UniSIM questions

[FazeReign0293]

Hi, I posted this in another thread but nobody replied anyone could help me out? Im planning to start full time degree at UniSIM after ORD. Was planning to do at Kaplan but heard D/L degrees are held in lower regard than local unis and after much thought decided on UniSIM. But I'm still quite unsure as to the age of the students studying there, as what I understand from this forum is that most of the students at UniSIM are working professionals or SAF regulars thus meaning they would be a couple of years older than me... Can anyone enlighten me regarding this issue? After ORD I'll be 20 and once finish A levels I'll start uni at 22... Thanks!

 

[Shion]

So your concern is, what is the age group ?

If it is part time UniSIM degree, the age group varies by a big margin.

 

[Havok_ex]

Hi all thanks for the feedback! Yeah I've been told SIM is better in terms of student activities and clubs. It even has an orientation camp for freshman! Which is quite good considering it's a private school. However, I can't make it into SIM due to me only having N levels not O's, thus leaving me with very limited choices and Kaplan seems to be one of the better ones. Can anyone tell me what's the average class size for their Diploma programmes? Wanted to do Business admin... Thanks again ����

So you intend to do you O-levels and A-levels in 2 years? Not possible la bro.

Age wise, I know a few people who after NS straight away went into Unisim at 21. I have friends in both the Full-Time and Part-Time programs that went in right after NS. FT students on average is of course much younger. But its also very hard to get in. Their FT courses is as difficult to get in as SIT Accountancy courses. PT not all are working adults. Some are finish NS or some work 2 years then quit to study.

Their PT courses are much easier to get in that FT, but not so easy also. Seeing that Unisim is getting more and more popular as it becomes local, the demand for their courses are just gonna get higher and it will be harder to get in. Generally Unisim is much better than Kaplan.

But I think you should focus on how you're gonna get into Unisim in the first place. Those more popular courses are gonna be more difficult to get in.

You should give yourself 2 years for O level and 2 years for A level. Or 1 year for O level and 2 years for A level. If your O level results are really very good then you can cut short A level to 1 year.

Please don't be fooled by their 2 'A' level passes requirement. NUS also lists the minimum subject requirements is 2 A level pass and GP pass. Doesn't mean you will get in.

 

[Kyoji83]

1) If you have a NT GCE N, I will not advice you to take up GCE O because we are not competent trained to take these exams. When I was an ITE student taking GCE O subjects, I estimated that I needs another 4 years of full time training to be competent trained to take GCE O exams. When I was in the workforce, I estimated that needs addition 2 years on top of 4 years total 6 years) to refresh my competency such as grammar since I no longer practice every day unlike full time students. So with a GCE N & 2 years gap from studying because of NS, it is unrealistic to take a GCE O within 1 year & follow GCE A with another 1 year.

2) I feel that taking a private diploma that lead to a private degree if more suitable for you if time is not at your side.

3) I personally feel that UniSIM & PEI have similar standing. The only different is UniSIM have the feeling of oncampus life like CCA & courses have government subsidies.

4) In the past, UniSIM only accept 2 years experience working professionals including NS which is the reason why most of them are at a certain age. For current SIM GE or UniSIM, I think the youngest age is 17.5 to 18 year old (Sec 4 GCE O + SIM Dip path). However why is age even a concern to you?

Hi, I posted this in another thread but nobody replied anyone could help me out? Im planning to start full time degree at UniSIM after ORD. Was planning to do at Kaplan but heard D/L degrees are held in lower regard than local unis and after much thought decided on UniSIM. But I'm still quite unsure as to the age of the students studying there, as what I understand from this forum is that most of the students at UniSIM are working professionals or SAF regulars thus meaning they would be a couple of years older than me... Can anyone enlighten me regarding this issue? After ORD I'll be 20 and once finish A levels I'll start uni at 22... Thanks!

 

[FazeReign0293]

Actually I was thinking of 1 year 'O' level PT during NS and 2 years 'A' level after ORD, I'm quite confident of O's as I'm still quite familiar with N level syllabus and I think I can manage to transit to O's.. Even if it is on part time basis. As for A's I'm thinking of 2 years minimum as I understand it's much more challenging as compared to O's

So you intend to do you O-levels and A-levels in 2 years? Not possible la bro.

Age wise, I know a few people who after NS straight away went into Unisim at 21. I have friends in both the Full-Time and Part-Time programs that went in right after NS. FT students on average is of course much younger. But its also very hard to get in. Their FT courses is as difficult to get in as SIT Accountancy courses. PT not all are working adults. Some are finish NS or some work 2 years then quit to study.

Their PT courses are much easier to get in that FT, but not so easy also. Seeing that Unisim is getting more and more popular as it becomes local, the demand for their courses are just gonna get higher and it will be harder to get in. Generally Unisim is much better than Kaplan.

