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Which Course Should You Choose in University?
I am a successful student that made it out of the Singapore school system; 12-year (P1 to JC2), and 4-year local university (Year 1-4). My first job (in finance) paid me >S$10,000 despite being an average student throughout secondary school and junior college. Here are my two cents:
In the bustling city-state of Singapore, the choice of a university course is not just a step towards higher education. It’s a leap into the future. The course you choose is a significant determinant of your career trajectory, influencing your job opportunities, professional progression, and earning potential.
This article aims to serve as your compass, guiding you through the landscape of university courses in Singapore, and highlighting those that pave the way for better career progression and higher starting salaries.
Key factors included for consideration are:
- Starting salary
- “Study time” – Time taken to graduate & get licensed
- Career progression
- Headcount
Remember, though, while your course can shape your future, it doesn’t define it. Keep your interests and passions at the core of your decision. After all, your university experience should not only open doors for your career but also fuel your intellectual curiosity and personal growth.
Understanding the Singapore Job Market
Before diving into the specifics of university courses, it is crucial to understand the larger picture – the job market of Singapore. In recent years, Singapore has steadily grown into a global hub for various industries, with technology, finance, healthcare, and engineering leading the charge.
1. Current Job Market Trends
Based on the recent uptrend in salaries and bonuses received, these are current jobs that pay very well in Singapore:
- Finance – investment banking / private equity / sales and trading (global markets) / wealth management (private banking)
- Computer Science – software engineer / quantitative trading / quantitative development / quantitative research
- Medicine – self-explanatory; private GP, cardiology, neurosurgery, ortho, plastic surgeon, radiology, ophthalmologist
- Dentistry – self-explanatory; general dentistry, orthodontics, private clinics
- Law – corporate law (M&A, capital markets)
2. Career Prospects and Starting Salaries
Taking into account the factors discussed above, including starting salary, “study time”, career progression, and headcount, there is further divergence in which careers make sense. Here are the rankings for each career:
1. Finance (at foreign banks)
– High starting salary (>S$12,000/month for IB & markets) and good bonus (average 4-8 months)
– Great career progression – promotion every 2-3 years, yearly base salary increments of 5-15%, all the way to managing director
– Lowest “study time” – students can earn high base salaries directly out of university, without further studies, licensing, or examinations
– Largest headcount for undergraduates out of university = highest chance of entering
2. Computer Science
– High starting salary – quant trading / development / research up to S$20,000/month (up to S$80,000 at HRT, though is an outlier 1 of 1 case), software engineering @ FAANG (S$6,000 – 8,000)
– Ok career progression – significantly harder to make it to senior levels for CS careers, most SWE roles top out at L5
– Low “study time” – students can earn high base salaries directly out of university, without further studies, licensing, or examinations
– Low headcount for undergraduates out of university for the better paying roles (quant / SWE @ Meta or equiv.), though have been decreasing due to recent tech layoffs
3. Medicine / Dentistry
– Low starting salary – starting salaries are extremely low (S$4,000 at residency), while your peers in finance and computer science are earning upwards of S$10,000. However, this gap minimises later on in your career after specialisation
– Great career progression – ability to specialise later on in your career, including charging exorbitant medical fees to extract most out of the insurance money
– Longest “study time” – average age to earn the big bucks 35-40 years old; university (5 years), residency (4-7 years), specialisation (>5 years)
– Ok headcount – fixed headcount for every university batch
4. Law
– Low starting salary – trainee and associate lawyer salaries are low
– Good career progression – once in, you would be able to rise quickly, making partner in 15-20 years
– Long “study time” – 4 years university + studying for the Bar
– Low headcount – oversupply of law graduates with limited headcount at the better companies (Big 4 law / international law firms), also competing with law graduates from overseas. Only select specialisations such as corporate law would pay well
Choosing the Right University Course
Here are the courses to choose in each local university in Singapore for the recommended jobs above:
- Finance: NUS BBA = SMU BBM > NTU NBS ACBS / business
- Computer Science: NUS CS > NTU CS > SIT Computing > SMU IS
- Medicine: NUS YLL Medicine > NTU LKC Medicine
- Dentistry: NUS Dentistry
- Law: NUS Law = SMU Law
Other courses available (with their starting salaries):
- FASS / Economics: S$2,500 – 4,000
- Engineering: S$2,500 – 6,000
- Business (marketing, HR, ops): S$2,500 – 5,000
- Nursing: S$2,500 – 3,500
- Pharmacy: S$3,000 – 4,000 (depending on grades)
In addition, you can find our university scholarship guide and guide to university terms used here.
