Recently, I went on the hardwarezone forum where I used to search for tips and feedbacks to compare the various universities in SIM GE. Back then, I chanced upon university at Buffalo, but googling ‘University at Buffalo, Singapore’ didn’t provide much information; it only returned links to hardwarezone, SIM websites and many websites that only briefly described the school. The forum provided outdated information, and my questions took ages to get answered. I was lucky enough to have the time to attend the open house and make my decision based on solid information. So back to the present, as I looked at past posts, I realized that nothing much has changed; prospective students were still asking the same questions I had three years ago. I tried to help some by answering their questions, but then I thought, why not attempt to write articles that provide those information? This is especially for those who might have missed the open house, or just want to gather information at the comfort of their bed.

Before I begin, the first thing that you should ask when comparing universities is, what’s the difference between UB and the rest? UB is all about the American classroom culture, and that could bring upon a different experience as compared to Polytechnic or JC. Here are some pointers that make it different from what you might be accustomed to.

Active participation

Active participation is one of the key aspects of the American culture. The professors value those who speak out and would gladly answer questions during class. More often than not, a discussion among professor and students will take place. Once someone starts the ball rolling, it gets easier for the rest to join in (especially true for the shy ones right?). I’ve seen the quieter ones joining the conversation as the class gets informal but maybe it is also due to another fact – participation counts towards your grades. In fact, it is such a big deal that some professors allocate almost a quarter of your grades to participation! You might think if that’s the case, all you have to do is ask some random questions and act like you’re actually participating. Well, some professors also take into account how much thought has been put in to that question or statement thus, giving more points based on quality.

Composition of final marks

Each module typically has a combination of quizzes, exams, participation, projects and class work that count towards your final grade. This ensures that your learning is progressive and you will find yourself remembering better. For some who might be good in projects rather than studying, you won’t find yourself gravely penalized for something you’re weak at. The most important thing is that you get to ‘lock-in’ some marks so you don’t have to worry too much about the final exams. This definitely beats purely memorizing a textbook of contents right?

Informal relationship between professors and students

This informal relationship I’m talking about is more than just calling your professors by their first name. The professors try to be as informal after class so that students can approach them easily. Sometimes, the reason for talking to them doesn’t have to be related to school work. Most of us take this opportunity to build rapport with the professors, learn more about their experiences or ask industry related questions. I think that my Communications/Psychology friends build the strongest bonds with their professors, because they even communicate on Facebook! Over at my (slightly more serious) business classes, we do it differently. I’ll usually read the business news in the morning and take this opportunity to get a professional point of view from my professors. From my experience, most of them would gladly let you pick their brains. By doing so, you’re getting more bang for your buck!

Learner centered

Most of the classes are smaller in size which allows better interaction between the professor and students. Some professors prefer to pass the time over to the students for group discussions and give them the opportunity to “take over” the class. Immediately some of you will think out loud, “But we paid them to teach!” Not to worry, the professors will first set the topic before allowing students to start their group discussions. After which, representatives from each group will get to present their ideas while the rest can voice their opinions and sometimes disagree with each other. Over time, this helps to encourage creative thinking and also gives you the confidence to share your opinions to strangers. Now, there will be some who might think “wow, this is a good time to slack off!” Beware, THEY will be watching you. Who knows if they might deduct your participation marks if they see you doing nothing!

Another thing to take note is that initially projects might feel like a chore but you’ll soon realize that here in UB it is not the usual “research and present” type of projects. The professors take project-based learning seriously and try to make them as relevant to the working world as possible. The easiest way to explain this is to share what I did for one of my modules. The professor wanted the class to act as a business consultant and provide strategic management to a real company, Carousell. He then invited an ex-UB student who’s working in Carousell to share all about the company and act as a point of contact. We implemented theories on a real company, brainstorm practical ideas and most importantly received feedback from the employees and founders. I can vouch that it was such an experience that this will be the first thing we’ll share when an interviewer asks about our school life.

Do you feel that an American classroom culture is able to bring out the best in you? Or do you feel that it can change you to be a more outspoken/creative person? Ultimately, remember that there’s no one culture that triumphs the other and it is all about finding the right fit for your personality.

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Singapore is one of the most successful countries in the world. It is known as one of the 4 Asian Dragons for its top-notch economic status compared to its neighboring countries. Because of that, we seldom wonder what the best paid jobs in the country are. In this article, we explore each of the top 15 highest-paid jobs in Singapore based on the latest statistics from MOM published in 2015.

Disclaimer: Jobs with high bonus and profit-sharing scheme are not included in this ranking which is compiled based on the gross salary.

1. Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer

The top on the list is the CEO or the Managing Director. They have $32,800 total monthly gross earnings.

75% graduated from overseas university, of which 35% are from US. Most CEOs in Singapore has an MBA and the most common discipline is Business. CEOs in Singapore are among the highest paid in Asia Pacific, comparable to those in  Australia and Japan. Piyush Gupta of DBS Group Holdings is the top-earning CEO in Singapore.

Being a CEO involves high level work on thinking how to move a company ahead strategically (apart from playing golf).

2. Specialist Medical Practitioner (Surgical)

Only slightly lower than the salary of a CEO, the second on the list has a monthly gross salary of $32,713. It is their skills, expertise and education that gave them that rewarding salary. Being a surgical specialist is never easy. They spent at least 5 years in medical school and another few years being a resident in a hospital. To be a surgeon, they require another couple more years of study and practice on their chosen specialization. Singapore is known for having best hospitals in the world due to its advanced medical health care technology. Even patients abroad fly to Singapore hospitals for surgery. It is no wonder they are highly paid.

 3. Specialist Medical Practitioner (Medical)

 Similar to the surgical specialist, a medical specialist also spent tremendous amount of time, effort, and dedication to attain their status. Medical practitioner in Singapore has a monthly gross salary of $28,413.

4. Commodities Derivatives Broker

The main responsibility of a derivatives broker is to monitor international performances and conduct trading on behalf of the clients. They trade a variety of assets such as the shares and bond. The employers could be investment banks, financial clearing houses, or international stock exchanges.

It is one of the most challenging and stressing job a man can have. You have to be very careful in decision making and analysis. To succeed in this line of work, you have to be competitive, numerically capable, and have knowledge about the world economy. The reward is certainly attractive, commodities derivatives broker has a monthly gross salary of $25,000.

5. Foreign Exchange Dealer/ Broker

As a recent survey unveiled Singapore as the world’s number 3 financial centre, it is not surprising that you find 2 finance jobs among the top 5 highest paying positions in Singapore.

Singapore has a huge foreign currency reserve and it bears significant importance to the national economy of Singapore. Also, we see a trend of Singapore dollars  gaining more and more recognition in the global forex market.

A Foreign exchange dealer buys and sells foreign currencies in the market and must have all the figures at his fingertips. A single trade can result in gains or losses as high as millions of dollars,  so being cool-headed is critical for them. The monthly gross they receive is $21,667.

6. Chief Operating Officer/ General Manager

COOs have a monthly gross salary of $20,773. He/she is in 2^nd in command to the chief executive officer and is in-charge of the day to day operations of the company. That said, you certainly need to be the COO of a mid to big sized company in order to command that kind of salary. Definitely not a start-up. As a COO, one can expect to have over hundred people under his care including the VP, operations manager, supervisors and so on. To rise up the corporate ladder that high, results hardly matter, you need to be good with people according to awarding winning HR manager.

7. Company Director

 Company Director is another of member of the management team in a corporate setting and earns $18,100. In Singapore, there is at least one Company Director in each company, as mandated by Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). A company director may be in charge of  different areas of a company depending on your expertise: sales, HR, finance and so on.

8. Lawyer (Excluding advocate and solicitor)

Like the medical specialists, they also go through an arduous & extended period of studying process to get to where they are. All the sacrifices and effort eventually bears a fruitful amount of income reaching $17,370 monthly.

To be a lawyer in Singapore, you must obtain certificate from accredited university. You should take 4 years of studies in Bachelor of Law and attain GPA of at least 3.0 for SMU or lower secondary class honours for NUS. After taking the course, the aspiring lawyer must also pass the Singapore Bar Exam and if you are a foreigner wanting to exercise your expertise in Singapore in which you will practice both foreign and Singapore laws, you must pass the Foreign Practitioner Examinations. For more information, read how to become a lawyer in Singapore.

9. University Lecturer

University lecturer has an income of $15,254. If you have interest in teaching, then you might want to be a university lecturer.

One of the most important pillars in Singapore is education and Singapore has the best education system in Asia. Government’s spending on education usually makes up about 20 % of the annual national budget. Given the importance of education, it is no wonder why University Lecturers are earning such high salary.

University lecturers are required to have minimally masters in their chosen field, as well as years of working experience. Taking a PHD will definitely increase your chance.

10. General Practitioner/ Physician

General Practitioners are doctors who do not specialize in any areas of medicine but offer general medical help to patients. General practitioner spent years in medical school and acquired years of residency in the hospitals. Of course their salaries are lower than medical and surgical specialist, but they are still ranked in the top 10, earning as much as $13,806 monthly gross. There are 3 ways in which you could be a doctor in singapore to command such salary.

11. Marine Superintendent Engineer

The top earners among all engineers are the Marine Superintendent Engineer. They earn up to $12,907. They could start as shipboard junior engineer and in a span of 4-5 years, become Marine Superintendent Engineer.

Marine Superintendent Engineer ensures the company owned and managed vessels are operated in a safe, efficient, and economical manner and in full compliance with class and statutory regulations.

To become a Marine Superintendent Engineer, you must be a graduate of a Marine Engineering course with a considerable number of experiences required by the company. One of the schools is (SMA) Singapore Maritime Academy. If you are a mechanical engineer, there are conversion courses that provides a pathway for graduates of mechanical engineer to join marine engineering trade.

12. Treasury Manager

Has a monthly gross salary of $12,772. They are in-charge of firm’s collection, investments, funding activities and financial risk management in the company. Treasury manager comes under the charge of the VP or Director of finance.

They have a high pay because they are one of the most important employees in the company. The treasury of the company is in the hands of treasury manager. They must be an expert in accounting and financial management. If you hold an accounting degree or ACCA certification , you can expect to be earning this amount of money in due time!

13. IT Service Manager

Singapore is not just known for its economic status but also for its advanced technology. It is considered an IT hub in Asia which embraces the latest technology in improving productivity. IT professionals are in demand and salaries have became competitive in order to secure them.  They are earning monthly gross of $12,537.

Singapore government is preparing for its latest initiatives and recently unveiled Smart Nation for the improvement of the lives of its citizens and to create more opportunities for businesses. The experiences and knowledge of IT managers are greatly needed since the country launched $2.2 billion worth of ICT tenders in digital, data and web services, and IT infrastructure. Not to mention that Google recently announced that it is going to mass-hire IT professionals for its SEA expansion. Future prospects for the IT professionals seem extremely bright.

14. Financial/ Insurance Services Manager

They have a monthly gross salary of $12,333.

Financial manager works in a bank or insurance company. They assist the executives in making decisions regarding their finances. He has to be logical, analytical and excellent in communicating. He must be able to provide the pros and cons in every decision. They also develop strategies and plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.

15. Trade Broker (Including oil and bunker trader)

Trade broker has earnings of $12,156,which is almost the same as that of Marine Superintendent Engineer. Being a trade broker is a good idea since export and importing of goods in Singapore constitutes one of the highest contributors of GDP. In 2013, Singapore became the 21^st largest exporter in the world, top exports of Singapore being redefined Petroleum which represent 24.1% of the total exports of Singapore. Also, Singapore is the third largest refining center in the world. Total trade volume throughout its ports is 4 times the size of its GNP, the highest in the world. It has one of the busiest shipping ports in the world. Well, Singapore is one of the world’s biggest financial centre, IT hub and also shipping exporter, which all gives rise to very decent jobs you see here in this list today. An eye-opener, isn’t it ?

With that said, do take the salary figures here with a pinch of salt. Numbers should never be your compass in making decisions. Consider various factors such as your own proficiency and passion as well, highlighted in our guide on choosing courses. If you do well in your chosen field, we are sure you will not only earn well, but be a very happy person!

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The job of an airline pilot is no doubt extremely rewarding, exciting and glamorous. But what is the procedure of becoming a pilot in Singapore? So far as the job of a pilot is concerned, it is much more than simply submitting a resume and getting a job offer one fine morning. Apart from fulfilling certain mandatory requirements, an aspirant has to work hard and possess a lot of dedication.

In Singapore, you can either be an RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force) pilot or a commercial pilot. However, it has been seen that a number of RSAF pilots join as commercial pilots for Singapore Airlines following their retirement from the RSAF.  Let us see the procedures.

Things to know about Becoming an RSAF pilot

The basic requirements to become a pilot with the Singapore Military Air Force include the following:

• One must be a Singapore Permanent Resident or a Singapore Citizen with age 18 years or above
• The aspirant should possess complete GCE ‘A’ Level Certification or a Diploma with passes in Physical Science, Mathematics and English at GCE ‘O’ Level
• Medical fitness (Physical Employment Status A or B)
• Eyesight correctable to 6/6 vision, not over 500 degrees for each eye
• Normal color vision with no significant deficiencies of the eye
• Astigmatism not over 200 degrees for each eye
• Height should vary from 1.62m to 1.90m

All who join RSAF as trainee pilots are required to sign a contract or bond of 10 years and have the provision for working until they are 50 years of age. The starting salary for cadets is SDG $2,500 and on obtaining Wings, pilots can earn up to around SGD $3,500. Extra benefits include flying allowances and pilot allowances. Within 10 years, a pilot attaining the Captain or Major rank can draw a salary of more than SGD $10,000 per month. Again, a senior pilot of the rank of LTC can receive over SGD $15,000 of salary per month. Disclaimer: Figures provided above are ballpark estimates as salaries are often adjusted

Selection Process

To become an RSAF pilot the candidate has to go through a rigorous selection process involving three stages. The first stage involves the 5-hour Computerized Aptitude Selection System (COMPASS) test, which evaluates areas such as spatial awareness, multitasking under stress, psychomotor skills and decision making ability.

