The Local University Landscape

I) Autonomous Universities

Singapore's university education aspires to prepare students not only for today's world but also for a world where there will be jobs that have yet to be invented and challenges not yet foreseen.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have initiated a number of innovative programmes, including the broadening of undergraduate education, the introduction of a core curriculum, collaborations with top foreign universities, and the establishment of inter-disciplinary centres. The Singapore Management University (SMU) offers a broad-based business curriculum modelled after that of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Being autonomous, these universities can chart their own destiny, differentiate themselves and pursue new heights of excellence in education, research and service, whilst receiving substantial government funding.

IIA) Private Universities - Comprehensive

SIM University (UniSIM) provides university education to working professionals and adult learners by adopting a flexible learning approach to enable its learners to balance their career, family and studies.

IIB) Private Universities / Institutions - Specialised

Widely recognised as one of the most innovative and influential business schools, INSEAD's unique global perspective and multicultural diversity are reflected in all aspects of its research and teaching. The INSEAD-Wharton Alliance combines INSEAD's resources with those of Wharton's to deliver business education and research across a global learning network.

James Cook University Singapore is the first Asian campus the prestigious Australian university. Bringing programs direct from the parent campus and having resident senior academic staff from Australia to ensure academic quality, students can be assured of the same enriching university education. JCU offers a diverse range of world class degrees in Business, IT, Psychology and Counselling.

Founded in 1898, the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business created the world's first Executive MBA programme in 1943 to provide senior managers and executives with the most up-to-date management education. The same programme is now available in its Asia Campus in Singapore.

S P Jain Center of Management is the international initiative of S P Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai which is ranked among the Top Ten Business Schools in Asia and India. S P Jain offers an Executive MBA programme and a truly Global MBA programme conducted jointly from both the campuses in Dubai and Singapore.

The Harrah Hotel College of The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is recognised as one of the leading hospitality management programmes in the United States. UNLV Singapore offers a fully accredited Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel Administration as well as an Executive Masters Degree in Hospitality Administration.

ESSEC Business School is a major player in international management education. With a faculty renowned for high-quality research, ESSEC fosters a spirit of excellence, innovation, and diversity. Its Singapore campus offers executive programmes, part of the MBA in conjunction with the Paris campus and a Specialized Master's in International Business.

DigiPen Institute of Technology offered the world's first Bachelor of Science degree program in game software engineering - B.S. in Real Time Interactive Simulation (RTIS). DigiPen's Singapore campus will offer the same RTIS program and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Production Animation.

At Tisch School of the Arts Asia, students have the opportunity to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree in one of three areas: Animation and Digital Arts, Dramatic Writing and Film Production - the same degrees offered by Tisch School of the Arts in New York City.

Information on University Admissions

Graduates from the new ‘A’ level curriculum, who apply to the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), will do so under a new admission framework from 2008.

This new admission framework supports the objectives of the new curriculum, and is adapted from the current admission framework.

The Singapore Management University (SMU) has its own set of admission criteria, which includes performance in an interview and/or essay test for entry into ALL faculties. SAT scores are optional but an added advantage for those with strong scores.

APPLICATION

To apply to NUS and NTU, you need to have:

• At least two H2 passes
• Attempted General Paper (GP) or (Knowledge & Inquiry [KI]) in the same sitting
• A minimum of ‘S’ grade in Mother Tongue Language (MTL)

SELECTION
NUS and NTU will select you based on your grades in:

• GP (or KI)
• PW
• Three H2 and one H1 content-based subjects (at least one has to be a contrasting subject)
  
  You can choose to include your MTL grade if you have done well in it.
  
  As with existing practice, some faculties have additional admission requirements, e.g. interviews, portfolios, and aptitude tests.

Discretionary Admission Scheme

You can get a place in university on account of your special strengths and talents under the NUS’ and NTU’s discretionary admission scheme. The universities will consider your achievements in CCA, CIP, H3 subjects and other pursuits independent of your examination grades.  Currently up to 10% of students in each intake may be admitted to NUS and NTU under this scheme.

BEYOND THE NORM SUBJECT COMBINATIONS
If your subject combination is beyond the norm, NUS and NTU will select you based on:

Subject Combinations

Selection for Admission

Three H2 content-based subjects Two or three H1 content-based subjects Mother Tongue Language (MTL) General Paper (GP) Project Work (PW)	Take grades in:   Three H2 subjects & best H1 subject (at least one has to be a contrasting subject) GP PW
Four H2 content-based subjects MTL GP PW	Take grades in:   Best three H2 subjects, with worst H2 subject counted as one H1 subject (at least one has to be a contrasting subject) GP PW
Four H2 content-based subjects One H1 content-based subject MTL GP PW	Take grades in:   Best three H2 subjects, with worst H2 subject counted as one H1 subject (at least one has to be a contrasting subject, or Best three H2 subjects and one H1 subject (at least one has to be a contrasting subject) GP PW
Knowledge & Inquiry (KI) Three H2 content-based subjects MTL PW	Take grades in:   KI, counted as two H1 subjects (one in place of GP and one for H1 requirement) Three H2 subjects PW
KI Three H2 content-based subjects One H1 content-based subject MTL PW	Take grades in:   Three H2 subjects, & better of H1 subject or KI as H1 subject (at least one has to fulfil the contrasting subject requirement) KI as H1 subject (in place of GP) PW
KI Three H2 content-based subjects Two H1 content-based subjects MTL	Take grades in:   Three H2 subjects, & best of H1 subjects or KI as H1 subject (at least one has to fulfil the contrasting subject requirement) KI as H1 subject (in place of GP) PW

You can choose to include your MTL grade if you have done well in it.