Poly -> NTU/NUS (Accountancy)

[Aomatsu]

Hello all, I believe that a lot have been already said on accountancy programme between NTU and NUS, but I still have some concerns coming from my perspective.

Anyway, currently I am a graduating polytechnic student and have been offered accountancy in both N' schools. However, I still could not make a decision between them especially both of the schools are equally good and reputable in their own ways.

Here are my few concerns.

First off, most of my friends in polytechnic are gunning for NTU and I guess that NTU will ultimately receive more candidates from Polytechnic as compared to NUS. If so, would it be true that NTU's accountancy curriculum is more integrated for polytechnic graduates?

Also, since JC students have studied economics and mathematics thoroughly in their 2 years, do we need to prepare for ourselves in these fields as well? I believe that universities will have modules being built from JC fundamentals rather than polytechnic's.

After seeing their course curriculum on both N' schools, it seems like NUS accountancy does focus on business modules as well. This has well justified their 4 years honors programme. But for NTU, I heard that their accelerated programme seems to focus intensively on audit and tax. Many of my seniors in NTU hope to get into Big 4 upon their graduation. The thing is, I don't intend to go for Big 4. Even if I do, it will only be awhile. Is it right to say that NUS accountancy aims to produce holistic managerial accountants, whilst NTU produces auditors and tax accountants?

Is ACBS in NTU tough for polytechnic graduates?

Appreciate deeply, and thanks a lot for the valuable inputs!

 

[MrSinkie95]

NTU lah...,

 

[intime]

Hello all, I believe that a lot have been already said on accountancy programme between NTU and NUS, but I still have some concerns coming from my perspective.

Anyway, currently I am a graduating polytechnic student and have been offered accountancy in both N' schools. However, I still could not make a decision between them especially both of the schools are equally good and reputable in their own ways.

Here are my few concerns.

First off, most of my friends in polytechnic are gunning for NTU and I guess that NTU will ultimately receive more candidates from Polytechnic as compared to NUS. If so, would it be true that NTU's accountancy curriculum is more integrated for polytechnic graduates?

Also, since JC students have studied economics and mathematics thoroughly in their 2 years, do we need to prepare for ourselves in these fields as well? I believe that universities will have modules being built from JC fundamentals rather than polytechnic's.

After seeing their course curriculum on both N' schools, it seems like NUS accountancy does focus on business modules as well. This has well justified their 4 years honors programme. But for NTU, I heard that their accelerated programme seems to focus intensively on audit and tax. Many of my seniors in NTU hope to get into Big 4 upon their graduation. The thing is, I don't intend to go for Big 4. Even if I do, it will only be awhile. Is it right to say that NUS accountancy aims to produce holistic managerial accountants, whilst NTU produces auditors and tax accountants?

Is ACBS in NTU tough for polytechnic graduates?

Appreciate deeply, and thanks a lot for the valuable inputs!

If you want an environment with majority poly grads, you should have applied for SIT. Else other universities generally have more A level grads.

Curriculum are generally craft towards what the industry needs as researched by the respective schools, not towards where their students come from.

No matter NUS or NTU, all will read the same accountancy basics required to enter SQP professional programme.
You should have the required basic skills to audit, tax, corp acct, mgmt acct etc after attaining CA singapore.

- I suggest you take a walk at the respective business schools' buildings to see which study environment fits you and the food there.
- Estimate which school is nearer to your home, so you can cut down the travelling time and waking up time.
- See whether the global rankings and international reputation of the business schools are of your concern.
- Decide if those additional modules from NUS are worth your time.
- Look at the entry requirements of your desired Masters programme, do they emphasize on 4 year (hons) or 3 year (hons) or none.

 

[IWantFriends]

Why not SMU then? Idk much about NUS to pass a judgement, but I believe their accountancy degree is a bachelor of business (accountancy)? That's branded almost like a specialisation

Sent from my friend using GAGT

 

[NotSimpur]

NTU RAH, 3 years save 1 yr money and more intake there, more chance to expand network..

N NUS too elite liao, so many elite kias GPA >3.90 and straight A JC students from elite school how to fight? Intake small + cream of the crop students == bellcurve imba.

After all, starting pay of degree all roughly the same, why u gonna spend another yr in NUS?

 

[meowyy]

Hello all, I believe that a lot have been already said on accountancy programme between NTU and NUS, but I still have some concerns coming from my perspective.

