The world's top 100 universities ranked for medicine, biology and psychology

Harvard has topped the world rankings for biomedical sciences. Get the full QS rankings

Harvard University has topped the first ever top 100 world rankings for medicine, biological sciences and psychology. Photograph: Mark Peterson/ Corbis

Harvard university has swept the board ranking highest in the world's top 100 universities for medicine, biological sciences and psychology with Cambridge and Oxford following closely behind.

Once again, the elite American university has topped another top 100 world rankings list - it was revealed earlier this year that Harvard had topped the world university reputation list as compiled by Times Higher Education.

Although the US seem to have shown a surge in university rankings across the world, the UK does follow in second place according to the rankings published today by QS. Ten UK universities feature in the top 50 in at least one of the three subjects; medicine, biological sciences and psychology.

With the trend of major UK universities planning to charge the maximum £9000 fees, universities will be under even more pressure to ensure students get value for money with highly esteemed courses. The results from QS show three UK universities to enter the top ten world rankings for medicine; Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial whereas this reduces to just two for both biological sciences and psychology (Cambridge and Oxford).

One of the factors accredited to Harvard's high medicine ranking has been noted by QS for "pioneering work in stem cell research" which was carried out in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology. However both Oxford and Cambridge were praised for being "traditional UK research hubs" although it was noted that in the field of biological sciences, research citations fell short of their US counterparts.

We have compiled these rankings and all the QS rankings so far into a spreadsheet which can be downloaded below. The rankings feature scores broken down into citations, academic and employer rankings and feature both the biomedical sciences by individual subject and the engineering and computer sciences too. Below is a table showing the top 25 in all three biomedical sciences by subject.

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Data summary

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World's top 25 universities for medicine
Rank	Institution	Country	Academic	Employer	Citations	Scores
1	Harvard University	United States	100	100	84	93.6
2	University of Cambridge	United Kingdom	81.7	94.1	74.1	79.9
3	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	United States	62.6	83.2	100	79.6
4	University of Oxford	United Kingdom	76.5	90	79.2	78.9
5	Stanford University	United States	74.9	66.3	70.4	72.2
6	Yale University	United States	67.1	55.9	70.3	67.3
7	University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	United States	63.5	54.5	67.2	64.1
8	Johns Hopkins University	United States	63.7	29.6	65.7	61.1
9	Imperial College London	United Kingdom	56.9	45.6	63.9	58.6
10	University of California, San Diego (UCSD)	United States	50.6	27	71.2	56.5
11	California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	United States	32.4	38.1	90.8	56.3
12	University of Toronto	Canada	55.7	47.9	54	54.2
13	McGill University	Canada	45.9	63	60.4	53.4
14	Duke University	United States	39.7	57.3	68.6	53
15	The University of Melbourne	Australia	53.2	60.4	49.6	52.5
16	Columbia University	United States	42.8	60.8	62.2	52.4
17	University of California, San Francisco	United States	45.2	24.5	67.5	52.1
18	National University of Singapore (NUS)	Singapore	58.3	57.9	42.3	51.9
19	University of Chicago	United States	41.2	46.4	66.5	51.8
20	The University of Tokyo	Japan	62.8	45.7	38.2	51.3
21	University of Pennsylvania	United States	40.1	48.6	63.5	50.3
22	University of Michigan	United States	39.5	44.3	64.8	50.1
23	Cornell University	United States	40.3	47.2	61	49.3
24	University of Washington	United States	41.4	27.8	64.2	49.2
25	UCL (University College London)	United Kingdom	42.7	46.9	57	48.8
Source:QS

World's top 25 universities for biological sciences
Rank	Institution	Country	Academic	Employer	Citations	Scores
1	Harvard University	United States	98.6	100	78	90.5
2	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	United States	81.1	85.6	83.9	82.7
3	University of Cambridge	United Kingdom	100	88.2	54.3	80.5
4	University of Oxford	United Kingdom	86.6	85.2	51.5	72.4
5	Stanford University	United States	78.5	75.6	62.9	72
6	University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	United States	86.7	63.8	51.9	70.5
7	Yale University	United States	62.1	68	59.8	61.8
8	California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	United States	58.2	38	67.7	60
9	University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	United States	60.6	49.5	57.8	58.4
10	University of California, San Diego (UCSD)	United States	61.9	34.4	55.1	56.4
11	Imperial College London	United Kingdom	62.8	57.1	43.9	54.7
12	University of Toronto	Canada	64.7	36.8	45.6	54.3
13	Johns Hopkins University	United States	54.6	37	56.9	53.8
14	Columbia University	United States	46.5	67.8	58.1	53.3
15	The University of Tokyo	Japan	71	46	30.1	52.1
16	Cornell University	United States	52.6	61.4	47.9	51.6
17	University of Pennsylvania	United States	43.4	71.9	56.4	51.5
18 =	McGill University	Canada	56.7	53.9	44.1	51.4
18 =	Princeton University	United States	48.9	53	54.1	51.4
18 =	University of Chicago	United States	47.3	49.9	56.8	51.4
21	Arizona State University	United States	16.5	7.3	100	49
22	ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)	Switzerland	53.9	36.6	45.5	48.8
23	University of Michigan	United States	39.1	54.9	56.4	47.6
24	University of British Columbia	Canada	53.6	44.2	40.3	47.3
25 =	Duke University	United States	41.3	47.9	54.2	47.1
25 =	The University of Melbourne	Australia	53	66.1	35	47.1
Source:QS