But I think you should focus on how you're gonna get into Unisim in the first place. Those more popular courses are gonna be more difficult to get in.

You should give yourself 2 years for O level and 2 years for A level. Or 1 year for O level and 2 years for A level. If your O level results are really very good then you can cut short A level to 1 year.

Please don't be fooled by their 2 'A' level passes requirement. NUS also lists the minimum subject requirements is 2 A level pass and GP pass. Doesn't mean you will get in.

 

[FazeReign0293]

Thanks! I was considering SIM GE too as it wouldn't require me to do A's because I can take their diploma and get admission to their courses... Heard their UOL degrees are quite highly regarded... But wouldn't D/L degrees prevent me from working in government sector?

1) If you have a NT GCE N, I will not advice you to take up GCE O because we are not competent trained to take these exams. When I was an ITE student taking GCE O subjects, I estimated that I needs another 4 years of full time training to be competent trained to take GCE O exams. When I was in the workforce, I estimated that needs addition 2 years on top of 4 years total 6 years) to refresh my competency such as grammar since I no longer practice every day unlike full time students. So with a GCE N & 2 years gap from studying because of NS, it is unrealistic to take a GCE O within 1 year & follow GCE A with another 1 year.

2) I feel that taking a private diploma that lead to a private degree if more suitable for you if time is not at your side.

3) I personally feel that UniSIM & PEI have similar standing. The only different is UniSIM have the feeling of oncampus life like CCA & courses have government subsidies.

4) In the past, UniSIM only accept 2 years experience working professionals including NS which is the reason why most of them are at a certain age. For current SIM GE or UniSIM, I think the youngest age is 17.5 to 18 year old (Sec 4 GCE O + SIM Dip path). However why is age even a concern to you?

 

[Kyoji83]

1) Does your NS Unit allow you to study part time for GCE O & go for your exam?

2) Regardless if it is DL Degree such as SIMGE-UOL or 2nd tier local universities like UniSIM do have a lot of barrier to enter government sector.

3) For example, MOE do not accept fresh UniSIM graduate for their Teacher position (graduate scheme) & will only consider mid-career UniSIM graduate. Base on http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/degree-programs-courses-70/nie-admission-anyone-1943800.html thread, they only hire 15% of their intake for mid-career graduate which include non-UniSIM graduate. Chance of mid-career UniSIM graduate is quite small & unfair for UniSIM fresh graduate in government sector.

4) To be Chartered Accountant of Singapore (Layman term is Accounting Licence), getting a private degree like UOL require you to have longer path by going to Foundation Programme unlike Recognized Qualifications from 4 local universities (NTU, NUS, SMU and UniSIM). This is the internal factor within your control by studying the necessary courses. However the external factor is you needs to find Accredited Training Organisation (ATO) to employ you to clock recognized years of working experience. Private Degree like UOL is less favor compare to local degree which make it harder to get into ATO. So it is never highly regarded for UOL degrees especially in government sector.

Thanks! I was considering SIM GE too as it wouldn't require me to do A's because I can take their diploma and get admission to their courses... Heard their UOL degrees are quite highly regarded... But wouldn't D/L degrees prevent me from working in government sector?

 

[FazeReign0293]

Yup they allow it, just checked with them. Thanks for the heads up! I wasn't planning on doing accountancy though, was looking more into banking and finance/risk management.

1) Does your NS Unit allow you to study part time for GCE O & go for your exam?

2) Regardless if it is DL Degree such as SIMGE-UOL or 2nd tier local universities like UniSIM do have a lot of barrier to enter government sector.

3) For example, MOE do not accept fresh UniSIM graduate for their Teacher position (graduate scheme) & will only consider mid-career UniSIM graduate. Base on http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/degree-programs-courses-70/nie-admission-anyone-1943800.html thread, they only hire 15% of their intake for mid-career graduate which include non-UniSIM graduate. Chance of mid-career UniSIM graduate is quite small & unfair for UniSIM fresh graduate in government sector.

4) To be Chartered Accountant of Singapore (Layman term is Accounting Licence), getting a private degree like UOL require you to have longer path by going to Foundation Programme unlike Recognized Qualifications from 4 local universities (NTU, NUS, SMU and UniSIM). This is the internal factor within your control by studying the necessary courses. However the external factor is you needs to find Accredited Training Organisation (ATO) to employ you to clock recognized years of working experience. Private Degree like UOL is less favor compare to local degree which make it harder to get into ATO. So it is never highly regarded for UOL degrees especially in government sector.

 

[Kyoji83]

Ask you few questions since you are interested in banking and finance/risk management career.

What kind of jobs are you interested to work in a bank? Job title & job scope?

Are you willing to become an insurance agent representative?

Yup they allow it, just checked with them. Thanks for the heads up! I wasn't planning on doing accountancy though, was looking more into banking and finance/risk management.