Anyway, currently I am a graduating polytechnic student and have been offered accountancy in both N' schools. However, I still could not make a decision between them especially both of the schools are equally good and reputable in their own ways.

Here are my few concerns.

First off, most of my friends in polytechnic are gunning for NTU and I guess that NTU will ultimately receive more candidates from Polytechnic as compared to NUS. If so, would it be true that NTU's accountancy curriculum is more integrated for polytechnic graduates?

Just because more poly students gun for NTU it doesn't mean they will accept more poly students. There is a rough quota for universities for the JC and poly intake, so rest assured it's pretty much the same at NUS as it is at NTU. As to why poly students prefer NTU? Because they know it's the better business school (kidding let's not start another war). Perhaps it's because they want a course with shorter duration?

Also, since JC students have studied economics and mathematics thoroughly in their 2 years, do we need to prepare for ourselves in these fields as well? I believe that universities will have modules being built from JC fundamentals rather than polytechnic's.

There is only one stats module and one economics module in NTU Year 1, and if you're from a business course in poly you would have covered stats and econs. Honestly some JC students struggle with stats (that's what I've heard) even though many take H2 Math, so don't worry everyone will die together.

After seeing their course curriculum on both N' schools, it seems like NUS accountancy does focus on business modules as well. This has well justified their 4 years honors programme. But for NTU, I heard that their accelerated programme seems to focus intensively on audit and tax. Many of my seniors in NTU hope to get into Big 4 upon their graduation. The thing is, I don't intend to go for Big 4. Even if I do, it will only be awhile. Is it right to say that NUS accountancy aims to produce holistic managerial accountants, whilst NTU produces auditors and tax accountants?

NUS Accountancy teaches you everything under the sun. NTU Accountancy only teaches what is required. In that sense, the NTU programme is definitely more focused. If you wish to take the Singapore Qualification Programme to qualify for CA (Singapore), the 3 year programme will get you there faster, with an honours to boot. NTU students are known to have topped many modules at the SQP. However, if you wish to broaden your curriculum with other business modules, NUS will be the better choice, albeit at the cost of an extra year (and it's not even guaranteed).

Is ACBS in NTU tough for polytechnic graduates?

This is really up to the individual. Nothing to do with Poly/JC/IB.

Appreciate deeply, and thanks a lot for the valuable inputs!

 

[Aomatsu]

Thanks everyone for the responses.

- See whether the global rankings and international reputation of the business schools are of your concern.
- Decide if those additional modules from NUS are worth your time.
- Look at the entry requirements of your desired Masters programme, do they emphasize on 4 year (hons) or 3 year (hons) or none.

To be honest, I do intend to work overseas and I find that most overseas employers are more familiar with NUS rather than NTU. NBS is already very famous though. With the rate in which NTU is moving, I think in few years time, NTU will have its own reputation as well. I guess since both schools are equally great, it really does boil down to ranking.

Not sure if those are worth my time or not, but they do seem really interesting to me.

Hmm... Masters programme? I haven't thought of that far yet, but if I happened to go Masters, NTU for sure. But do Masters programme has certain requirement criteria? It just shows "A good Bachelor’s degree." from their website.

Why not SMU then? Idk much about NUS to pass a judgement, but I believe their accountancy degree is a bachelor of business (accountancy)? That's branded almost like a specialisation

SMU is far for me.

Yeah. Their branding is weird. I really have no idea why they classify it that way, especially when they have 17/28 accounting modules. It's really awesome to have NUS Degree in Accountancy.

NTU RAH, 3 years save 1 yr money and more intake there, more chance to expand network..

N NUS too elite liao, so many elite kias GPA >3.90 and straight A JC students from elite school how to fight? Intake small + cream of the crop students == bellcurve imba.

After all, starting pay of degree all roughly the same, why u gonna spend another yr in NUS?

I guess practically you're right though. I wouldn't want to compete with them. XD

There is only one stats module and one economics module in NTU Year 1, and if you're from a business course in poly you would have covered stats and econs. Honestly some JC students struggle with stats (that's what I've heard) even though many take H2 Math, so don't worry everyone will die together.

Exempted from economics though, so left with mathematics to concern if I chose NTU. What about some other finance modules in NTU? Don't they requires stats or some sophisticated JC math as well?