World's top 25 universities for psychology
Rank	Institution	Country	Academic	Employer	Citations	Scores
1	Harvard University	United States	100	93.8	97	97.5
2	University of Cambridge	United Kingdom	83	100	88	89.1
3	Stanford University	United States	91.2	74.7	86.3	85.3
4	University of Oxford	United Kingdom	77.8	87.5	76.8	80.5
5	University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	United States	86.9	70.1	65.4	77.6
6	University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	United States	74.4	59.2	81.6	71.3
7	Yale University	United States	72.2	63.6	78.2	70.8
8	The University of Melbourne	Australia	68	67.9	66.3	67.6
9	Princeton University	United States	58.9	46.5	98.5	63.1
10	McGill University	Canada	61.9	45.3	70	58.5
11	The University of Sydney	Australia	68.4	42.8	56.9	58.4
12	UCL (University College London)	United Kingdom	55	49.4	78.5	58
13	University of Toronto	Canada	68.4	32	66.7	57.1
14	University of Chicago	United States	56.7	38.3	84.5	56.7
15	University of Michigan	United States	63	31.8	74.3	55.9
16	University of British Columbia	Canada	64.4	33.5	67.5	55.8
17	Columbia University	United States	53	42.9	80.4	55.5
18	The University of Tokyo	Japan	66.4	47.1	33.6	54.1
19	Cornell University	United States	52.3	45.2	71.6	54
20	Australian National University	Australia	53.9	42.6	68.3	53.4
21	University of Pennsylvania	United States	46.2	46.3	81.2	53.2
22	National University of Singapore (NUS)	Singapore	64.7	40.3	38.4	52.1
23	New York University (NYU)	United States	54.9	27.5	80.3	51.8
24	Carnegie Mellon University	United States	48.2	27.9	90.9	50.7
25	Peking University	China	57.9	38.1	47.6	49.9
Source:QS

Ivy League Acceptance Rates for the Class of 2015

Ivy League acceptance rates for the class of 2015 are in. While the admissions process will continue to drag on into the summer as colleges manage their waitlists, most schools now have a pretty good picture of the acceptance numbers for the class of 2015. For the country's most selective colleges, the picture isn't pretty. Below are the acceptance rates for the eight Ivy League schools. For all of these elite schools, acceptance rates are lower this year than last.

The lower acceptance rate isn't necessarily because there are more students going to college this year. Rather, a similar number of students are sending out more applications. The lower the acceptance rates go, the more students feel they need to apply to a lot of schools to improve their chances of getting in. This situation is going to make it more difficult for colleges to predict their yield, and as a result we're going to see a lot of students stuck in waitlist limbo.

The chart below shows what the Ivy League application numbers and acceptance rates look like for the class of 2015. To learn more about each school including typical SAT and ACT scores, click on the school's name in the table.

College	Number of Applications	Acceptance Rate	Source
Brown	30,948	8.7%	Brown News and Events
Columbia	~35,000	6.9%	Columbia Spectator
Cornell	36,392	18%	Cornell Daily Sun
Dartmouth	22,385	9.7%	Dartmouth Now
Harvard	34,950	6.2%	Harvard Gazette
Princeton	27,189	8.4%	News at Princeton
University of Pennsylvania	31,659	12.3%	Daily Pennsylvanian
Yale	27,282	7.4%	Yale News
Compare ACT scores for the Ivy League
Compare SAT scores for the Ivy League

Oxford and Cambridge introduce new entrance tests

Students are facing a battery of new tests to get into Oxford and Cambridge amid continuing fears that A-levels fail to mark out the best candidates.

More than 70 per cent of Oxford applicants are required to sit a pre-interview entrance exam in subjects such as history, English, languages, mathematics and science this term, compared with 50 per cent just two years ago.

The development has fuelled a dramatic rise in demand for private tutors set up to help teenagers negotiate the admissions process. One company reported a doubling in the number of enquiries for coaching specifically to pass Oxbridge entrance tests.

It comes as record numbers of school-leavers attempt to get into the two universities in 2010. Oxford has already announced a 12 per cent rise in applications.

An increase in entrance tests – sat by thousands of candidates this month – will fuel fears that tutors are finding it increasingly difficult to select the best candidates from record numbers of pupils leaving school with at least three As at A-level.

In the mid-1980s, fewer than half of Oxbridge applicants gained straight As, but this year every candidate is expected to achieve the feat.

Earlier this month, the Government announced a major review of university admissions, suggesting that A-levels should not dictate entry to the most sought-after courses.
Mike Nicholson, Oxford’s director of admissions, said: "Without aptitude tests as part of the admissions process, it would be impossible for Oxford to effectively shortlist candidates for interview in the subjects that are most over-subscribed.

"When we are presented with 17,000 candidates for around 3,200 places, all of whom have glowing references and excellent academic records, aptitude tests and interviews allow us to differentiate between the very best and the very good."

Applications to Oxford and Cambridge close in October – before the deadline for other universities.

Both institutions largely abolished entrance exams in most subjects in the mid-90s under pressure from state schools which claimed they discriminated in favour of pupils from the private sector.

But different tests have been slowly reintroduced over the last decade. Oxford insisted they beared almost no resemblance to the old entrance exams.

Students applying for 36 different subjects at Oxford are now required to take a pre-interview aptitude test. Subjects such as experimental psychology and PPP (philosophy, psychology and physiology) were added for the first time this year.

At Cambridge, students take a generic "thinking skills" tests after applying to study computer science, economics, engineering, land economy, natural sciences and PPS (politics, psychology and sociology) at some colleges. For the first time this year, Cambridge is also running its own law exam after dropping the Law National Admissions Test, which is used to dictate entry to many courses across the country.
Most exams are taken in the first week of November or early December.

Sucedo, a company offering exam coaching, said it had seen a "massive upsurge" in demand for help to pass admissions tests, particularly from state school students.

A spokesman said: "Entrance examinations are growing exponentially year-by-year, and will expand beyond Oxbridge soon, in force."

James Uffindell, founder of Oxbridge Applications, which advises students applying to leading universities, said seminars focusing on entrance exams were over-subscribed this year and sales of mock tests doubled.

[Source]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/6561399/Oxford-and-Cambridge-introduce-new-entrance-tests.html

Oxbridge 'prefers interviews to exam results'

Oxford and Cambridge universities are increasingly relying on interviews to select the best students because A-levels and GCSEs fail to distinguish between bright and weak candidates, according to researchers.

As a result many applicants could see their fate decided by their responses to famously bizarre questions put by Oxbridge interviewers to test their knowledge and powers of reasoning.

School exams alone are no longer a marker of sixth-formers’ ability as record numbers now leave with a string of A grades, it is claimed.

Universities cannot even rely on references from teachers who are reluctant to criticise students for fear of being served with an official complaint.

Geoff Parks, the director of admissions at Cambridge, said interviews were becoming "more important" as other methods used to select sixth-formers are eroded.

