SIM University review: Is it even good?

Background

SIM University is part of the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM), a leading provider of higher education and professional training in Singapore. 

As a prospective student, it's vital to understand that you're looking at an institution that has a long legacy dating back to 1964.

With a vision to transform individuals through education, SIM University has fostered partnerships with renowned universities around the world to bring quality, diverse programmes to Singapore.

SIM offers various academic programmes ranging from bachelor's and master's programmes to postgraduate courses.

Interestingly, the institution’s sustained excellence in delivering exceptional education has not only garnered accolades but has also helped countless graduates in realising their aspirations, establishing SIM University as a bedrock for academic innovation and success.

In fact, out of 307 Private Educational Institutions (PEIs) in Singapore, SIM University is only one of three institutions that have an EduTrust Star certification—the highest EduTrust certification. This means that they have maintained high standards in their educational and management operations. 

SIM University also has a Business Continuity Management (BCM) System that is certified to be compliant with the requirements of ISO 22301:2019.

In addition, SIM University has a bizSAFE Level 3 certification that indicated that SIM University has in place the necessary measures to ensure a safe, healthy and secure workplace for their staff, students, faculty and visitors.

These certifications are a testament to SIM University's commitment to quality education.

 

Campus Location and Facilities

Now that you are aware of the background of SIM University, you might be wondering "Where is it located?"

The SIM University campus is located along Clementi Road and it spans a total area of 110,000 square metres.

Its address is 461 Clementi Rd, Singapore 599491. 

Interestingly, if you look up the SIM University campus on the internet, you will find that it shares a campus with one of Singapore's six public autonomous universities—the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).

They share a campus because before SUSS became what it is today, it was called SIM University (UniSIM), the university arm of the SIM Group. In fact, it was the first university in Singapore to specifically cater to adult learners. However, in 2016, Singapore's Ministry of Education restructured it into a public autonomous university. In 2017, it has been renamed SUSS.

This shared campus creates a diverse community where students may interact and collaborate to improve themselves including their soft skills and critical thinking skills. 

That said, with regard to facilities, SIM University has a plethora of facilities designed to foster a conducive learning environment. Some of these facilities include an extensive library, a financial training centre, sports and multi-purpose halls, a wellness centre, and a 400-seat theatre for the performing arts. 

Given these facilities, it highlights SIM University's holistic learning approach as they not only provide for students' academic needs but also their recreational needs as well. This makes student life at SIM University vibrant and all-rounded. 

 

Academic Programmes

Now that you know a bit about this institution, you might be wondering "What programmes can SIM University offer me?"

Well, whether you are interested in business, engineering, information technology (IT), social science, or anything in between, SIM University has got you covered.

In fact, they offer over 120 full-time and part-time academic programmes with the help of their 10 partner universities.

These programmes are from various disciplines such as Aviation, Arts and Social Sciences, Business Courses, IT & Computer Science, and Nursing.

Likewise, they offer programmes for various academic levels. Here is a glimpse of what you can get at SIM University:

Academic Level	Number of Programmes Available	Breakdown	Disciplines
Certificate/Foundation	7 Programmes available		Business, Information Technology, Social Science, and Arts and Design
Diploma Courses	5 Programmes available		Business and Information Technology
Bachelor's Degrees	72 Programmes	5 Top-Up degrees 19 Honours degrees 8 Honours degrees with Top-Up 12 Double major degrees 10 Double degrees 18 Single degrees	Aviation, Construction, Social Sciences, Computer Science, Arts and Design, Business, and Nursing
Master's Degrees	49 Programmes	2 Top-up degrees 7 Fully online degrees 40 in-campus programmes	Business, Information Technology, Computer Science, Arts and Design, and Social Science

As seen from the breakdown, some of these programmes can be for full-time or part-time students, whether local or international. In addition, their programmes range from undergraduate to postgraduate degrees. Plus, they offer professional development courses for those who want to bolster their career prospects. 

These programme offerings can be a top-up degree, a single degree, an honours degree, a double degree, or a double major degree. 

