闽语
Lee received her primary education at Kiow Min Chinese Primary School and subsequently studied at Sekolah Dato' Dol Said, Notre Dame Convent, and Gajah Berang. Lee attended the National University of Singapore in 1981-1982 before attending the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) where she completed a B.Eng. degree in Civil Engineering in 1985. She then attended the University of Liverpool in 1989–1990 where she attained a M.Sc. degree in Engineering.