Candidates who are successful in the COMPASS test have to go through the second stage, which involves an interview with the Pilot Selection Board, comprising of a panel of around 4 RSAF officers. The main aspects assessed in the interview include leadership qualities and the candidate’s interest in becoming an RSAF pilot.

The last stage of the selection process includes aeromedical checkup, wherein the candidate’s medical fitness along with the capability of functioning in unnatural surroundings is evaluated by aviation doctors. On qualifying all these levels, the candidate gets selected and begins BMT (Basic Military Training).

Recommendations

Joining SYFC (Singapore Youth Flying Club) is highly recommended for those who aspire to become RSAF pilots. You can become a part of SYFC while you are still at school, and this can replace your obligatory CCA in school. The SYFC has close connections with the RSAF and if a student manages to obtain a private pilot’s license, the road to becoming a pilot becomes easier.

A Singaporean male student has to enroll in National Service following completion of pre-tertiary studies. RSAF recruitment talks are carried out during the initial three months of BMT. If your dream is to become an RSAF pilot, grab the opportunity and talk to the recruiters about this!

Procedure for Becoming a Commercial Pilot

The RSAF is undoubtedly the first choice for those aspiring to become a pilot in Singapore. However, if you fail to qualify for the RSAF, there are indeed chances of becoming a commercial pilot. First of all, you need to get a medical examination scheduled with a selected medical examiner.

Following this, you are required to make an application for a Student Pilot License offered by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). After this, application can be made for joining some of the flight schools present in Singapore, such as the Singapore Flying College or the Seletar Flight School. One can get trained for joining the Singapore Airlines Group.

With the help of a Commercial Pilot License, one can become the co-pilot and the Pilot In Command of a multi-crew aircraft and single-crew aircraft respectively. The required criteria are the following:

• The applicant’s age must be 18 years or more.
• Class 1 Medical Requirements must be met
• It is mandatory for the applicant to demonstrate the capability of understanding and speaking English to a minimum of Level 4 (Operational Level) as per guidelines laid down by the Language Proficiency Rating Scale of ICAO.

However, it should be noted that job openings for commercial pilots are very rare in Singapore. Moreover, when it comes to commercial pilot recruitments, there are a number of applicants who are RSAF retirees. Since they are already trained and have accumulated extensive flight time, their chances of getting hired is really high.

Going private

If you want badly to fly an airplane but have exhausted the above 2 options to no avail, then consider taking a private pilot license instead. The downside is that you will not be able to bring a hundred people with you to the sky. If a commercial pilot is a bus captain, then a private pilot is a car driver. Okay, not exactly the best analogy but you get the idea.

With a PPL or Private Pilot License, the holder can fly as the co-pilot or the PIC (Pilot in Command) of an aircraft registered in Singapore, not for reward or hire, but those aircraft categories which the license endorses.

The following criteria must be met by the applicants:

• The applicant’s age must not be below 17 years.
• The applicant must conform to Class 2 Medical Requirements. If the applicant desires a PPL along with Instrument Rating, he or she must conform to a Class 1 Medical Requirement
• Level 4 English speaking and understanding ability as per ICAO Language Proficiency Rating Scale is required

So, if you are a student aspiring to fly high in the sky while taking the responsibility of guiding others to their destination, it’s time to get your pilot’s license. The RSAF is the most coveted opportunity, but if unluckily you didnt manage to make it, do not despair. You can always fly high by becoming a commercial or a private pilot.

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In a practical society like Singapore, the end-all-be-all for any student seems to be getting a degree. With a degree, you are generally ensured at least a degree- level pay, even if you decide to switch fields. In other words, you are pretty safe!

Yet, there are certain pathway fields that deviates from the traditional path of getting a diploma/degree from a local polytechnic or university. One such professional field is Accountancy.

ACCA > Diploma/Degree

To be an accountant in Singapore, besides going the traditional route of diploma or degree, you can opt for the professional qualifications such as ACCA. ACCA is a leading international accountancy body. It is a globally recognized qualification that can open a lot of doors.

Do all roads lead to Rome?

Now for the bottom line! Suppose you are an aspiring accountant who endeavors to be a Chartered Accountant, a professional accolade. Which route will allow you to get there faster?

(1)Degree holder: As a degree holder, you would have to take ACCA or another examination known as QP, in addition to accumulating work experience before being eligible as a Chartered accountant.

(2)ACCA grad: It will not be necessary for you to take QP. Satisfy working experience requirement, along with taking pre-admission course allows you to be a Chartered Accountant!

Yes, both roads lead to Rome, but at a different pace! Say you just finished A levels. Excluding work experience, route number 1 takes you at least 4 years whereas route number 2 can be completed in as fast as 2 years!

Told you, default path may not always be the best.

Study where?

You can go with an approval ACCA tuition provider. For example, London School of Business & Finance is a platinum approved learning partner with ACCA that has consistently produce more than 10 prize winners every single exam sitting. You can opt to study part-time or full-time.  Being a platinum approved learning partner, one can be assured of LSBF’s teaching quality and passing rate.

So what if I pass ACCA?

Singapore companies are in perpetual need of accountants. An ACCA qualification puts one in an attractive position to land a job in Singapore.

Be a student without debt

A student without debt is hard to come by unless you study ACCA. Not only is the tuition fees of ACCA lower than that of a degree program, the flexibility of the course means that you can juggle studies and work if you want to. There is the part-time option, and the schools allow you to choose lectures that fit your schedule. They even send the lecture notes to your mailbox so that you don’t have to copy your notes after a long day at work. Wow! Talk about students’ support.

Downside of ACCA

Sounds all good, uh? This ACCA thing.  Not exactly.

Bear in mind that ACCA’s assessment is all examinations-based. There is no projects or presentations in the curriculum. According to Ravi Mehndiratta, Assistant Director, Sales in LSBF, though ACCA students are highly employable and 100% of them land a job upon graduation, they may lose out to others in the company when it comes to their soft skills. Realizing that, tuition providers like LSBF has stepped up their game to provide soft-skills seminars to help their students further. So students, make sure you go for this bonus item if you enroll for ACCA tuition!

So which one should I take?

Seems like both are good, so which one is better? Academic qualifications or ACCA ???

Like what all gurus say, it depends.

There are 3 factors to consider

(1) Career – what do you want to be? If your answer is ”hmm..maybe an accountant, maybe a banker, maybe….”, then go for a degree which allows for a more diverse career options. If your answer is a resounding ”accountant/auditor”, then ACCA will make sure that you become a solid one.

(2) Curriculum – what are you more comfortable with? Project work means that your score is always dependent on your team mate’s performance and can be highly uncontrollable, whereas exams are individualistic and hard work can directly translate to results. You obviously want to match your strengths and have a smoother academic journey, so think carefully.

(3) Results- Whats your A levels/polytechnic/O levels/IB or whichever results? If your options are limited, instead of taking a little-known diploma/degree, a global ACCA achievement on your resume definitely sounds a thousand times more impressive.

More details about ACCA examinations

ACCA involves a total of 14 papers: 9 fundamental and 5 professional. But don’t worry, it is not once-a-year like your O levels, making you squeeze everything in one shot and go crazy. ACCA has 4 exam sittings in a year: March , June , September , December.

Most students who couldn’t make the mark tend to be those who lax off in the month leading to the exams as there are no regular classes in that period. ACCA graduate, Jeyam advises students to start studying for each exam at least 2 months in advance, and importantly, go for the revision classes to find the important areas to focus on. To register for the fundamental papers, you can start with a centre like LSBF and not forgetting the exclusive discount they offer to new students.

Final final advice for students is to think hard for yourself. Like what you see in the movies, go for a walk along the seaside(consider Sentosa or Singapore river), so that you are away from influences of people like your friends and potentially be affected by their decision (just make sure you don’t fall into the waters).  Lastly, seek advice but make your own decision. All the best!

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As an introvert, first-days at school used to terrify me. What can possibly be worse than being shoved into a room occupied by a motley of strangers? What if they’re all terrible and jarringly noisy? What is they all don’t like me? What if I’m all alone in the end?

If this resonates with you, fret not- school isn’t at all that bad for us introverts, and there are many simple ways for us to make school life more comfortable.

Projects

School projects can be miserable. If groupings are pre-assigned by your tutor, there is a good chance that you will end up being stuck with a bunch of strangers you don’t even say hi to when you see them. Even if you are allowed to choose your own group, you and your Best Friend will probably end up being absorbed by another group in order to make numbers. Even after all that mess, you may still have to deal with free loaders, empty vessels and really loud control freaks. You’re trapped.

Although dealing with strangers can be quite a pain, it is something you have to deal with at some point in your life anyway. I find that treating your new project mates as new (but probably distant) friends instead of mere co-workers helps a great deal. Yes, you most likely disdain even the concept of a distant friend and may be you want to stick almost exclusively to that small, tight-knit circle of friends, but thinking of your project mates as distant friends rather than just colleagues makes it a bit easier for you to feel included and so speak up, and it also makes it easier for you to forgive them for their loudness and other similar transgressions.

As an introvert, you are also more than likely to prefer doing the back-end work like data collation and writing, rather than fronting the project. Hence, you should make this clear at the start. The nature of these types of work, coupled with your quietness, will probably make it seem like you are doing less work as well, however. One way to make it obvious that you are pulling your weight will be to periodically update your group on what you have completed. If you are an idealist as well, you will probably have cringed at that thought, but this may be quite necessary if you have been, or are on the verge of being accused of shirking your duties. Peer appraisals put a further premium on maintaining a good image. The alternative, of course, will be to do so much work (of great quality) that your work ethic is absolutely unequivocal.

Presentations

Alright so these are the worst-you have to open your mouth and confront an apathetic audience at the same time in a gladiatorial battle for some marks. We introverts tend to be poorer at presentations than our opposite number the extroverts, partly because we dread them so much and partly because we lack practice (which is mostly because we hate presentations, which in turn is because we are not very good at it, which is because we lack practice; I think you get the idea by now).

Although there is no quick fix for this, you can alleviate this by putting your head in the grind and practicing your speech or presentation ad nauseam. Constant practice allows you to be less uncomfortable with this foreign aberration that is presentation and it also allows you to become better at your speech or presentation (obviously). It is also worth noting that your practice should not be merely in your head or even at a lower volume than usual- I too find it much easier to recite my script and improvising inside my head, but spitting the words out with all the relevant gestures is quite a different matter.

Inevitably, you may feel somewhat disheartened by your relative lack of ability in this field. Thankfully, we introverts can find a great deal of motivation from the fact that we are making progress in our craft and also bettering ourselves, and this is fantastic given that this is intrinsic motivation. As such, whenever you feel down during your practices, it will be of help to remind yourself that you have improved a great deal from the time you first started.

Class Participation

This is a particularly touchy topic to me because it is widely acknowledged that introverts are penalised when it comes to class “participation”, and I personally find it questionable whether class participation should even be graded. Again, there is no easy remedy, and it may be necessary for you to allow your tutors to extort some words from you from time to time. However, it is probably quite a bit easier to “participate” in lessons about topics you are passionate or well-versed in, so it will be of great help to do your research when it comes to subjects you are more unfamiliar with, and  freely volunteer your opinions in classes you find interesting.

In addition, here are some helpful tips to ease you into speaking up in class:

• Prepare your response and rehearse it as best you can. If it is a verbal response, it should be helpful to first think of exactly what you are going to say, and even mouth the words before you raise your hand. Not only will this allow you to better craft your response, more importantly, it will relieve some of your apprehension that you are likely to harbour.
• If your friend is beside you, quickly share your potential response with him. The subsequent affirmation from him will allow you to build some confidence.
• Treat your response as a conversation with your tutor. Yes, you are probably expected to share your answer with the entire class, but I find that this usually intimidates us introverts a bit too much. We usually feel less uncomfortable in a one-to-one conversation with a stranger as opposed to a sharing session with an audience of foreign faces.

Alright folks so that is all from me, hope it helps you in some way. Remember that introversion is a personality trait and nothing much else- it certainly is not an immutable characteristic and it is also very much tied to context and your environment. Try to make your environment comfortable for yourself, but remember to step out of that cosy circle periodically, and speak up when you have to.

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In any club/committee, you’ll meet people you like and people you don’t like. It’s easy to work with people you like who also have similar worldviews. But what about working with people that you just instinctually don’t like?

You need to learn and find ways to work with these people because at the end of the day, shady politics would only affect the morale of the entire club.

1) Know how to communicate with different people

Know your friends well, but know your “enemies” even better. Identify the characteristics of these people that you don’t like. What are the major differences between you and these people that make them so “unsociable”?  How they socialise and bond with their friends? (Yes, they have friends too)

Once you think you’ve got down their personality, devise a plan to approach them in an effective manner.

Maybe this person prefers a gentle nudge to get work done as compared to your “We must get this done or you’ll see my wrath!” approach. Maybe this person has a lot going on and has problems with time management, so offer an action plan that works best for the club/committee and this person. Or maybe, the dislike is mutual so it’s best to work with a third party messenger instead.

Efficient communication + efficient work + happy group members = no politics.

2) Conceal, don’t feel, but also don’t pent up

You have a stubborn member in your club? You really, really want to tell this person how they are making everyone’s life miserable? You want to just rant about this person to other members?

Ok, calm down.

When you’re with these people you don’t like, do not show displeasure. Act graciously. Listen to what they have to say, withhold your mean and straightforward comments and be as polite as you can while expressing constructive feedback. A courteous environment grows no politics.

Wait till the end of the meeting, then explode your rants to friends NOT in the club/committee, run around the campus, punch your pillow, or run up to Little Guilin and shout your lungs out.

Show your kindness publicly, express your rage privately.

