Universities in Singapore

[chuck.r]

I was thinking about just pm-ing tweedles but I never realized there were so many Singaporians on this thread that could potentially help me out.

Anyway, I was really interested in going to a university in Singapore. Call me crazy but I've never been there but a special ladyfriend of mine is currently at LaSalle SIA studying fashion marketing and she seems to enjoy it. Plus it's pretty close to where I am right now, like a 3 hour flight from Manila I believe.

I studying in LA for the last two years but I had to go home due to some family problems, and I don't think I wanna go back. But personally I'm sick of where I am right now, and as great as Philippine Universities claim to be, I just don't think it's for me. Singapore seems like a great alternative: close to home yet far enough to be away from the family and all that, much cheaper than studying in the US and Australia (which was another choice), and it just seems like a pretty great place in terms of economic/social standing in Southeast Asia. Plus English is technically the national language so there shouldn't be any communication barrier to speak of.

Problem is I have no idea where to start applying in terms of what school is good or not. My girlfriend really just started there so she has no idea either. I was thinking of pursuing a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Media Communications or something along those lines. I really wanna be involved in a creative industry so that's the direction I'm going, but really, anything involved in media or communications or english or arts could be a choice. So what I'm after are universities that focus on these.

I was looking into UNSW Asia, which is the SE Asian branch of the one in Sydney, I think has a new campus in Singapore, and someone referred Singapore Institute of Management. I've been on the National University of Singapore website and that's an option too. But there are a bunch of universities I could apply to, I just don't know which ones are any good, especially at the course I'm moving towards.

I thought I'd ask any Singapore SFers if they had any suggestions. What do you think guys? Are there any other universities I should look into? And what do you think about the ones I mentioned above? Any suggestions and comments would help a whole bunch.

Thanks in advance guys.

[glenn]

If you're looking into Mass Comm. you should definitely be checking out NTU (www.ntu.edu.sg) for a public education or MDIS (http://www.mdis.edu.sg/academic-programmes/mass-comm/index.php) for private. In terms of entrace MDIS should be loads eaier than NTU.

[beast]

Glenn is right. NTU should be the place to go in Singapore for Mass Communications but I heard competition for places is fierced though.

Try to avoid external universities like MDIS. There is suppose to be a new Arts School in the works but thats years down the road.

[defiance]

For NTU you could have a look at - http://www.ntu.edu.sg/adm/home.html

I do recall Lasalle SIA offering degrees in Design, you might want to check with your girlfriend on that since she's already in the school.

[tweeds]

yeah UNSW is opening a campus here.

you mentioned Singapore Institute of Mgt, i think along those lines the Singapore Management Uni will be to your liking. new and pretty interesting (and global) programmes, but focus is on management and business. i second beast's comment about avoiding external universities - no offence and i'm sure they have good programmes but i think you're looking for a more committed course?

Lasalle-SIA is a pretty decent place as well if you're looking at design-based courses.

Mass comm - like the rest have said, NTU is the place.

[glenn]

an ex from an international school in singapore once told me that getting into ntu/nus was, for her and all the other people outside the singapore education system, as hard as getting into harvard.

what i'm saying is, while NTU might be the biggest name for mass comm in these parts, it might be more realistic to look at MDIS instead.

[chuck.r]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Though design wasn't really the direction I was going, it does sound really appealing to me right now. I'm not exactly artistically inclined but I have dabbled in photography and art history courses, so I guess I can look into some design majors as well.

I had no idea NTU and NUS was crazy hard to get into. I'll try to ask my girlfriend's Singaporean friends what they think as well. But I was looking through NTU's website and they had these two types of media degrees, one is concentrated on the arts and design (which is probably easier to get into) and the other is communications, which is more journalism, PR, advertising related stuff (direction i was going), but it's probably harder to get into. It's called the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (http://www.ntu.edu.sg/sci). Does it sound familiar to anybody?

And what's an external university? Like a polytechnic two-year thing? Or just a uni that's ranked not so high?

Also, does me being an international student make a difference? Cuz I know in American universities, if you're not American you pay a higher tuition, and since you pay a higher tuition they actually want you more than locals. Plus there's usually a quota they try to fill on international students, like there has to be a certain percentage of Asians enrolled, etc. Is it the same in Singaporean unis?

Consequently, is anyone here enrolled in a uni in Singapore right now?