But according to Oxbridge Applications, which advises people applying to the ancient institutions, interviews are more likely to benefit those from elite independent schools or state grammars.

They are more likely to be "coached" by teachers to give the best answers, they say.

Last year a student applying for a geography course at Cambridge was asked: "What is the population of Croydon?"

Another applying for physics at Oxford was asked: "How high can I go up a mountain having only eaten a Mars bar?"

James Uffindell, the founder of Oxbridge Applications, said interviews often punished comprehensive school pupils.

Figures from Cambridge show that 34 per cent of independent school pupils and 31 per cent from state grammars who apply get a place. However, just 21 per cent of comprehensive pupils get in.

At Oxford, more than 32 per cent of independent school pupils who applied were admitted last year.

Mr Uffindell said: "Tutors are understandably having to reply on the interview — what else do you do when a quarter of all A-level papers are now marked an A?

"This means pupils from the state comprehensives and the less well-known independent schools will find it harder to get in. They don’t have the amount of knowledge of the Oxbridge interview process that perhaps they have in the big private schools, where many teachers know the type of questions that are going to be asked and can provide coaching."

Earlier research by Oxbridge Applications showed that almost one in 10 state school students who had good grades did not apply to Oxbridge because they lacked confidence about the interview process.

An Oxford spokesman insisted the interview process was fair to all students. "One of the reasons for asking questions that require some lateral thinking is to really examine how a candidates thinks, rather than how they’ve been coached or what they’ve been taught," she said.

"They are looking for raw aptitude, not polish.”

Source : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1563343/Oxbridge-prefers-interviews-to-exam-results.html

Oxford University applicants asked: 'What's normal for humans?'

Oxford applicants are being asked to assess the academic merits of Coronation Street and invent a new musical instrument as part of university interviews, it emerged today.


Oxford University released a series of sample questions to destroy traditional "myths" surrounding the interview process.

The university is increasingly relying on interviews and aptitude tests to assess students’ ability and reasoning power amid record numbers of applications.

As students prepare to negotiate the Oxford selection system in coming weeks, academics released a series of sample questions to debunk well-worn “myths” surrounding the process.

Mike Nicholson, the university’s director of admissions, said interview questions were aimed at “pushing students to think, not recite specific facts or answers”.

In one psychology interview, applicants to Brasenose College were asked: “What is ‘normal’ for humans?”
Students applying to study biological sciences at St Anne’s College, Oxford, were shown a cactus by one academic and told: “Tell me about it.”

A biomedical sciences interview at St Peter’s College asked applicants: “Why do a cat's eyes appear to 'glow' in the dark?”

And at Pembroke College, theology students were asked: “Is someone who risks their own life – and those of others – in extreme sports or endurance activities a hero or a fool?”

Some 17,144 people applied for just 3,200 undergraduate places at Oxford last year and numbers are expected to continue to rise amid growing demand for degree courses across Britain.

The ancient institution already employs one of the most rigorous selection procedures in the world, with straight As at GCSE and A-level seen as a minimum entry requirement.

Most students are forced to take two interviews, aptitude tests, submit written work and supply references – on top of exam grades.

But Dr Nicholas Owen, an admissions tutor for the Department of Politics and International Relations, insisted the university was not trying to "catch candidates out with trick questions".

The university released six sample questions taken from real interviews conducted in recent years. It comes ahead of interviews being staged in December.

In an English literature interview, applicants to Regent’s Park College were asked: “Why do you think an English student might be interested in the fact that Coronation Street has been running for 50 years?”
Dr Lynn Robson, an English lecturer, said the question was designed to show how literary analysis techniques can be applied to popular culture.

It was also intended to provoke discussion about issues such as storytelling techniques, mixing humorous and serious storylines and the use of serialisation, she said.

In a music interview at Merton College, students were asked: “If you could invent a new musical instrument, what kind of sound would it make?”

Dr Dan Grimley, from the college’s music faculty, said: “This question is really very open-ended, and I'm interested in answers which demonstrate a critical imagination at work; what kinds of sounds do instruments/voices make now, and how might these be imaginatively extended or developed?”
Mr Nicholson said: “There are many myths surrounding Oxford interviews, and they can be the most anxiety-provoking part of the Oxford application process for students.

“These questions show that the interviews are not designed to see how quickly students get the ‘right’ answer or show off specialist knowledge, but to gauge how they respond to new ideas.”


Source : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8073314/Oxford-University-applicants-asked-Whats-normal-for-humans.html

Princeton University to reinstate early admission program

Source : http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/princeton_university_to_reinst.html

PRINCETON — Princeton University is bringing back its early admission program, just four years after killing it because campus officials thought it gave an unfair advantage to wealthy applicants.

"We have carefully reviewed our single admission program every year, and we have been very pleased with how it has worked," Princeton President Shirley Tilghman said. "But in eliminating our early program four years ago, we hoped other colleges and universities would do the same and they haven't. One consequence is that some students who really want to make their college decision as early as possible in their senior year apply to other schools early, even if their first choice is Princeton."

Princeton and Harvard made headlines in 2006 when they announced they were eliminating early admissions. For years, critics complained the programs — which allow students to apply and get accepted to a college in the fall of their senior year of high school — were mostly used by wealthy, white students. That gave low-income and minority students less of a chance of getting into the highly-competitive schools.

But Princeton officials said other top universities failed to follow their lead. Once the early admission program is reinstated, campus officials said they will use other methods to make sure enough minority and low-income students are included in each Princeton class.

Last year, Princeton admitted 8.8 percent of the undergraduates who applied, its lowest admission rate ever. Nearly 16 percent of the 1,313 students in the freshman class come from low-income families and 11 percent are the first in their families to go to college, campus officials said.

Earlier today, Harvard University announced it would also bring back early admissions. The University of Virginia did the same last year.

The Ivy League university announced today it will reinstate early admissions later this year for students applying to enter Princeton in the fall of 2012. Applicants will be able to apply early to Princeton, though the university will not require them to make their final decision on whether to attend until the end of the regular admissions process.

Looi Qin En - Reflections on my week long SPF internship

In December 2010, I was indeed blessed to enjoy my internship with the Singapore Police Force F division for a week. Initially, the Ministry of Home Affairs was not my top three choices where I preferred to complete my PSC internship at, but I was fortunate to be offered an internship with the Singapore Police Force.