NOTE: If you are looking to correct any of the values above, please comment in the article below or email us at [email protected].
Balancing Passion and Pragmatism
There is a notion that your career should be something that you are passionate in. But to be frank, 90% of people in the working world are not working at something they are passionate at:
A simple test would be this: If you are suddenly given S$10 million now, would you still continue working in your current job?
Sure, you might have those outliers that would continue their current day job (most likely business owners), but the large majority working a 9-5 would most definitely not continue.
A better approach would be to separate your passion / hobby, and your day job. You can work purely for the purpose of putting food on the table, and excess cash for a better house, car, and some holidays. Hobbies and passion can be done outside of your 9-5, such as playing games, volunteering and etc. The truth is, most “passion” related jobs don’t pay very well; social work, nursing, and the Sciences.
Though with that in mind; careers are a marathon, and not a sprint
However, do remember that careers are also a marathon; 30 years long, and not a sprint. If you sprint the first 1km, you would definitely burn out as quickly as well. Your peers that have been pacing themselves would overtake you at 2-3km, despite not having as good a start compared to you.
In terms of earning power, climbing the corporate ladder would always be slower than starting your own business
It is important to note that while we aim to have the highest starting salary and best career progression, the unfortunate fact is that we are limited by the glass ceiling above us and (relatively) fixed pay structure / progression. Being risk-averse is unlikely to payoff in the grand scheme of things – we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the finer things in life purely by climbing the ladder.
As such, we are seeing more and more small businesses pop up – some of them make it and most don’t. However, this doesn’t stop the fact that we can make extra side income to supplement our day job. Whether it truly becomes large enough to outearn our job, that would depend on the business model, your marketing prowess, and the amount of effort you put in. You would be paid for the risk that you take on, though the risk has to be very calculated and precise.
Other Factors to Consider
- Soft Skills: Technical expertise is important, but don’t underestimate the power of soft skills. Communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and emotional intelligence are among the skills highly valued in the workplace. Cultivating these skills can set you apart and enhance your career progression.
- Internships and Work Experience: Gaining practical experience through internships or part-time jobs can be invaluable. Not only does it provide a taste of the real world, but it also lets you apply what you’ve learned, builds your resume, and expands your professional network.
- Networking: Building strong professional relationships can open doors to opportunities that may not be widely advertised. Attend networking events, join relevant societies or clubs, and don’t hesitate to reach out to people in your field of interest.
- Further Studies: Postgraduate studies, such as a Masters or a PhD, can further boost your career, especially if you’re aiming for specialized roles or academic positions. However, they require a significant investment of time and money, so it’s important to consider your long-term career goals before diving in.
Conclusion: Your Future, Your Choice
Deciding on a university course is a significant milestone in your life, laying the groundwork for your future career. In a thriving educational and economic hub like Singapore, the opportunities are diverse and plentiful. From Finance and Engineering to Healthcare and Computer Science, there are numerous pathways that can lead to prosperous careers.
Nevertheless, it’s essential to remember that no university course guarantees success; it’s what you do with your education that truly counts. Focus on building a strong foundation of knowledge, but also remember to cultivate crucial soft skills, gain practical experience, and build a solid professional network. The road to career success is not a straight line but a journey filled with learning, adaptation, and growth.
