Beyond NUS, SMU, NTU

[schweppes]

Planning for higher education options besides the local U


When helping your child to choose a tertiary institution for higher education, it is important to do your homework before you and your child commits on the university and course of study. Here are some suggestions on what to look out for if your child has just completed “A” levels or Poly diploma and wish to consider higher education.

1. Ensure that the local service educator provider is established
I know this can be difficult to determine, but visit their websites and their offices/ local campuses to have an idea on how big the campuses are. It helps if the service provider is an established brand name in Singapore and has been around for some time. You don’t want to sign up and they run away with your money.

However, having said that, nothing is guaranteed. A few years ago, even an established service provider closed down due to mismanagement.

2. Find out who are the foreign universities that are collaborating with the local service education provider
In other words, don’t just sign up with any local educator or service provider that offers the lowest school fees. Go to the websites of these foreign universities and see if they are established.

In addition, you can also visit certain websites that offer information about universities rankings. This will give you an idea on where the foreign university is placed in terms of world rankings.

One credible website that parents can refer to is the Top 200 World Universities under the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings 2009, http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/hybrid.asp?typeCode=438 (accessed on 7 March 2010)

3. Find out about the course curriculum and course delivery
Ask how the lessons will be delivered and who will be lecturing in the programme. In other words, find out about the profile of the lecturers and who is delivering the course. For example at SIM Global Education and PSB Academy, for certain programmes, there will be a mix of educators from the overseas uni and local lecturers hired to teach in the course.

Ask if Singapore course curriculum is the same as the home country. For example, ABC company is the Singapore education service provider providing an undergraduate degree programme with an Australian XYZ University. Ask if ABC programmes are the same structure/ format as XYZ Uni in Australia itself. It helps if the 2 programmes are similar as it ensures that there is a certain quality and standard maintained.

However, do note that there may be some slight differences in course content, especially if the Singapore office needs to adapt certain courses/ subjects to suit local or Asian context.

4. Speak to students who are on the programme
Where possible, speak to students who are on the programme or who are currently studying in some of these institutions. Find out as much information as possible

5. Speak to friends or family members who are in HR
Find out about current HR’s policies about recruiting graduates from these programmes.

6. Attend Education Fairs
Attend the education fairs organised. Speak to the staff and educators at these fairs. Find out as much as you can about the courses provided and how it will be delivered, and who is delivering the course. However, go with a clear and open mind. Naturally, they are likely to say the best things about their own schools.

7. Visit the local campus
Just like how we would check out the primary and secondary schools for our children before we register our children for P1 and S1, it’s no different even at undergrad level. Visit the schools to see how the students behave and how the school environment is like. I guess at this age, our teens may not want us to accompany them this time round.

8. Don’t just go for the programmes with the shortest timeframe of completion or the cheapest course available
As much as we want our children to finish their undergrad programme in the shortest time possible, you need to be realistic about this too. A good and credible university will not “short-cut” its course curriculum. There must be a certain quality and standards to maintain. An exception to this is that if your child is a poly diploma holder and the uni allows for exemptions. Again, do your homework.

Also, don’t go for the cheapest course/ programme. What does that reflect on the quality of the programme? Maybe their lecturers are not as qualified? On the other hand, the most expensive course need not mean the best course available too.

9. Find out if the schools offer bank loans
Most of these local private schools have a tie-up with local banks. Find out about the financing and loan repayments. Check the fine print and other terms and conditions carefully. I don't think you can use CPF to pay for your teenager's education if they study in a private institution.

10. Don’t choose blindly
Most times, the student/teenager may not know what they want and may blindly follow what their friends are doing. This is a very important decision and it will affect their career path. Remind them to think and choose carefully


Hope the above helps in your decision making. Good luck. :lol:

[ezmum]

That was great info. Thanks schweppes! This will come in handy for me soon.

[autumnbronze]

Hey Schweppes,


:goodpost: :goodpost:

As usual, very clear and thorough in giving us 'directions'

[schweppes]

ezmum:

That was great info. Thanks schweppes! This will come in handy for me soon.

Glad to be of some help. :lol:

[schweppes]

autumnbronze:

Hey Schweppes,


:goodpost: :goodpost:

As usual, very clear and thorough in giving us 'directions'

Thanks Autumnbronze... :lol:

[mrswongtuition]

Another thing to note:

Do contact the foreign university to confirm the 'partnership' and when it expires.

I'm currently doing this because my sister wants to do her private diploma then quickly take private degree and start working (family business needs help).

So far found a few private schools which we've decided not to take based on our research and personal experience.

Another alternative is to go to poly or just go and work first, then apply to UniSIM (SG's 4th Uni). It's an adult open uni. Criteria is must be working or at least 2 years work experience plus above 21 yo.
With some work experience, your child will be better able to really decide what they want in future too. Now they may be undecided and don't understand what they really want and what real life working world is like.
This option is also cheaper because it is SUBSIDIZED by SG Govt for Singaporeans.

If your child is thinking of taking design courses, choose courses that require them to travel over to the uni issuing their degrees for at least a month (some are for 2-4 months). This is important exposure for the field of study.


Another option is distance learning. My friend did this option while being a SAHM with 2 kids and preggie with third. She had to travel to Aus for 2 weeks for exams though.


And another thing to check: Do govt agencies recognise that degree? If yes, then it's rather safe
E.g. My friend got a degree from UOL via SIM Global Education. She's working in govt dept now and they recognise her degree.

[sleepy]

autumnbronze:

mathsparks:

yes sleepy, that's wat its listed on the SAA page. They're established in 1985 and degrees are awarded by the Uni of London and graduates can sit for the ICPAS exam to become a CPA.


So this looks like one of the safer options. Just wondering if anyone has taken this route before.

Agree that its a safer option that will lead to a prestigious professional qualification, esp if one is a qualified CPA. Just to add on that I have been told by DH's frd that its a v v difficult course. He himself had to re-take a few papers b4 finally getting thru.

My humble opinion, I wouldn't recommend this career path to my kids. Despites its good career prospect, there's just too much overtime due to the nature of the job. Most of my peers were working crazy hours too and quite a number had since left the industry to be SAHMs (including myself). Once we have young children, it's very difficult to achieve work life balance.

[autumnbronze]

Schweppes,


You have PM

[2ppaamm]

Hi,


Anyone knows which other university in Singapore offers a Law degree other than NUS and NTU? Looking for a private university with presence in Singapore. Must be reputable one lah.

[schweppes]

2ppaamm:

Hi,


Anyone knows which other university in Singapore offers a Law degree other than NUS and NTU? Looking for a private university with presence in Singapore. Must be reputable one lah.

I'm not sure if NTU offers law degree. I thought only NUS and SMU offer law.

Anyway, UOL (University of London) offers external law degree programs, but I'm not sure who is the local service provider here. Anyway, need to check as there are some dodgy local players around.