3) Talk to an outsider

A second opinion from a neutral outsider (maybe your Poly/JC best friend) provides a clear analysis of the situation in an unbiased manner. Perhaps they’ll provide an analysis of these people you dislike. Perhaps they’ll provide some advice as to how you should communicate with these people. Perhaps they’ll point out your faults.

And even though they are likely to take your side of the matter, they are also not as emotionally invested as you are.

Clear headed thoughts = no politics.

4) Don’t be the stubborn one

The stubborn one feels victimized and puts blame on the group, which more than often, is the start of shady politics and backstabbing. The stubborn one holds back plans and hampers progress. The stubborn one thinks highly of themselves.

Having morals and beliefs are definitely important, but sometimes it’s also necessary to be flexible so as to benefit the greater good of the club/committee. Try to see if you displayed these traits during your daily self-reflections in the shower. Don’t be the fuel that starts the fire.

5) Ignorance is Bliss

And sometimes the only way to avoid politics is to turn a blind eye to it.

“Did you know that ABC is actually just being friends with XYZ until the end of election season?”

“Oh, really ah?  I didn’t know.”

Why be a part of a big mess when you’re just content being a member of a club that functions well enough on the surface? Choose either to be oblivious to it or actively avoid it.

Now that you know 5 ways to avoid politics in clubs/committees, apply which ever method you feel is the easiest or most applicable to your situation.

Remember, politics don’t only affect the relationship between you and the other person; it affects the working environment and how well the club’s/committee’s functions.

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Hello AY16/17 freshies! Welcome to a new chapter of your lives! No matter what you’re here for (a piece of expensive paper called The Degree Certificate, a learning experience in a subject you’re passionate about, a stepping stone for further educational pursuits, etc.), you’ll probably ponder over whether or not you should go for club/faculty/hall camps.

So allow me to help you make your decision with this flowchart!

This flowchart is not meant to be the sole determining factor; it is merely based on my own humble opinion and experiences.

Allow me elaborate on a few more points here.

1) Expectation and preparedness

Every camp has a different culture and vibe. Every camp has different traditions and ideas that they want to “impose” upon the freshies. Every camp has a different events and activities in stall for you.

That’s why it is important to know what to expect and thoroughly prepare yourself physically and mentally before the camps. If you have any seniors in NTU, do ask them to share some information with you. And if you do not have connections to tell you what to expect, you can always search for the particular club/faculty/hall’s Facebook page or Instagram page to get a general feel of how it’s like.

On a side note, hall camps are generally much……wilder/intense. So it’s best to know what type of hall you are getting into (For example, hall 3/6 have a strong sporting culture).

2) Personality

Personality plays a great part in determining how much you’ll enjoy camps. A good way to gauge how your personality works with camps is to think back to the times of your JC/Poly orientation camps. Did you enjoy your time there or did your energy drain out very quickly? Did you keep the friends that you’ve made during those camps?

Personally, I’m a reserved person, so I interact more comfortably withnew friends when I’m in a classroom environment rather than camps. And if you’re like me, but still want to try out camps here are a few tips for you:

• Try out milder camps instead. Eg. faculty and club camps
• You’re not the only reserved one in camps. Befriend those who give out similar vibes as yourself
• Small talks can be tiring. So if you desperately need personal space, a long toilet break helps
• Snacks are good ice breakers. They may also provide comfort to you when you’re stressed out
• Maintain constant communication with your group leaders about how you’re feeling

3) Peer pressure, comfort zones, and limits             

You know what to expect and you know about yourself. Now, what you need to know is how to deal with peer pressure, comfort zones, and limits.

Not just in NTU, most university camps can be quite… extreme in their activities. Usually not enough to make you feel violated, but just enough to make you feel uncomfortable and feel that thrill.

However, if you do feel that some activities makes you extremely uncomfortable or that you’re pushing your limits for too long or that the peer pressure to continue an activity you simply can’t endure is too much, just tell the group leaders (GLs) about it. GLs don’t bite. They are very nice.

Remember no one can force you to do any activity, everything you do is voluntary.

Have fun!

Well, I hope you have fun in your first year in NTU whether or not you choose to go to camp in the end! Everything will work out fine. You’ll be alright.

(Note: There has been a recent Straits Times article regarding the changes in NTU’s camps. I would just like to add a disclaimer here that you take that article with a pinch of salt. It does not entirely reflect the feelings on the ground. Discussions are still going on regarding the planning of camps, and different clubs/halls/faculties seem to be enacting these “new changes” to varying extents.)

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After completing 36 modules over the span of 4 years in university, you are finally weeks away from your long awaited commencement before you officially transit into the workforce. However, before this transition to the next phase of your adult life, you feel that you need a well-deserved overseas trip to reward yourself for all the hard work and sleepless nights you had sacrificed for this degree scroll. Friends all around you are discussing about their potential trips to various exotic countries and asking you to join them for a fun-filled adventure. Nonetheless, you are keeping your options open because you desire for a memorable experience to celebrate a key milestone in your life.

One fine day, while surfing Facebook, you chanced upon a video, which recounts your friend, Zack’s solo backpacking experience in South Korea. As daunting as a solo backpacking experience may sound, you are hugely inspired by his actual encounters where he is able to ‘change’ his identity temporarily into a local there and indulge fully into the Korean culture. You thought about this matter and slept over it for the next few days. Finally after much deliberation, you came to a conclusion to follow his footstep and embark on a new adventure that will be etched in your memory for years to come.

Craving for a holistic experience but not sure where to go for your virgin backpacking experience? Fret not, just grab your bag and camera and head on to the 10 recommended exotic destinations for your one and only ultimate graduation trip.

1) South Korea- Seoul

Getting around different parts of South Korea had never been much easier due to the advancement of the metro and railway trains. In addition, South Korea is a tourist friendly country as English labels are readily available in almost all of the train and bus stations for easy navigation around the bustling city.

Embrace the Hallyu wave and be prepared for non-stop eating and shopping in the streets of Myeongdong, South Korea’s primary shopping and eating paradise.

Moreover, if you are a huge fan of the famous Korean drama, Gu Family Book, featuring Lee Seung-gi and Miss A’s Suzy, you can indulge yourself into the traditional Korean culture by heading to tourists hotspots like the Bukchon Hanok Village and Gyeongbokgung palace.

Take a selfie with a rented hanbok costume and share the moment with your friends on social media. You will be surprised on the level of elegancy that the costume portrays.

2) South Korea- Busan

Busan is a seafood paradise renowned for serving top-notch fresh seafood and therefore for all seafood lovers around the world, Busan is a definite must visit destination for all of you. Besides whenever I tell my friends about my visit to Busan, the first question that popped up would be enquiring me if I managed to try their signature live octopus.

I am sure many of you have eaten octopus in your daily meals and it is nothing unusual. However, have you ever wonder how does it feel like to consume a live octopus down your stomach? As daunting as it may sound to be, it is really delicious and worth the hefty price tag. Thus, I would strongly encourage you all to try it for yourself because words alone cannot justify the satisfaction derived from my encounter with live octopus.

3) South Korea-Jeju island

Are you searching for a destination to heal your exhausted bodies after sacrificing countless sleepless nights for your academics? Look no more because Jeju island is the ideal place for you. Famous for its detoxification and rejuvenation treatment in natural splendour via means of spas and hot springs, a trip to Jeju island is bound to restore your exhausted bodies with fresh brand of energy, preparing you for the future hectic working life spiritually and physically.

Moreover, there is a rise in tourists heading to Jeju island for medical spa treatments where it combines spa treatments with certified doctors’ prescription. This particular combination of natural remedies and eastern medicine has proven to be an effective method in relieving stress and rejuvenation.

4) New Zealand

Tired of travelling by automobiles? Why not take the opportunity to cycle your way around New Zealand? Calling all nature lovers from around the globe to book an air ticket to New Zealand this coming summer as most of the 18 New Zealand Cycle Trails are finally open to the public.

Get ready to hop on a holistic rejuvenation experience as the 2500 km of cycle trails are bound to take your breath away with the magnificent sceneries that you are about to encounter along the way. Moreover, based on your own level of physical fitness, you get to choose the particular route that you deemed suits you best and be prepared for an unforgettable experience.

This is definitely one of the key highlights that you do not want to miss during your time in New Zealand. So what are you waiting for? Grab your bike and come on down now to leave a personal trail here this coming summer. I can assure you that you are in for a jolly good ride.

5) China- Hangzhou

Hangzhou is definitely a good destination for tourists to take a step back from the bustling city life and be taken aback by the scenic natural beauty attractions that are available there.

The West Lake was nominated as one of the most popular hotspot to witness breathtaking sunset views that are bound to blow your mind away. One word of advice, according to past travellers, the best season for heading down to West Lake would be Spring due to the blossoming of flowers and weeping willow catkins, creating a pleasant atmosphere to be there.  The amazing scenery is one of a kind that you would not want to miss.

6) Philippines-Boracay

Are you looking for an affordable tranquil and beautiful beachside holiday? Well the good news is that the white beaches in Boracay, Philippines, are capable of achieving that particular objective.  Be prepared for a fun filled resort adventure in Boracay where you can engage in outdoor sea activities such as scuba diving and parasailing that are sure to create an enjoyable experience for you.

If you simply want to find a place to chill and empty your mind, fret not because you could just spend the entire day walking along the long beach front filled with white powdery sand and enjoy the magnificent scenery. Take a short escape from reality and let your worries blow off together with the breeze of wind.

7) Indonesia-Bali

If you are having a tight travelling budget yet you are hoping to live a life like a royalty, the decision to head to Bali will be the best for you because of the fact that the accommodations and food there are dirt cheap.

Furthermore, if you are interested in having more in-depth information or first hand experience about the Indonesian culture, you will be able to accomplish that in Bali. The exotic temples and palaces set against stunning natural backdrops that is sure to take your breath away and bring you closer to the Indonesian culture.

8) Vietnam- Ha Long Bay

Located in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam, Ha Long Bay is a hotspot for many tourists as it is a world heritage site, which features many unique limestone islands, rock formations and caves.

For all the scenery lovers out there, they will definitely enjoy this site because of the breathtaking backdrops that could not be found elsewhere. Moreover, to further enhance their experiences, they can choose to rent a kayak or junk boat to tour around the area and picture down the stunning sites that they came across.

9) Thailand Phuket

Another alternative to an affordable beachside holiday that you can consider is Thailand Phuket. With more than 30 beaches in Phuket to choose from, various beaches are popular amongst tourists depending on the type of activities they prefer to do.

For instance, if you like to party, you should probably consider staying in Patong beach due to its bustling nightlife where nightclubs and beer bars are just around the corner. Grab a six pack and get ready to party till dawn.

10) Nepal

With some of the most beautiful landscapes available in Nepal that are only accessible by foot, it makes trekking in Nepal one of the most remarkable yet meaningful experiences in Asia.

Moreover, there is no better way to celebrate a key milestone in your life by leaving your foot trail in a foreign country. Challenge yourself mentally and physically to climb some of the highest summits in the world and you get to witness some awe-inspiring backdrop in exchange, which is definitely worth the effort. Remember to bring extra batteries for your camera so as to capture some of the most stunning sceneries that could not be found elsewhere.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your passport and book your air ticket right now. Seat tight, buckle up and prepare for a memorable experience to celebrate your key milestone in life.

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You’re most likely here because you’re trying to find more information about halls in NTU. Well, you’ve come to the right place! You’ll be able to see everything there is to know about the hall/ hostel that you’ve been allocated here in just one glance.

Information is gathered via NTU websites and experiences of your seniors. Please feel free to add any additional information in the comments section below!

All halls are equipped with lounges, air-conditioned reading rooms, pantries and laundry rooms with washing machines and dryers in the common areas.

• Lounges are where you’ll find a TV. Usually they are air-conditioned and can be found in the middle of the hall blocks for easy access.
• Reading rooms are where you find study cubicles for mugging and printers for printing. They can get quite crowded during examination periods.
• Pantries are where you can find a hot water dispenser, microwave, and induction cookers (usually pantries have 2 of these).
• Laundry rooms are where you wash and iron your clothes. Washing machines (30 mins/cycle) and dryers (30 mins/cycle) are operated by $1 coins. Iron board and iron are provided for free. Laundry detergent, softener, or any other cleaning agents are not provided.
• One more thing: Most halls have hall cat(s). Most of them are friendly since NTU’s Cat Management Network feeds them daily.

All rooms are furnished with a wardrobe (with a full-length mirror in it), a study table attached with a cupboard on the side and a shelf on the top, a corkboard, a bed (varies from a twin to a twin XL-sized bed according to hall), and a ceiling fan.

With that, you have a basic understanding of what to expect from your hall. You may now look further down for the specific hall you’ll be living in for more detailed information.

Contents:

Hall 1

Photo credit:  http://www.ntuhall1.com/about/)

Hall 2

(Photo credit: Yeo Kai Wen )

Hall 3

(Photo credit: Hall 3 Residence Facebook)

Hall 4

(Photo credit: NTU Hall 4 Facebook)

Hall 5

(Photo credit:  http://nomadicmeg.com/living-at-ntu/)

Hall 6

(Photo credit: Sekolah SG)

Hall 7

(Photo credit: NTU)

Hall 8

(Photo credit: NTU)

Hall 9

(Photo credit: http://www.hexagon.edu.vn/dien-dan/mot-goc-nhin-ntu-singapore-nd10.html)

Hall 10

(Photo credit: NTU Hall Ten Facebook)

Hall 11

( Photo credit: http://www.hexagon.edu.vn/dien-dan/mot-goc-nhin-ntu-singapore-nd10.html)

Hall 12

(Photo credit:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/NTU_Hall_12.jpg)

Hall 13

(Photo credit: http://www.hexagon.edu.vn/dien-dan/mot-goc-nhin-ntu-singapore-nd10.html)

Hall 14

(Photo credit: NTU Undergraduate Housing)

Hall 15

(Photo credit: NTU)

Hall 16

(Photo credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/NTU_Hall_16.jpg)

Hall 17 (Crescent Hall)

(Photo credit: NTU News Releases)

Hall 18 (Pioneer Hall)

(Photo credit: NTU News Releases)

I hope that this bite-sized information is useful in helping you get to know the hall you’ll be living in for the next academic year.

