A 2D DEM-FDM coupled numerical modelling scheme was proposed to simulate a single stone column in soft clay. The discrete granular materials which firm the stone column can be better simulated by the DEM model, which is beyond the capability of continuum approaches. In the proposed numerical model, the stone column was represented by discrete rigid blocks based on the Voronoi tessellation, the surrounding clay was represented by the continuum Mohr-coulomb material. The settlement，bugling deformation，failure process and the involved complicated interactions between the stone column and surrounding soil were well captured by the proposed numerical model. The accuracy of the proposed model was verified using experimental model test results. The consistency between the numerical simulation and model test results shows a good potential for the proposed modelling scheme to further study the load-deformation and failure behavior of soft soils reinforced by stone columns. The limitations of the proposed model were also discussed in this study.