 

[intime]

Yup they allow it, just checked with them. Thanks for the heads up! I wasn't planning on doing accountancy though, was looking more into banking and finance/risk management.

Try your hardest to disregard the age matters.
- There will always be young and the older students in class, just a matter of proportion.
- You will definitely find your own clique similar to your age, and sometimes the older ones don't act their age. So lessen your worries.

If possible, work hard and aim to bring yourself back into the MOE system after your O Levels, example Junior College, Polytechnic or Millennia Institute and subsequently, NUS/NTU/SMU/SUTD/SIT/UniSIM,
- But if you wish to, you can also take a longer route through ITE then Poly.
- There is always a route back into the system as long as you are willing to.
- Put private institutes as your very last choice.

Put UOL as your last choice.
- UOL international programme is not ranked on any popular charts, and it is widely available online for anyone who met the entry requirement to register at a minimal sum of money compared to a full on-campus programme, so whether it is highly regarded is subjective.
- And you might have problems competing for top jobs without a much stronger portfolio than others.
- It is possible to enter public service with UOL but only when there are no competitors, they are seriously urgent or in specific sectors of the govt that is less desirable.

If and when you discover and come to realise that you are not the study type, you may wish to take a slower route within the system,
The CET/SkillsFuture way.
- www.getcet.sg

 

[Kyoji83]

I don't believe there is always a route back into the system as long as you are willing to because of opportunity cost such as time & government subsidies.

For example, you have a Higher NITEC in Electrical Engineering by full time mode but did not manage to get into full time Polytechnic Diploma in Electrical Engineering. The only option for you is to use Higher NITEC in Electrical Engineering to apply SP Part Time Diploma in Engineering (Power Engineering) or NP Part Time Diploma in Engineering (Electrical). However Part Time Diploma in Engineering from Polytechnic is not recognize by the only local university, NTU that offer part time electrical degree. You have to give up your dream to become a PE (Electrical).

Try your hardest to disregard the age matters.
- There will always be young and the older students in class, just a matter of proportion.
- You will definitely find your own clique similar to your age, and sometimes the older ones don't act their age. So lessen your worries.

If possible, work hard and aim to bring yourself back into the MOE system after your O Levels, example Junior College, Polytechnic or Millennia Institute and subsequently, NUS/NTU/SMU/SUTD/SIT/UniSIM,
- But if you wish to, you can also take a longer route through ITE then Poly.
- There is always a route back into the system as long as you are willing to.
- Put private institutes as your very last choice.

Put UOL as your last choice.
- UOL international programme is not ranked on any popular charts, and it is widely available online for anyone who met the entry requirement to register at a minimal sum of money compared to a full on-campus programme, so whether it is highly regarded is subjective.
- And you might have problems competing for top jobs without a much stronger portfolio than others.
- It is possible to enter public service with UOL but only when there are no competitors, they are seriously urgent or in specific sectors of the govt that is less desirable.

If and when you discover and come to realise that you are not the study type, you may wish to take a slower route within the system,
The CET/SkillsFuture way.
- www.getcet.sg

 

[arcanum00]

Try your hardest to disregard the age matters.
- There will always be young and the older students in class, just a matter of proportion.
- You will definitely find your own clique similar to your age, and sometimes the older ones don't act their age. So lessen your worries.

If possible, work hard and aim to bring yourself back into the MOE system after your O Levels, example Junior College, Polytechnic or Millennia Institute and subsequently, NUS/NTU/SMU/SUTD/SIT/UniSIM,
- But if you wish to, you can also take a longer route through ITE then Poly.
- There is always a route back into the system as long as you are willing to.
- Put private institutes as your very last choice.

Put UOL as your last choice.
- UOL international programme is not ranked on any popular charts, and it is widely available online for anyone who met the entry requirement to register at a minimal sum of money compared to a full on-campus programme, so whether it is highly regarded is subjective.
- And you might have problems competing for top jobs without a much stronger portfolio than others.
- It is possible to enter public service with UOL but only when there are no competitors, they are seriously urgent or in specific sectors of the govt that is less desirable.

If and when you discover and come to realise that you are not the study type, you may wish to take a slower route within the system,
The CET/SkillsFuture way.
- www.getcet.sg

"Put UOL as your last choice.
- UOL international programme is not ranked on any popular charts, and it is widely available online for anyone who met the entry requirement to register at a minimal sum of money compared to a full on-campus programme, so whether it is highly regarded is subjective."
You already knew why UOLIP isn't ranked, don't you?

"- And you might have problems competing for top jobs without a much stronger portfolio than others."
Portfolio? Such as?

" - It is possible to enter public service with UOL but only when there are no competitors, they are seriously urgent or in specific sectors of the govt that is less desirable. "
Kinda true, but proofs?