Most people end up being hall ghosts (aka, not involved in hall activities). But if you do want the full hall life experience, my advice is to go for hall camps and join the JCRC (Junior Common Room Committees)(aka, hall exco members) when given the chance.

For more information, you can check out these official websites:

http://www.ntu.edu.sg/has/Undergraduate/Pages/index.aspx

http://www.ntu.edu.sg/has/Undergraduate/Pages/NTUNewStudents.aspx

http://www.ntu.edu.sg/has/Undergraduate/HallsofResidence/Pages/Halls.aspx

http://maps.ntu.edu.sg/maps#

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As compared to the previous year , law , medical and business courses remained as the top 5 earners while we have economics and computing degrees as new entrants. With Singapore moving towards being an IT hub, there is a huge demand for IT savvy people. It is not hard to figure out why computing has moved up the salary rankings. It will be interesting to see if  computing can overtake law and medicine , the traditional stronghold in the next few years.

As you can see, the degrees with better financial payoff also has a higher entry requirement. It is a game of supply and demand. With more people going to high-paying courses, it increases the competition and hence making it harder to get it. The data also tells us that it is worthwhile to work hard even after you have gotten into the degree program because your graduating class does affect your potential salary. For example, where you see SMU in the top 5 earners are the cum laude graduates(people with better results) and not those in the lower class. It pays to get good grades in university.

With all that said, we have to emphasize that it is not worthwhile trying to get into the program just for the sake of salary. It makes time in university harder. We reckon that those who make it to the first class honors classification are those who enjoy their courses. So, irregardless of your field, make sure you like what you study !

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It was just a few years ago, when I graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a Diploma in Information Technology, specialising in Business Management. It was also during that period of time that together with my friends, we formed a technology-related startup company.

That came about, as I was counting the days leading to my national service enlistment. I was constantly presented the finite and whatever significantly little time that I had, as compared to my female counterparts.

Having fully grasped and finally understood the situation, I evaluated the opportunities around me and came to two realisations:

1. As my interest had always been in building businesses, I wondered then if there was an education pathway for me to explore, which would allow me to focus on innovating products and services, with a clear understanding of managing frugal resources?

This would be in stark contrast with large corporations, where resources are usually and readily available, and where intra-preneurship is welcomed and strongly encouraged.

2. I also realised that I needed to choose a further education programme which could build on my personal development, teach me how to effectively manage my commitments and to allow me to apply the skills and knowledge I learn in class, into the real world.

The programme should also enable me to continue investing and expanding my network of likeminded contacts, as well as to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams.

The Bachelor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship(BIE) programme is offered through Ngee Ann-Adelaide (NAA) Education Centre, by the University of Adelaide(UoA) which has been consistently ranked in the top 1 per cent of universities worldwide. Not only is UoA the state university in Adelaide, Australia, it is also a member of the prestigious Group of Eight, a coalition of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities.

Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the hallmark of excellence in business education which is awarded to less than 5 per cent of the world’s business schools, the BIE programme focuses very much on team projects and in applications, so as to expose students to the fundamentals of real-life business environment – this was one of the main motivating reasons why I decided on this programme to pursue my further studies in.

As there is never a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to searching for a further education pathway, I will focus on these aspects which you could take reference from, if you are on the lookout for a reputed university and/or a quality degree programme.

Be involved in communities that motivate you: Lecturers& Students

Lunch with Ms Kathleen Metzger, a Singapore-US lawyer &lecturer of the Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship course

In the BIE programme, all of my lecturers are either business owners themselves or are angel investors with renowned global venture capitalist firms.

Some of my classmates have also been working for more than a decade and a few of them also aspire to be business owners one day.

Be it in class interactions or during project discussions, they are all generous to share and exchange their rich experiences, as well as how they intend to make significant changes in people’s lives with their business ideas and product offerings.

Constantly exposed to a wealth of knowledge, we are closely bonded by the same fiery passion for entrepreneurship, both lecturers and students alike.

Understand the dynamics of learning from different culture

Hands on, working in teams: Our first task during the first lesson was to buildthe tallest possible structure out of satay sticks together as a team with little time

My lecturers hail either from Australia, the United States of America or Holland. Their culture is pretty simple and straightforward – Get Up & Go. If my peers and I wanted something, we would have to step up to claim it. The delivery of lectures is designed to facilitate reasoning, to encourage strategic thinking and to evoke emotions from participants. There were many situations and instances, where we had to defend our work, share our opinions and even to accept criticisms.

The programme is designed to get students to interact intellectually, discuss and exchange concepts, as well as collaborate to put a business plan into action.

Succeeding through self-accountability & teamwork

This cannot be emphasized enough: most of the project assignments require a determined personal effort and the willingness to step out of the usual comfort zone to understand yourself, your teammates, leverage on their strengths, complement each other’s weaknesses, so as to achieve an eventual common aim.

To put it simply, it is utmost necessary for you to establish and maintain close relationships with your classmates; you never know where life takes you after graduation.

Pursue something you love; the returns on your investments may just prove to be worth your while10 or even 20 years later

The end is always a start of a brand new journey: University of Adelaide (Singapore), Alumni Homecoming 2016

Writer’s Biography

Jeremy Goh is an Entrepreneur, Communicator and Toastmaster. He runs FingerRun Pte Ltd – a social enterprise driven media agency and community, OneVocal. Previously, he advised many government, not-for-profit / non-profit organisations and private sectors in developing their marketing and product strategies, engaging their communities, building and bridging digital/ physical relationships and turning ideas into realities.

Not too long ago, he was also the Senior Advisor for the Youth Infocomm Ambassadors for the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), a government body which cultivates a vibrant and competitive infocomm industry in Singapore. The team of ambassadors represents the voices of many aspiring technologists in Singapore.

During his free time, he volunteers as a Grassroots Leader for his local community.

He has also led many marketing and outreach activities for various organisations, such as the Singapore Computer Society (SCS), People’s Association (PA), Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) of Singapore, Singapore Business Federation (SBF), Opera Software, BlackBerry (Research in Motion), Little Big Sound, TravelPac, Breadou, Get Singapore, ShowNearby/Global Yellow Pages, Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), etc.

His full disclosure of affiliations and the organisations he has worked with, can all be found on his LinkedIn page here, as well as on his blog here.

Jeremy Goh is also a current student of the Bachelor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship programme offered by the University of Adelaide, through the Ngee Ann-Adelaide Education Centre. Consistently ranked in the top 1 per cent of universities worldwide, the state university of Adelaide is also a member of the prestigious Group of Eight, a coalition of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities.

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Are you craving for new experiences abroad? Would you be thrilled or intimidated to change your life completely, travel and live like a local student in another continent? Stop thinking twice because university years are the best time of your life to not settle, as you are yet to have much commitment. For those who want to get out of Singapore for an exchange semester, internship or volunteering program in Europe, here are the best countries to move to.

The Netherlands

If I have to choose one of the best destinations to spend one semester abroad, it would take no second to consider the Netherlands. The Dutchies are known for not just football, tulips or windmill, but also their open mind, quality education and especially excellent language skills. And their bike culture is exceptional. Some of the biggest student cities you should stick to are Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Groningen. Last year, I had no doubt choosing Groningen for my ERASMUS exchange study program and it was splendid.

Germany

Keen to move to a bigger and more versatile country than Holland to spend your next exchange semester abroad? Consider Germany for your next stop! And advantage of studying here is the possibility to travel around the whole Europe, thanks to smooth connections between big cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne and Munich and the surrounding countries. During the long winter vacation, my friend and her fellow exchange students rented a car and did a road-trip across Europe from Bavaria. However, a disadvantage of studying in Germany in comparison with the Netherlands is the language. While not all the courses are available in English, you would need to have basic German skills before arriving for necessary daily communication. Also, dont be surprised to find lots of exam and difficult grading in the German education system!

United Kingdom

Want to see the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with your own eyes? You will find Harry Porter real-life filming locations all over the UK. So why not spend a semester in England to explore your favourite scenes, from the wild Scottish Highlands to the historic market of London. London has always been the famous European capital city where you can find all sorts of fashion styles, foods, and cultures. Along with the Netherlands and Germany, England offers plenty internship opportunities for English-speaking undergraduates typically within 6 months.

Spain

If you are hungry for diverse cuisine, bustling nightlife and dazzling landscapes, Spain is the place to be! A couples of big cities where you would study or travel in are Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Malaga. You may find it hard to team up and work with Spanish people, as they always seem lazy, or waiting for their next ‘siesta’. No they are just chilling! And they can be productive too with a little push. Do not hesitate to pick up the language as soon as you arrive. Spanish may not be the best English speakers in Europe, but they are friendly and eager to help. Spanish is not a difficult language, and one of the most wide spoken one in the world. You will be fluent in daily conversation in no time.

Finland

Out of all the Nordic countries, Finland stands out with its top education quality known worldwide. Nevertheless, Finland remains an exotic and unknown destination for students not just in Asia, but also in the Southern parts of Europe. Indulge yourself in the Finnish education that embraces equality over grades. Experience the adventurous winter sport events or ‘sauna parties’ for students that you would not find in Asia. Some of the best partner institutions with NUS and SMU in Helsinki are University of Helsinki, Aalto University and Hanken School of Economics. You would find a wide range of programs in English here, including agriculture, biology, art and business. If you would like to stay in the country for longer than just a semester, go for a complete master program or a bachelor degree like me.

Poland

For those who are looking for a cheaper destination than Western and Northern European countries, head to the East! You would find the magnificent capital city Warsaw and the prior capital Krakow two ideal cities to study and explore. I would highly recommend staying in Poland for a volunteering program as I did in summer 2014 with AIESEC Szczecin. Whether working in a kindergarten or an NGO, you would find yourself in love with the Polish classic architecture, tasty cuisine, and local hospitality.

Hungary

Budapest is not just an ideal student city, but also one of the most romantic capital cites in Europe. It is also an affordable destination, with good transportation to the Balkans countries where you would find more undiscovered countries in Europe like Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.

Keep moving!

Moving to a new country where you dont know the language or culture could be overwhelming, and scary as hell! Do not let your fear interfering with the joyful journey, because life as a foreigner in Europe is completely fun, safe and versatile. If you are not sure where to start or feel out of the community, simply start a conversation with your roommate. Ask people out for a drink or dinner. Most European say no to neither food nor drink, or both! Join different social hubs and participate in on-going events besides study. It will take you no time to meet new people who would travel and even become life-time friends with you

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The most complicated thing that messed me up the most while preparing for NTU admission? This mysterious thing called STARS and all the abbreviations that I have no idea what they mean. Now that I’ve finally finished (read as: survived) my first year in NTU, I’ll like to share with you the essential 101s about NTU.

I’ll give you the backbone of NTU and I’ll tell you what to expect; you’ll gather your own experience and form your own opinions. LET’S START!

Academic

The only website you’ll ever need to find everything academic related: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/Students/Undergraduate/AcademicServices/Pages/AcademicUnitSystem(AUS).aspx

Modules

• What is AU?

Let me introduce the concept of AU. AU, also known as Academic Unit, is basically like debt. Students from different majors are assigned with different amount of AUs, and you need to clear all AUs in order to graduate from NTU. And in order to clear AUs, you need to take up modules, attachment/internship programmes, and final year projects (FYP).

One unit of AU represents:

(a) one hour of lecture/tutorial per week

OR

(b) 3 hours of laboratory/fieldwork per week

For freshmen like yourself, all you need to know is that a typical module in NTU has 3/4 AUs.

According to your specific faculty, there are certain rules about how many AUs you can take in one semester. And if you wish to overload on your AUs, which is inadvisable in most situation, you’ll need to appeal to your specific faulty. For example, having 18 AUs and above is considered overloading for any humanities courses.

• GERPE? GER-CORE? GER-UE? CORE? HELP!

My sweet child, fret not.

CORE courses are simply courses that you MUST take for your major. Usually, these are already pre-registered for you.

Major PE(Prescribed Electives) are courses you’ll choose FROM YOUR MAJOR that will allow for specialisation in a certain field.

GER-CORE courses are usually 1 AU courses taken online or are pre-registered courses included in your major’s curriculum structure. They are courses that cover the following areas: Communication Skills, Singapore Studies, Sustainability, Ethics, Enterprise and Innovation.

GER-PE courses are specific courses under these three categories: Business & Management, Liberal Arts, and Science, Technology, and Society. Students MUST take at least 1 module from EACH category; and depending on your major, you’re required to take 3 – 5 GER-PEs.

GER-UE(Unrestricted Electives) is basically a wild card. You can choose to take module offered by any other major, other than your own,in NTU. In my opinion, UEs make university life interesting.

• What do I need to clear? How many AUs do I need to clear?

Well, it depends on your major.

Once you have your username and have been registered into NTU’s system, you’ll be able to access your DEGREE AUDIT in the NTU Course Registration site

Once in there, you’ll need to enter your Network Username and Password.

You’ll then see this table:

This table tells you exactly how many AUs for the specific type of modules that you’ll need to clear during the 3 / 4 years in NTU.

Scroll further down and you’ll see another table:

This table tells you what courses you’ve registered for and what courses have already been pre-registered for you.

DEGREE AUDIT is a page that you would want to visit before and after of course registration and end of the semester.

How you choose to clear your AUs are entirely up to you, but most courses do provide a suggested curriculum plan: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/Students/Undergraduate/AcademicServices/CourseRegistration/Pages/CurriculumStructure.aspx

(Note: There may be changes to the AUs required as the table is for AY2015/2016)

STAR WARS (aka Timetable Planning)

Welcome young Jedi to the world of STAR WARS, where pressure is high, tears will fall, and defeat is guaranteed.

