For many young people on the way out of high school, the next step is to study full-time at a university
for another four years to earn an undergraduate degree. This is because a college degree in a
particular field is still a prerequisite for a successful career in most countries. There is
some truth to this kind of thinking. Getting a degree improves your chances of being hired by reputable employers and sets you on the right track for career advancement and professional growth. Here you learn four alternatives to pursuing college diploma courses in Singapore.
However, although the benefits of pursuing further education after high school are numerous, the
conventional full-time study approach isn’t necessarily feasible or desirable for every person. Some
people may not have the financial means to pay for university education, especially if it requires them
to move to a new city. Others may have professional or family commitments that keep them from
studying full-time. And still, others may simply prefer to forgo another four years of student life in favor
of diving headfirst into the “real world.”
If you’ve decided you can’t or would rather not pursue a conventional college degree for whatever
the reason, rest assured that there are many other ways you can complete diploma courses in Singapore
without having to return to studying full-time. Here are four practical alternatives to pursuing a college
diploma:
Work-Study Degrees
Many young people who are otherwise interested in getting a degree after high school may have had to
start working instead due to financial constraints. If you’ve found yourself in a similar situation, the good
news is that you no longer have to choose between working and studying. These days, high school
graduates can pursue work-based degrees, which allow them to start their careers early while also
studying for nationally recognized diplomas at the same time.
Work-study degrees give students the opportunity to learn from industry experts and earn the practical
work experience they’ll need to build fulfilling careers. They’re also considered employees of the
participating company, which means they enjoy monthly salaries and other benefits as they work on
their degrees.
Work-based degrees are also designed to enable a healthy balance of both work and study for
participating students, which means that required classes are scheduled with a full-time employee’s
work schedule in mind. Some institutions also offer students on work-study courses the opportunity to
take their classes online in order to eliminate the need to travel to campus.
Part-Time Degrees
Although working on a degree part-time was once an option available only to postgraduate students,
Singaporean universities have also begun to offer a growing number of part-time undergraduate
courses. If the degree you want is available part-time at a particular institution, you may want to consider this as a potentially workable option that will allow you to balance studying with other obligations. Your future employers are also unlikely to be concerned about whether you earned your academic credentials part-time or full-time as long as you studied at a reputable institution. Do bear in mind that it’ll take longer than the traditional four years to complete a part-time degree. You may also need to attend classes on campus during the day, so plan your class schedule carefully alongside work and any other commitments you have. One upside, however, is that you may still be able to qualify for tuition loans and other financial aid on a part-time degree.
Apprenticeship Programmes
In contrast to academic study, which can be highly theoretical, apprenticeships are opportunities to
study the ins and outs of a particular occupation under the guidance of an industry specialist. Should
you choose to participate in an apprenticeship program, you can expect to be mostly working hands-
on and acquiring practical skills as you work. The firm you apprentice at will pay you a salary for the
duration of your term in the program and may even offer you permanent employment if you perform
consistently well throughout your apprenticeship.
Apprenticeships are a viable way to enter and build a career in trades that don’t necessarily require a
bachelor’s degree. Many skilled workers, such as electricians, tattoo artists, and tailors, frequently start
their careers as apprentices. Other popular industries that currently provide apprenticeships in
Singapore includes the following, among others:
● Information technology (IT)
● Science and engineering
● Retail
● Public health and healthcare
● Transport
● Construction and management
● Media and publishing
Technical and Vocational Training
In addition to apprenticeships, trade schools or technical and vocational education and training (TVET)
institutions are another practicable way to learn about a specific profession. Singapore offers a wealth
of TVET programs both for high school graduates and adult learners. Upon completion of your initial
training courses, you may enter the workforce or study toward a specialization at a polytechnic
university. Some specializations offered at Singapore’s top polytechnics include accountancy, tourism
and hospitality management, mass communications, nursing, and business studies.
At the end of the day, a university education is a significant investment of time, effort, and money that
not everyone is in a position to make. Whether you’re looking for alternative ways to earn academic
credentials or would rather not pursue a degree at all, rest assured that there are many potentially
fulfilling opportunities for personal and professional development available to you.
You can also check out Best Tuition Center in Singapore [2023].
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