It turned out to be an extremely enriching and memorable experience which I would never forget. I was able to experience many aspects of the police life, varying from the crime control unit patrol rounds at night where we conducted spot-checks on suspicious looking people, to police car round-about patrols around my neighborhood. To be able to experience and understand the nature of police work was a delightful experience, as I was able to view my neighborhood in a different light, and understand how the men in blue kept our streets safe. Their high level of professionalism on the job and the camaraderie shared amongst the team whilst on the job was inspiring, and even though their job was physically and mentally demanding, the officers, regardless of rank, took pride in what they did.

Our mentor, Superintendent Alvin Moh, Head of Operations at the F Division also taught us important lessons on servant leadership. His ability to reach out to his team at all levels, even as a high-flying scholar, was heart-warming and inspiring. Indeed, the most important lesson I have learnt out of this whole experience is how to be a better leader. Whilst we interacted with the junior officers whom complained about their leaders at times, we heard nothing but compliments for Supt Moh, even when he was not physically around and there was no one over-hearing us. The level of respect he commanded and the care he shows to his men by taking time off his busy schedule to follow them on their rounds occasionally moved more than a few officers, and he epitomized what an effective leader would be. Even when some of the officers were unmotivated and not performing well on the job, he would sit down with them personally and discuss with them what were the problems faced. Instead of highlighting problems, he was suggesting solutions, and thus won the respect of his team. In essence, Supt Moh demonstrated leadership qualities which I aim to possess, so that in time to come, no matter where I may be, if given the opportunity to lead, I will be able to lead like him.

Will a Master's get you a job ?

Will a Master's get you a job ?

Postgraduate courses remain in demand, but is one right for you? Our new guide will help you to decide
- By Lucy Tobin, The Guardian, Tuesday 15 February 2011

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"It helped me stand out from the crowd and get a job," says Gitte Pedersen of her master's degree in international marketing. The fact that she's talking about the course from her office at advertising giant Ogilvy reinforces her point. "I learned a lot and became more motivated," Pedersen adds, "but the best thing about it was definitely that it helped me go straight into work."

Pedersen, who is 28 and originally from Denmark, was offered the job last year, while mid-way through her master's at London South Bank University. "I had picked the course for its industry links," she says. "I knew the course director had regular contact with alumni working in marketing, and that that led to a lot of job opportunities. I hoped that as well as improving my knowledge and boosting what I could offer a firm, the course would give me access to a whole secret network of jobs, and it did. Ultimately, that led to my job offer as an ad operations executive – I don't think I'd have heard about the position otherwise."
Not all postgraduate courses have such a happy ending, but students are still heaping their dreams on them. The spike in demand for postgraduate education during the recession is still in evidence. Almost 353,500 students enrolled in postgraduate studies in 2009-10, according to the Higher Education Careers Service Unit (Hecsu). Demand for master's degrees was up 7.4%, and the number of PhD students grew 1%. Hecsu has not yet published last year's admissions figures, but says anecdotal evidence suggests even higher student numbers.

With graduate unemployment at a 15-year high, it's little surprise that students want to further their education in the hope of finding employment. There are, however, growing fears in academia that the rise in undergraduate fees and the end of schemes such as the education maintenance allowance will leave domestic students too indebted to afford a postgraduate education in the UK, which could become the preserve of foreign students.

For now, those opting to return to academia are, like Pedersen, fanatically focused on one thing: employability. Recruiters like master's courses, but only if graduates can prove their value. "If post-graduate qualifications are undertaken for the right reason and graduates are able to explain their worth to prospective employers, they can be very worthwhile additions to a CV," says Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters. "But motivation is important. If it's just to delay the job search or as a last resort after failing to secure a job, then it's not worthwhile."

If you're considering a higher degree, Education Guardian's Postgraduate Guide, launched today, will help your research. It lists course fees, staff-student ratios, completion rates and expenditure per student. More than ever this year it's crucial to ensure you're getting the best value for money – not necessarily the cheapest fees, but a place on the course that is most likely to lead to the job you want, at an institution with good industry links, careers advice and student satisfaction levels.

"If you're serious about investing your time and money in a postgraduate course, ensure you're making an informed decision," advises Laura Hooke, careers consultant at City University London. "If you are motivated by the sheer enjoyment of study and a love of the subject, that's great. But if you see further study as a means of getting employment, proceed with caution. A job ... is not guaranteed."

If you do decide to proceed, pick your course with your career objectives in mind – whether that's work in academia or a particular industry sector. "Find as specific a programme as possible," advises James Intriligator, senior lecturer at Bangor University. When his psychology department switched its master's in "consumer psychology" to one in "consumer psychology and business", it saw a marked increase in the number of students securing jobs at the end. "Employers take notice of highly relevant, specialised programmes," says Intriligator. He also highlights the value of courses that include hands-on experience. "Our students do a semester-long project with a local company, which gives them something 'applied' to talk about in interviews," he says.

Would-be postgraduates should also look into the details beyond graduate employment numbers. "Write to your top few courses and ask what kind of careers their graduates tend to pursue," says Intriligator. "Ask how successful they have been, and ask for examples. Many will not answer you, but if you continually get no response, this should tell you something about the university." Past and current students are another useful source of advice, but try to track them down through student forums, Twitter or Facebook rather than just those beaming out of the prospectus: they're more likely to be honest.

Looking back on her own postgraduate experience, Pedersen says the best thing she did was secure work experience before picking her course. "You can select modules that are based around what you want as a career," she says.

This is something Katarina Palin did not do. Palin, 25, completed a PGCE teaching qualification at Sheffield Hallam University last June. She embarked on the course after graduating with a degree in business administration and sociology from Aston University. "After mild career panic, I thought I needed a vocation, and decided – with minimal knowledge of what it really entailed – that teaching would be it," Palin explains. "I found out there were still spaces on Sheffield Hallam's PGCE course and applied without really putting much thought into it."

