[15 February 2005]
100% of SMU grads land jobs within six months upon graduation with more than half offered employment even before they graduated
Average starting salary for SMU graduates over $2500

The Singapore Management University's (SMU) inaugural participation in the Graduate Employment Survey revealed that 100% of SMU graduates found jobs1 either before graduation or within six months of their graduation. 60% of the graduates secured employment even before they graduated and 72% within one month of graduation. The survey included SMU alumni who graduated in May, June and September 2004.

Also notable from the findings of the survey was that the average starting monthly salary for SMU graduates in full-time employment is over $2,500, while the average for those SMU students who graduated Cum Laude* or higher is nearly $3,000. They were hired in a wide spectrum of professions, including financial, accounting, consulting and services sectors, with 42% in banking, finance, auditing and accounting. Moreover, 75% of the SMU graduates reported having received two or more job offers.

Said Prof Howard Hunter , SMU President, “The 100% employment of our graduates is gratifying, especially given that close to three-quarters of these graduates have secured a job within a month or less of graduation. The employability of SMU students confirms our strong belief in both our seminar-style pedagogy and flexible but integrated curriculum, which together foster hands-on, team-oriented, project-based learning that is relevant to the marketplace. It also reinforces the message that we have been hearing from employers all along through the SMU internship programme – that SMU students are confident, resourceful and highly sought after.”

The SMU undergraduate degree is a four-year programme that is focused, yet broad-based, and involves a minimum 10-week internship at an organisation and a two-week community service programme. The Office of Career Services, through its start-to-finish approach in preparing students for the workplace, organises a variety of networking events, career talks and company visits, among other career preparation resources. The next cohort of SMU students will celebrate their graduation at Commencement 2005 in July of this year.

* Cum Laude = with distinction, or 3.4/4.0 GPA

Cum Laude and Merit Awards
Summa Cum Laude , Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude are Latin awards adopted from the US system, and can be translated as with Highest Distinction, with High Distinction and with Distinction, respectively. All cum laude awards are highly selective. They do not equate to the various classes of degree honours conferred by universities that follow the British system of academic honours.

1 90% of these are full-time jobs and 10% are part-time jobs.