As Singaporeans, we are very ‘kiasu’. When we see a long queue, we feel the need to join in even when we don’t know what it is actually for. When it comes to our education, it could be the same.
Going to a local university is often said to be the best route to take after graduating from Poly. That seemed like the natural progression after Poly for me. However, in hindsight, I realised that there are different goals and unique areas to consider before rushing into an application for a local university.
If I could make the decision again whether to pursue my further education in a local university, I would pause to consider these few pointers before I start my application.
Know why you want to go to a local university
Instead of following the crowd or blindly accepting friends' and family's advice that I have to be in one of the Big 3 universities to be successful, pause. Stop and think about whether what I'm applying for is my interest in life, whether I'd able to see myself working in this industry in the future, or if, perhaps, there are other areas I could explore.
People enter local universities for different reasons. Some enter for practical and financial reasons like not being able to afford attending a private or overseas university; some want to experience living a hall life with schoolmates. Others are looking for an opportunity to go on an overseas exchange trip, or join for the prestige of the paper they get upon graduating (nothing wrong with that).
I decided to pursue my education in university because I felt that it would add value to my knowledge and skills that I've already gained from my diploma. Knowing clearly what my intention was before choosing my university and course helped made my time there meaningful, as well as beneficial to my future career.
Know your options
Local universities, or Publicly-Funded Autonomous universities, do not only consist of the Big 3 that are the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU). Other smaller universities such as Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) are also part of it.
Some of the things to consider when applying:
1. Tuition Fees and Financial Support
On average, tuition fees for NTU and NUS are on the affordable side (ranging from $8k+ to $9k+ per year), while SMU’s and SUTD’s are on the steeper end of the range. SIT’s tuition fees are also more affordable but are calculated based on modules rather than on an annual basis.
Most degree programmes are three to four years depending on the course of study or whether one decides to pursue honours. An honours degree is a higher level of academic achievement one can get at an undergraduate level. Usually, it means a longer duration of study for the course, which amounts to a higher tuition fee.
Some universities offer direct honours programmes. A direct honour does not mean automatically getting a degree with honour upon graduating. An undergraduate would need a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 5 to qualify for it.
Universities also offer financial help in the form of grants and scholarships, so remember to check out what kind of financial aid the university provides!
2. Indicative Grade Profile
Every university has indicative grade profiles that show the 10th percentile and 90th percentile of Poly GPAs in the previous years. In other words, it gives a guide on what 90% and 10% of the applicants offered a place scored above. For example, the 10th percentile could be 3.5 while the 90th percentile could be 3.9. This acts as a range of the lower and higher end of the spectrum of grades.
However, from my own experience and hearing from my friends, I realised that the indicative grade profile is not an absolute way to ensure a place in the course and university of your choice. The cut off point varies each year as mine was relatively lower than the following batch's. Some of juniors were not able to secure a spot even though they scored a good GPA. With that being said, I had friends who managed to enter with a GPA is below the 10th percentile as they were given an opportunity for an interview with the school. Hence, we are to take it more of a gauge.
3. Student Life and Residence
Enjoying a vibrant student life and staying on campus was never on my bucket list but I have many friends who wanted to experience the once in a lifetime experience of staying with friends, participating in hall activities and having late night supper with friends. NUS and NTU are the only local universities in Singapore that have halls and dorms for students to stay on campus.
While SMU have a dorm near Bugis, it's expensive to rent and live in town. Local students almost never stay there and the dorm houses mostly international students.
4. Overseas Opportunities
Before entering university, I heard seniors mentioning about a six months overseas exchange programme. I immediately started daydreaming of living in a country with four season, walking down a street filled with brick houses and going to places for sightseeing. If going overseas for exposure to a different culture is on your bucket list, read up more on the kinds of overseas stints each university offers! As all local universities offer overseas programmes, you can research the types of overseas opportunities to find one that suits you instead:
- Semester Long Exchange
- Short Term Summer Exchange
- Overseas Community Service
- Overseas Internship
Prepare all that you need
Once I decided which university and course I wanted to apply for, I had to prepare the items and documents to submit. Initially, I was overwhelmed by the long list of instructions and steps to take but after taking a deep breath to read the instructions again, I found it manageable. What I found helpful was the one-stop portal with all the information needed for the application process on each of the universities’ websites.
Usually, the process is first to submit an application with required documents followed by making payment for your application fees (which was something I did not know before applying!). There might be an interview or screening prior to your acceptance. For some degree programmes, they may also require you to submit your portfolio or essay, or take a written or technical test.
Prepare early by making sure you have the documents needed such as your O-level results and Poly transcript (five semesters’ results). Upon receiving an offer, you will be required to submit your final semester’s results to confirm your slot.
All the best!
The process of applying for a university may seem long and tiring, especially with the number of course choices to sift through and instructions to read. However, I hope this article gives you a headstart on your application process! All the best and remember to enjoy the process!
