Conceptualised as the island republic’s first autonomous university funded by government, SMU has quickly acquired an international reputation for dispensing rigorous business management, economics and finance education.

Reshma Ravishanker

Promoted in the new millennium, the publicly-funded Singapore Management University (SMU, estb.2000) has quickly acquired an international reputation for dispensing rigorous business management, economics and finance education. In the latest QS Global MBA Rankings 2024, it is ranked #43 worldwide and #6 in Asia.

SMU’s eight schools — accountancy; economics; social sciences; Lee Kong Chian School of Business; computing and information systems; Yong Pung How School of Law; College of Integrative Studies and College of Graduate Research Studies — offer a wide range of undergrad, postgraduate and Ph D programmes to 12,000 students mentored by 407 faculty. SMU spokespersons claim that its core curriculum develops “students’ broad knowledge of the world, interdisciplinary and contextual perspectives, understanding of self and society, and capability in key 21st-century skills”.

Conceptualised as the island republic’s first autonomous university funded by the government, SMU is modeled on the top-ranked Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, USA. Indeed, it began its innings with a five-year collaboration agreement with the Wharton School. In 2004, SMU received a gift of S$50 million from the Lee Foundation following which the government resolved to pay in $3 for every dollar donated, resulting in $150 million being added to SMU’s endowment fund.

Since it was promoted in the new millennium year, SMU has produced several distinguished alumni including Devanshi Kanoi Chitlangia, founder, Worldviral Education; Ben Toh Zhi Sian, group head of Bancassurance; Bonnie Wong Shi Yun, chief operating officer, Creative Eateries; Derrick Lee, co-founder, Accredify, and Timothy Tio, vice president, Mizuho Bank.

Singapore. Once a British colony and untidy port, over the past six decades Singapore has evolved into an independent island nation, globally renowned for its spick ’n span environment, transformation into Southeast Asia’s business and financial entrepot and most prosperous, modern and well-administered country notable for civic discipline and high per capita income (US $49,000). It boasts an excellent public transport system and public parks, museums, restaurants, nightclubs and tourist destinations including the verdant Botanic Gardens — a Unesco World Heritage site.

Singapore’s climate is tropical — warm and wet most of the year. December is the coolest month and May the warmest, with average temperatures ranging between 22-33oCelsius. English is the language of administration, business and technology. Other languages spoken are Malay, Chinese (Mandarin) and Tamil.

Campus facilities. SMU’s campus in Bras Basah, Singapore’s central business district sprawls across 11 acres and comprises seven state-of-the-art buildings fronted by trees and lawns. Facilities include the Li Ka Shing, Kwa Geok Choo Law libraries, seminar rooms, 260-seat Mochtar Riady Auditorium, campus centre, a multi-purpose hall, cafes, bookshop, medical clinic and a convenience store. Moreover, students have access to a swimming pool, gym, sports hall, du Suantio Gallery and Arts & Cultural Centre, and over 150 student clubs.

Admission. Admission into SMU’s undergrad programmes is competitive and merit-based. The minimum requirements are successful completion of Plus Two with 90 percent average for five subjects including English; SAT/ACT test scores and proficiency in the English language (IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE Academic). Sound academic qualifications apart, applicants need to demonstrate high self-motivation and diverse interests and clear an interview before admission.

For admission into the university’s postgrad programmes, the minimum qualifications are a bachelor’s degree, GMAT/GRE scores and English language proficiency.

For further information, contact Office of Admissions & Financial Assistance, SMU, Administration Building, Level 3, 81 Victoria Street, Singapore 188065; Ph: +65 6828 0980; email: [email protected]; website: www.smu.edu.sg.

Accommodation. Nestled in the vibrant arts and heritage enclave of the Bras Basah Bugis Precinct, the university’s Prinsep Street Residences are an eight-minute stroll from the campus. They offer 23 fully-furnished, modern apartments housing 255 students. Each 12-bed apartment comes with a suite of amenities including personal wardrobes, study desks and 24-hour security. Accommodation facilities are also available for SMU students at YO:HA @ Pearl’s Hill (Chinatown) which offers 336 apartments.

SCHOLASTIC OPTIONS AT SMU

SMU offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes in its eight schools — College of Integrative Studies, College of Graduate Research Studies, School of Accountancy, Lee Kong Chian School of Business, School of Economics, School of Computing and Information Systems, Yong Pung How School of Law and School of Social Sciences.
They offer the following undergrad and postgrad programmes:
Undergrad. Bachelor’s in integrative studies; accountancy; business management; science economics/information systems/computer science/computing and law/software engineering; laws; social science; SMU-Duke-NUS Medicine Pathway.
Postgraduate. Accountancy; business management; economics; information systems; law; entrepreneurship & innovation; sustainability; professional accounting; data analytics; executive MBA; management; applied finance; quantitative finance; wealth management.
SMU Academy. In addition to its traditional academic degrees, the university also offers diploma/ certificate/ executive education programmes for working professionals.
Tuition fee (per year): S$26,100-28,350
Living expenses: S$7,500-20,000 NB: S$=Rs.63