Palin quickly regretted her decision. "On my first placement, I had a minor breakdown about whether I really wanted to continue, but I convinced myself I should carry on. I was trying so hard just to keep my head above water and was literally counting the days until the end of the course. Deep down, I knew I didn't really want to teach. After graduating, I ended up going back to recruitment agencies. I secured some admin work at a university, where I am now. I'd like to build a career here."

Palin says potential postgraduate students should not start a course in the vague hope it leads to a career. "I feel like I wasted a year. It was a path I chose out of blind panic, the idea that I needed a career – I'd never advise anyone to choose a postgraduate course because of that."

Spending time weighing up the pros and cons of a master's is all the more important when you consider the cost. The average fees for a one-year course for a domestic student rose to £4,000 last year; an MBA costs an average of £12,000. And experts predict that the cost of postgraduate courses will rise when tuition fees triple from 2012, as universities won't want to offer master's qualifications that are cheaper than undergraduate ones.
While bursaries are available for some, many need to take out a career development loan, worth up to £10,000, to fund two years of study. Alternative options include long-distance learning or part-time study, which can be juggled with paid work, or studying abroad: some European universities' fees are far lower than those in the UK.

Whatever postgraduate path you pick, make sure you're committed to the hard work. "At least 70% of what you get out of a master's is directly related to how much you put in," says Intriligator. "Be prepared to make things happen on your own – set up study groups, read widely, and engage. If you don't feel ready to take responsibility for learning on your shoulders, and don't feel interested or excited by the topic, then don't waste your time and money."

Five ways to get into Oxford

“There is a presumption that if applying to Oxford, you have to be incredibly well-rounded... you don't.” - By BBC News

Thousands of students have now heard whether they have been offered places at Oxford University.For those that have nervously opened the envelope to find good news, they have the added satisfaction of knowing they succeeded in what the university says was the most competitive year yet. More than 17,200 people were chasing 3,200 places. The application process has a daunting reputation and, for state school pupils, it can seem especially difficult. While only 7% of pupils in England and Wales are from the independent sector, they make up around 46% of Oxford's undergraduates. The university says these stats don't tell the whole story, because a third of students with all A grades in their A-levels - the pool of talent from which Oxford students are drawn - are privately educated. Getting in is hard, but perhaps not as hard as people think, says Mike Nicholson,the university's head of undergraduate admissions, with on average five applications for every place."We're looking for students who are intelligent - very interested in their subject and who can demonstrate their interest," he says. So what are the ingredients of a successful application?

1. Have Chutzpah.

A touch of impudence can go a long way, says Mark Robinson, head of history at Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh, a state school with a good track record of getting students into Oxford. "It's about having confidence in your own opinions, even when someone else says 'that couldn't be right'. "Rather than the pupil giving ground, saying 'oh dear, silly me', we want them to say 'don't be ridiculous, of course that's the case'. "It's an adversarial, style of discussion. When we do our mock interviews and extra lessons with history students, I encourage them to argue."The small class sizes of independent schools help cultivate this skill because they make pupils feel special and give them a sense of entitlement, he says. Pupils who stick up for themselves stand out, says Oxford professor Thomas Noe."What we are looking for is a student who can address issues in a logical fashion, reason from premises to conclusion, we're looking for someone who can stand up for their own ideas but is not particularly inflexible."Even if a student is hesitant or shy, how well he thinks will still be evident, he says.

2. Unleash your Geek.

Extra-curricular activities are not that important, says Mr Nicholson."There is a presumption that if applying to Oxford, you have to be incredibly well-rounded. "It's not good enough just to be academic. You have to have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, raised £10,000 for charity and rescued three children from a burning building, all these fantastic achievements. You don't." Some students have well-rounded activities and some don't. But they are all smart and that's the key, he says.

3. Be Passionate.

It's important to communicate your enthusiasm for your subject and not appear like you're regurgitating lines, says Bethany White, 17, who is heading to Mansfield College to study language and literature."It was all natural. When I was talking, I hadn't planned anything and maybe that helped. I didn't have preconceived ideas. it was spontaneous." Go for it and be yourself, adds Bethany, from Taunton's College in Southampton. "And your passion really. The enthusiasm and passion is really important, and if you haven't got that then don't bother."

4. Put in the Hours.

At some schools, like Barton Peveril, students in their final year complete nearly four hours a week of extra classes in preparation.Showing a knowledge beyond the A-level syllabus is crucial, and that's what makes the interview the most important part of the application, says Sos Eltis, an English tutor at Brasenose who teaches other Oxford professors how to interview.It's about identifying the pupils who think about more widely, for whom A-levels seem to hold them back."You can't see that from paper alone. You have to interview them." There is also a programme of week-long, residential classes over the summer, run by the university, called Uniq.Lawrence Holdsworth, 18, who will study history at Somerville College, says it made all the difference to him. "The Uniq summer school gave me a good taster of the teaching system which was something that I really enjoyed. The debating that comes with it and how you get to explore matters and really go off on a tangent. That is something I definitely advise."

5. Go to a School with Know-How.

Schools can develop relationships with colleges, says Mr Robinson. Once you get a student into a college, he says, that college will often write and ask for more. Anyone can get into any Oxford college, but some colleges seem to take students from the same schools year after year. Families also play a big part in providing the right encouragement and work ethic at home. Ragulan Vigneswaran, 17, says his Sri Lankan parents have been a big factor in his success in getting to Balliol College. "From a young age, my parents really tried to instil into me that education is pretty much the most important thing. "My mother I remember was teaching me maths from a really young age because she wanted me to become really adept at it and become passionate in the subject in the way she was. "They have been supporting me continuously and encouraging me to study more - encouraging out of school study - to make myself more knowledgeable and prepared for the future."

Determined to fight crime

A brush with an armed gangster stiffened Ong Jin Wen’s resolve to be a crime fighter. The HOME Award (Polytechnic) recipient shares his thoughts. - By Jason Lee

It was a casual chat with a friend during his secondary days that helped spark Ong Jin Wen’s passion for upholding justice.

That friend had gushed over how cool it was being a gangster.

“I have zero tolerance for gangsters and their activities which pose a social threat to the community. The way he described his status as a new gang member made me determined to join the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and play a role in combating crime, especially gang-related activities,” said Mr Ong, 21.

That conversation was several years ago but his resolve did not waver.

A February 2009 encounter at Simei MRT station reinforced his decision.

