The 13 new tie-ups are with the Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, Singapore Polytechnic and Agency for Science and Technology, Singapore. Eight British institutions will get between 4,000 pounds and 16,000 pounds to send their students to study in Singapore while five will get 25,000pounds to 40,000 pounds for research collaborations in areas like neuroscience and medicine.

For instance, NUS will work with the Guildhall School or Music and Drama, Singapore Poly with Keele University and NTU with University of Strathclyde.

About 100 British students are expected in Singapore in the first year.

It is the second part of the Prime Minister's initiative for international education launched by then-PM Tony Blair in 2006 and aims to promote the globalisation of higher education.

Its minister for lifelong learning, further and higher education, Mr Bill Rammell, who is in Singapore for a two-day visit, told The Straits Times on Monday that Singapore is among the top 10 priority countries that Britain wants to forge relationships with in education.

Others include China, India, Japan and Vietnam. On picking Singapore, Mr Rammell said he was impressed by the high quality of higher education institutions and the willingness of the government and universities to open themselves up to international collaborations.

There is also no language barrier, he added.