[10 April 2006]
SMU hits record 10,600 applications for Academic Year 2006/7

The Singapore Management University (SMU) has hit a record of 10,600 applications for admission to its five full-time degree programmes for Academic Year 2006/7 as of the closing deadline of 10 April 2006. This marks a 12% increase in applications from last year, making the university eight times oversubscribed with eight students vying for one of the 1,260 places offered by the university. SMU has achieved increased numbers in application in spite of a recent fee revision for freshmen joining the university this year. SMU has received the most number of applications from ‘A' level students who make up more than half of the total number, followed by polytechnic students and international students.

The Lee Kong Chian School of Business received the highest number of applications for its Bachelor of Business Management degree programme. More than 5,000 students applied for the popular four-year business management degree programme which gives students the option to major in one of seven specialisations from finance, marketing, law to corporate communications. SMU's flagship business school has also attracted an unprecedented number of quality applicants interested in its signature American-style pedagogy which adopts an MBA approach to teaching in small seminar classes.

Since the beginning, SMU has adopted its own unique holistic admissions criteria that look for all-rounded individuals with the potential for high academic performance which may not be immediately identifiable from exam grades. In accessing every applicant as a total individual, a broad set of criteria is used which includes academic performance, leadership qualities, community service contributions, entrepreneurial, sporting or artistic talents, SAT score (optional), interview and essay-writing. This approach has enabled SMU to recruit many outstanding students with a wide diversity of talents who have the intellectual stamina to handle the rigours of our pedagogy as well as passion to carve out a vibrant student life beyond books.

Outstanding students can also apply for direct entry into the double degree programme in SMU where they can graduate in four years with two degrees – in any combination in Accountancy, Business Management, Economics, Information Systems Management or Social Science. The double degree programme gives students an invaluable edge in the new economy, and an unrivalled versatility and flexibility in career options. More than 1,600 students (about 15%) have applied for the double degree programme with the Business Management/Accountancy and Business Management/Economics being the two most popular combinations.

“The overwhelming response to our degree programmes is once again a strong indication of the confidence parents and students have in the quality of an SMU education. Application numbers have increased in spite of a recent fee revision for freshmen joining us this year. Parents and students have unwaveringly voted for SMU as their preferred choice of university offering a premium education. It is because they truly believe in SMU as a unique institution that transforms individuals into creative, confident and business-savvy leaders with global mindsets. Employers have also endorsed SMU graduates as exceptional recruits with 100% of our graduates securing jobs within six months of graduation and our top 20% earning impressive starting salaries of more than $3,800,” said Professor Howard Hunter, President, Singapore Management University.

Freshmen joining SMU in the coming academic year can be assured that no deserving students will be deprived of an SMU education because of the fee revision. A comprehensive suite of financial assistance is available to qualified students with financial difficulties. A total of $4.2 million in scholarships will be made available for the new academic year, giving one in nine freshmen a chance to qualify for a scholarship. Another half a million dollars in bursaries will be given out to needy students for the new academic year. More than $300,000 worth of notebook loans will be provided for needy students to purchase their own laptops. SMU also encourages students to sign up for its Work-Study Grant schemes where $220,000 has been allocated as remuneration for students who work part-time on campus. This complements the main government financial aids such as the Tuition Fee Loan, CPF Education Loan and Study Loan. SMU also has a student employment unit to assist students seeking off-campus part-time employment to help with their tuition fees and daily expenses.