Q I FINISHED my junior college education in 2005. I was unsuccessful in my university application, so I joined the workforce in 2006.

I, however, still wish to further my studies. I would like to know if local companies recognise degrees from private universities, given how they have different entry requirements and curricula from government-funded ones.

Do employers give priority to job applicants with degrees from government-funded universities?

A A PRIVATE university degree is not less recognised than one from a government-funded - or public - university, and vice versa.

Some of the most prestigious universities, particularly those in the United States, are private, while the majority of the top universities in Australia and Europe are public.

In Singapore, the local universities - National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University - are generally funded by the government. SIM University, on the other hand, is a private university approved by the Ministry of Education. It offers part-time and full-time university courses in partnership with universities in Britain, the US and Australia.

In deciding which university to enrol in, you should first determine which course of study you wish to pursue; for example, accountancy, business administration, engineering, economics, law, and so on.

Thereafter, decide which university offers the course and is renowned for it.

You should, thus, find out more about these institutions.

You should get details on their courses, credentials of the teaching staff, accreditation of their degree programmes by recognised professional boards, employability of their graduates, facilities available for their students, and the number of years required to complete the course.

A general guideline is that a degree will be accepted by employers, as long as the university is accredited by its respective home government.

Overseas diplomas and other local diplomas should be of similar standard as diplomas from local polytechnics.

In the case of a professional qualification - that is, accountancy, engineering or law - it must also be acceptable for registration by relevant professional bodies in Singapore.

Besides a university degree, hiring decisions are also made based on how well you perform during job interviews.

Employers also consider factors such as personality, aptitude and attitude.

Evelyn Teo
Managing director
HeadStart

Advice provided in this column is not meant as a substitute for comprehensive professional advice. E-mail questions to a1admin@sph.com.sg.

Is this article useful to you?