Singapore - Study in a multicultural environment
Singapore is both comfortable and cosmopolitan. GAN ENG KHOON, Deputy Director in the Office of Admissions at National University of Singapore, tells us about life for a post-graduate there
With its strategic location in the heart of South-East Asia, Singapore naturally lends itself to the convergence of eastern and western influences. This unique vantage point, coupled with the strong support of its Government, means that the education system in Singapore is well poised to offer students the best of East-West education pedagogy. Recently, an increasing number of overseas universities have set up their off-shore campuses in the city-state, contributing to Singapore’s reputation as the educational hub of the region. For international students, stepping into a multicultural country like Singapore can seem daunting. But initial concerns will fade and students often find that being taken out of their comfort zone is confidence-building. In exploring Singapore they will discover that it has a reputation not only for academic excellence, but also for safety and efficiency. Above all, Singapore offers them the opportunity to integrate into a diverse culture – an experience they will find beneficial when looking for work in today’s globally-oriented business environment. Courses at NUS All postgraduate courses at the National University of Singapore (NUS) are developed to challenge students. They have a high international reputation: graduates from our doctoral programs readily find employment locally or internationally both in the corporate and public sectors, as well as in research at well-known universities overseas. It is clear from past graduates of postgraduate programs that the courses are useful for their professional development. Many find subsequent advancement in their professional careers in Singapore and internationally. NUS offers three main types of graduate programs: doctoral (PhD), Masters (by coursework or by thesis), and the graduate diploma. All doctoral degree programmes at NUS are primarily research based. They equip students with the skills required to advance knowledge and human progress. Doctoral degrees are typically the first choice of students who seek depth of knowledge, enjoy creative problem-solving, and who aspire to hold high level positions in their respective fields. Masters degree programs are predominantly designed to prepare students for work within a specific profession (typically through a Masters by coursework) or to gain advanced knowledge in a specific subject area as a precursor to doctoral training (typically through a Masters by research).  The graduate diploma
provides limited professional training in a specific niche. The diploma
is often favoured by those students who seek additional exposure to an
area of interest without wishing to commit themselves long-term to
further studies. Choosing the program for you Prospective graduate students should think carefully about which type of graduate program most suits their interests and career aspirations. Increasingly, students who are pursuing a research-oriented career - whether in industry or academia - and/or wanting to advance quickly in their particular chosen career, elect to enrol in a doctoral program. Every undergraduate or graduate program has to undergo a stringent evaluation and approval by the Boards of Undergraduate Studies or Graduate Studies respectively, the University Committee on Educational Policy and the Senate. Quality assurance reviews are also carried out involving student surveys, International Visiting Committees and International Advisory Panels and the Quality Assurance Framework for Universities set up by Singapore’s Ministry of Education. Educational programs in the professions, such as Engineering, medicine and architecture, are further accredited by internationally recognized accreditation panels with broad representation from academia and the professional world. Applications and admissions International undergraduate applications for admission are accepted from mid-October through to late March, leading to admissions in August. Prospective international students can submit an application online at www.nus.edu.sg/oam/apply/catd. Information on the application procedure and undergraduate course details can be found at www.nus.edu.sg/oam. Candidates without duly recognized qualifications may submit SAT I and II scores in support of their applications. As part of the highly competitive selection process, certain courses such as architecture, dentistry, industrial design, law, nursing and medicine will require interviews and further tests as part of the process, to ensure that potential students meet the required high standards. At NUS, the admission process is underpinned by a set of proven criteria, procedures and policies. The discretionary admission policy empowers individual faculties to identify outstanding students who have achieved excellence in their non-academic pursuits. The admission policy enables the Office of Admissions to select students based on academic merits so that no deserving student is denied a university education because of financial difficulty or other constraints. Public education in Singapore is currently heavily subsidized and international students enjoy heavy subsidies. For example, an international undergraduate will typically pay subsidized tuition fees of about $10,000 per year. The cost of education differs depending on the course structure and educational institution. At the tertiary level, international students who take up the government tuition grant, which is available to all qualified candidates, are required to work for three years upon graduation with a Singapore-registered company, either in Singapore or overseas. In addition, some of the tertiary institutions, both public and private, do offer scholarships, bursaries and loans. More information can be found at: www.singaporeedu.gov.sg/htm/stu/stu0304.htm. Generous scholarships are also available for international students who wish to enrol for a PhD degree by research. These research scholarships are awarded competitively based on merit. The University Scholars Programme (USP) is a premier undergraduate program that selects highly talented students from faculties across NUS. Its unique curriculum and learning environment stretches the students’ intellectual, leadership and personal capacities, and fosters a vibrant community of scholars that strives to break new ground in multidisciplinary insights and global perspectives. USP aims to produce graduates who are articulate, confident and motivated achievers. These graduates distinguish themselves through their intellectual rigour, resourcefulness and their commitment towards making important contributions to society. There is a variety of part-time paid work opportunities for students who are interested in seeking such employment. Depending on the students’ interests and skills, the nature of work can be wide-ranging. They include administrative duties, customer service, sales and marketing, event coordination, software development, web design development, tutoring, research assistance, fieldwork surveys, etc. Remuneration is from S$5 to S$15 per hour. The NUS Career Centre facilitates such employment opportunities for students studying at the National University of Singapore. Alternatively, students may also check for part-time work opportunities through various other sources. According to Singapore Immigration & Control Authority’s regulations, international students residing in Singapore on student pass should not work for more than 16 hours during term time, but there is no restriction on the number of hours they can work during vacation. Courtesy - Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) - www.qsnetwork.com Source - www.topgradschool.com Add Comment CommentsYou may also like to read |
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