Or in other words, welcome to timetable planning in NTU.

STARS (Student Automated Registration System) is a system that allows students to register for modules. You are unlikely to use STARSfor the first semester as courses will be pre-registered for you.

Unlike NUS, which uses a bidding system, NTU uses a FIRST COME FIRST SERVE system in which the fastest person to register for a module gets the module.

Even though as freshmen you will not experience STAR WARS in your first semester, you will experience the ADD/DROP period, during is the first TWO teaching weeks, wherebyyou’ll add modules. Once you’ve chosen your preferred modules, the allocation of said module is entirely random, likea game of probability(unless you’re a senior, then the probability of getting a popular course is higher).

Here’s an article to tell you more about how to win the WAR: http://digitalsenior.sg/win-stars-war-guide-ntu-course-registration/

Anyways, here’s a guide to STARS and STARS Planner.

1. Go on your DEGREE AUDIT and take note of the courses already registered for you

2. Take note of the INDEX NO. and COURSE CODE. The index no. indicates which tutorial group you’re in

3. Go on to STARS PLANNER. STARS PLANNER is a platform for you to plan out your timetable before you register for any other UE or GER-PE.

4. Type in your COURSE CODES from your degree audit into the textboxes on the left. If you’re required to take up a UE or a GERPE to fulfil minimum AUs for a semester, you can check out what courses are available from each faulty in the OPTIONS You can also visit https://wish.wis.ntu.edu.sg/webexe/owa/aus_subj_cont.main for more details on a certain module offered during a certain semester

5. Once you’ve entered your COURSE CODES, press PLAN

6. Find the exact INDEX NO. ofthe course as indicated in your DEGREE AUDIT and select that accordingly. You would also be able to see the VACANCIES available and the WAITLIST for the specific tutorial group.

7. You’ll end up with a timetable! Make sure to take note of your EXAM SCHEDULE and make sure they don’t clash. If you see RED BOXES in your timetable, that means that your schedules clash and you should probably find another timeslot or another module for UE/GERPE

8. Once you’re happy with your timetable, you can press ADD COURSE(S) INTO STARS

9. A pop-up of STARS would appear. ClickADD COURSE and enter the INDEX NO. of the not pre-registered course that you want, you would be asked to rank them from 1-5 (1 being the course you want to get the most and 5 being the least)

10. You can check your status for the course at PRINT/CHECK COURSES REGISTERED

11. The STATUS should appear as WAITLISTED. The result of the ballot would be sent to your NTU email at around 10pm or later. You will NOT receive an email if you are NOT SUCCESSFUL in registering for the course. The ballot will start again the next day with fewer vacancies left for each module.

May the fastest bandwidth be with you, young Jedi.

GPA

You will get your GPA for the semester 2 to 3 weeks after the end of finals week.

You will find the your letter grade for each module and GPA for the semester at http://www.ntu.edu.sg/Students/Undergraduate/AcademicServices/Examination/Pages/ExaminationResults.aspx

OR alternatively, you can visit your DEGREE AUDIT, which will show you the exact same thing AND yourCGPA(Cumulative Grade Point Average).

The corresponding GPA to your letter score is shown in the table below:

There really is no need to know how to calculate your GPA as it is also quite difficult to estimate the BELL CURVEof the modules.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U)

Here’s something interesting! S/U is an option for students to choose how they want to be evaluated for a particular module. If you get an S, it means you’ve passed the module. And “U” indicates failing a module. Each student is allowed to S/U 9 to 12AUs in the course of their whole NTU life. Once you’ve S/U-ed a course, it will no longer count to your GPA and your transcript would only indicate whether or not you’ve passed or failed the particular module.

You can choose to S/U a module during the beginning of the semester or at the end of the semester.

Tip: There are some modules that are graded by Pass/Fail. So, if you do take those modules, you’ll not waste the precious S/U AUs.

First year can fail modules? And it’s fine?!

Well…Yes and no.

Yes, because you can fail your modules and it would not count into you CGPA.

No, because exempted modules will appear in your transcript. Also, if you fail single module in Year 1, you will not be promoted to Year 2 despite not affecting you GPA.

For more information: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/Students/Undergraduate/AcademicServices/Examination/Pages/FAQ–Freshmen-Year-GPA-Exemption.aspx

Social

Campus bus

NTU has shuttle buses that loop around in school and buses that drive you directly from specific MRT stations to school.

For the internal shuttle buses, we have the CAMPUS LOOP – RED LINE (CL-R),CAMPUS LOOP – BLUE LINE (CL-B), CAMPUS LOOP – YELLOW LINE (CL-Y), CAMPUS RIDER, and CAMPUS WEEKEND RIDER (CWR).

Abbreviations:

• LWN Library – Lee Wee Nam Library (North Spine)
• SPMS – School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
• WKWSCI – Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information
• CEE – Civil and Environmental Engineering
• SBS – School of Biological Sciences
• TCT LT – Tan Chin Tuan Lecture Theatre (North and South Spine connection)
• ADM – School of Art, Design and Media

Tip: I would highly recommend taking the Campus Rider to school if you’re travelling by MRT. This way, you can save on your bus fare and just buy a MRT concession.

You can see the real time movement of the buses in NTU on http://campusbus.ntu.edu.sg/ntubus/

For the external one-way shuttle buses:

Tip: Be at the pickup location at least 5 to 10 minutes before the actual pickup time as the queues are long and the shuttle buses do not follow the schedule strictly.

For more information and visual guide: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/has/Transportation/Pages/FAQ.aspx

Why is the campus so big?! I’m lost!

It takes a while to get used to NTU. The best thing you can do is to spend a day or two just to get lost in NTU. Even better, once your timetable has been fully registered and confirmed, you should go find your classrooms THE DAY BEFORE.

Most of the lecture halls and tutorial rooms are located in the NORTH(NS) and SOUTH SPINE (SS).

Faculties whose lessons are usually located in the NORTH SPINE:

• School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MAE)
• School of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE)
• School of Computer Science and Engineering (SCSE)
• School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
• Earth Sciences (ASE)

Faculties whose lessons are usually located in the SOUTH SPINE:

• School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)
• Nanyang Business School (NBS)
• School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS)
• Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI)
• School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS)

Other faculties such as School of Art, Design, and Media (ADM)and National Institute of Education (NIE) have their own set of tutorial rooms at their faculty building.

For more information about the whereabouts of your LTs and tutorial rooms:

Interactive map of NTU (not user-friendly on mobile, best used for planning and familiarising): http://maps.ntu.edu.sg/

List of tutorial room and how to get there (mobile friendly):

http://www.ntu.edu.sg/odfm/usefulinfo/academicfacilities/seatingcapacity/Pages/tr.aspx

List of lecture halls and how to get there (mobile friendly):

http://www.ntu.edu.sg/odfm/usefulinfo/academicfacilities/seatingcapacity/Pages/lt.aspx

You get a hall! You get a hall! Everybody gets a hall!

As freshmen, you are guaranteed for a one-year stay in one of NTU’s 18 halls.You don’t get to choose which hall you choose; NTU likes the idea of random selection. We don’t have fancy, fancy names for our halls; we call them by numbers, eg. Hall 1, Hall 7. (Except for the newest 2 halls, Pioneer and Crescent Hall). However, you are not forced to stay in halls and many freshmen do choose not to stay in halls. If you’re still thinking about whether or not you should stay, here are some advices that your seniors give.

All halls are accessible via campus shuttle buses. For more information regarding your allocated hall, go on digital senior’s NTU hall guide.

Hall life awaits you! Apply for your hall today at: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/has/Undergraduate/Pages/NTUNewStudentsApplication.aspx

CCA/Clubs

Speaking from personal experience, I’ve made most of my university friends (as of now), from joining clubs and CCAs. There are interest clubs, such as your normal sports, performing arts, CIP clubs, but there are also ACADEMIC CONSTITUENT CLUBS. These clubs are formed within the faculty and aims to serve and plan events for the student population of the said faculty.

So if you have time for more activities in your freshmen year, why not come down to the CCA fair at the beginning of the first semester to see what you’re most interested in?

For more information on the CCAs/Clubs that are well-established: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/CampusLife/Clubs/Pages/StudentsUnionClubs.aspx

For more information on ALL CCAs/Clubs, big or small:

http://digitalsenior.sg/cca-listing/cca-category/ntu-cca/

The OMNOMNOMS and where to find them

You need food to live? Nah, I live for food.

So, where can you find them in NTU?

If you live in hall, you’ll find out that most halls or the neighbouring halls have a canteen. Specifically, halls 1, 2, 4, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, and Pioneer have their own canteens.

If you’re in the academic buildings, SOUTH SPINEhas only one big canteen, KOUFU (Canteen B), near the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS). Near KOUFU is a llaollaoto satisfy your yogurt cravings.

Just outside of SOUTH SPINE is THE HIVE, which has CO-OP CAFÉ that serves drinks, pasta, and western dishes.

Between NORTH and SOUTH SPINE, we have THE QUAD CAFÉ situated near the School of Biological Sciences (SPMS). We also have COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF and SPRUCE BISTRO near the NANYANG AUDITORIUM.

NORTH SPINE is where you’ll find the widest selection of food. The cheapest option would be CANTEEN A, situated above MCDONALDS. Beside MCDONALDS are SUBWAY, STARBUCKS, and JOLLIBEAN. Opposite these shops are KFC and PIZZA HUT. There are a lot more eating options in NORTH SPINE as they have just finished building the NORTH SPINE PLAZA the past semester of AY 2015/2016.

For more information on F&B in NTU: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/has/FnB/Pages/default.aspx

Adaptations for survival in university

Alright freshies! Now that you’re more or less ready for NTU, here are some last words of advice before you step into university life.

1) Preparation is essential

Know that there will be tremendous stress and pressure in the last month before the finals week, know that falling sick and missing classes will mess up a lot of plans, know that taking up new experiences is not always pleasant, and know that things never go as planned. Be mentally, physically, psychologically prepared.

Ultimately, you’re in university for four/three years of intensive studying. And university classes are, most of the time, fast-paced, content heavy and high workload. Preparation ahead of the class curriculum is absolutely necessary in order to fully enjoy the array of activities that university can provide. Fret not, we have guides for Junior College and polytechnic students respectively.

2) Always assume you do not have enough time

In university, you’ll most definitely be planning more than one meeting in a day. For example, you have the first meeting at 1pm, which you assume will take an hour, so you plan your second meeting at 2pm. If you plan meetings this close to each other, chances are you will delay your second meeting (due to transportation, meeting timeextensions, getting lost, buying food, etc.). Give yourself and your group mates a generous estimation of time when planning meetings.

3) Sleep is not for the weak

With so many lectures to catch up, hall activities and clubs to join, competitions to prepare, there is simply no time for sleep. But please, for the love of god, do not mess up your body clock! It doesn’t matter what time you sleep, just maintain sufficient and consistent sleep. Sleep at 3am, wake at 10am; that’s cool!

You should now have sufficient ammunition to conquer the first few major battles of Freshmen Year! Be brave, be strong, and be prepared. Look forward and strive for your best. There’s no battle too hard to overcome; show them who’s boss.

*raise a glass* This is to a good first year to all you incoming freshies!

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Library, a high peer pressure environment for mugging.Library, asanctuary for a quiet moment. Library, a citadel for academic enlightenment.

I love libraries. I don’t know about you, but I love them to bits. Everyone says that they’re a nerd, and by Jove, you know you’re one when the first thing on your freshman to-do list is to find all the libraries in NTU, like me.

Some libraries in NTU can be hard to find, I for one only discovered 3 of these 8 libraries by accident (read as: getting lost in the maze of hallways). So here’s a complied lists of libraries in NTU and some essential information and tips regarding them!

Exactly what libraries are there?

There are 8 libraries, namely the Art, Design & Media Library, Business Library, Chinese Library, Communication & Information Library, Humanities & Social Sciences Library, Lee Wee Nam Library, Library Outpost, and Wang Gungwu Library.

The table below will provide you with some basic information (and personal insights).

1 of 4 Art, Design & Media Library
Opening hours (Semester) • Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 9.30pm • Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm Opening hours (Vacation) • Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 5.00pm • Saturday: Closed	Specialties • Books and references related to the visual arts • Extensive collection of comics and graphic novels • One of the few libraries with A/V materials available

Other details/insights
•    This chic and creative library is mainly lit by natural lights. The tall ceiling creates a spacious environment. There is also a glass wall for student to doodle.
•    It is usually very serene in the ADM library and relatively empty as compared to other libraries.

1 of 5 Business Library
Opening hours (Semester) •       Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 7.00pm •       Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm Opening hours (Vacation) •       Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 5.00pm •      Saturday: Closed	Specialties •       Journals, periodicals, books, and references related to management, business, accountancy, and related areas •       One of the few libraries with A/V materials available •       Learning Commons and individual study rooms are available
Other details/insights •    This 4-storey library is rich in resources. It has several special rooms, known as Learning Commons, for group work, presentation, language learning, and movie watching. •     The atmosphere of the library is conducive for examination preparations (meaning that it’s a high pressure environment).

1 of 3 Chinese Library
Opening hours (Semester) •       Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 9.30pm •       Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm Opening hours (Vacation) •       Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 7.00pm •      Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm	Specialties •       Chinese books, periodicals, and references in simplified and traditional, classical, and modern Chinese •       Chinese fiction and non-fiction (humanities non-fiction)
Other details/insights •    This small, home-like library has a very free-style feel to it. People tend to sit on the ground between shelves. •     For a library it can be a bit chatty at times, but these sounds are what make the atmosphere of this library homely rather than pressurizing.

