Graduates of Singapore Management University’s undergraduate university programmes have achieved higher employment rates and higher incomes than their peers from Singapore’s two other autonomous universities, the latest joint survey shows.

This is the third consecutive year in which the three autonomous universities - the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU) conducted a joint survey.

A total of 1,214 participants of the 1,577 SMU alumni who graduated in 2014 took part in the survey. It revealed that 91.6 per cent of SMU’s grads from the 2014 cohort were employed within six months after completing their final examinations, with more than half the total number surveyed being offered jobs from before graduation.

The average gross monthly salary of SMU graduates in full-time employment is a record $3,592, since SMU graduated its pioneer cohort in 2004. This is an increase over the previous year’s average gross monthly salary of $3,455. 

The top 20% of wage earners commanded a mean gross monthly salary of $5,441.

SMU President, Professor Arnoud De Meyer said, “Year after year, SMU graduates prove that they have a distinctive edge in the job market and possess qualities that are highly sought after by employers. They are given a head-start in their careers through the opportunity of taking up internships. All SMU students, from 2nd year onwards, are required to deep dive into a 10-week internship in a company with duties that align with the student’s degree and academic major. Our students don’t just learn from being interns; they value-add with innovative ideas and solutions. Many of them are talent-spotted and offered jobs by their intern companies even before they graduate. A majority of them do no fewer than two to three internships both in Singapore and overseas.”

Indeed, this year saw a 51 per cent increase from last year, in the number of SMU graduates getting jobs at the organisations at which they performed their internships. More than one in five graduates were offered full-time employment through internships.

Recognising the importance and value of having real-world and career-relevant work experience for its students, SMU is the first university in Singapore to make internships compulsory for all undergraduate students. Students are provided opportunities through the Dato’ Kho Hui Meng Career Centre (DKHMCC) which works closely with industry to ensure successful placement of students in internships and jobs. The DKHMCC’s close and regular contact with employers is vital in helping SMU students be market relevant and business-ready.

Click here for more detailed findings of the survey