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Singapore Management University

Address: 81 Victoria Street, Singapore 188065
Phone: +65 6828 0100
Email: enquiry@smu.edu.sg
Website: www.smu.edu.sg


About Singapore Management University

A premier university in Asia, the Singapore Management University (SMU) is internationally recognised for its world-class research and distinguished teaching. Established in 2000, SMU’s mission is to generate leading-edge research with global impact and to produce broad-based, creative and entrepreneurial leaders for the knowledge-based economy. SMU’s education is known for its highly interactive, collaborative and project-based approach to learning.

Home to over 10,000 students across undergraduate, postgraduate professional and post-graduate research programmes, SMU, is comprised of six schools: School of Accountancy, Lee Kong Chian School of Business, School of Economics, School of Information Systems, School of Law, and School of Social Sciences. SMU offers a wide range of bachelors, masters and PhD degree programmes in the disciplinary areas associated with the six schools, as well as in multidisciplinary combinations of these areas.

SMU emphasises rigorous, high-impact, multi- and interdisciplinary research that addresses Asian issues of global relevance.  SMU faculty members collaborate with leading international researchers and universities around the world, as well as with partners in the business community and public sector. SMU’s city campus is a modern facility located in the heart of downtown Singapore, fostering strategic linkages with business, government and the wider community. 

Why Singapore Management University

Singapore Management University (SMU) is renowned for several distinctive qualities that set it apart from other universities, both within Singapore and internationally. Here’s why SMU is famous:

1. Focus on Business, Management, and Professional Education

  • SMU is particularly known for its strong emphasis on business, management, and professional education. It is one of Asia’s leading universities in these areas, offering programs designed to equip students with real-world skills and leadership abilities in fields such as finance, economics, law, accountancy, and entrepreneurship.
  • Global Recognition: The Lee Kong Chian School of Business is consistently ranked among the top business schools in Asia and is accredited by both AACSB and EQUIS, two prestigious international accrediting bodies.

2. Interactive, American-Style Education Model

  • SMU adopts an American-style interactive pedagogy, which is rare in the region. This approach emphasizes small class sizes, group discussions, presentations, and real-world case studies. This creates an environment that encourages critical thinking, debate, and active learning.
  • Seminar-Style Classes: Unlike traditional lecture-style teaching, SMU’s seminar-based approach provides students with more personalized attention from faculty, and fosters better communication and leadership skills.

3. Close Ties with Industry

  • SMU is known for its strong industry connections, offering extensive internships, networking opportunities, and career services. This has led to high employability rates for graduates, as students often gain real-world experience through internships and corporate partnerships.
  • Industry-Engaged Curriculum: Courses are designed with input from industry professionals, ensuring that students are learning relevant skills. Guest lecturers from leading companies are common, and students are frequently given projects that are tied to actual industry challenges.

4. Leadership in Legal Education

  • SMU’s School of Law is recognized as one of Asia’s leading law schools, known for producing practice-ready lawyers. Its graduates have a strong presence in top law firms in Singapore and internationally.
  • Practice-Oriented: The legal education at SMU focuses heavily on practical training, including internships, moot court competitions, and collaborations with legal practitioners. This ensures that law graduates are well-prepared to enter the legal profession.

5. City-Centered Campus

  • SMU’s campus is located in the heart of downtown Singapore, offering students unique access to businesses, government offices, and cultural institutions. This central location enhances SMU’s ties with the business community and offers students unparalleled opportunities to engage with the professional world while studying.
  • Urban Learning Environment: The campus’ integration into the city gives students a vibrant urban experience, connecting their academic studies with real-world dynamics.

6. Emphasis on Soft Skills and Leadership

  • SMU places a strong emphasis on developing soft skills such as communication, critical thinking, and leadership, which are highly valued by employers. The university’s holistic approach aims to create well-rounded individuals who are prepared to take on leadership roles in their respective fields.
  • Leadership Training: Programs like the SMU Leadership Symposium and Community Service Projects are designed to instill a sense of responsibility and leadership among students, with many students being involved in start-ups, NGOs, and social enterprises.

7. Innovation and Entrepreneurship

  • SMU has a growing reputation for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. Through initiatives like the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE), students have access to start-up incubation programs, mentorship, and funding opportunities. Many SMU graduates have gone on to create successful businesses and start-ups.
  • Business Innovation Generator: SMU’s incubator program supports students in developing entrepreneurial ventures, providing resources like co-working spaces, networking, and seed funding.