1 of 2 Communication & Information Library
Opening hours (Semester) •       Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 9.30pm •       Saturday: 8.30am – 1.00pm Opening hours (Vacation) •       Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 5.00pm •       Saturday: Closed	Specialties: •       Books, periodicals, journals, and references related to communication research, media studies, public relations, and related areas •       Seniors’ FYP (final year project) archives available for reference •       Special library programmes are often on display in this library
Other details/insights •       Clean, modern, minimalistic interior design. This 2-storey library is usually quiet and relatively empty on most days. •       It’s a small library with a very specific collection of books and references. But it is a good place to study on a hot day as the air-conditioning is usually too cold.

1 of 3 Humanities & Social Sciences Library
Opening hours (Semester) •       Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 9.30pm •       Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm Opening hours (Vacation) •       Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 7.00pm •       Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm	Specialties •       Books and periodicals related to the social sciences (history, politics, linguistics) and literature (Eastern and Western, classical and modern) •       Fiction and non-fiction books ,mostly in English
Other details/insights •       My personal favorite library because it has fiction books. •       This small, cozy library has small couches and cushioned seats, which is great for enjoying a good book or studying comfortably. It also has three toilet cubicles and a water cooler inside the library, making it unnecessary to leave the space. •       Very difficult to find an empty seat during examination period.

1 of 3 Lee Wee Nam Library
Opening hours (Semester) •       Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 9.30pm •       Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm Opening hours (Vacation) •       Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 7.00pm •       Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm	Specialties •       Books, periodicals, journals, and references related to engineering and the hard sciences •       Has the most number of PCs for student use •       Learning Commons available
Other details/insights •       This 4-storey library is a sight to behold. The size of the library left me in awe at first sight. •       As a whole, this library can be quite tense, so it forces one to focus on your studies. However, each floor has its own unique scenery, function, and feel. So there’s always something for everyone.

1 of 3 Library Outpost​
Opening hours (Semester) •       Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 9.30pm •       Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm Opening hours (Vacation) •       Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 7.00pm •       Saturday: 8.30am – 5.00pm	Specialties •       Books, periodicals, and references recommended by professors, librarians, and experts that are mostly for external academic pursuits •       One of the few libraries with A/V materials available •       Lots of special/rare books and references •       TV cubicles for viewing movies
Other details/insights •       This small library does not even feel like a library. More like a laid-back Kinokuniya. It is colorful and cozy. There are bean bags on the floor, stylish couches, and cute seats. •       It’s not really much about studying in this library; it’s about relaxation and hanging out with friends quietly.

1 of 2 Wang Gungwu Library
Opening hours (Semester) •       Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 5.00pm •       Saturday: Closed Opening hours (Vacation) •       Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 5.00pm •       Saturday: Closed	Specialties •       Books and references related to Chinese culture/tradition, literature, and research •       Books are in both English and Chinese •       Permanent displays of old Singaporean educational materials
Other details/insights •       This library is quite dark and is mostly lit by natural light, which is understandable as most of the books there look old and thus require protection. •       Since it’s in an odd location, it is very quiet and very empty on most days, which makes it a good place to get some private space and time.

Ok, what else can they do?

Well, the usual really.

For one, you can print and photocopy. Depending on libraries, the price is also different. Libraries usually charge $0.045 – $0.05/black and white page and $0.54 – $1.00/color page for printing jobs. Photocopying cost $0.025/A4 black and white photocopy and $0.054/A4 color page photocopy. All printing and photocopying services in libraries are paid via a sensor that deducts money from your EZ-link card.

There are also study rooms and learning commons. Study rooms are individual private rooms with a lock; students can study in there with little to no distraction. Learning commons are special rooms available in only 2 libraries. Learning commons include:

To use these special rooms, you need to book them online on: http://ntufbs.ntu.edu.sg/

For details regarding each of these special rooms: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/Library/facilities/Pages/BUSLearningCommons.aspx

http://www.ntu.edu.sg/Library/facilities/Pages/LWNLearningCommons.aspx

You can use the PCs provided in the libraries too. Technically, you’re supposed to book a computer at the PC booking station in the library before use; and each booking is only for an hour. But no one really abides by it unless it’s the peak time for computer usage (aka, midterms/finals period).

And of course, you can borrow things in NTU libraries (duh). Things you can borrow in NTU libraries: books, magazines, movies, and music. However, there are books that you can only borrow for a maximum loan period of 2 hours. You can borrow a total loan of 20 items at once.

For more details about what you can borrow: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/Library/membership/student/pages/privileges.aspx

You can also consult librarians in NTU. Ask them about the how to find academic papers related to your research project. Ask them about the angle of your project. Basically, librarians are mentors that provide guidance if you choose to consult them. If you’re interested in knowing more about the services they provide, you can sign up for a talk on 16 or 18 August, 12 – 12:15pm or 4 – 4:45pm.

Sign up at any of the links below: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/events/events/Pages/DiscoverawealthofknowledgethroughtheLibraryEssentialsWorkshop.aspx

http://www.ntu.edu.sg/events/events/Pages/DiscoverawealthofknowledgethroughtheLibraryEssentialsWorkshop2.aspx

http://www.ntu.edu.sg/events/events/Pages/DiscoverawealthofknowledgethroughtheLibraryEssentialsWorkshop3.aspx

http://www.ntu.edu.sg/events/events/Pages/DiscoverawealthofknowledgethroughtheLibraryEssentialsWorkshop4.aspx

­Whether or not you’re actually a fan of libraries, I hope this guide would provide you with some insights on potential study spots in NTU. Good luck, and have fun exploring Pulau NTU!

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Has anyone ever wondered how it feels like to juggle work and studies, especially when you’re a working adult, trying your best to complete your studies within the shortest possible time period? I’ve experienced it, and I would say that it is not an easy feat.

I’m sure  most working adults will agree with me that we do not have the luxury to study as and when we would like to with a full time job to handle; not forgetting the interpersonal relationships to maintain. With all that, it is more than enough to make us busy to the extent where we won’t have anymore “self” time.

I was once a part-time student, studying in University of London International Programme, which was an Overseas Programme that Global SIM has established. My first thought when I enrolled into that school was that passing seems easy (just 34 marks), and I could finish my degree within 3 years with an honors. But I was so wrong. I was working with an IT firm, and I thought that I could study on my own without heading for any classes, but my first year results proved otherwise. My 2^nd year proved more so to me. I realized even if I go for classes, I could not score as well as the full-time students. That is even though I took a 2 month leave from work just to do last minute revisions.

So, how does one actually balance work and studies at the same time? Here’s my tip after going through 2 years of trial and error, and of course managing to graduate in my 3^rd year.

1.  Most UOL part-time students would always encounter this, which is “no time to attend classes due to work”.
I can totally understand this as I also do miss my lessons when I had urgent work to do. Do make friends within the lecture hall, and get them to help you do a recording of the lesson, and in return you could do the same for them. At least through this way, you will know what is going in.

2.  Full-time lecturers in UOL are way much better than part-time lecturers.
I have encountered this, and I think the students who took POA and Introduction to Economics in Global SIM would know who are must to go lecturers. I know that Ms. Chu only teaches full-time students, so if you could get your hands on her notes, do get it. You can get it through forums such as HWZ (there is a special forum for SIM-UOL people), and ask them for the tips. As for Introduction to Economics, I feel that the full time lecturers are so much better, so if possible, get their notes, and crash their lesson once (take a half day leave) so that you will know the difference between the full-time and part-time lecturers.

3.  When should I start my revisions?
My suggestion is that once you start your lessons, do make short notes so that you can remember things quickly. Cramming your one whole year of syllabus at the very last minute is very taxing to the brain, and you could forget some things while memorizing others.

4.  I do not have time to study at all!
This all depends on your time management. Do get some friends to study with you together on weekends, and share with them your concerns not only in studies but also at work! Most part-time students will find it real hard to study on their own, and it would be easier if you have friends to study so that you can discuss things together to make it even easier to understand.

5.  I will only rely on the lecturers’ notes
This is a big no-no. The exam focuses on the guidebook, which UOL sends to you every year. If you have yet to receive it, you could download them online, and borrow them from the school library.

6.  Preparing for exams
Before the prelims, always gear yourself up and ready by doing past year papers. But, do not do it at the very last minute. Instead, do it when you are freshly taught on a certain topic, because by doing so, the things still remain fresh in your memory.

I think what’s most important to juggle between work and studies is time management. Do not cram everything at one go, because it is really tiring, and you will get really frustrated when nothing goes into your head. So always start as early as possible to make sure you’re prepared!

I hope that this article would serve well to not only the part-time students in SIM-UOL, but also to the full-time students!

All the best in your studies!

From: eveychua
(ex-graduate from SIM-UOL)

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Study abroad

Telling from all the experiences I had in university, the best one was my decision to study abroad. Finland was where I started nurturing all my dreams, gaining knowledges and experiences, collecting friends and beneficial contacts. Heading from Asia to Europe at the age of 18, I was thrilled, overwhelmed and intimidated back then, way much more than every time I step on a plane to travel to a new country these days. Culture shock was not a big deal as people often brag about over the media, since the locals and internationals seem very friendly here. Nevertheless, I could remember how terrifying it was to get a glimpse of the slight disrespect people here unintentionally showed to my race as an Asian.

Go on an exchange

If you dont have the opportunity to study abroad, going on a short exchange semester abroad is an ideal alternative. Many people did ask me why I still went for my Erasmus exchange semester, while I already was studying abroad. In fact, I regret not having taken more chances to move and study in different countries. That was the best way for me to learn by new study methods, experience different cultures, and work with diverse people of various backgrounds and lifestyles. And if you are still confused about where to go, check out my 7 dream destinations to go for a semester abroad in Europe!

Participate in a competition

Joining a competition is also a must-do during your university years. At the last year of my study, I went for a business plan competition. Though I did not succeed, it was an experience that appeared practical and motivating for me than school’s paperworks.

Go for a part-time job

Paying your tuition fee, afford rent and making a living are not just big issues for students in Singapore, but in most parts of the world. It is not hard to get an easy job such as a waiter/waitress, clothing shop salesperson, or a hostel reception, for example. You are not required much experiences to work on these jobs that would make you some extra money for the leisure activities besides unversity. The more you learn to appreciate money, the more you work. I can assure once you graduate and work in your profession, the job would be more rewarding for those who worked part-time before.

Score an intern

Scoring an intern is a much better experience than getting employed by your family or acquaintances’ businesses. Be prepared with your well-done resumes, applications and contacts before sending internship requests out. If you already are confident with your backgrounds and skills, do not hesitate to bargain for your payment. Most students do their intern for free or such little money compared to the amount of work that may not be less than real employees.

Do not expect to be employed right away in big famous companies with such little experiences of a 3rd or last year university student. Back then, I prefer so much working for small organizations and start-ups so as I could learn all kinds of responsibilities belonging to different departments. There are lots jobs and intern portals in South East Asia such as Jobstreet, InternSg and Startupjobs Asia.

Join a student association

One of the best and also the worst thing that happened to me during my 2nd year was to join Aiesec, the largest student organization of the world which is more of an association providing internship abroad to me. My teammates in Aiesec did teach me a lot about leadership, event management, promotion, and even interviewing people when recruiting. Since then, I dont ever get much intimidated when being interviewed for a job. In summer 2015, I went for an Aiesec volunteering program as a travel writer  in Poland, which enabled me to travel more, meet new people and learn things I could never imagine. Thanks to this experience, I have become a professional travel writer till now.

Unfortunately when I got back to Finland to continue my Aiesec work at school, things started to get worse as I felt out of the community. I got tired of their exhausted conferences, where you are to drink till late night few hours before the next opening session in the early morning, mainly because of peer pressure. I got tired of dancing and shouting promising messages, which I personally think can neither be fulfilled nor be aligned with their initial goals. Aiesec is not for everyone. And do not believe in all the wonderful things Aiesecers brag about such as amazing or life-changing internships abroad. These things don’t happen to everyone if they are not open themselves to the world. And be prepared to ‘pay’ for the volunteering programs or unpromising internships of companies that may not recruit you in the end of the internship.

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Congratulations to all prospective students of Singapore Management University (SMU). You had just received your acceptance letter from SMU and after much careful deliberation with your friends and family, you have finally set your mind on obtaining your degree level education from a “Different U”. Moreover, you have attended the open house as well as the tea parties from the various faculties that you had been enrolled in, boosting your understanding with regards to the education structure here in SMU.  So what now? You are really excited about the prospects of your degree education in SMU and you are currently searching across Singapore forums to gain more information on what are the to-do lists before you start school. Well fret not because I, as a current student, who had just completed my first year of study here in SMU, was in the exact situation that you are probably in now and I am going to share with you some key enrolment procedures.

1) Matriculation

Upon your indication of your preferred university and course on the Joint Acceptance Portal, you should have received a Matriculation email from SMU a few days after the deadline of the acceptance portal. In this particular email, it will state what are the dates for you to do your online matriculation and also ways to pay for the matriculation enrolment, which costs 203SGD. Moreover, take into account of the different dates and timings of the verification of the required documents listed, which will be conducted in SMU for you to receive your matriculation card.

Upon completion of your online matriculation, you should receive an email to notify you of the available school camps that you can participate in before you embark your 4-year education journey in SMU.

At this point of time, you should be able to have access to your school email and OASIS. Information about the options available to pay for your respective school fees will be emailed to your school email. Key updates about your academic matters such as camps enrolment and bidding activities will also be notified to you through your school email. Do remember to check it regularly so that you will not miss out on any important dates. For academic matters such as bidding dates and respective module requirements, you can head to OASIS, and select the “Study” option to get more information.

2) Freshmen Orientation Camps (FOC)

It is compulsory for SMU students to attend the Freshmen Orientation Camps, consisting of 3 runs that are held on different periods to cater to the different needs of the prospective students.  Prior to the camp, there will be an email sent by the organising committee of the Freshmen Orientation Camps to notify which run you are allocated in. If you are unable to make it for your allocated run of the Freshmen Orientation Camp, follow the link provided in the email and indicate your availability accordingly. Through this camp, you will be able to get to know your batch mates from various faculties and increase your social circle.