Given the variety of courses available, it shows that SIM University is a versatile academic institution that can cater to students seeking a more tailored learning experience. 

Tuition Fees

Given the programmes listed above, you might be wondering about the tuition fees.

Here is a breakdown of the tuition fees for local students.

That said, if you are an international student, we have the information for you too!

Please note that these fees do not include double degrees or double majors. If you wish to take those, do note that the tuition fees will be much higher. 

Also, all course fees listed include the corresponding Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is 8% in 2023.

Funding Options

As one of Singapore's leading private universities, SIM University's tuition fees can be expensive. As such, they offer various scholarships to their new and existing students to support their educational endeavours. 

Here is a list of the scholarships available at SIM University:

• SIM GE Undergraduate Scholarship

Undergraduate scholarships are given to outstanding local and international students. This scholarship had two categories: The first is for those students who have shown exceptional academic and leadership ability while the second category is for students who possess an impressive track record in sports or the performing arts.

• SIM Global Education Diploma Scholarship

This diploma scholarship is only offered to international students. This scholarship can cover a portion or the entirety of your tuition fee.

• SAFRA-SIM Global Education Sponsorship

The Singapore Armed Forces Reservist Association (SAFRA) can tap the SAFRA-SIM GE Sponsorship to cover at least 50% of their course fees.

• IRAS Scholarship Programme

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) scholarship programme is an external, merit-based scholarship programme for new and existing students of SIM University. This scholarship is given by the main tax administration agency in Singapore and aims to attract and nurture talented individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in tax administration and public finance.

Apart from these scholarships, SIM University also provides financial assistance to its students. For example: 

• SIM Global Education Bursary

This financial assistance is given to SIM University students that are in need. This financial aid offers S$6,000, covering up to a year of study. This aid is open to full-time and part-time students pursuing any programmes at any level at SIM University except for those who are taking bridging/preparator/certificate in English courses.

• SIM GE Crisis Fund

This fund provides emergency support to any student from SIM University and the aid can be up to S$5,000 per student. No repayment is required. In addition, this aid is also open to full-time and part-time students pursuing any programmes at any level at SIM University except for those who are taking bridging/preparator/certificate in English courses.

Apart from these funds, there are other external financial assistance available that students can apply to. For example:

• The Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) Education Bursary
• The Lembaga Biasiswa Kenanga Maulud (LBKM) Bursary
• The Muslimin Trust Fund Association (MTFA) Bursary
• The Sivadas-HEB Education Fund

Given the list of various scholarships and funding options available, it showcases that SIM University is committed to helping students continue their education.

Admissions

Now that you have an idea about the various programmes and the tuition fee, your next question might be "How do I get in?"

For you to be considered for admission to any programme at SIM University, you must meet specific entry requirements. These may vary depending on the academic level you are applying for.

That said, some general requirements include:

• Scanned copies of relevant educational certificates (GCE 'O' and 'A' Level certificates, diplomas, degree certificates, or exam transcripts)
• Front and back of your NRIC or Digital NRIC
• Passport size photo

If you are applying as an international student, you may also need to submit a scanned copy of your valid passport and proof of English language proficiency (ex. IELTS, TOEFL, etc.).

To know more about the application process, please click here. 

Why Choose SIM University?

Now that we're gone those all the necessary information, you might be asking "Why should I choose SIM University?"

To help you better decide if SIM University is the institution for you, we created this pros and cons list.

Here are our top three reasons for choosing SIM Global Education:

1. SIM University Partners with Prestigious International Universities 

SIM University has 10 university partners, all of which are reputable universities from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. For example, the University of Birmingham ranks 84^th in the QS World University Rankings 2024. Likewise, it has been named the most targeted university by UK's top 100 graduate employers in 2021.

In addition, in 2021, the QS World Rankings ranked RMIT University as the 15^th best in the world and the top-ranking art and design school in Australia.

Being partners with these top ranking and reputable universities, SIM University is able to offer niche/specialised courses while also allowing their students access to world-class education.