 

[meowyy]

Well, if you intend to work overseas, then NUS is the obvious choice, for now, since NTU is still trying to build up its reputation. With regard to MBA rankings (Forbes, FT, Economist, Bloomberg, etc), both NTU and NUS constantly pip each other for the title of Singapore's best. There isn't an undergrad ranking though, unless you're looking at the QS Accounting & Finance or Business & Management subject rankings, where both NUS and NTU are pretty close too. However, if you are gonna work in Singapore, NTU's accountancy programme is recognised as the pioneer accountancy programme and many high ranking accountants and CFOs were from NTU as well.

Apart from stats, the other mods aren't math-intensive. Basic E Math knowledge would suffice haha. Everyone chooses their university based on different reasons. You'll need to form some list of criteria in order to make a decision.

 

[asdarf]

If you can do basic algebra, you should be set for the business modules. I think finance may require you to dabble in some functions, but nothing too complicated.

If you have been offered both positions, the general advice is to take a practical view (most points have already been mentioned).

 

[Aomatsu]

Okay. Thanks for all the kind responses!

 

[Occifer&Gentleman]

How about trying to crash classes at both business schools?

The travelling to the two schools will also help give a sense of convenience for day to day commute if you're not staying in campus.

 

[esmeme]

which one did you choose in the end?

 

[Fearah]

For NUS, you are required to take some General Electives Modules and Business Modules on top of your Accountancy Modules. You have the option to specialise in Finance/Marketing/Ops on top of you Accountancy. Thus, you do have a choice to go commercial or bank if you think tax and audit is not so fitting for you.

Whereas for NTU Acct, most of your curriculum will be Accountancy modules.

Almost all NUS NTU SMU accountancy graduates will spend their first 1-2 years doing audit/tax.

To be a chartered accountant of Singapore (CA SG) , you have to complete SQP exam post-university. And it does not matter if you are from NTU or NUS. If you want to quickly become a professional CA SG, NTU is for you.

For my personal opinion, i feel that what matters most is the school environment and culture. Do you really want to spend the extra one year in school? Do you really want to graduate faster and get on to work a year earlier, or you'd prefer to enjoy your uni life longer? Which school is nearer to your house? Do you plan to live in the hostel?

Also, you dont have to worry about jc or poly students ratio so much. Poly students generally have more knowledge than any jc students regarding biz/acct. Nus acct cohort is also smaller, thus less poly students intake.


In my honest opinion, NUS Act is equivalent to NTU Biz and Act (DD). I chose mine based on which institution provides me with accomodation (hall/residential college) and scholarship.

Congratulations once again, hope you make the right decision

 

[MrSinkie95]

Why don't consider SIT?

 

[aaa123]

Why don't consider SIT?

why would anyone wanna go SIT if they qualify for the big 3 lol

 

[FrostWurm]

ntu easier to get second class upper honours...quite important cause a lot of jobs and postgrad use this as a cutoff

 

[Fearah]

ntu easier to get second class upper honours...quite important cause a lot of jobs and postgrad use this as a cutoff

Do you think your employer hr department wouldnt know this ? XD

 

[FrostWurm]

Do you think your employer hr department wouldnt know this ? XD

(I'll make a bet with you and say that the majority of accounting firms, MNCs, SMEs, and financial institutions either: 1) don't know about this, or 2) know but don't care about this)

And for certain postgrad courses, a second upper is needed. NUS is more well-known globally (not that NTU is unknown), but if they are picky about academic requirements then at least you can be more sure of meeting that.

 

[Aomatsu]

Opps. It has been awhile seen I've last seen this thread.

which one did you choose in the end?

Out of the 3, I've accepted the offer from NTU.

To be a chartered accountant of Singapore (CA SG) , you have to complete SQP exam post-university. And it does not matter if you are from NTU or NUS. If you want to quickly become a professional CA SG, NTU is for you.

Also, you dont have to worry about jc or poly students ratio so much. Poly students generally have more knowledge than any jc students regarding biz/acct.

Yes, you are right, I want to get CA Singapore as soon as possible.

JC marginal propensity to learn is faster than us by about 1.5 times (JC 2 years; Poly 3 years).

 

[Fearah]

Opps. It has been awhile seen I've last seen this thread.



Out of the 3, I've accepted the offer from NTU.



Yes, you are right, I want to get CA Singapore as soon as possible.

JC marginal propensity to learn is faster than us by about 1.5 times (JC 2 years; Poly 3 years).

Haha hope youre doing well in school. How do you find your school environment/professor/workload/grades/bellcurve? Do share with us so the juniors can also have some insights about NTU Act