3) Freshmen experience

In addition to your FOC, you can choose to sign up for various camps ranging from different faculties to even sports camps, that are ongoing in the summer, before you officially kick start your academic journey in August. On this day, incoming freshmen can head down to SMU to make the necessary payment so as to secure your slot in the various camps. Get ready to make memorable experiences with your newly made friends that may stay as important characters in your life throughout your SMU journey.

4) Sign up for Community Service  Project (CSP) Camps

In order to graduate officially from SMU, all SMU students have to fulfil a requirement of at least 80 hours in community service participation. I would strongly recommend for all freshmen to take part in community service camps such as “StarringSMU”, “Kidleidoscope” and “Inspirar” during your orientation period to give you an edge over your peers in your quest to fulfil the 80 years of community service participation.

In these community service camps, you will get the chance to contribute effectively to the community by engaging in meaningful activities such as the StarringCarWash and tie-dyed silkscreened T-shirts fashion so as to foster interaction between students and the community and also to increase awareness of the respective participating beneficiaries.  Do remember to sign up for a compulsory CSP briefing by C4SR in SMU before these CSP camps are held to ensure that the hours clocked in these camps are recorded officially.

5) SMU Convocation

A week before the school academic year begins, incoming freshmen will need to attend this iconic event at Suntec Convention Centre. What is this all about? SMU convocation will be a platform for various faculty and student leaders to officially welcome the incoming freshmen into the SMU family, together with spectacular performances by SMU’s numerous performing arts groups to celebrate the night. Furthermore, parents of the incoming freshmen will also be invited to witness this defining moment. Be sure to dress in your smartest formal attire for this iconic event.

6) Bidding

I am sure many of you have heard about the bidding system adopted here in SMU. During your freshmen year, you will be pre-assigned with numerous university-core modules and also some of the faculty core modules, to facilitate you in managing your modules for each respective semester. To check on which modules you were pre-assigned with, head on to OASIS. (Note: Pre-assigned modules are different for different faculties.)

For each term, students are given e-dollars to bid for their preferred professor and timeslot, giving them the luxury to manage their own timetable. Not sure on how much e-dollars to bid for a particular module? Head on to OASIS>Boss Bidding>Quick links>Overall Boss Results to find out what is the minimum and maximum bid value for each particular module and professor for the previous terms. (For more information, click here to know more about bidding) It is recommendable to use your assigned e-dollars wisely because the cost for each respective modules fluctuate from year to year.

7) Freshmen Bash

Celebrate your friendship with your newly made SMU friends by heading to Zouk for the yearly SMU Freshmen Bash.  Be one of the few to be notified first hand on who are the Mr and Mrs SMU for the respective Freshmen Bash. Come on down to support your friends if they are one of the contestants for the Mr and Mrs SMU crown. They will need it! Be prepared for a blast in Zouk on the very night of Freshmen Bash.

With all these information at your fingertips, I am affirmed that it will give you an edge over your fellow peers in preparing you for your 4 years journey in SMU. As the saying goes “a road well begun is the battle half won”, I wish you all the very best as you embark on your life in a “Different U”

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Underdog of all the underdogs

I remember looking at my report card back then and seeing the string of “D”s, “E”s and “F”s. That includes physical education. I was the slowest runner in my PE class.

I was at the bottom of the school cohort in terms of academic rankings. Yes, I sucked.

I did badly for oral tests because I did not know how to talk to a group of people. I couldn’t speak for more than 10 seconds without panicking.

I also broke a lot of the school rules because I thought it was pretty hip and cool to have highlighted hair, to skip classes and have untucked shirts.

If the act of breaking school rules was graded, I would have gotten an A+.

To add on to my “impressive list of credentials”, I was also a game addict. My parents did everything they could. I just wouldn’t stop playing.

Because I was so quiet and such a loser in life, I was also bullied at school and at tuition classes.

I thought that I would have gotten used to that because I was bullied since I was 6. Yet, it still hurts me all the time.

Family, relatives and teachers started to question whether I was ever good at anything.

I told them I was good at playing games like Dota and O2jam. You can imagine their reactions.

It was 1 year left to theO levels.I’ve completely neglected the school work from Secondary3 to Secondary 4.

Teachers told me that it was hard for me to get a single A in the O levels, what more a string of A’s.

For somebody in my position, it has never been done before in the history of the school.They told me that the most I could get are a string of “C”s or “B”s.

Darkest moment of my life

I remember looking at myself in the mirror every morning, questioning whether I would make it….

Whether these dreams were valid…….

Whether I needed a reality check……

Whether the doubters and naysayers were right….

I went into a deep depression. Until one fine day, tragedy hit….

My parents decided to file for a divorce.

That hit me so hard. Really hard.

It was the darkest moment of my life.

I was doing badly at school. I was being bullied. I was always a regular visitor at the discipline board and now my family is breaking apart. We also went into financial difficulties.

What are the odds of these happening within 1 year, simultaneously?

It was like striking a jackpot. Just that, I wasn’t at all happy.

I cried my eyes out every day. Sometimes, I would not be able to hold back my tears and would let it all out in school. That probably freaked out a lot of people.

Other days, I would put on a mask and pretendedthat everything was alright.

Deep down inside, I was in pain.

Looking back, that was life’s way of giving a big slap to my face. Telling me to wake up.

I decided for the first timeto really take charge of my life.

I started to DREAM.

One day, the thought of studying in NUS or NTU crossed my mind. I decided to tell all my friends and family about it the next day.

You probably would have guessed the outcome.

I became the joke of the week because that kind of dream is only reserved for the best and brightest in my school. In other words, the top 0.01%.

The problem was this: I wasn’t even in the top 50%. Not even close.

To others, I have no rights to own that dream.

Hustle like a madman/woman

I knew that I had 1 year left to catch up with my classmates who studied their Sec 3 and Sec 4 materials diligently while I’ve completely ignored those for the past few years.

I figured out that I could not turn back time.

The only option that I have left is to go all in and give it my all for the next 1 year.

There is no stopping until I submit the final piece of the exam paper.

Every second of every day, I was studying, doing practice questions and more practice questions.

From 6 am in the morning to 2am at night, I hustled like crazy. I’ve never worked that hard in my life.

If I had to accompany tiger mom to go to the salon, I would buy tons of extra practice books and textbooks at the bookstores nearby.

I would sit on the floor right at the corner of the bookshop and studythem.

There were many times I’ve skipped lunch. I declined all my friends who asked me out for parties.

I stopped watching TV, threw my phone into the drawer and locked it.

I ate, breathed, drank and slept studying. I was obsessed with it.

I lost some of my friends along the way. It was hard but I knew that I had no other choice.

No TV. No parties. No games. No casual outings.

No nothing but hustling every second of every day.

There are times in your life when you want something bad enough, you will just have to go all in.

Pain is always temporary. The pain of regret is forever.

You do not want to be the person who regrets not giving it your all.

There is nothing more painful than looking back and saying “I could have put in more effort”.

Looking back, it was painful to make all those sacrifices. But every drop of sweat and tears were worth it.

Be careful what you dream of, it may just come true

A year after the examination, I was featured in the newspaper for academic achievements. I was then awarded a scholarship.

Fast forward a few years later, I received 2 envelopes in my mailbox.

An offer letter from NUS. Another offer letter from NTU.

All that early mornings and late nights finally paid off.

Power of your dreams (even if it sounds crazy)

Do you know what the beauty of life is?

Is that you do not need anybody else’s approval to tell you whether you are smart of good enough for your dreams.

I don’t care what your parents, relatives, partner, best friend, counsellor or teachers think of you. I DO NOT CARE!

The only thing I care is what you think of you.

You are the one and only person in this whole entire world who can determine whether you deserve your dreams.

And if your answer to that is “yes I deserve it”, then it is a YES. Period.

I am not born talented!

Very often, people see where I am and they would assume that I am gifted, lucky, smart or just good from the start.

You can tell earlier on that I was not born talented nor am I born with a high IQ. I’ve just worked for it. I just believed in the beauty of my dreams.

You may not have the smarts, talents or luck that others have. I am here to tell you that it is alright.

They may outsmart you but never ever let them outwork you.

They may say mean things to you but never ever let them talk you out of your dreams.

They may even try to extinguish the fire that is in you but never ever let that fire in you to stop burning.

No matter how hard it gets or how bad it gets, you are going to get through this.

You may fall once in a while.

Each time that happens, dust yourself off, stand back up and fight harder for what you truly deserve.

It might be lonely at timesespecially when nobody believes in you. There will be nights where you will lie in bed, questioning whether this will all be worth it.

Trust me on this. As long as you keep believing, keep dreaming and keep hustling, one day, it will be your day.  

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A successful internship is a wonderful initiation to the working life and associated challenges before a student gets a job and enters the workforce. In other words, working as an intern is like ‘pre-schooling’ for job seekers and acts like a brilliant enrichment to your resume. If you manage to bag an internship in a company operating in the industry you wish to become a part of in future, you will indeed gain the much-needed out-of-the-classroom experience. Here is a carefully selected list of the internship websites in Singapore to help you make the best choice and obtain the most rewarding opportunity, so far as internship in Singapore is concerned.

INTERNSG

https://www.internsg.com/

One of the most popular portals for Singapore internships, this website has free listing of over 23,000 jobs in different areas from recruitment and marketing to design and business development, amongst others. With a mission to enrich the business community as well as fuel the career growth of students, InternSG invites participation from corporations and students across the globe. Internship seekers can apply for jobs, totally free of cost. Again, companies can also list their internships in the portal without paying any charges. The site also offers extensive information regarding the job scenario.

BrightSparks

http://brightsparks.com.sg/

BrightSparks is mainly an informative portal for students who wish to avail higher education and scholarships. The site also lists a range of jobs available for students who are looking for part-time work or internship during their term break while in school or after they have completed their ‘A’ levels. According to their stream of study or the courses they are pursuing, students can search for jobs in different positions such as financial assistant, customer service officer, admin assistant, sales executive, and more.  One can sign up for availing the benefits of this site completely free of cost.

Stroff

http://www.stroff.com/

Students can log onto this site in order to search for rewarding internships both in Singapore and abroad. The internships are listed with a mission to enable students to enhance their skills, identify their passion, and move ahead in their career path. All you need to do is to visit the site and create your free account as a “Jobseeker”. Once this is done, you can start off applying for internships of your choice. Stroff has a noteworthy database of diverse companies, including research firms, foreign companies, MNCs, NGOs, startups, educational institutions, and more. Seamlessly integrated with classified ads, social media and professional networking, this technologically advanced portal is indeed a boon for the student community.

Gradsingapore

http://gradsingapore.com/

Gradsingapore lists internships offered by a number of small, medium and large companies. Students can visit the website, navigate to the internships page, and apply to jobs after sharing some relevant details, including the career sectors that interests them most. Apart from internships, this site also helps one find graduate jobs and offers good advice on career related aspects like application tips or getting hired. If one is not sure about what type of internship to apply for or how to prepare oneself for the internship interview, one can first go through the career planning advice section before placing an application.

The Singapore Interns

http://www.singapore-interns.com/

Starting off with around 40 members, The Singapore Interns Community presently has more than 700 members. Students who are looking for internships in Singapore but do not have the proper guidance can simply post their application along with their contact details, for due communication. Again, companies can also post their internship positions free of charge in this portal. This site not only provides assistance to students in finding internship, but is also a great help for those looking for a place to stay in Singapore or obtain any other general information about the city at large.

Glints

https://glints.com/

The Glints portal offers a wonderful platform for students who are looking forward to get hired for successful internships. Having built a large network of companies and students, the Glints community offers comprehensive assistance to job seekers right from suggesting the right type of internship to offering due guidance in keeping track of job applications at every phase. If you are unable to land yourself in an internship, there are Talent Champions available through this portal that can help you with the right internship on the basis of your profile. A diverse range of internships are available with companies operating in different industrial sectors.

Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SGC)

http://www.sgc.org.sg/

Set up in 2004, SGC is a part of the German bilateral Chambers of Industry and Commerce that has 130 offices across 90 countries around the world. It is one of Singapore’s biggest national Business Chambers with over 500 representatives from different industrial sectors. SGC JobXchange is the job search and internship platform of SGC which provides a range of consulting services for companies who are headhunting for talent as well as for individuals who are seeking internship opportunities or jobs in Singapore. Those who are seeking internship can enroll at the JobXchange portal free of cost and submit their CV which remains in the database for six months. Once a company contacts SGC, the CVs are accordingly sorted.

Absolute Internship

http://absoluteinternship.com/

This site allows students from across the globe to sign up for internships. Within five years, this portal has emerged as a leader in internship programs for university students in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Madrid, London and Singapore. Absolute Internship works together with reputed companies to fulfill its mission of fuelling the passion of students through skill development in an international environment. The internship programs make students capable of coming out of their comfort level and gather adequate industry insight by strengthening their professional network through working in an international set up.

The information and the internship openings shared in these websites will definitely help you out in your internship quest. Once you become an intern, work with the right attitude, give your best and do not forget to keep learning at every phase.

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Singapore Institute of Technology or SIT. Many of you might have heard, but might not know much about it. The newest public university in the Singapore scene. Creating much hype when it became public, is SIT the university for you? Well, let me help you answer that question. Here are a list of things that I came up with to tell you all you need to know: Courses, Student Life, Finances, Scholarships, CCAs and Job prospects! So sit tight and let’s get started!

Part I: Academic Matters

1) No. We are not SUTD and neither are we SIM

This is the biggest misconception many of us Singaporeans have. SIT was officially made the 5^th public university just like NUS and NTU by the government in 2014. SUTD or Singapore University of Technology and Design is a niche university and was the 4^th public university. UniSIM or the local offering of SIM is the 6^th.

