TAFEP Hero Banner 2024 Nov Dec
human resources online

What graduates from NTU, SMU, NUS, SIT, and SUTD are earning

Three of five Singapore's public-funded universities - Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore Management University (SMU) - yesterday released the results of their most recent Graduate Employment Survey (GES).

Surveying about 14,000 graduates across the three universities, the survey revealed the employment conditions of graduates about six months after their final examinations.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

In a statement to the press, NTU revealed that of the about 6,000 graduates surveyed from the class of 2017, close to 90% reported they found a job within six months after completing their final examinations, which was comparable to last year.

The university further revealed that graduates earned higher salaries, with a mean gross monthly salary of S$3,487 for those in full-time permanent employment, up from S$3,424 in 2016. Fresh graduates' median gross monthly salary was also higher at S$3,306 in 2017, compared to S$3,300 in 2016.

With a median gross monthly salary of S$5,000, those graduating with a degree in business and computer science continued to earn the most in 2017, followed by computer science graduates with S$3,850, and science (education) graduates with S$3,701.

Other top earners included those with an information engineering and media degree (S$3,700), environmental engineering degree (S$3,635), accountancy and business degree (S$3,600), computer engineering degree (S$3,600), electrical and electronic engineering degree (S$3,600), and arts (education) degree.

The university noted that besides the National Institute of Education (NIE) graduates who achieved full overall employment rate, other courses with the highest overall employment rates include business and computer science (100%), civil engineering (98.5%), accountancy and business (97.2%), accountancy (97.1%), and computer engineering (95.1%).

The full salary and employment data of NTU graduates can be viewed here.

ALSO READ: The 3 things candidates look at when considering a job offer

Singapore Management University (SMU)

In a media release, SMU revealed that of the 1,779 who graduated in 2017, 93.9% were employed within six months of completing their final examinations. At the same time, 65.4% were offered jobs before graduation, an 11.3 percentage point increase as compared to the 2016 cohort.

The university noted that 31.9% of those who received job offers landed full-time employment through internships, which are compulsory for SMU undergraduates.

When it comes to salaries, SMU graduates in full-time permanent jobs were found to earn a mean gross monthly salary of S$3,910 - an all-time high and 5.1% increase over the previous year’s salary of $3,722. However, at S$3,500, the median gross monthly salary of graduates in full-time permanent employment remained the same as 2016.

Graduates from the School of Law were the highest paid, bringing in a median gross monthly salary of S$5,000, followed by those from the School of Information Systems (S$4,000), and those from the School of Economics (S$3,700).

While those from the School of Business, School of Social Sciences, and School of Accountancy earned a median gross monthly salary of S$3,500, S$3,300, and S$3,000 respectively.

The full salary and employment data of SMU graduates can be viewed here.

READ MORE: The average salaries for graduates at Singapore’s private education institutes

National University of Singapore (NUS)

In a press release, NUS noted that of the about 6,000 fresh graduates from the class of 2017, about 90% secured employment within six months of completing their final examinations.

The university revealed that another 3.6% of fresh graduates in the labour market have either accepted a job offer pending commencement of duty or are actively starting a business venture.

It noted that graduates from 12 courses in business, computer science, engineering, science and law achieved improvement in starting salaries.

NUS further revealed that the mean gross monthly salary of fresh NUS graduates in full-time permanent employment was S$3,659 in 2017 - up 3.7% from the S$3,527 in 2016. While the median gross monthly salary of fresh graduates in full-time permanent employment was S$3,500 in 2017 -  2.9% higher than the S$3,400 in 2016.

When it comes to the top earners, those graduating with a bachelor of laws, and bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery took the cake, both reaping in a median gross monthly salary of S$5,000. This was followed by those with a bachelor of computing (computer science) (S$4,285), bachelor of science with honours from Yale-NUS College (S$4,083), and bachelor of dental surgery (S$4,050).

Other top earners were those with a bachelor of computing (information systems) (S$4,000), bachelor of science (business analytics) (S$4,000), bachelor of arts (architecture) (S$4,000), and bachelor of engineering (computer engineering) (S$3,900).

The full salary and employment data of NUS graduates can be viewed here.

ALSO READ: How AmBank, Citi, Maybank and Unilever develop graduates in Malaysia

Earlier in 2017, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) had also released findings of their GES for the class of 2016.

Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)

According to data published by Singapore's Ministry of Education (MOE), of the about 1200 SIT graduates surveyed from the class of 2016, more than 89% secured employment within six months of completing their final examinations.

The data further showed that mean gross monthly salary of fresh graduates in full-time permanent employment was about S$3,400 while their median gross monthly salary was about S$3,200.

Among the SIT graduates, the top earners were those with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Criminology and Security from the University of Liverpool, bringing in a median gross monthly salary of S$4,200.

This was followed by those with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation from DigiPen Institute of Technology (S$4,000), those with a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Marine Engineering from Newcastle University (S$3,840), and those with a Bachelor in Science (Diagnostic Radiography) from Trinity College Dublin / Singapore Institute of Technology-Trinity College Dublin (S$3,660).

Other top earners include graduates with a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Computing Science from the University of Glasgow (S$3,600), Bachelor of Science with Honours in Nursing Practice from University of Manchester (S$3,600), Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Offshore Engineering from Newcastle University (S$3,430), and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Game Design from DigiPen Institute of Technology (S$3,400).

READ MORE: The reason why 79% of candidates won’t accept your job offer

Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)

According to data published by MOE, of the about 200 SUTD graduates surveyed from the class of 2016, more than 80% secured employment within six months of completing their final examinations.

The data further showed that mean gross monthly salary of fresh graduates in full-time permanent employment was about S$3,900 while their median gross monthly salary was about S$3700.

Among the SUTD graduates, the top earners were those with an information systems and design degree, bringing in a median gross monthly salary of S$4,000.

This was followed by those with an engineering systems and design degree (S$3,650) and those with an engineering product development degree (S$3,600).

ALSO READ: Singapore’s polytechnic graduates earned S$2,235 in 2017

Photo / 123RF

Follow us on Telegram and on Instagram @humanresourcesonline for all the latest HR and manpower news from around the region!

Free newsletter

Get the daily lowdown on Asia's top Human Resources stories.

We break down the big and messy topics of the day so you're updated on the most important developments in Asia's Human Resources development – for free.

subscribe now open in new window