[glenn]

[nope its just one that is privately owned (ie. for profit). basically these were set up by individuals/companies much later than the two older public ones. also, most of them offer distance courses from other schools instead of their own curriculum (eg. mass comm from OCU, MBA from Bradford). Students here mainly consist of either foreigners or locals who cannot qualify for public universities.

i'm paying the same as my american classmates at my college. quotas might well apply to the publics in singapore, but as far as privates like MDIS are concerned, i can't think of any reason to have a quota as this would reduce their profits.

[beast]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Though design wasn't really the direction I was going, it does sound really appealing to me right now. I'm not exactly artistically inclined but I have dabbled in photography and art history courses, so I guess I can look into some design majors as well.

I had no idea NTU and NUS was crazy hard to get into. I'll try to ask my girlfriend's Singaporean friends what they think as well. But I was looking through NTU's website and they had these two types of media degrees, one is concentrated on the arts and design (which is probably easier to get into) and the other is communications, which is more journalism, PR, advertising related stuff (direction i was going), but it's probably harder to get into. It's called the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (http://www.ntu.edu.sg/sci). Does it sound familiar to anybody?

And what's an external university? Like a polytechnic two-year thing? Or just a uni that's ranked not so high?

Also, does me being an international student make a difference? Cuz I know in American universities, if you're not American you pay a higher tuition, and since you pay a higher tuition they actually want you more than locals. Plus there's usually a quota they try to fill on international students, like there has to be a certain percentage of Asians enrolled, etc. Is it the same in Singaporean unis?

Consequently, is anyone here enrolled in a uni in Singapore right now?

External Universities are those that are usually commercial and private schools that have no connection with the government. Their degrees are usually external degrees ie offered by a foreign school ie University of London and the heading of the degree states 'External'.

Many tend to be easier to get in so long as you have the money. But some still have minimum entry standards. Some can be part time or full time courses.

[tedsu]

im thinking of taking graduate school in singapore after i graduate from portland state. im thinking of gettin into SMU, any other suggestion? before i went to study in the states i did try the entrance exam to NTU and it was crazy hard, only the geniuses from high schools can do the test. I even spent like 2 months to learn all those crazy math, physic, and chem problem still i can only do like 1/4 of the tests correctly.

[glenn]

whats yr major ted?

[chuck.r]

before i went to study in the states i did try the entrance exam to NTU and it was crazy hard, only the geniuses from high schools can do the test. I even spent like 2 months to learn all those crazy math, physic, and chem problem still i can only do like 1/4 of the tests correctly.

yeah ted, i was also wondering what you're major is. i'm guessing a medicine or bio or engineering, something science related from the kind of entrance exam you had to take. i'm hoping you don't need to take the same for communications majors. probably not right? I think for the school of comm there's a written test and an interview, and for the media arts it's a portfolio submission.

i'm paying the same as my american classmates at my college. quotas might well apply to the publics in singapore, but as far as privates like MDIS are concerned, i can't think of any reason to have a quota as this would reduce their profits.

hey glenn, do you mind me asking where you currently go?

[glenn]

starting at williams college in mass this fall.

[plongin]

^^ damn...williams is good.

anyway, im currently enrolled in Singapore Management University, and honestly, the program is pretty good shit. They specialise more to the business aspects though, so i dont think you'd wanna try here. Anyway, its crazy hard to get into any of the 3 public singaporean universities because of the fact that generally almost all of singapore will apply for all 3, however, seeing how you are a foreigner, i honestly think it'll be alot easier.

you can try applying for SMU cause they are based on the american education pedagogy......plus i did highschool in new jersey before coming back here, and i think overseas transcripts look better.

[plongin]

also, i know you're looking at degrees,

but Ngee Ann Poly has a pretty wicked mass communications diploma (with alot of hookups I might add...) ....i know alot of pple who have come out pretty successful in the media and comms field from there...

[tedsu]

when i tried to get into NTU i was thinking of majoring in comp sci thats why i took the science entrance exam, there was business entrance exam too but i don't know how hard it is. right now im majoring in business information system, thats why i m thinking of applying to SMU for my graduate school while trying to find a job there

[plongin]

but honestly, pls know that student life in singapore is bloody bloody bloody boring.

[glenn]

but honestly, pls know that student life in singapore is bloody bloody bloody boring.

true that.

then again plongin, why did you come back for uni if you knew that's how its like?

[plongin]

^^^ long story. not exactly what I wanted honestly. but its worked out ok.