There are certainly many good reasons to continue your studies, not least because of the prospects of better pay and career advancement. But what are the things you should consider, and where can you go after polytechnic?

By Felicia Wong

Singapore has become an education hub. Just flip through the newspapers and you will find a wide range of courses that allow diploma holders to further their education.

Advancement of knowledge is one reason for diploma holders to pursue further education. By pursuing a degree or any other post-graduate programmes, diploma graduates gain a better understanding of the theories and issues related to their chosen field of study.

Further education also paves the way for faster career progression. Going beyond a diploma is useful in helping graduates progress onto management positions.

Closely tied to career advancement is the prospect of better monetary returns that come with higher educational qualifications. A study done by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) proves that there is a strong premium on higher education in Singapore. For every additional year of education, an individual can expect to increase his wage by 13.2%.

Join the fray
Across the board, enrolment in tertiary level institutions is on the rise, according to statistics from the Ministry of Education. Each year, more and more Singaporeans are entering polytechnics and universities.

With the growing number of degree holders, diploma holders are now facing increased competition in the job market, especially when degree holders are willing to accept lower starting wages. “I don’t really mind if it’s diploma level pay as long as the job is interesting and it’s good work experience,” says a recent Bachelor of Arts graduate from the National University of Singapore (NUS) who only wanted to be identified as Lee.

He accepted a job for $1,800 as a marketing assistant in a local firm, even though it was a position for diploma holders. “My degree is too general. Even though I wanted to do marketing, many of the executive level positions wanted someone with a Business degree,” he says.

Clearly, with degree holders willing to settle for diploma-level positions or wages, diploma graduates may find themselves under pressure to pursue further education, or risk being sidelined.

Considerations
Sure, there are a host of benefits with further education. However, diploma holders should consider the following before deciding when, what or how to pursue further education.

1. Personal interests
You may have a diploma in engineering but your passion is really in fashion design. Would you want to continue with engineering since you already have a diploma in that field, or should you pursue your passion? It is important to consider your motivations for getting a degree before you take the plunge. Spending time, effort and money on a degree is a major commitment, and the last thing you would want is to get a degree that leads to a job that you would not like. That said, those seeking a radical career switch should not be disheartened. Admission to institutions such as LASALLE College of the Arts often relies heavily on portfolios rather than just paper qualifications. So, if you have passion and talent for a field you are not formally qualified in, just try. You still do stand a chance!

2. Costs and time
Further education does not come cheap, especially when considering an overseas programme. Local universities are your best bet in terms of costs and time. Some courses offer exemptions, while subsidies, scholarships, CPF payments or bank loans can help ease the financial strain. However, full-time pursuit of a degree would mean little or no income. So assess your financial situation as well as that of your family
before making a decision.

Evidently, pursuing a degree overseas will cost much more, considering the higher costs of living in Australia, America and the United Kingdom, some of the most common destinations for Singapore students.

Correspondence courses with degrees conferred by overseas universities are also available via private institutes such as the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS), or even at the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM).

In addition, an increasing number of established institutions are setting up satellite campuses in Singapore. For example, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has just welcomed its first intake in September last year, and the James Cook University Singapore (JCUS) has its very own campus along Upper Thomson Road.

Many of these courses are offered on a part-time basis, which allows diploma holders to pursue further education while holding a full-time job. This eases the financial strain, but it is potentially more stressful, because of the need to balance work and school.

Career planning
Besides all the practical considerations discussed above, one of the most important concerns in pursuing a degree is how it can help you progress along your desired career path.

Do not pursue a degree merely to be considered a “graduate”. Be sure to understand what you want first, and what you want to achieve. If you are seeking a career change, think about your existing qualifications, and identify what you will need to study in order to make you a better fit for your new career.

Evaluate your aspirations against the type of further qualification you want to pursue. For instance, if you hold a diploma in business, you may want to consider your areas of interests before committing to a general business degree. Should you specialise in marketing, accounting or operational research? It may be a good idea to work
a few years first before pursuing a degree — it may help you get a clearer picture of what you really want from your career.

Finally, be sure to check that the relevant authorities and professional bodies in Singapore recognise the qualification. For example, those wanting to pursue a degree in medicine should ensure that the Singapore Medical Council considers the qualification a “Registrable Basic Medical Degree”. Similarly, budding lawyers should also make sure that their degree is recognised, and confirm that it will allow them to practice law in the Singapore.

Forge ahead
All things considered, further education often does hold the key to improved career prospects and monetary rewards. But before deciding on a degree program, be sure to evaluate your goals and try to align your further education pursuits with your desired career path.

Many paths to take

1. Local Universities
The local universities offer a vast array of courses, many of which grant exemptions to
diploma holders. For instance, a polytechnic graduate with an engineering diploma is
granted a year’s exemption if he qualifies for a related engineering programme at the
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and thus goes straight to the second year. Other courses such as business or accountancy may not offer a whole year’s exemption, but credit is given through the form of module exemptions.

2. Foreign Universities
About 10,000 Singaporeans go abroad to obtain their degree, mainly to Australia,
followed by the United States, Britain, Canada and New Zealand. Diplomas awarded by local polytechnics are generally held in high regard by foreign universities, and thus exemptions and generous credit transfers are common. However, living expenses are significantly higher when studying abroad, so financial constraints ought to be your foremost concern.

3. Private Education Institutions
If studying in one of the local universities is not possible due to the stringent admission criteria, and the costs of going overseas are prohibitive, you can consider a degree program with organisations such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) or the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI).

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