Kaplan vs SMF

[Kvicez]

Hello guys!

Both private schools are offering programmes from Murdoch University.

Which school is better?




Edit: I was a student at SMF Institute of Higher Learning and graduated in 2014. Anyone with any questions pertaining to SMF, feel free to ask your questions in this thread or drop me a PM. I will try my best to answer you.

Also, SMF has a referral programme. If you are interested in enrolling in SMF, feel free to contact me too.

 

[dongdong88]

My definition of better school is always the one that fits my requirements.

You define yours, you will get an answer.

 

[Kvicez]

In terms of qualifications, I will be getting the same certification either side, so that's a draw. I'm more concerned with school administration, lecturers as well as the "school feeling" (some of the private institutions feel more like a business entity rather than a school.)

 

[the11am_guy]

In terms of qualifications, I will be getting the same certification either side, so that's a draw. I'm more concerned with school administration, lecturers as well as the "school feeling" (some of the private institutions feel more like a business entity rather than a school.)

Both school infact are good. SMA/SMF will be having a refurb campus in Bukit Merah ready by dec and Kaplan have a pretty nice location(starbucks). A year or two ago i'd recommend Kaplan for its new campus and slightly cheaper fees. However Rn both institution have improved and they have their own strength . Both have hit or misses when it comes to hiring lecturers. I wouldnt even touch on which campus have more complaints, more on that later in their links section.

Both school have resource library, student service help desk,free textbooks and nearby F&B outlets.

Also I heard that Murdoch will set up an office in SG and this will mean that students who are in Murdoch(both kaplan and SMA) will get the same quality of edu across all their campuses. So if you are gonna choose a campus, make sure its facilities are enough for you.

Here's some links that you should check out that might assist in your decision making.

Murdoch strengthening ties with Singapore | Murdoch University

Kaplan Singapore | Facebook

 

[dongdong88]

In terms of qualifications, I will be getting the same certification either side, so that's a draw. I'm more concerned with school administration, lecturers as well as the "school feeling" (some of the private institutions feel more like a business entity rather than a school.)

I don't know anything about SMa/SMF so I shan't comment on them. My experience with Kaplan:

Kaplan's school administration - in general, not bad and answer your queries timely. That is, if your definition of timely is within two days.

Murdoch's school administration - very timely. It's very obvious based on the participation with the LMS (Learning Management System). But don't expect answers during weekends or after work hours. Australians are much concerned about work-life balance and they don't reply during such hours.

Lecturers - So far, where my modules are concerned, the lecturers are knowledgeable in the areas they teach. But due to the short amount of lessons time... a lot of things are rushed. Not many accept this and you need to self-study a lot.

The good thing is that the lecturers are contactable via email, so you shouldn't worry if you don't understand any of the lessons or the textbooks/texts. Anything, just shoot an email. They reply reasonably fast if they aren't marking assignments.

School feeling - If it's a PEI, I never have the impression that they feel like a school. Maybe it's just me. My definition of school feeling is much more than that.

Anyway, they have libraries, study corners and classrooms. If you feel that these are enough, then it will feel like a school.

Kaplan comes close to looking like a school though if you ask me what's my first impression.

 

[McFadden]

How many contact hours they have per module?
And does smf give free textbooks?last time I there,they don t provide.must buy yourself.

 

[the11am_guy]

How many contact hours they have per module?
And does smf give free textbooks?last time I there,they don t provide.must buy yourself.

Both same. 3hrs(lecture+15minbreak+tutorial) however on campus(perth) we have 1-1.30hr lecture,1 hr tutorials. Free textbooks for both.. Recommended readings also given so you dont need to print your own.

 

[gboy22]

why study in PEI? Grad already got what prospect?

 

[dongdong88]

why study in PEI? Grad already got what prospect?

It doesn't matter. Graduates of any kind will not have prospect if he/she thinks his/her paper is everything.

Experience is still key, and your ability to apply your knowledge gained from textbooks to the real world.