“A gangster who was about 15 years old claimed that I stared at him, and whipped out a knife that was approximately 20 centimetres in length. We exchanged words and he challenged me to stay put as he sought reinforcements,” he recalled.



Photo by Jason Lee







Mr Ong Jin Wen, a recipient of the Home Team Merit Award(Polytechnic), on his determination in joining the Singapore Police Force. Prior to July 2010, Mr Ong had applied thrice to join the SPF without success




Several thoughts passed through Mr Ong’s mind at that juncture.

The first was to challenge the other party to a fight, which Mr Ong was confident of winning as the gangster was “smaller in size”.

The second option was to leave the scene quickly while the third was call the police.

Mr Ong chose to call the police.

Within 10 minutes, the suspect was arrested.

“I chose to call the police because I do not want to take things into my own hands. At the same time, I cannot let him off so easily. He was armed and was a danger to the community. I cannot allow the possibility of him stabbing others,” Mr Ong said.

Mr Ong, who is now pursuing a diploma in retail management at Temasek Polytechnic, is on his way to fulfilling that goal.

He was one of the 10 students who received the Home Team Merit Award(Polytechnic), or HOME Award (Polytechnic), in August 2010.

The programme sponsors successful applicants for a three-year full-time diploma course in the local five polytechnics. Upon graduation, these applicants will pursue a career with one of the Home Affairs Uniformed Services (HUS) of their choice.

For Mr Ong, the choice is clear: to become a regular police officer.

He had in fact applied to join the force even when he was still studying at the ITE College East in April 2008, and again in April 2009.

Despite his unsuccessful attempts, Mr Ong tried again in May 2009 when he applied for the inaugural HOME Award (Polytechnic).

He was again unsuccessful.

“I was disappointed to receive the letter of rejection after each of these applications, especially since I was not even shortlisted for any interview,” Mr Ong said.

He was not discouraged though.

“I was determined to join the force and hence I applied for the HOME Award again this year.”

In fact, when he received the letter sometime in July, he was prepared to face rejection once again.

“I told myself then: If I am rejected again, I will persevere and apply again next year … I am glad it was a letter of offer. I really feel my determination has paid off and I look forward to the day I begin my career in the police force.”

A faithful viewer of Crimewatch, Mr Ong said the popular monthly television programme inspired him to follow his dream.

“The way the police conducted their operations or investigations were simply inspiring! Whenever I missed an episode on television, I will watch it on YouTube.”

It’s not difficult to guess Mr Ong’s “dream” department within the SPF.

“I hope to join the Specialised Crime Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) one day as I have always been against secret society-related activities and other offences such as illegal betting syndicate and unlicensed money-lending,” he said.

Mr Ong acknowledged that it will not be easy to join the CID but he believes his determination, passion and hard work – which enabled
him to graduate from ITE College East with straight As – will also help him fulfil the ambition someday.

Reiterating one of the key messages highlighted by the National Crime Prevention Council in recent years, Mr Ong said: “Low Crime doesn't mean no Crime

Zhang Yi Tao : Reflections on SPF’s Orientation Programme 2010

Zhang Yi Tao, Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship holder (2010)



Photo courtesy of Zhang Yi Tao










With my family at the Istana where I received the SPF Overseas Scholarship award from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng on 12 August 2010.


The Singapore Police Force (SPF) orientation programme has truly widened my perspective on the Police Force’s scope of work and the many facets of this sprawling organisation.

Through the attachment, I was attached to land divisions, specialist units such as the Commercial Affairs Department and real-time operations on the ground at the National Day Parade.

I am also thankful that I was given the opportunity to interact with the top management through dialogues with the Commissioner of Police and the Police Chief-of-Staff to understand their perspective and direction for the force.

One of the key highlights of my attachment to the SPF was the ground attachment at the Ang Mo Kio Police Division (“F” Division).

We were attached to patrol cars on the ground responding to real life situations from unlawful restraint to unlicensed money lending and rioting.

It was an eye-opening exposure to the variety of crimes that officers on the ground have to deal with and respond professionally to.

While handling the rioting case, I was also afforded a glimpse into the technological capabilities of the SPF.

Within minutes of the case being reported, state-of-the-art equipment was used to take photos, obtain DNA swabs and lift fingerprints from around the area.

As an added bonus, I was also brought along for a stakeout near a private housing estate which had reports of harassment by potential illegal immigrants. This showed me a side of police operations I had never before
experienced.

The attachments to specialist departments were extremely fruitful as well.

My stint with the Commercial Affairs Department allowed me to realise that police presence is not merely limited to tackling crime on the ground, but that the police jurisdiction extends to white-collar crime to weed out unlawful activities in all spheres of society.

A stint with the Special Operations Command also further reassured me that SPF has the capabilities to fully respond to potential large scale insurgencies during events with massive crowds and that the years of peace
and prosperity has not led us to let our guard down.
Lastly, the highlight was the attachment to the National Day Parade command post. I was utterly impressed by how the Police Force could handle the intricacies of operations required together with the multitude
of security concerns.

The walk-through on the ground shed new light on an event that I've witnessed so many times.

What struck me most was that contingencies were planned so comprehensively that every aspect of the event was covered.

On the whole, the SPF orientation was an extremely fruitful introduction to SPF and I look forward to the day when I graduate and join the Force in upholding its tradition of excellence.

Jonathan Lim : Reflections on SPF’s Orientation Programme 2010

Jonathan Lim Eng Sze, Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship holder (2010)


Photo courtesy of Singapore Police Force






Accepting my SPFOS award from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Mr Wong Kan Seng at the Istana during the SPFOS Presentation Ceremony on 12 August 2010.





I’ve had an awesome week, unique from those of everyone else. Sitting right here in my chair at home after a long, tiring day, I glance back at the past seven days of my Singapore Police Force (SPF) orientation programme. I’m quite sure that my career with the Police Force will indeed be one interesting and exciting life journey.

The SPF orientation programme allowed me to visit a wide range of police establishments such as specialist units like the K-9 Dog Unit and Criminal Investigation Department, as well as land units like the Ang Mo Kio Police Division.