Furthermore, since SIM University has strong partnerships with these universities, they allow their students to transfer to the home campus even midway through their students. This is because SIM University runs the same assessment and exams and mark them to the same standard as those on the home campuses of their partner universities.

This is a testament to SIM University's efforts to provide high-quality education to its students. 

2. SIM University Has Strong Industry Ties

SIM GE has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SGTech—the leading trade association for Singapore's tech industry. Given this MOU, SIM University students and graduates can gain internships and job opportunities with SGTech's more than 700 member companies in the technology sector.

Apart from job placements and internship opportunities, SIM University students can gain industry exposure through events, workshops, seminars, and other industry engagement activities organised by SGTech's partner companies, thus, expanding their students' learning opportunities. 

In addition, this strong industry partnership helps SIM University align its curriculum to current industry trends and practices. This ensures that students are equipped with the necessary skills, abilities, and qualifications they need when they enter the workforce. 

Furthermore, with the added help of their career services department, Career Connect, students are also able to gain access to a wide range of programmes and services that are geared towards bolstering their career opportunities.

These wide-ranging benefits showcase that SIM University is committed to bolstering its students' career prospects even before leaving their institution.

3. SIM University Enhances Their Student's Employability

With a solid foundation of relationships with industry and university partners, students at SIM University gain access to a global network of career opportunities.

In fact, in the SIM Graduate Employment Survey 2021/2022, the overall employment rate of SIM University graduates is around 87.4%

Interestingly, SIM University also entices their students to build a portfolio of achievements while in school by giving them the EDGE Award. This award is a prestigious certificate developed by SIM University and its industry partners to bolster awardees' career prospects.

The 'Cons'

Now that you have been aware of our top three reasons why you should choose SIM University, here are our top 3 reasons that may make you reconsider.

1. Narrow Range of Courses

While we have mentioned that the programmes offered at SIM University are highly varied, if you compare them to bigger universities such as the six public autonomous ones, SIM University does not have an extensive range of courses. For example, while you can take courses on aviation, business, social science, and art and design at SIM University, you would not be able to take highly scientific ones like Aquaculture or Microbiology.

2. Less Recognised

While SIM University has a strong level of relationship with the industry and is widely recognised locally, some employers may still have a preference for graduates from public universities such as the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and Singapore Management University (SMU). Similarly, SIM University is not renowned globally. That said, since most programmes are offered by the partner university, you will be gaining an international degree from an esteemed university without even leaving Singapore.

3. Small Campus Size

Compared to public universities, the campus size of SIM University may be a bit smaller. This also means that the facilities may be fewer. Nevertheless, despite this limitation, SIM University has more than 70 student clubs to choose from as they believe that extra-curricular activities are valuable opportunities for learning.

Final Thoughts

SIM University is more than just an institution for higher learning. It is also a place where you can expand your horizons, explore your passions, and prepare yourself to thrive in the real world. With its rich heritage, diverse programmes, international exposure, and a culture that fosters holistic development, SIM University is the place to begin the journey towards a fulfilling and dynamic career in this fast-changing world.

Between their undergraduate courses, postgraduate programmes, and professional courses, SIM University is ready to provide you with the competencies and skills that will promote lifelong success. 

That said, while SIM University offers various benefits, it also has some limitations to consider such as its smaller campus size, lesser recognition from employers, and narrower range of courses compared to bigger universities.

As such, while this article has given you an overview of what you can expect at SIM University, it is advisable to dig a little deeper—visit the campus, connect with current students and alumni, or even attend classes if possible. This will allow you to experience first-hand the atmosphere and culture, giving you a better sense of whether SIM University is the right place for you.

Also, consider your educational goals, career aspirations, and personal interests as they will guide you to choose a place that not provides academic knowledge but also equips you with the necessary skills to thrive in your future career and life.

We wish you all the best in your academic pursuits and we hope this guide has been helpful in navigating your decision-making process.

Cheers!