 

[seabreeze82]

chose e 1 with e location tt suit u best, anyways DL degree is all abt self upgrading. whether can find a better job or pay increase it all depends on ur experience n whether any Co willing to employ u. So its eventually for ur personal interest in pursuing a DL degree... Cheers

 

[bugmenot45]

It doesn't matter. Graduates of any kind will not have prospect if he/she thinks his/her paper is everything.

yeah, but imo, there are better DL options than murdoch.

 

[dongdong88]

yeah, but imo, there are better DL options than murdoch.

That's certainly true. I guess it depends on what you want in your life and how you see how that degree will help you.

 

[Kvicez]

why study in PEI? Grad already got what prospect?

Study in PEI because did too badly in A Levels to go local university. Bo bian. A Levels not good enough to find rice bowl.

yeah, but imo, there are better DL options than murdoch.

Are there any other better DL options for Communication other than Murdoch? I chose Murdoch because I've heard reviews that Murdoch offers the best Communication programme.

 

[bugmenot45]

Are there any other better DL options for Communication other than Murdoch? I chose Murdoch because I've heard reviews that Murdoch offers the best Communication programme.

PSB offers UWA communication degree.
ask any aussie and they'll tell you UWA is better than Murdoch hands down.
only in singapore, do people believe in marketing fluff that murdoch has the best communication programme.

 

[TheFlame]

Go Kaplan! There is no good lecturers left in SMF... All left...
Lecturers there now mostly really CMI....

 

[es0teric]

PSB offers UWA communication degree.
ask any aussie and they'll tell you UWA is better than Murdoch hands down.
only in singapore, do people believe in marketing fluff that murdoch has the best communication programme.

But PSB lecture 3/10 are okay. The rest of the lecturer can't even teach at all. Just read the slide and when elaborating, they gave an irrelevant link. (From PSB diploma class)

 

[preddy25]

i agree totally, some of them are their own graduates...same quality produce same quality, not higher ...law of physics..

anyways murdoch is a relative good uni, the dean and coordinators fly over on a regular basis to meet students n their issues.

however being a graduating murdoch student, kaplan administrative team is getting bad to worst, i personally feel its not operations but somehow the corporate culture and mgmt seems to love to screw things up , tons of tons of feedback doesnt get rectifications

 

[Kvicez]

i agree totally, some of them are their own graduates...same quality produce same quality, not higher ...law of physics..

anyways murdoch is a relative good uni, the dean and coordinators fly over on a regular basis to meet students n their issues.

however being a graduating murdoch student, kaplan administrative team is getting bad to worst, i personally feel its not operations but somehow the corporate culture and mgmt seems to love to screw things up , tons of tons of feedback doesnt get rectifications

SMF's administration is similar; feedback doesn't get rectified, things screw up often, a lot of high handed management. Total bull****.

Do other private schools also have such bad management? It is a common thing across the industry or does it only apply to Murdoch affiliated institutes?

The Vice-Dean of Murdoch sits on the academic board at SMF but I don't really see him around often. Maybe he does behind the scene work that people doesn't know about. The programme coordinators do fly down and talk to us but I feel like they are very inclined to persuade us to complete our studies over in Perth.

I do get good lecturers once in a while; some are experienced and good while one of them is a fresh graduate with not much industry experience but she teaches very well. However, I do have my fair share of lousy lecturers who just read off the slides or are very bad at teaching; their experience in the private education sector or their relevant fields are the only thing valuable about them.

 

[bugmenot45]

But PSB lecture 3/10 are okay. The rest of the lecturer can't even teach at all. Just read the slide and when elaborating, they gave an irrelevant link. (From PSB diploma class)

the diploma lecturers are different from the UWA degree lecturers.

 

[buaians]

For SMa/SMF if we miss the lesson, can we get any recording or sort from the school? Ex-students pls advice.

If we miss any lesson, what do we do to get the stuffs back?