8. Strong Research Focus

  • Despite being a relatively young institution (founded in 2000), SMU has developed a strong reputation for research in areas like business, economics, information systems, and law. The university focuses on research with real-world applications, contributing to policy-making, business strategies, and societal issues.
  • Interdisciplinary Research: SMU’s focus on interdisciplinary research has allowed the university to address complex global challenges by integrating business, technology, and social sciences.

9. Global Perspective

  • SMU emphasizes a global perspective in its curriculum, encouraging students to participate in international exchange programs, study trips, and internships abroad. Its partnerships with top universities around the world provide students with opportunities for global learning experiences.
  • International Faculty and Students: SMU attracts a diverse group of faculty and students from around the world, adding to its global appeal and providing students with cross-cultural perspectives.

10. Commitment to Social Impact

  • SMU’s core curriculum includes a strong focus on social responsibility. Every student is required to complete a community service project before graduation, encouraging students to give back to society and engage in socially impactful initiatives.
  • Tri-Sector Collaboration: SMU is also a leader in fostering collaborations between the public, private, and non-profit sectors, helping students understand the interplay between these sectors in solving societal problems.

Singapore Management University (SMU) requires international students, whose first language is not English or who have not received education in English, to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Below are the general English language requirements for SMU’s undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

1. Undergraduate Programs

International applicants whose medium of instruction in previous education was not in English need to provide scores from one of the following recognized English proficiency tests:

Accepted Tests and Minimum Scores:

  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language):

    • Internet-based test (iBT): Minimum score of 93
    • Paper-based test (PBT): Minimum score of 583

  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System):

    • Overall band score of 7.0

  • SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing):

    • Minimum score of 700

  • PTE (Pearson Test of English):

    • Overall score of 66

  • C1 Advanced (Cambridge English: Advanced):

    • Overall score of 185 with no sub-score below 176

2. Postgraduate Programs

For postgraduate (Master’s and PhD) programs, applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree from an English-speaking university or country must provide evidence of English proficiency through one of the following tests:

Accepted Tests and Minimum Scores:

  • TOEFL:

    • Internet-based test (iBT): Minimum score of 93

  • IELTS:

    • Overall band score of 7.0

  • PTE Academic:

    • Overall score of 66

Additional Considerations:

  • Postgraduate programs may have higher language requirements depending on the specific program (e.g., programs with intensive communication or writing components).
  • Some programs may waive the English test requirement if the applicant has significant work experience in an English-speaking environment or if they hold a degree from an institution where English was the language of instruction.

3. Exemptions

  • Applicants who have completed their prior education (high school or undergraduate) in an English-speaking country or in an institution where English was the medium of instruction may be exempted from submitting English language test scores. Typically, countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and others would fall into this category.

4. Foundation Programs

For students who do not meet the required English proficiency levels, SMU may offer English preparatory programs or foundation courses that help students improve their language skills before beginning their degree program.

Singapore Management University (SMU) is well-known for its focus on business and management education, though it also offers programs in social sciences, law, information systems, and technology. SMU takes a distinctive approach to education with an emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, real-world applications, and leadership skills.

Here are the key course specialties at SMU:

1. Business Management

  • Programs: Bachelor of Business Management (BBM), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Executive MBA
  • Specialties: Finance, Marketing, Operations Management, Human Resources, Strategic Management, Corporate Communication
  • Why Notable: SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business is one of Asia’s leading business schools, accredited by AACSB and EQUIS. It is recognized for strong industry ties, internships, and opportunities to engage with business leaders. The curriculum integrates global perspectives with local relevance, preparing students for leadership roles.

2. Accountancy

  • Programs: Bachelor of Accountancy, Master of Professional Accounting (MPA), PhD in Accounting
  • Specialties: Audit, Taxation, Forensic Accounting, Financial Reporting
  • Why Notable: SMU’s School of Accountancy is a leading provider of accountancy education in Asia. The program is recognized for its rigorous training in financial reporting and auditing standards, and its graduates are highly sought after by accounting firms globally. The school offers professional certifications and has strong industry connections.

