your network.
  • Meet potential employers, high-level executives or famous personalities in your field.
  • Practice for future interviews and interactions.
  • Establish yourself as an expert in your profession by showcasing or talking about work with relevant people.

If you think these things don’t matter. Think again.

Creative industries like games and animation have a high-demand for experienced and skilled developers, artists or programmers. Building human connections who know your expertise and interests goes a long way in determining your job prospects.

Maybe you’re worried such events are only for industry professionals and not for students.

Because at times, these events can be daunting.

But the good news is, Casual Connect (and other such events) offers a volunteer program, and it’s very easy to get involved as a local Singaporean student.

You spend one day of the event helping developers (networking opportunities!)

And you get the other two days to freely go around the conference, attend talks, meet people, and even get passes for the parties. Just attending as a student can be a great start to learn how to network and getting more information about the industry.

At MAGES, we have placed hundreds of students in the industry through our courses. Some of the companies that have hired our graduates are:

  • Appearition
  • Tyler Projects
  • LucasArts
  • VHQ Media
  • Arzap Studio
  • Schawk
  • iNautix

Life Beyond Academics

All work and no play makes everyone dull and gloomy.

Cliché, but true.

If you think this doesn’t affect you in any way, think twice.

Lack of recreational activities negatively impacts your emotional health. It impacts your ability to focus and pay attention to things as well as self-control. It also lowers your motivation levels that in turn brings down your productivity.

A wholesome and healthy lifestyle is key to staying productive and competent, especially in the long run.

Besides, you want to get the most out of your foreign education experience, right?

Singapore is home to several places of interest and recreation, ensuring your stay there’s equally fun and exciting.

There are plenty of hawker centres and other eating joints (to fit all budget sizes) serving a variety of cuisines. You can take your pick and enjoy different delicacies to have an amazing culinary experience in the country.

For a great shopping experience (high-end brands and local stores) you can head to (which just happens to be where MAGES is located!). You can also visit destinations like ChinaTown and Little India for an immersive cultural experience.

Singapore also has a wide range of nightlife spots like Clarke Quay, Holland Village, and Sentosa.

Did we mention Sentosa?

Sentosa is home to popular tourist destinations like Universal Studios, SEA aquarium and more.

For those interested in Games, Comics, Anime, etc. there are a lot of options too. Arcades, geek-culture shops, games stores, and more are plenty and easily accessible.

From clubs and malls to museums, Singapore has everything to help you refresh your mind after rigorous study schedules. Whether you’re a nature lover or a sports enthusiast, you’d find something as per your tastes in this vibrant city.

If you love travelling and exploring new places, you’d get a fair deal in Singapore! You can plan a day trip to local islands like Pulau Ubin. Countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and even Vietnam and Cambodia are easily accessible as well – many students plan weekend trips and go backpacking.

Final Thoughts: Living In Singapore

Life in this vibrant, cosmopolitan city is interesting and quite livable. There’s no doubt that Singapore is a great place to live.

The cost of living pales in comparison to that in more expensive nations like the US, UK and Australia. In Singapore, monthly expenditure is estimated to be a minimum of SGD850.

Here’s an approximate breakdown:

  • Accommodation SGD 400
  • Food SGD 200 – SGD 300
  • Travelling on the public transport system SGD 100
  • Personal expenses SGD 150
  • Monthly Expenditure SGD 850
  • Yearly Expenditure SGD 10,200

Home to thousands of MNCs providing lucrative employment opportunities to students,

Singapore also offers you:

  • A clean, safe and low-crime atmosphere
  • Great inter-city connectivity (MRT, Bus, Cabs)
  • Accommodation options for every budget
  • Access to state-of-the-art public facilities
  • A pleasant, tropical climate – stable temperatures all year long with no extremes
  • Several places of interest

Have you set your sight on making the next big video game? Do you love creating stunning pieces of art and then bringing them to life? Is film-making your passion?

MAGES – a Skill Based institute based in the heart of Singapore’s shopping district, 2 Orchard Link, SCAPE – offers you expert, practical, specialised education that helps you build a career in the Games and Film Industries.

SPEAK TO AN ADVISOR

Need guidance or course recommendations? Let us help!

    Mages Whatsup