In the end, the best course to choose is one that aligns with your interests, passions, and ambitions. After all, success is not merely measured by starting salaries and job titles, but also by the fulfillment and joy derived from your work. May your university course be the first step towards a future that you love and a career that you are proud of.
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Very often, students lack an experience or an understanding of scholarships. All they know is that it funds their studies, and that is it. As such, this makes it even harder when students want to get started to apply for a scholarship themselves, be it for Junior College (JC), polytechnic, or University.
Personally, I have had many experiences with scholarships (both good and bad) given the numerous opportunities I had as a student, from selecting which scholarships to apply for to the interview process.
As such, this article will be covering on the various aspects of a scholarship that students can look out for, and hopefully take these into consideration when applying for a scholarship in the future. The various aspects that I will be covering will be as follows:
• Types of Scholarship
• Eligibility
• Tuition Coverage
• Scholarship Duration
• Bond Length
• Other Benefits
1. Types of Scholarship
There are 3 types of Scholarships available at the University level:
– University-level Scholarship (i.e. NUS Merit Scholarship)
– Mid-term or Faculty-level Scholarship
– External Organisation Scholarship (i.e. Enterprise Singapore Global Executive Scholarship)
2. Eligibility
Before applying for a scholarship, it is very important to check the eligibility criteria set by the organisation. This ensures that you properly select and apply for the right scholarships, without wasting any of your time.
Different scholarships have very different eligibility criteria. Some may have a minimum benchmark for your results, and some may not. There are also some scholarships that are only open to a certain group of people. For example, scholarships for international students.
As such, right before you even begin applying for any scholarship, take a quick 5 minutes to look at what kind of applicants the organisation wants as their scholars. This will definitely help you optimise the type of scholarships that you apply for.
3. Tuition Coverage
Many students apply for a scholarship mainly because of the coverage of tuition fees. This is also the main highlight of any scholarship and contributes to the majority of the scholarship value.
As such, it is important that you ask yourself these questions. What does this scholarship cover? Does it match what I am looking for?
In today’s society, there is a myriad of scholarships available for students ranging from partial scholarships, to full scholarships. Partial scholarships may not cover the entirety of your study duration (we will get to this in the next segment) or may not cover the entirety of your tuition fees. Some partial scholarships may also only offer a one-time pay out in the form of a subsidy towards your schooling expenses.
However, these tend to have lower entry requirements and are often less recognised compared to full scholarships. Full scholarships on the other hand cover most, if not all of your tuition fees and usually brings on a few added benefits which will be covered under “Other Benefits”.
Many undergraduates give Part-time Tuition to earn their living expense.
4. Scholarship Duration
Every scholarship has a stipulated duration, and this can range from a fixed period of 1 year, to the entire period of your study in that particular institution.
Scholarships offered by NUS:
– NUS Merit Scholarship
– NUS Global Merit Scholarship
– NUS Sports Scholarship
– ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship
– Wee Cho Yaw Future Leaders Award
Faculty-level Scholarship (e.g. NUS Business):
– NUS Business Dean’s & Mochtar Riady Scholarships
NUS Mid-term/Faculty-level Scholarship
Faculty-level Invitation-only Scholarships (e.g. NUS Business):
– Leong Siew Meng Memorial Scholarship
– Mr & Mrs Wu Jieh Yee Memorial Scholarship
For scholarships that last a year, they often require you to re-apply again after your existing scholarship has expired. For scholarships that last through your study period at the institution, they often set a minimum benchmark that you would have to maintain, ensuring that you keep a reasonable standard to maintain the image of the scholarship.
More information:
NUS Scholarships
NTU Scholarships
SMU Scholarships
5. Bond Length
Scholarship Bond Length is a double-edged sword. It can be good, it can be bad, and this is often debated or discussed upon.
Some scholarships offered by public organisations, statutory boards or the government require you to serve a minimum duration in that organisation after your graduation. This means having to work for them until your bond expires.
