[Singapore, 22 March 2013 (Friday)] – Singapore Management University’s (SMU) graduates from the 2012 cohort have registered a robust overall employment rate¹ of 91.7% and high  starting salaries across five of the university's degree programmes.

These healthy results were achieved despite the uncertain global and local economic conditions in 2012.

This was the first time the three autonomous universities conducted a joint Graduate Employment Survey (GES). The survey which was conducted with fresh graduates revealed that 91.7% of SMU graduates secured employment within six months after graduation, with more than 75% clinching job offers from before graduation to within the first month of graduation. In addition, 61% of them also received two to six job offers per person.

Of the 1,312 SMU alumni who graduated between May and September 2012, 1,007 participated in the survey, which contributed to an overall response rate of 76.8%.

The mean gross monthly salary of SMU graduates in full-time permanent jobs is a record $3,395, since SMU graduated its pioneer cohort in 2004. This is an increase over the previous year’s mean gross monthly salary of $3,388. ²

The top 20% of wage earners commanded a mean gross monthly salary of $5,187, 2.9% higher as compared to that of 2011.

In addition, of those SMU graduates who are working full-time, 30 chose to embark on an entrepreneurial path and start their own businesses.

SMU President, Professor Arnoud De Meyer said, “Once again, our graduates have displayed their capabilities derived from the knowledge and skills they have acquired in SMU. I am pleased that the education and training our students received here have helped to nurture them well into confident, well-rounded and articulate individuals who are ready to take on their chosen jobs. They have also learnt social responsibility, and developed character and empathy.

The multi-disciplinary perspectives and culture of rigorous learning and innovation provide them with the breadth and depth, and versatility needed in the work place. At the same time, our students are groomed to be bold and innovative entrepreneurs, daring to embark on a path less trodden.”

The versatility of SMU graduates was also demonstrated in the wide variety of professions and industries that they are employed in, ranging from finance and insurance; legal, accounting and auditing, information and communication, business and management consultancy,  as well as the public and social sectors. Graduates have put the skills and qualities that they have acquired in SMU to good use, which includes business knowledge, innovative ideas and enterprising leadership.

As compared to 2011 results, SMU’s 2012 graduates have ventured into diversified industries which include logistics and supply chain management, machinery and equipment, marine and offshore engineering, maritime/shipping, medical and precision instruments, oilfield and gas field machinery and equipment manufacturing, petroleum, mining and prospecting services, transport equipment and other engineering activities.

SMU’s 2012 graduates continue to do well across the six Schools.

SMU's Economics graduates garnered a mean gross monthly salary of $3,768. The median gross monthly salary is $3,500. Those with Cum Laude or better achieved a high mean gross monthly salary of $4,053, which is an increase of 1.4% when compared to that of the 2011 cohort.

The Information Systems Management (ISM) graduates drew a mean and median gross monthly salary of $3,383 and $3,150 respectively. Those with Cum Laude or better, enjoy a high mean gross monthly salary of $3,946.

The Business Management graduates' mean gross monthly salary is $3,348. The median gross monthly salary is $3,000. Those with Cum Laude or better were paid a mean gross monthly salary of $3,854. 

The mean gross monthly salary of the Social Sciences graduates is $3,289, which is an increase of 8.1%. The median gross monthly salary is $3,000. Those with Cum Laude or better enjoy a higher mean gross monthly salary of $3,496.

The Accountancy graduates' mean gross monthly salary also increased to $3,268 for the 2012 cohort. The median gross monthly salary is $2,800. Those with Cum Laude or better achieved a higher mean gross monthly salary of $3,765.

Please refer to Annex  for the detailed figures.

SMU’s first cohort of Law graduates in 2011 were excluded from the 2011 survey as they were undergoing pupilage training in the first six months of their graduation. They have since started employment and have been included in the follow-up survey of GES 2012.  

The follow-up survey showed that 98.6% of the respondents are economically active with a mean and median gross monthly salary was $ 4,975 and $5,000 respectively. Those who attained a GPA of 3.4 and above had a mean gross monthly salary of $ 5,082.

Since its inception in 2000, SMU has pioneered its own unique brand of pedagogy. Modeled after the American system, the SMU curriculum is intentionally structured as four-year programmes to give undergraduates a holistic education which not only includes seminar-style classes that encourage free and open discussion, but also compulsory internship (including  overseas internships), overseas study missions and compulsory community service work.

SMU students are also given a head-start in their careers through the opportunity of taking up internships. 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 several career preparation resources.

In particular, SMU pioneered “The Finishing Touch” course, whereby students have to pass a compulsory career preparation skills programme that includes career planning, interview and networking skills, business etiquette and managing workplace relationships.

Professor De Meyer commented, “SMU students gain invaluable work experience through their industry internships. Coupled with their global exposure and community service work, which helps to develop and hone their leadership skills, SMU students have a distinctive edge in the job market and make them highly sought after by employers. I am confident that the SMU holistic educational experience of imparting hard knowledge and soft people skills, and heart skills of character and empathy will benefit our graduates, and continue to stand them in good stead in both their professional careers and personal lives.”

Explanatory Note: Cum Laude and Merit Awards

SMU uses the cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) criteria to identify degree candidates with academic excellence in the following award categories: Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude. These are Latin awards adopted from the American 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. A graduate needs a GPA of at least 3.40 out of 4.00 to be awarded Cum Laude. All SMU bachelor degrees are four-year full-time programmes.