Before this programme started, I was a fresh and avid police scholar who barely knew much about the workings of the Singapore Police Force (SPF), and relied only on his innate interest in policing and law
enforcement to feed his wish for such a career. Right now, I have experienced so much over the past week, and I’m really glad to say that I’m ready for more when I return from my studies.

I realize that Singapore’s streets and neighbourhoods are safe due to the tough work that police officers do. This includes nabbing burglars, stopping violent gangsters and chasing down those who disrupt the peace of the neighbourhoods.



Photo courtesy of Jonathan Lim








Zhang Yi Tao (Right) and I (Left) on the National Day Parade grounds, where we had the opportunity of experiencing how the SPF ran the security operations for the entire event, whilst the public enjoyed the parade in peace.



The tactical forces are training hard to deter terrorists from even considering making this island nation one of their targets. The Airport Police Division scans through tons of luggage and surveys the entire airport area closely to ensure that it is one of the safest in the world.

Many other units and departments in the SPF are also working around the clock. If we are not there for the public, then who will?

I’m very excited. Excited because I know I will be in for a meaningful time, and I won’t have a boring moment as a police officer.



Photo courtesy of Jonathan Lim

 The SPF Scholars of 2010 and 2008 on attachment during the National Day Parade. “Going on attachments with the entire group of scholars has allowed us to bond quite well!” said Jonathan.




The SPF conducts a wide range of police operations, from maritime policing and counter-terrorism, to countering white-collar fraud and of course, the traditional evergreen honourable duty of fighting crime on the streets.

You don’t have that kind of diversity anywhere else, and no other career offers you the responsibility of keeping the country free of crime and free from harm.

Peers tell me that my years at university in the United States of America will be the best years of my life, but who is to say that the years spent in the Police Force after I return won’t be better?

In a week’s time, I will be leaving and I will make use of the time there to improve and develop myself into a better person for the Force, and for the country.

This has been a great start, and I’m looking forward to greater days!

Passion for Healthcare

A nursing student tells us why she has decided to embark on a career with the Singapore Civil Defence Force. By Jason Lee
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After more than a year since Ms Nurul Nadzirah Abdul Karim received the Home Team Merit Award (Polytechnic), or HOME Award, her friends and relatives still could not understand why she decided on a paramedic career with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) over being a nurse.

They wondered if she would be able to cope with the demands of dealing with accident and emergency cases at incident sites as opposed to providing patient care in a hospital.

For the 21-year-old, her choice was clear.

“Every single day is about dealing with different situations at a different pace, unlike working in a hospital where it (work) might become routine after a while,” said Ms Nurul who is passionate about healthcare.

The Ngee Ann Polytechnic diploma in Health Sciences (Nursing) student wanted a vocation that required her to be “sharper in thinking, wiser in making decisions and quicker in action” since she would be dealing with emergency cases most of the time.

Photo by Tan Yi Wen

Ms Nurul Nadzirah Abdul Karim, winner of last year’s Home Team Merit Award (Polytechnic), hopes her nursing and paramedic training will mould her into a disciplined individual with “sharper critical thinking skills”.

Hence she opted to join the SCDF under the HOME Award scheme. Upon her graduation – expected to be in April 2012, Ms Nurul will spend the first 1½ years of her career training to become a paramedic. Besides three levels of paramedic courses, the training stint will also include an attachment to a fire station.

While she has opted for a career path that is different from most of her course mates, the lessons and skills Ms Nurul picked up during her nursing course will put her in good stead for a paramedic career.

One key lesson she has learnt is that the provision of care for someone goes beyond helping patients with tasks or treatments.

“For instance, I might be asked to shower a patient but that act in itself involves a lot of things. A person may look alright on the surface but look a little deeper, there could be many things that need attention,” she explained.

“This is what I find most beneficial about nursing training which can be applied to my future job as a paramedic because caring for someone is never about being focused on one area. Rather, it is about providing holistic care, especially in emergency situations.”

While Ms Nurul’s educational background will come in handy when she starts her paramedic career, she is under no illusion about the challenges that lie in front of her.

“In whatever I do, I expect challenges and setbacks along the way and I hope whatever comes my way will help to shape my character and make me a better and stronger person,” she said.

“When I was growing up, there were days when it got so bad that sometimes all I had was faith that things will get better,” she recalled. “I strongly believe that whatever that goes up, must come down and vice versa. Good days don’t last, so do bad days.”

Looking ahead, Ms Nurul envisions herself as a more disciplined individual with “sharper critical thinking skills” acquired from both her training as a nurse in school and as a paramedic with the SCDF.

She also hopes to pursue a degree course in paramedic sciences or emergency health sciences someday.

“I am interested to be a paramedic instructor someday because besides helping people, the next thing I love to do is to deliver knowledge,” she added.
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“Every single day is about dealing with different situations at different pace, unlike working in a hospital where it might become a routine after a while.”

- Ms Nurul Nadzirah Abdul Karim explaining her decision to join SCDF as a paramedic.

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How an award helps to enrich her life
For most of her teenage years, she had been an independent girl who juggled between studying and working part-time in order to support her studies.

Ms Nurul Nadzirah Abdul Karim could not afford to enrich her life with various activities until last year when she received the Home Team Merit Award (Polytechnic), or HOME Award.

The award sponsors successful applicants for a 3-year full-time diploma course in the local polytechnics and also offers a monthly allowance.

“I gave up part-time work and used this opportunity to occupy myself with other things which I could not afford back then, such as traveling with the school or picking up a new hobby,” Ms Nurul said.

For instance, the 21-year-old student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic traveled with a group of students to Vietnam earlier this year to educate the locals on health matters like personal hygiene and breast self-examination.

“The most memorable experience about traveling to places and doing community work is coming home feeling a little more humble and grateful for the things we have here back at home,” she noted.

Ms Nurul hopes to pick up photography too.

“Since I love exploring places, it would be good to document them in photographs so that I have something to remember these places,” she said.

Setting his sights high

A childhood fascination with the police uniform played a key role in  his decision to join the Singapore Police Force.
By Jason Lee
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For someone who has always been attracted to the police uniform, a career with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) would seem like a dream come true.
That’s indeed the case for Mr Syed Ibrahim Shah Bin Jajahan who,  despite having just commenced the six-month Police Officer Basic Course, is already setting his goal far ahead: He hopes to become a senior officer one day.

