A Survey for scholarship is a form of financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, diversity and inclusion, athletic skill, and financial need
The annual Survey for Scholarship Guide Student Insights Survey, which received responses from over 400 students, collects preferences, interests, and motivations of Singaporean students on higher education and scholarship themes, evaluating potential shifts in thinking and market trends.
The survey excerpt that follows should be helpful, we hope.
Student Respondents’ Profile
Gender: 67% Female, 33% Male
Nationality: 85% Singapore Citizen, 9% Singapore PR, 6% Other Nationalities
Education: 59% Polytechnic Students, 29% GCE A-Level & IB Students, 8% University Undergraduates, 4% School Leavers / NS
Survey for Scholarship
- As the world leaves the pandemic behind, more students are planning to study abroad. This time, Australia outperforms the United Kingdom to become Singapore students’ most favoured destination for overseas education.
- Students’ course preferences reflect a fusion of interest in both the sciences (technology) and the arts (business), a combination that looks to bring promising tech leadership and innovation potential to Singapore’s future.
- In seeking solutions to fund higher education, students are displaying greater financial independence than before. More students are inclined to work and study at the same time to finance their education or even depend on work-sponsored funding to cover their study expenses, suggesting the emergence of an expanding pool of working students in the future workforce.
- Scholarship interest has unfortunately dipped slightly year-over-year. The lack of information continues to be the primary reason students are not applying for scholarships, and the bond duration is a growing barrier. However, students are more willing to accept a longer bond if the award value is attractive and the scholarship promises a future career that meets their interests and offers excellent job mobility.
- Students’ choice of top 20 scholarship providers comprises a mix of organisations from the education, healthcare, and technology sectors, an indication of the key industries that will shape Singapore’s future. SingHealth, the Smart Nation Scholarship (by CSA, GovTech & IMDA), the Health Promotion Board (HPB), the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) are some of the scholarship providers that have earned soaring popularity over the last year.
Intention To Pursue Further Studies
Nine out of ten pupils want to continue their education. While the majority of them would attend local schools, more students are now choosing to study abroad (2022: 21%; 2021: 16%) due to the opening of international boundaries and the reduction of travel restrictions across the world.
The Local Education Scene
Every one of the six nearby institutions succeeds in holding onto its popularity share year after year. National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and Singapore Management University (SMU) continue to be the top three universities for students.
According to a poll conducted in 2022, Singapore Polytechnic (SP), Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), and Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) are the top three polytechnic choices among students. And the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM), Raffles College of Higher Education, and James Cook University (JCU) Singapore are the students’ top three picks for private higher education schools.
Top 20 Courses
Students’ course selections show a blending of interests in the sciences and the arts, a mix that aims to provide Singapore’s future potential for digital leadership and innovation.
Business Administration, Banking & Finance, Social Sciences (Psychology/Sociology), Business Analytics, Accountancy, Data Science, Applied Science, Computer Science/IT, Medicine, Law, Marketing, Biomedical Science, Entrepreneurship, Communications/Media, Economics, and Life Sciences have all returned to the top 20 rankings, just like the year before. Behavioural science, pharmacy, and events management are new entrants in the list, with applied science showing the most notable rise year over year.
Studying Abroad
Singaporean students prefer Australia above the UK as their top choice for an international education. The United States and Canada are now in first and second place, respectively, after the UK. Additionally, the popularity of places like New Zealand and Switzerland is growing among students.
Choosing a University
When choosing a higher education school, students often rely on the economics of admission standards and tuition costs. Affordability and educational quality are equally important factors to take into account when comparing choices for studying abroad.
Financing Higher Education
In the past two years, students have frequently turned to their families for financial assistance in order to pay for their higher education. However, many students now plan to work part-time or even obtain a job to pay for their education. Some even plan to work to pay for their education. Additionally, there is rising interest in using the SkillsFuture Study Award to cover study-related costs. These results point to the emergence of a growing labor force of working students.
HOW DO YOU INTEND TO FURTHER YOUR EDUCATION WITHOUT SCHOLARSHIPS?
Scholarship Interest
90% of students plan to, and some have, submit scholarship applications. Despite the strong level of interest in scholarships, it has sadly decreased from 94% in 2021.
The main barrier to students seeking for scholarships continues to be a lack of knowledge. Both the providers and the students are responsible in this situation.
Scholarship Research
With more than 50% of survey participants reporting that they begin their research as early as in their first year of junior college, the International Baccalaureate, or polytechnic, students are becoming increasingly meticulous in their scholarship preparation work.
How do students look for scholarships online when they are interested in a particular one?
Most students look for the name of the scholarship or the company that is funding it using keywords. They would often find what they are seeking for.
Additionally, it must to be mobile-optimized, user-friendly, and updated with the most recent scholarship data.
Evaluating & Choosing Scholarships
A variety of variables must be taken into account while evaluating Survey for Scholarship. While choosing a scholarship, students often give consideration to the provider’s employment potential as well as the program of study; nevertheless, the bond duration is also a growing and persistent worry.
Where can students get information and guidance about scholarships? Nobody can match a personal touch.
Top 20 Scholarship Providers
Students have chosen NUS, MOE, NTU, and A*STAR as their top Survey for Scholarship givers for the past three years. Some of the scholarship providers that have experienced explosive growth in popularity over the last year include SingHealth, the Smart Nation Scholarship (by CSA, GovTech & IMDA), the Health Promotion Board (HPB), the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). As a result, several providers have lost ground in their previous top positions.
The Bond Duration Argument
A complete local scholarship normally has a bond of three to four years, but a full scholarship abroad may have a commitment of up to six years. However, students have said in the Scholarship Guide Survey for the past two years that they prefer a shorter bond duration or no bond at all.
Over 15 organizations, including colleges, are offering roughly 180 bond-free scholarships in Singapore.