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/who-we-are

2) Both SIT degrees and OU degrees are offered

SIT offers its own degrees as well as degrees from its Overseas University (OU) partners. Many of these OUs are top 100 ranked universities or a niche in their own subject matter offered.

3) Our OU degrees are campus blind ones!

One really important thing for you to take note is that the degree certificates given upon graduation are the exact same ones you would receive if you were a student in their home campus!  No mention of SIT whatsoever on the certificate.

4) Where is the Campus located?

The most frequently asked question. SIT has its own campus in each of the 5 polytechnics which can be a good and bad thing for you. Good news being it could be at a location near you. Bad news well, I’ll explain further in the article. These 5 poly campuses are for the OU partner degrees and SIT’s own degree courses are run at its main campus in Dover (next to AYE). However all of SIT and its OU courses will shift to a main campus in Punggol around 2021.

SIT@TP

5) Sorry JC kids

Poly peeps this is your calling. SIT is a university for poly graduates. So unless you’re from a poly or a University dropout, you might wanna give it a miss.

6) Not everything is Applied Learning.

SIT prides itself on being an applied learning university, the first to introduce such a model in Singapore. Well you may be disappointed. In my opinion, most of the OU degree courses do not have much hand’s or applied learning exposure. Since many of them are honours degrees, a huge emphasis is placed on your FYP report theory and results. So the only chance to apply what you have learnt might be during FYP or design projects/practicals. SIT offered courses on the other hand follow the applied learning model more closely with many projects as well as the IWSP.

7) IWSP (SIT Courses only)

There is one big difference between SIT’s own degrees and its OU partner degrees. Only the SIT degrees have the Integrated Work Study Programme (IWSP). This is where students will do an internship with a relevant industry partner. The IWSP is compulsory and is graded.

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/integrated-work-study-programme

8) Overseas Immersion Programs (OIP)

SIT OU partner degrees require an OIP module in their curriculum. Students get the chance to visit their OU’s home campus. The period ranges from 1-3 months and the projects undertaken there are usually graded. So you could be visiting the Statue of Liberty or planning your own Euro trip. However, you have to pay for your own airfares, accommodation (provided by school) and expenses. Budget wisely. PSEA and bursaries are available for students.

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/overseas-exposure

University of Glasgow students during their OIP in Glasgow. (Hostel Kitchen)

9) Industry focused degrees

Food Technology, Infrastructure Engineering, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Radiography seem weird to you? Don’t worry I feel the same way. SIT offered degrees are supposed to be industry ready. This means that the degrees are offered because of a demand for such qualifications in the market.

10) We pay public uni fees (NSMen fees are pegged)

Just like a public university, the fees are government-subsidised. For NSMen, the fees are pegged to the year you applied for the course.

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/tuition-fees-grants

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/assistance-schemes

11) Long way from the big three

Being a new university has a fair share of its disadvantages. NUS, NTU and SMU especially already have an established and reputable name. So if you were to compete with someone from these 3 universities with the same course, chances are the employer would go for them. However, if you do get an interview opportunity bank on your more practical orienteered learning. This point is more valid for the OU degrees as many SIT courses are unique and not offered by others.

12) Our employment prospects are reasonable

Having said that, if you are an SIT degree graduate your employment prospects are reasonable. For one, you could be hired by your IWSP employer. Furthermore, with the industry ready programmes offered, chances of you being snapped up fast is high, compared with NUS, NTU or SMU.

13) Get hired before you graduate!

Well this is more for students who have the IWSP in their curriculum. Impress your bosses and your internship company might offer you employment after you graduate just like many of my friends.

14) Career Services

SIT has its own career services branch. It organises Career fairs as well as courses on preparing you for employment. My strong advice for you is to keep in close contact with your assigned career coach as well as professors. Networking is the mantra.

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/career-development

15) We have scholarships too

With many industry partners, SIT has a wide range of scholarships, from companies, councils as well as scholarships by the school itself. Bursaries and financial assistance are available as well for those who need them.

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/sit-scholarships

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/bond-free-scholarships

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/external-scholarships

16) Some of our exams are pegged to the OU’s local time to prevent cheating

This is such a pain in the ass. If you are enrolled in an OU degree chances are your exams are during tea-time or rather when you wanna have an afternoon power nap. The reason being that you will take exams at the same time as those in the OU’s home campus do, to prevent any questions being leaked across the seas! So better buy some Starbucks before the paper, that’s what I usually do.

17) Wanna learn Korean or Japanese? No problem

VAP or Value-Added-Programmes are a huge favourite at SIT.Its available to all students and many students sign up for the range of VAPs offered. Yes, they include learning Korean and Japanese as well. Apart from languages, there are many other programmes such as coding or photography!

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/hobbies-and-leisure#

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/languages-and-cultures

18) You think only MasterChef has a solid kitchen (CIA kitchen)

Culinary Institute of America’s or CIA is touted as the world’s most prestigious culinary academic institute. Guess what? It’s a partner OU of SIT. It comes as no surprise then that its pantry and kitchen are quite a big deal or so I have heard.

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/academics/undergraduate-programmes/design-specialised-businesses/culinary-arts-management-bps

19) CIA students can give MasterChef a run for their money

Have a thing for cooking? The Culinary Institute of America runs a Culinary Arts Program. But CIA students are rarely seen at SIT wide events. Some of my friends say that cooking there is literally as tough as MasterChef, and one can be pre-occupied the whole day. So unless you’re in sync with cuisines, think twice. But employment prospects are great. After all, we are a food nation!

20) We have the Harvard of digital technology at our doorstep

DigiPen is an SIT OU partner. Regarded as the Harvard of digital technology, it offers courses here from Computer Science to Game Design. However these courses aren’t exactly a piece of cake. I asked a friend how long it would take for him to graduate and he said that depends on how many modules you fail per sem. You would have to keep re-taking them till you pass. So it could take you 4 years to complete the course instead of 2.5. Another friend said classes can run from morning till night. Daily.

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/academics/undergraduate-programmes/infocomm-technology/computer-science-and-game-design-bs

21) Ever wanted to be a CSI agent? (Criminology)

University of Liverpool offers this cool course. Many of its students have signed on with the SPF. Hence, the CSI reputation. You get a chance to visit the Anfield stadium at Liverpool too. I prefer Old Trafford but, that’s just me.

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/academics/undergraduate-programmes/health-social-sciences/criminology-and-security-ba-hons

22) Deg in Food technology

Apparently, food production technology is a booming industry in Singapore that requires a particular skillset. This course is honestly one that underlies SIT’s policy for identifying industry ready degrees.

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/academics/undergraduate-programmes/chemical-engineering-food-technology/food-technology-b-hons

23) Skip right to your masters (MSc. programmes)

There are a couple of SIT degrees that lead to a direct Masters. 4 years in length and are industry relevant as well. However, read the course brochure carefully and make sure these courses are the right ones for you.

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/node/295

24) Accreditation (courses are accredited by industry bodies)

SIT degrees are MOSTLY accredited by relevant industry bodies. NOT ALL. Most OU degree courses are accredited by their home country bodies and require 1-2 years after you graduate for you own graduating batch to be accredited. So make sure you find out about accreditation at open houses and during interview opportunities.

Part II: STUDENT LIFE AND CCAs

25) Best place to rack up them CCA activities record

TAKE NOTE! If you wanna have a good CCA record, then this could be the uni for you. You see SIT is a young university with a growing number of CCAs. So form a group of friends and start your own! However there is a stringent process where you have to make a case for your CCA to the Student Life Department (SLD) before you’re on your way.

https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/clubs

26) Our beauty pageants and Orientation camps are less provocative…

We haven’t caught any flak from the press for having provocative camps and I assure you the SLD keeps a watchful eye over the camps. But the beauty pageants is where we kind of lack. We have no bikini contests in our pageants and frankly the word of mouth is that our pageants are boring.

27) #SITMasalaboys and #SITSettlesquad

The 2 hashtags that have made waves for a year or so in SIT. The students who are associated with these hashtags have graduated, but ask anyone from the SLD and they would be happy to share. What I am trying to say is, create your own story in university be it SIT or not and leave a legacy behind for yourself. Besides the hashtags are great for Insta pictures.

28) Football or Futsal

SIT is the only university to have a futsal team for both men and woman. Started by a passionate group of students, it has grown into club with more than 50 members and we have Coach Jasper. Coach Jasper is the only Asean Football Confederation Certified Futsal Coach in Singapore and also the National CP team assistant coach. So if you wanna choose between futsal and football, SIT has you covered.

SIT Futsal Club

29) Cross faculty and OU interactions are encouraged

Well one of the huge disadvantages of campuses being spread across the island is that there isn’t much interactions between faculties. As such the SLD always tries to get its CCAs and student bodies to organise activities that involve the different OU degrees and SIT degree students.

30) SIT Chill Out

Every once or twice a year SIT Chill Out occurs at all the 5 different polytechnics. This is SIT’s way of reaching out to the OU partner students. This event includes games with prizes, musical performances, free food etc. But to be honest most of us are there for the free food.

Chill Out at SIT@SP

31) We have Easter breaks just like in the UK

Now if you are looking into one of the UK OU partner courses here is something for you. The UK OUs in SIT follow the UK university calendar. School starts in September till December. Here you will have a 2 week Christmas break. Then the 2^nd semester start till April. In April you get a 1 MONTH EASTER BREAK!!! But trust me guys, you will need every bit of that 31 days as once it over, its straight to exams week. GOTCHA!

32) All our OUs have their very own student liaison committees

University of Glasgow (UofG), Newcastle University (NU), Technical University of Munich (TUM), these are some of the OUs that have partnered SIT. Each of these universities have their own student committees to liaise with SIT as well as their OUs on matters pertaining to student welfare to organising events.

33) We have our own annual beach event too!

SIT Beach Fiesta was inaugurated this year as SIT’s first ever beach event. Organised by 4 sports clubs, the event included sports such as Frisbee, rugby, soccer and captain’s ball. The event is set to be an annual event and set to add new sports in its next edition.

34) Most of us have 2 important Mail accounts

This is one of the biggest pains for the OU degree students. Not only do we have an SIT email account we also have an email account from our OU. Both emails are equally as important as your SIT professors send their course notes and instructions through the SIT email, while the OU professors send it through the OU account. Best to sync your phone with all accounts and let it buzz away.

35) Our professors come from different institutions

Our professors are either from SIT, our OUs or from the polytechnics. Guess you can have the best of 3 worlds?

36) SIT@SP has a great view

With a view over Biopolis, Fusionpolis, NUS and a huge park, SIT’s SP campus has a good view to take a break from the books. Not sure about the other campuses though.

37) Our DR doors are built for war

Ask any SIT student what their pet peeves about school might be and the Discussion Room doors might be top on their list. Hitler would have trouble blasting through these heavy doors for rooms, students use to hold their study or project meetings. They are so heavy to open and what’s worse is that they are accompanied by an ear-shrieking alarm every time they open.

38) Punggol, our new home

Yes a new campus in 2021 at Punggol. In the midst of an integrated housing and industry development, this would give us the chance to be close to our industry partners as well as being a uni for the heartland. However, I struggle to find where the space for a football field or sports complex might be….

Future SIT Punggol campus

39) Waffle Galore at SIT@dover

If you get a chance to visit or study at the main campus check out the waffle shop at the food court. It has a slew of waffles from chocolate to butter-cheese.

40) Best discounts on eyewear

SIT students have their cards that come with their student cards including Charles & Keith. But the many discounts at optical shops might be a little weird.

41) Travelling around Singapore is natural

A natural pet-peeve and a strong influencer of CCA choice. You see each CCA calls a certain campus as their “home base”. For example the SIT Outdoor adventure Club (DARE) has its base at NP. So if you are one who studies at the TP campus and you are a member of DARE, then travelling for meetings or events might be a turn off.

42) Each campus has its own unique lounge!

Each SIT campus comes with its own unique lounge facilities. Some better than the rest though. Typically however, you would have beanbags, lounge sofas and tables, a kitchenette and a gaming console.

43) Graduation is always fun! (Different OU graduation ceremonies)

As an SIT student you are bound to have friends from different OUs and when its graduation time, you get to experience different graduation traditions of different OUs.

44) Lend your hand in helping less fortunate communities overseas

Project Cambodia and Phoject-V are the 2 most favourite overseas community programmes at SIT. A group of students would get the chance to go on 2-3 week trip, to a developing country to extend a helping hand to a school in a less fortunate locality. There they would help to improve facilities as well as to conduct basic lessons.

45) We are a big deal. (LHL feature during NDR)

Well our PM featured a section of his NDR last year on SIT. Well that’s gotta count for something.

46) Be a part of something new and fresh

It is refreshing to see a different university qualification on a resume. A new and fresh university, I honestly have no regrets choosing SIT. Besides, you would have more chances to be involved in new CCAs and programs.

47) #ImWithSIT (the universal sit hashtag)

Go to any SIT event there would be an Instagram opportunity or contest. The hashtag #ImWithSIT would almost always be required for you to enter the contest. You definitely would have seen it once in your SIT friend’s Instagram profile.

48) Football everywhere!

Ouh yea, there is one common thing in every SIT lounge. Foosball tables. Be sure to chop your places at the table quickly as they are hugely popular and there is an annual SIT Foosball tournament.

49) Library still under development

If you are looking for a cool fully stocked library, well you will be disappointed. SIT does not have a good reference library. However it does have a well-stocked E-library for your thesis dissertations. What’s more if you are an OU partner student you have full access to the OU’s library database!

50) Is SIT for you?

Choosing a university is a hard choice. If you are looking for a well-established international university and you have the grades for it, I strongly suggest you going for NUS, NTU or SMU.

But for those of you who might not have done enough in poly to try for those 3 unis, for those of you who are seeking a second chance to succeed in the industry you chose in poly, for those of you who want a fast-tracked degree, for those of you who want a quality curriculum, SIT and its OU partners provides you with these options. Trust me I have done it and I have no regrets.

Choose wisely.

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