This period can range from a short stint of 1 year to a long service of 5 years.
However, scholarships offered by educational institutions themselves often do not carry a bond. Once you have completed your studies, you are free to make your own decisions.
Having a bond can be good as it guarantees you a job after your graduation. You do not need to go through the hassle of looking for a job and competing with many other fresh graduates in the working society.
In fact, the company that offered you the scholarship is very likely to groom you to be an asset to the company after having spent so much on your studies. You are very likely to rise quickly through the ranks and even get many opportunities to represent the company on various levels (5 Important Life Skills for Work)
However, this may not be very ideal to some students. Having to serve for a fixed period of time limits your options after graduation. You are not able to look for another job in another industry if you had a change in your mind over the course of study. Worse still, you are not able to escape from the company if you dislike the working environment until you finish serving your bond.
As such, it is ultimately up to what you want or how you plan your future to be when selecting your scholarship.
EDIT: It is especially important to consider the current job landscape. Most feel that having no bond and the free will to apply anywhere is better, but that is not the case most of the time. Look at the Graduate Employment Survey for your course, and look at the Employment Rate and Employment Opportunities after graduation.
**If you find that your course is one that has low employment, or most switching careers/professions right out of University, it is a strong sign that you should accept the Bonded Scholarship – as bad as that might sound, your degree is not very employable (competitive).
Application for External Scholarships: BrightSparks
6. Other Benefits
More often than not, scholarships do not just cover tuition fees. They offer much more to students both tangible and intangible.
Some scholarships offer their scholars study allowances, subsidising their expenses as a student. They can also offer you other monetary benefits in the form of book allowances, computer allowances, and even overseas travel grants for your university exchanges.
However, scholarships are also not all about the money. They each carry their own reputation and image which can be very important to a student.
As you accept a scholarship, you are immediately branded as a scholar by that organisation and you benefit from the image the organisation is perceived to be in society. This testimonial can help shape your future and your career as long as you satisfy the scholarship requirements.
I have personally applied for numerous scholarships and have been offered quite a few as well. Applying for all these scholarships, I often took a lot into consideration, from what I wanted as my future, what the scholarship had to offer me, as well as what my current circumstances at that point were.
Ultimately, to determine what scholarship suits you best, you as students yourself should begin to plan for your future. Identify what you want and what you do not want. From there, find scholarship that match your personal requirements and see through the entire application process.
You can consider giving Home Tuition in University, to off-set the expenses.
(This article was written by our tutor Dave)
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Being someone that has not went through the University Education system yet, all the University terms/words being thrown around can be confusing.
This handy guide will help clarify everything.
For NUS
National University of Singapore (NUS) graduates command high salaries, with the syllabus fixated on theory.
– General modules: restricted or unrestricted electives
Undergraduates are able to exercise the S/U option (Satisfied/Unsatisfied). It allows you take a module without worrying about the grade, as long as you pass it.
S/U Option
Suppose a student obtains 4 Bs and 1 C for 5 modules this semester, and each module carries 4 modular credits (MCs). Assuming he keeps his grades, his CAP will be:
(4 x 3.5) + (4 x 3.5) + (4 x 3.5) + (4 x 3.5) + (4 x 2.0) = 3.20
If he chooses to exercise S/U on the C graded module, his CAP will be:
(4 x 3.5) + (4 x 3.5) + (4 x 3.5) + (4 x 3.5) + (4 x 2.0) = 3.50
Ideally, you should aim to exercise the S/U options in a way that would improve your CAP (Higher CAP, better honours classification)
– Double Degree: Generally from different faculty. On graduation, you will have two degree qualifications. (e.g Double Degree in Accountancy and Law)
– Major: Main thing you are entering for (e.g Accountancy)
– Minor: Some sort like concentration, but you cannot SU the electives (e.g Bachelors in Business, Minor in Statistics)
– 2nd Major: Even more impactful than Minor. In general the 2nd Major is in the same faculty as your main major. You will have one degree qualification/paper.
