Ever thought of studying in an Australian university without having to leave your friends and family for a foreign land? With the successful partnership between PSB Academy and The University of Newcastle, Australia (UON), it is possible to enjoy the benefits of an Australian education here in Singapore.

By Nathan Lum

Anyone who has sufficiently researched his options for further studies will realise that any stigma he might have about private education is unfounded. Truth is, pursuing your degree at an academic institution like PSB Academy will earn you a highly competitive degree that is on par with those offered by local universities. Moreover, through its partnership with UON, the draws of studying at PSB Academy are irresistibly attractive.

Uncompromised quality
PSB Academy and UON have a unique collaboration which is unlike other correspondence course tie-ups in Singapore. For starters, UON is one of the few (if not only) partner universities that has its own campus here on our sunny shores. Housed in PSB Academy, UON’s local campus even has its very own Pro Vice-Chancellor, Mr Robert J Cochrane, based in Singapore. With the school under his charge, prospective students can rest assured that they are getting nothing short of the real deal.

UON’s programmes at PSB Academy are closely monitored to be as similar as possible to that of its Australian counterpart. “I completed my advanced diploma and was looking to further my education. I was impressed with the journalism modules that UON was offering, but not with what some of the other universities were offering,” revealed Duncan Elias, a Bachelor of Communications (Public Relations and Journalism) student at PSB Academy.

Not only is UON consistently one of Australia’s top 10 publicly-funded universities for its research output, it is also one of the top 100 universities in the Asia-Pacific.

Located behind Tiong Bahru MRT station, PSB Academy is both highly accessible and a great place to study. Besides embracing new approaches to teaching such as lab-oriented learning, the school also boasts state-of-the-art laboratories as well as a campus gymnasium.

A growing repertoire
Currently, the school offers six full-time and six part-time undergraduate programmes. These comprise Bachelor’s Degrees in Business, Commerce, Communications, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Engineering, and Information Technology.

In 2008, the campus expanded its curriculum to ensure its graduates remain relevant to the needs of the marketplace. With the upcoming Integrated Resorts and post-Formula One buzz, the school has foreseen a hike in demand for a workforce qualified in tourism and hospitality. Prospective students can now look forward to the timely introduction of two new majors—a Bachelor of Business with a major in Marketing and Tourism, and Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Accounting (which replaces the current Finance and Financial Accounting major).

If science makes you tick, your search is over. Through UON (ranked amongst the world’s top 100 universities for engineering, technology and computer sciences by Shanghai Jiao Tong University rankings by field 2007), PSB Academy is the leading private education institute in Singapore to offer a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering. This highly sought-after programme offers majors in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics.

“After talking to my friends, I realised that I made the right choice,” said Adrian Yang, an Electrical Engineering undergraduate. “The course was more practical and detailed than those my friends took at other universities.”

Dixon Samuel, a final-year Information Technology student, agrees. “The case studies that they have given me will prepare me for the working world,” he said.

Besides having a wide array of degree programmes to choose from, students also benefit from the experience of working with classmates from different countries. Every class is taught by a highly qualified faculty, half of which comprise lecturers seconded from UON in Australia. However, fret not, if you still have a yen for the Aussie experience, you have the option of transferring and completing some of your modules in the Australian campus!

Better in more ways than one
Going the polytechnic route to obtain a degree might take you longer than those who studied in a junior college. However, PSB Academy’s accelerated curriculum schedule guarantees students a faster route towards earning a degree, as compared to studying at UON in Australia.

Instead of having two semesters and one long summer holiday (the Australian model), the campus has adopted a trimester schedule where the intended three-month summer break becomes one extra term in addition to the two-term norm. Here, you will be able to earn a degree in business, information technology, communications or commerce within two years, as opposed to three years if you’re studying in UON in Australia. Similarly, a degree in engineering will take approximately three years to complete instead of four.

The promise of an accelerated track has proven to be a strong pull factor for current undergraduates. “I loved the way it was faster than other private institutions I was looking at,” expressed Yeang Lily, a third-year business student.

Meanwhile, the opportunity to study in an Australian campus right here in Singapore is a clear advantage for students at PSB Academy, as high costs of living and exchange rates are perennial concerns when it comes to studying overseas.

When all is said and done, there’s just so much that PSB Academy offers, from its variety of courses to its robust Australian ties. Studying locally does not mean you are confined to pursuing a local degree. Through PSB Academy, it is possible to get a quality Australian education without relocating 6,000km down under.

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