studying in australia!
-
The study abroad section of the forums seems pretty dead so I'm posting here instead ahhaahah hope you guys don't find me annoying (:
I'm sec 4 this year and I'm studying in one of the IP schools in Singapore. I'm doing fine in my studies but faced with the upcoming A levels, I've been extremely paraniod that I'd do really badly for it and not even qualify for local u. After all, it's ONE major standardized exam - the stakes are high and it's unimaginable if you screw it up haha
I've been thinking a lot lately as well, and since my mom's an Australian citizen (she's living there permanently now), it seems pretty reasonable for me to move over. I'm thinking of going for foundation at Trinity College, then doing a double-major in Finance and Accounting at University of Melbourne. After taking 1 year of Uni, I'd then return for NS, before going back for 3 more years. Meanwhile, I'd convert to Australian PR so that I'll be paying local (and subsidized fees).
My concern here, however, is how prestegious Australian Universities truly are, since they have a strong rep among Singaporeans for being backup options. I want a job in an investment bank, preferbly in a bulge bracket, so how they appear in the eyes of the Singaporean employer would really matter. I don't want to come back with an unrecognized degree that can't get me anywhere!
If not, I'd probably be staying in Australia with my PR, but I'd prefer to come back to Singapore anw, it's home to me! (:
sorry for the ramble ahahaha i'd really appreciate if you guys could help
-
If you have the means, why not go to the best and most prestigious business school you can afford? If not, then there isn't much of a choice here.
-
I had always wanted to go to LSE or UPenn or a school up there but I'd need to take A levels but they are a super big uncertainty!! I've always been quite bad at dealing with exams, I don't want a BBCC for my H2s and waste 2 years of my life then go for foundation again lol
-
Mindef turns down SIM student's pleas to sit for first-year exams first. -ST
Wed, Aug 13, 2008
The Straits TimesBy Esther Tan
SINGAPORE Institute of Management (SIM) student Samuel Tan Chee Hong will not get to sit for his first-year examinations at the end of this year.
By then, the youth, who turned 18 last month, will have been called up to begin his national service (NS).
Samuel joined the private educational organisation in the middle of last year, finished a six-month foundation programme and started his course in computer science at the start of this year.
But, last month, he received a letter from the Defence Ministry telling him to report for NS next month.
He has made five failed appeals to Mindef asking for a deferment. At first, he pleaded for a deferment until the end of his three-year bachelor's degree.
When that was turned down, he made four further appeals seeking a three- month deferment to allow him to at least complete the first year of his course.
All have been rejected, even with support from Aljunied GRC MPs Cynthia Phua and Lim Hwee Hua.
Mindef's replies to him all carried the same reason: Male Singaporeans aged 18 and due to enlist will be granted a full deferment from NS only to pursue educational qualifications up to 'A' levels, a polytechnic diploma or equivalent qualifications such as those from the Institute of Technical Education.
NS deferment to pursue a university degree has not been allowed since late 2005, said Mindef spokesman Darius Lim.
At the Budget debate in 2006, Second Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen explained that, with more educational opportunities available now, pre-enlisted males can start their courses at any time of the year. This means many more Singaporeans are able to start university or other courses locally before they reach 18.
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean also reiterated Mindef's stance in Parliament last month. "Allowing such students deferment would be unfair to the vast majority of their peers studying in junior colleges, polytechnics and other institutions who do not have the same opportunity to be deferred for their university studies."
Samuel's father, Mr Roger Tan, said his youngest of three sons had started the SIM course knowing there was a chance he would not get to defer. "But we didn't want to waste time waiting for him to hit 18 before he started NS. It was a risk we had to take," said the IT manager.
He could have enlisted earlier, as teens aged 16 1/2 can apply for early enlistment. But his father did not want him to do that: "Boys that age are too young, immature and slow to learn. The risk is too high and they will be more prone to accidents."
An SIM spokesman said the credits Samuel obtained in his first three quarters of the year will still be valid when he finishes his NS in two years' time.
Since the start of the year, five other SIM students have had to stop their studies to enlist for NS. So far, all returning students have not had to pick up new modules to replace the old ones, the spokesman said.
When contacted, a Mindef spokesman said it considers two main factors when facing a deferment request.
One is the need to preserve equity in terms of educational attainment before NS. The second is the need to enlist NS-liable males for rigorous military training "while they are young and fit".
Mr Tan, 54, said his son was asking for a three-month delay and would be only half a year older upon actual enlistment.
"Even with a full deferment, he would only be 20 years old upon the completion of his degree course. He'll still be young and fit then," he said.
This article was first published in The Straits Times on Aug 11, 2008.
