SMU Singapore Management University
QUICK FACTS
- Location: Singapore, Republic of Singapore
- Program Length: 10-15 months
- Program Cost: S$70,850
- Average GMAT score: 730
- Average Work Experience: 5 - 7 years
RANKINGS
- #61 Financial Times 2023 MBA Ranking
Employment Reports (2022)
- Received an Offer: 95%
- Accepted an Offer: 90%
- Median Monthly Salary: $4,896
Class of 2021
- Average age: 30
- Women: 40%
- International students: 63%
ABOUT
Singapore Management University (SMU) stands out as a premier educational institution in Asia, renowned for its innovative and multidisciplinary approach to learning. Established in 2000, SMU offers interactive and seminar-style teaching, encouraging active student participation and real-world applications of knowledge. The university emphasizes experiential learning through internships, work-study programs, and industry projects, bridging the gap between academia and industry.
Situated in Singapore’s central business district, SMU’s campus boasts modern facilities and serves as a hub for diverse cultural and networking opportunities. The university actively promotes research excellence, innovation, and entrepreneurship, fostering a dynamic environment for both students and faculty. Moreover, SMU prioritizes community engagement, encouraging students to participate in social impact initiatives and community service, cultivating a strong sense of social responsibility.
In summary, SMU offers a unique and vibrant educational experience, preparing students to become well-rounded leaders equipped with practical skills and a deep sense of civic duty.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
- Round 1: November 30th, 2023
- Round 2: February 28th, 2023
- Round 3: May 31th, 2023
APPLICATION PROCESS
Transcripts
Applicants are required to submit official transcripts demonstrating their academic achievements and relevant qualifications.
GMAT or GRE
Applicants will need to provide GMAT/GRE scores as part of the application process.
Foreign Language Requirement
A valid TOEFL / IELTS score is required if the medium of instruction of your undergraduate studies was not English.
Essay Description
- Explain in 500-600 words your career and personal aspirations, and your motivation for pursuing the Master of Business Administration Programme.
- Discuss in 500-600 words one of the following topics:
- Describe your greatest weakness and how you have tried to overcome it.
- Describe your outstanding talents, skills and inherent abilities that are not reflected in your academic qualifications and records.
- Describe the situation with the greatest ethical complexity that you have faced in your professional or academic life, and how your input helped resolve it.
2 Recommendations
Submit 2 complete sets of referee details during the online process of applying for the SMU MBA. The application portal will automatically send an email to your referees and collect your recommendation forms on your behalf once you have submitted the application.
Resume
A comprehensive resume outlining academic achievements, co-curricular activities, work experiences, and other relevant qualifications is essential.
Interview
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview within two weeks of the online application.
Application fee
A S$100 application fee is required.
PROGRAM STRENGTHS
Job Placement Opportunities
Access to internships and job placement opportunities via our global network of close to 3,000 companies.
Access To Events
Students can network and engage in excellent professional development and career opportunities through their access to over 100 events every three months.
Digital Economy
Relevancy in the digital economy with an updated curriculum that includes courses on Data Science (Basic R and Python Programming) and Leading Digital Transformation.
STUDENT LIFE
With the city at their doorstep, there will never be a dull moment experienced during students’ SMU MBA stint. Boasting a state-of-the-art 4.5 hectare city campus with purpose-built seminar rooms to enhance learning experience and stimulate class interaction, students will be immersed into an interactive and interconnected environment that will help them grow beyond the classroom context.
In addition to convenient access to the gymnasium, swimming pool and dance studio, students can enjoy amenities like food and beverage outlets and banking and healthcare services within the vicinity.
As an integral part of Singapore’s Central Business District, SMU is a stone’s throw away from museums, theatres, art galleries, cafes, and restaurants. 5 to 10-minute bus or MRT ride to the shopping belt of Orchard Road, the cultural establishments of Chinatown and Little India, or the center of nightlife, Clarke Quay.
MBA PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Program
The SMU MBA is designed to shape students into a versatile and dynamic leaders that businesses need. SMU MBA Students learn business fundamentals with an interactive and rigorous curriculum that captures the forefront of management research and proven approaches in management practice.
Mandatory Classes
- Corporate Finance
- Financial Accounting
- Leading Digital Transformation
- Managerial Economics
- Marketing
- Operations Management
- Organizational Behaviour in Leadership
- Strategic Management
15 Months Program
The Full-Time MBA programme lasts for 15 months (with the possibility to complete in 10 months). With SMU’s unique emphasis on leadership and communication skills, the innovative and unconventional curriculum features a number of classes, of which MBA students must complete 8 modules that make up the core curriculum. In addition, students are required to take a minimum of 10 electives based on their interests and knowledge gaps to complement these core modules.
FEATURED PROFESSORS
Themin Suwardy
Dr Themin Suwardy is an Associate Professor of Accounting (Practice) with the SMU School of Accountancy. Since 2016, he is Dean of Postgraduate Professional Programmes (PGPP), looking after SMU portfolio of Masters programme, with an annual intake of over 1,200 students. Prior to joining academia, Themin was an auditor with KPMG Peat Marwick.
He has received over 20 SMU and international teaching awards and was accorded Republic of Singapore’s Public Administration Medal (Bronze) in 2011 for his contribution to education. In 2015, he was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award by CPA Australia for his significant and distinguished service to the accounting profession.
Themin serves on the board of SATA CommHealth and chairs its Investment and Finance Committee. He is also a director of GMAC. He is a frequent commentator and writer for The Business Times.
Roy Chua
Roy Chua is an Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources at the Singapore Management University (SMU) Lee Kong Chian School of Business. Roy’s research draws on human psychology to understand important social processes in business organizations. In his primary stream of research, he studies how multicultural interactions in a globalized workplace influence creativity and innovation. Roy also has a keen interest in understanding Chinese organizational behavior and management processes.
He is an active management scholar and has published in leading academic periodicals such as the Academy of Management Journal, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Journal of International Business Studies, and MIT Sloan Management Review.
Roy has conducted case discussions and given lectures to various companies including Bank of China, Bank of East Asia, Goldman Sachs, Shangri La hotel group, San Miguel, Hitachi, Barclays, DBS Bank, Unilab, Deutsche Knowledge Services, Deustsche Bank, Temasek Holdings, and John Clements Consulting.
A native of Singapore, Professor Chua received a BSc with First Class Honors in Computer and Information Sciences from the National University of Singapore and a PhD in Management, focusing on Organizational Behavior, from Columbia Business School.