3. Economics

  • Programs: Bachelor of Science in Economics, Master of Science in Economics, PhD in Economics
  • Specialties: Applied Economics, Econometrics, International Trade, Development Economics
  • Why Notable: The School of Economics at SMU is renowned for its quantitative and analytical approach to economic problems. It is one of the top economics schools in Asia, with strengths in econometrics, applied economics, and economic policy analysis. The faculty includes world-class researchers, and students often engage in research with direct policy implications.

4. Information Systems and Technology

  • Programs: Bachelor of Science in Information Systems, Master of IT in Business, PhD in Information Systems
  • Specialties: Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, FinTech
  • Why Notable: SMU’s School of Computing and Information Systems (SCIS) is highly regarded for its focus on technology’s role in business. The programs combine technology with business acumen, preparing students for roles in IT management, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and data science. The school has strong industry links and a focus on applied research in tech innovation.

5. Law

  • Programs: Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Laws (LLM), PhD in Law
  • Specialties: Corporate and Commercial Law, Dispute Resolution, International Trade Law, Intellectual Property Law
  • Why Notable: SMU’s School of Law has established itself as one of the premier law schools in Asia. The curriculum is heavily practice-oriented, with a strong focus on internships, mooting, and hands-on legal training. SMU law graduates are highly regarded for their preparedness to work in legal firms, in-house roles, and government positions.

6. Social Sciences

  • Programs: Bachelor of Social Science (BSocSc), Master of Tri-Sector Collaboration, PhD in Psychology
  • Specialties: Psychology, Political Science, Sociology, International Relations, Public Policy
  • Why Notable: SMU’s School of Social Sciences emphasizes interdisciplinary studies, combining social sciences with practical applications in public policy, governance, and leadership. It has a growing reputation in psychology, especially in applied fields like organizational and health psychology, as well as public policy and political science.

7. Corporate Communication

  • Programs: Bachelor of Business Management (Specialization in Corporate Communication), Master of Science in Communication Management
  • Specialties: Public Relations, Crisis Communication, Branding, Strategic Communication
  • Why Notable: This program blends business with communication strategies, preparing students for leadership roles in corporate communication and public relations. It emphasizes both the theory and practical skills needed for managing corporate reputations and handling communication crises.

8. Quantitative Finance

  • Programs: Master of Science in Quantitative Finance (MQF)
  • Specialties: Financial Modelling, Risk Management, Algorithmic Trading
  • Why Notable: SMU is recognized for its strong quantitative finance program, which provides rigorous training in financial mathematics, statistics, and computational methods used in financial markets. This program is highly regarded in the financial sector and attracts students interested in roles in risk management, trading, and financial research.

9. Entrepreneurship

  • Programs: Second Major in Entrepreneurship, Master of Science in Innovation
  • Specialties: Start-ups, Venture Capital, Social Enterprises
  • Why Notable: SMU encourages entrepreneurship through its entrepreneurship major and initiatives like the Business Innovations Generator (BIG). Students gain practical experience by working with start-ups, participating in incubator programs, and engaging in entrepreneurship competitions.

10. Finance

  • Programs: Bachelor of Business Management (Specialization in Finance), Master of Science in Applied Finance
  • Specialties: Investment Banking, Corporate Finance, Wealth Management, Private Equity
  • Why Notable: SMU’s finance programs are well regarded for their strong focus on both theory and practical skills. Graduates are prepared for roles in investment banking, asset management, and private equity. The university has strong industry partnerships and internships that provide students with valuable hands-on experience.

11. Strategic Management

  • Programs: Master of Science in Management
  • Specialties: Strategic Leadership, Innovation Management, Business Strategy
  • Why Notable: SMU’s strategic management programs are designed for individuals looking to take leadership roles in businesses. The focus is on developing skills in corporate strategy, leadership, and managing innovation in rapidly changing industries.

Singapore Management University (SMU) is home to many distinguished professors who are recognized for their research, teaching excellence, and contributions to their respective fields. Below are some of the top professors at SMU across various disciplines:

1. Professor Arnoud De Meyer

  • Field: Operations Management, Business Strategy
  • Position: Former President of SMU and Professor at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business
  • Why Notable: Professor De Meyer is a highly regarded expert in operations management, innovation, and strategy. He has held leadership positions at prestigious institutions like INSEAD and Cambridge University and has been instrumental in shaping SMU’s global reputation during his tenure as president.