-
Source: www.ns.sg
Deferment for Full-time Studies
Under the Enlistment Act, NS-liable persons are enlisted at the earliest opportunity upon turning 18 years old. For those who are studying, MINDEF does allow some flexibility for them to complete their full-time studies up to the GCE 'A' Levels or Polytechnic Diploma (or their equivalent), both locally and overseas, before enlisting for NS. Those who have already embarked on their full-time studies but who do not meet the deferment conditions, will have to disrupt their studies and be enlisted for NS at the earliest opportunity scheduled by the Central Manpower Base (CMPB), including those who take up Singapore Permanent Residency in the midst of their studies.
Local Studies in Government Schools
GCE 'A' Level Studies and International Baccalaureate (IB) Studies
NS-liable persons will be granted deferment for GCE 'A' Level and IB studies (and their equivalent) at Junior Colleges/ Millennia Institute/ Integrated Programme (IP) schools if they are able to commence the course* before 19 years old (for Secondary 4 students) or 20 years old (for Secondary 5 students), as at 1st January of the course commencement year.
* For NS-liable persons who are pursuing their GCE 'A' Levels or IB in the IP schools, the deferment cut-off age will apply to the 5th year of study.
Exceptions may be considered for students who do not meet these deferment cut-off ages, but are able to gain admission into Junior Colleges/ Millennia Institute/ IP schools.
NS-liable persons who are returning from overseas and who wish to pursue studies in Junior Colleges/ Millennia Institute/ IP schools must seek prior approval from CMPB. They must do so before applying through the Ministry of Education (MOE)'s School Placement Exercise for Returning Singaporeans - Junior Colleges and Millennia Institute (SPERS-JC/MI), or before applying directly to the Junior Colleges/ Millennia Institute/ IP Schools. Persons who are deemed to have already attained a first education bar qualification (defined as GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or equivalent qualifications), be it locally or overseas, will not be granted deferment to pursue another first education bar qualification or another qualification below first education bar.
Persons who have failed their General Paper (GP)/ Knowledge & Inquiry (KI) or obtained less than 3 H2 passes (excluding KI) in one sitting of the GCE 'A' Level examination will be considered for further deferment to repeat their GCE 'A' Level studies on a full-time basis, subject to one repeat only. Persons who have failed to attain the IB qualification will also be considered for further deferment to repeat their IB studies on a full-time basis, subject to one repeat only.
Polytechnic Diploma Studies
NS-liable persons will be granted deferment for Polytechnic Diploma studies (including Polytechnic Diploma through the Polytechnic Foundation Programme) and its equivalent qualifications (e.g. courses at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) or the LaSalle College of the Arts) if they are able to commence the course before 19 years old (for Secondary 4 students) or 20 years old (for Secondary 5 students), as at 1st January of the course commencement year.
NS-liable persons who graduated with NITEC/Higher NITEC qualification from ITE Colleges will be granted deferment for Polytechnic Diploma studies and its equivalent qualifications if they are able to commence the course before 21 years old as at 1st January of the course commencement year. Applications for deferment from ITE graduates who are above 21 years old as at 1st January of their course commencement year will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
NS-liable persons who are returning from overseas and who wish to pursue Polytechnic Diploma studies and its equivalent qualifications must seek prior approval from CMPB before applying for their intended course of study. Persons who are deemed to have already attained a first education bar qualification (defined as GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or equivalent qualifications), be it locally or overseas, will not be granted deferment to pursue another first education bar qualification or another qualification below first education bar.
Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Diploma Studies
NS-liable persons who completed NITEC or Higher NITEC studies at ITE Colleges, will be granted deferment to pursue the Technical Engineer Diploma (TED) or Technical Diploma (TD) programmes at ITE Colleges if they are able to commence the course before 21 years old, as at 1st January of the course commencement year. They will be granted deferment to complete the academic phase only, and will be enlisted for full-time NS at the earliest opportunity upon completion of the academic phase. Deferment will not be granted for work attachments and internships. Applications for deferment from ITE graduates who are above 21 years old as at 1st January of their course commencement year will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
NS-liable persons who are returning from overseas and who wish to pursue ITE Diploma studies must seek prior approval from CMPB before applying for their intended course of study. Persons who are deemed to have already attained a first education bar qualification (defined as GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or equivalent qualifications), be it locally or overseas, will not be granted deferment to pursue another first education bar qualification or another qualification below first education bar.
NITEC and Higher NITEC Studies
NS-liable persons will be granted deferment for NITEC or Higher NITEC courses at ITE Colleges if they are able to commence the course before 19 years old (for Secondary 4 students) or 20 years old (for Secondary 5 students), as at 1st January of the course commencement year.
NS-liable persons who graduated with NITEC qualification from ITE Colleges will also be granted deferment for Higher NITEC courses if they are able to commence the course at ITE Colleges before 20 years old, as at 1st January of the course commencement year.
NS-liable persons who are returning from overseas and who wish to pursue NITEC or Higher NITEC studies at ITE Colleges must seek prior approval from CMPB before applying for their intended course of study. Persons who are deemed to have already attained a first education bar qualification (defined as GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or equivalent qualifications), be it locally or overseas, will not be granted deferment to pursue another first education bar qualification or another qualification below first education bar.