Honours: NUS follows a Honours Class system:
CAP 4.50 and above – First Class Honours
CAP 4.00 – 4.49 – Second Class (Upper) Honours
CAP 3.50 – 3.99 – Second Class (Lower)
CAP 3.00 – 3.49 – Third Class (Lower)
CAP 2.00 – 2.99 – Pass
For NTU
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is significantly easier to get a scholarship and double degree/major programme, than NUS.
– Core modules/General core modules (GERCORE): Must take, must pass. If you don’t pass you just retake. Cannot be SU-ed.
– Elective (Unrestricted, UE): Electives from other faculties, etc. Must take a certain number (depending on major) to graduate.
– Elective (General Prescribed, GERPE): Some sort like Unrestricted where you need to clear a certain number of it to graduate (depends on major requirements).
Of those you clear, you have to include one Business GERPE, one Liberal Studies GERPE and one Science and Technology GERPE. The rest can be from any as long as you register as GERPE.
Both UE and GERPE can be SUed.
– Double Degree: Generally from different faculty. On graduation, you will have two degree qualifications. (e.g Double Degree in Aerospace Engineering and Business)
– Major: Main thing you are entering for (e.g Accountancy)
– Minor: Some sort like concentration, but you cannot SU the electives (e.g Bachelors in Business, Minor in Statistics)
– Concentration: Less impact than Minor. Requires you to take some electives, but you can SU and they still consider it as cleared.
– 2nd Major: Even more impactful than Minor. In general the 2nd Major is in the same faculty as your main major. You will have one degree qualification/paper.
– Honours: NTU has direct honours for some majors
But this doesn’t mean you automatically get a degree with Hons. If you graduate with a GPA of below 3.0, you will not be eligible for honours.
For SMU
Singapore Management University graduates command significantly higher salaries, as their students learning very important soft skills for the workplace.
– Major: Main thing you’re studying (e.g Law)
At SMU, majority of people take double majors, so we have two main things to study. Can be related or unrelated – e.g econs and finance (related) vs econs and corp comms (not very related)
– Minor: SMU does not have
– Elective: Major electives and free/unrestricted electives
Major electives are modules you need to take for your major. There is a list of modules to choose from instead of specific set mods. (e.g as a Psych major, there’s a list of 20 psych mods i can take, but I only need to pick 10)
Free electives (or general education) are modules not related to your major.
You can take mods from Accountancy, Law, Info Systems, or even random things like Languages, Dance, Film, etc.
– Core: Compulsory modules: Uni core, Degree core, Major core.
Uni core is a common unified programme everyone goes through regardless of faculty. (i.e things like foundation in writing, communications, teambuilding)
Degree core is a common unified programme for everyone in that specific faculty.
(i.e for Social Sciences, everyone takes Intro Psych, Intro Sociology, Intro Pol. Sci, and Intro Stats regardless of major)
Major core are compulsory mods for your major. (i.e for Psych, Psych Research methods I and II)
– Track/Specialisation: More specific version of your major (Not all majors have track)
e.g “Operations Management (OM) with track in Analytics” means that they take the same OM major core as other OM majors, but their major electives are analytics-specific mods instead of just any OM mods.
– Honours: SMU doesn’t use the Honours system
SMU uses the cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average) criteria to recognize students with academic excellence and it is based on a 4.0 system.
Cumulative GPA Awards
3.8+/4.0 Summa Cum Laude (With Highest Distinction)
3.60 – 3.79 / 4.0 Magna Cum Laude (High Distinction)
3.40 – 3.59 / 4.0 Cum Laude (Distinction)
3.20 – 3.39 / 4.0 High Merit
3.00 – 3.19 / 4.0 Merit
However, SMU does have (optional) Honours thesis.
This has no impact on the degree classification (cum laude etc) given to you, but it is important to do honours thesis if you want to go into academia/research. (Currently only SOSS & SOE offer honours thesis)
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