2. Professor David Chan

  • Field: Psychology, Behavioral Sciences
  • Position: Director of the Behavioural Sciences Institute
  • Why Notable: Professor Chan is a leading psychologist in Singapore, renowned for his work in applied psychology, focusing on societal issues like leadership, trust, and public policy. His research in behavioral sciences has made him a key influencer in both academia and public policy debates in Singapore.

3. Professor Gerry George

  • Field: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Strategy
  • Position: Dean of the Lee Kong Chian School of Business (Former)
  • Why Notable: Professor George is a highly cited researcher in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship. He has published extensively on the topics of business model innovation, inclusive innovation, and sustainable business strategies. He has been listed among the world’s top management thinkers and contributes to global business thought leadership.

4. Professor Tang Hang Wu

  • Field: Law (Property Law, Equity & Trusts)
  • Position: Professor at SMU School of Law
  • Why Notable: Professor Tang is one of Singapore's leading legal scholars in property law and equity & trusts. He is frequently cited in legal cases and publications and is regarded as an authority on land law and trust law. His work bridges academic legal research and practical applications in the legal profession.

5. Professor Henry Gao

  • Field: International Trade Law, WTO Law
  • Position: Associate Professor at SMU School of Law
  • Why Notable: Professor Gao is an expert in World Trade Organization (WTO) law and international trade law. He frequently advises governments and international organizations on trade law matters and has published extensively on the implications of global trade regulations, particularly concerning Asia.

6. Professor Steven Miller

  • Field: Information Systems, Data Science
  • Position: Former Dean, School of Computing and Information Systems
  • Why Notable: A pioneer in data analytics and information systems, Professor Miller has been integral in developing SMU’s information systems program. His expertise in analytics and digital transformation has helped SMU build a reputation for producing graduates ready to lead in the tech industry.

7. Professor Augustine Pang

  • Field: Corporate Communication, Crisis Management
  • Position: Professor at Lee Kong Chian School of Business
  • Why Notable: Professor Pang is a leading expert in corporate communication and crisis management. His work on how organizations manage communication during crises has been highly influential, and he has been involved in training public and private sector leaders on effective communication strategies.

8. Professor Benedict Koh

  • Field: Finance, Pension Economics
  • Position: Professor of Finance at Lee Kong Chian School of Business
  • Why Notable: Professor Koh is an authority in pension economics, retirement planning, and wealth management. His research has significantly contributed to public policy on pensions in Singapore, and he is frequently consulted by the government and financial institutions for his expertise in finance and retirement systems.

9. Professor Goh Yihan

  • Field: Law (Contract Law, Tort Law)
  • Position: Dean of SMU School of Law
  • Why Notable: Professor Goh is a highly respected scholar in contract law and tort law. He has published widely in these areas and is involved in judicial training and legal reform efforts in Singapore. His work has shaped the development of common law in Singapore and beyond.

10. Professor Howard Thomas

  • Field: Strategy, Management Education
  • Position: Former Dean of the Lee Kong Chian School of Business
  • Why Notable: Professor Thomas is a globally recognized expert in strategic management and management education. He has been a key figure in the academic business world for decades, having held leadership roles in top business schools worldwide, and his research on strategic decision-making and leadership has been highly influential.

As of now, Singapore Management University (SMU) does not have any direct Nobel Prize laureates among its faculty, alumni, or associated researchers. However, SMU is renowned for its contributions to research and academia, particularly in the fields of business, economics, law, information systems, and social sciences.

Notable Contributions at SMU:

While Nobel Prizes have not yet been awarded to individuals from SMU, the university has achieved significant recognition in the academic and research fields:

  • World-Class Research: SMU has made a substantial impact in areas like financial economics, law, urban management, and information systems, often influencing both regional and global policies and business practices.
  • Faculty Excellence: SMU attracts top academics and researchers from around the world, many of whom have been awarded prestigious international fellowships, research grants, and other academic honors.

Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Research:

SMU emphasizes interdisciplinary research and frequently collaborates with other world-class institutions, including those that have produced Nobel Prize winners. The university’s strong focus on innovation, business leadership, and applied research continues to grow its influence globally, and there is potential for future breakthroughs that could lead to major international recognition.