GCE 'O' and 'N' Level Courses
NS-liable persons will generally be granted deferment to pursue GCE 'O' and 'N' Level studies at government, government-aided or independent secondary schools.
An extension of deferment may be granted for those who wish to repeat their GCE 'N' or 'O' Level studies on a full-time basis, subject to one repeat only.
Local Private Courses
NS-liable persons who graduated before September 2011 may be granted deferment to pursue full-time studies (up to the GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or equivalent qualifications) at private institutions registered with the Council for Private Education (CPE), if they are able to commence the course before 18 years old, as at 1st January of the course commencement year. NS-liable persons graduating from September 2011 onwards may be granted deferment to pursue full-time studies (up to the GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or equivalent qualifications) at private institutions registered with the CPE, if they are able to commence their courses before 19 years old (for Secondary 4 students) or 20 years old (for Secondary 5 & ITE students), as at 1st January of the course commencement year. The higher cut-off age will apply to courses commencing from 1st January 2012 onwards.
Deferment for private courses will be considered on a stage-by-stage basis (i.e. a Certificate course and a Diploma course, if packaged together, will be treated as separate courses for the purpose of granting deferment). A new application for deferment must be made before the commencement of a new stage of studies. Deferment for the new stage of studies will be subject to the same cut-off age stated in the preceding paragraph.
Overseas Studies
NS-liable persons who graduated before September 2011 may be granted deferment to pursue full-time overseas studies (up to the GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or their equivalent qualifications) if they are able to commence the course before 18 years old, as at 1st January of the course commencement year. NS-liable persons graduating from September 2011 onwards may be granted deferment to pursue full-time overseas studies (up to the GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or their equivalent qualifications) if they are able to commence their courses before 19 years old (for Secondary 4 students) or 20 years old (for Secondary 5 & ITE students), as at 1st January of the course commencement year. The higher cut-off age will apply to courses commencing from 1st January 2012 onwards.
NS-liable persons will be required to apply for an exit permit for overseas trips of 3 months and longer and will be required to furnish a bond of $75,000 or an amount equivalent to 50% of the combined annual gross income of both parents for the preceding year, whichever is higher.
Application for Deferment
NS-liable persons may apply for deferment online at the NS portal (http://www.ns.sg) during NS registration and pre-enlistment documentation.
Those applying for deferment to pursue local studies may be required to furnish documentary proof for verification upon CMPB's request. Upon CMPB's request, they will be required to submit to CMPB a letter from their school certifying their enrolment, their course of study, as well as their course commencement and completion dates.
Those applying for deferment to pursue overseas studies must submit to CMPB a letter from their school certifying their enrolment, their course of study as well as their course commencement and completion dates. In addition, they must submit their parents' Income Tax Notices of Assessment (both local and overseas) for the preceding year.
Those who subsequently wish to pursue or switch to a new course or institution must seek prior approval from CMPB.
Notes: The information provided in this website are general guidelines. For further details, you may wish to contact the NS Call Centre at [email protected] or Tel: 1800-3676767 (eNSNSNS). -
Thanks! Anw my parents are willing to post bond and since school term ends in Dec and I only turn 18 in Dec, I believe the earliest they can call me up is in Jan, so there's not much problem about that, as long as the Uni doesnt mind (I suppose)!
-
Application for Deferment
NS-liable persons may apply for deferment online at the NS portal (http://www.ns.sg) during NS registration and pre-enlistment documentation.
Those applying for deferment to pursue local studies may be required to furnish documentary proof for verification upon CMPB's request. Upon CMPB's request, they will be required to submit to CMPB a letter from their school certifying their enrolment, their course of study, as well as their course commencement and completion dates.
Those applying for deferment to pursue overseas studies must submit to CMPB a letter from their school certifying their enrolment, their course of study as well as their course commencement and completion dates. In addition, they must submit their parents' Income Tax Notices of Assessment (both local and overseas) for the preceding year.
Those who subsequently wish to pursue or switch to a new course or institution must seek prior approval from CMPB.
Notes: The information provided in this website are general guidelines. For further details, you may wish to contact the NS Call Centre at [email protected] or Tel: 1800-3676767 (eNSNSNS). -
Investment banking in Australia is pretty big stuff. I don't see why Australian universities cannot be in par with Singaporean ones.
if you are concern about reputation and recognition, you should try to get into the top 8 Australian universities. This would depend a lot on your O-level results.
-
I'm not doing O's, since I'm in the Integrated Programme so I get to go JC directly after internal exams? But in anyway I'm going to Trinity which leads me to University of Melbourne, and it's supposedly the best Aus Uni for business, but even so, they accept students at lower standards than Local Unis, which is my concern haha thanks anw