“Since young, I have been fascinated with the police uniform. Today,  I still feel the uniform is cool and prestigious,” the 22-year-old cadet said.

“At the same time, I am also looking forward to playing my part for the society and safeguard this nation,” said Mr Ibrahim who hopes to conduct forensic examinations one day.

That Mr Ibrahim is able to embark on his dream career can be attributed in large part to the Home Team Merit Award (Polytechnic), or HOME Award (Polytechnic).

The programme sponsors successful applicants for a three-year full-time local diploma course and includes the payment of tuition fees and monthly allowance.

While the award will help Mr Ibrahim follow his dream career, the monetary aspects of the award certainly helped mitigate the hardships faced by his family whose monthly household income was no more than a meagre amount of $1,300. 

Mr Syed Ibrahim Shah Bin Jajahan keeps his goal in sight
Photo by Tan Yi Wen

At the same time, his father had been on medication since he underwent a bypass operation some years ago.

Under such circumstances, many teenagers would easily have been demoralised – but not Mr Ibrahim, who was determined to fight the odds and shape his own destiny.

After all, his parents had worked hard to raise his younger sister and him. Mr Ibrahim was determined to repay them and fulfilling his educational ambitions is one way to do so, he reckoned.

Staying focused on his goal despite the family’s financial problems has</br> helped the young man navigate through the educational journey with  much success over the past few years. Today, he holds a
National ITE Certificate (Nitec) in Mechatronics as well as a diploma in Micro and Nanotechnology.

Mr Ibrahim’s pursuit of knowledge however does not stop there.

He hopes to obtain a bachelor’s degree at either the Nanyang Technological University or the National University of Singapore and make his parents proud. At the same time, he hopes to climb up the ranks in the police force.

Mr Syed Ibrahim Shah Bin Jajahan, recipient of HOME Award in 2009, aims to stay focused
Photo by Tan Yi Wen

“After two to three years, I would like to apply for the Home Affairs Learning & Growth Programme (HALO Programme) and return to the Ministry as a senior officer,” he said. 

Under the HALO Programme, outstanding officers who join the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after obtaining their diploma at the local polytechnics may apply for the full sponsorship of their degree studies at one of the three local universities.
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“It is the availability of programmes such as HOME Award (Polytechnic) and Home Affairs Learning & Growth Programme which convinced me that my chances of climbing the career ladder are higher at this Ministry as compared to other organisations."
- Mr Syed Ibrahim Shah Bin Jajahan

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This is provided they have served a minimum of two years in their Home Team Department.

Such awards, Mr Ibrahim said, allow him to plan and map out his career path clearly and is one of the key reasons he opted to embark on a career with the SPF.

“It is the availability of programmes such as HOME Award (Polytechnic) and Home Affairs Learning & Growth Programme which convinced me that my chances of climbing the career ladder are higher at this Ministry as compared to other organisations,” he added

NPCC changed my life

19-year-old Zhang Yi Tao shares how a search for his missing sister and the National Police Cadet Corps inspired him to join the Singapore Police Force.
by Tan Yi Wen, Home Team News reporter

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Photo from Home Team Career Centre
Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship holder Zhang Yi Tao (Right) believes that one of the qualities that will make a good police officer is being able to empathise with the public. He received his scholarship from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs Mr Wong Kan Seng (Left).
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Obsessed with computer games, Zhang Yi Tao used to spend several hours daily taking down villains and monsters, so much so that it affected his studies and he ended up in the bottom five percent of his school cohort.

In a bid to steer him around, his parents got him to join the National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) when he was a secondary two student.

The move worked.

His academic grades soared and he ended up in the top five percent of his cohort within a year.

“The NPCC taught me a lot in terms of maintaining discipline, which helped me to structure my life and discipline myself,” said Mr Zhang.

That was one aspect that attracted him to pursue a career with the Singapore Police Force (SPF).

The 19-year-old former Raffles Institution (Junior College) science student is one of the two individuals receiving the Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship (SPFOS) this year.

The SPFOS is a prestigious scholarship awarded to students with outstanding academic performance, strong leadership abilities, and a passion to serve the community through police work.

Mr Zhang received his scholarship award from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng at the Istana on 12th August.

The NPCC was not the only thing that inspired Mr Zhang, who is now a Probationary Inspector.

Last year, his sister (who was then three and a half years old) went missing during a shopping outing with the family. Recalling the harrowing incident, he said his whole family was really worried and he left the library where he was studying to help search for his sister.

The Police responded swiftly, and reassured Mr Zhang’s father that they would do their utmost to find her.After several hours, she was found.

“What the police officer did really made a lot of difference to my family,” said Mr. Zhang, adding that his whole family was very relieved and grateful to the police for finding his youngest sister.

Mr. Zhang has three younger sisters, aged five, seven and nine. His father is an associate engineer at the Building Construction Authority and his mother is a housewife and a part-time tuition teacher.

Keen to find out more about a police career, Mr. Zhang went on various attachments with the Ministry of Home Affairs during his first year at junior college.

He was given opportunities to go on patrols in police cars and visit various police specialist units such as the K-9 police dog unit in the Special Operations Command.

That further sealed his resolve to join the Force.

His junior college physics tutor, Mr Sze Guan Kheng said: “He is someone who will feel uncomfortable after staying in his comfort zone for too long. He enjoys new challenges and he works hard toward achieving his goals.”

Mr Zhang will read economics and engineering at Stanford University in the United States and is looking forward to completing his studies and joining the SPF.

He believes that being empathetic to others is especially important for a police officer in order to serve the community better.

Mr. Zhang also hopes to join the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as he thinks CID will be a mentally stimulating and challenging environment to work in.

His father, Mr. Zhang Zhi Bin, is happy with his son’s decision to join the SPF.

“The SPF has made a significant impact on my life, and I am glad that my son has chosen to join the Force to make a difference in the lives of others,” he said.

Driven to a meaningful career

With determination to achieve his goals, this year’s SPF Overseas Scholarship holder Jonathan Lim shares about why he chose a career with the force.
by Tan Yi Wen, Home Team News reporter
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 Photo from Home Team Career Centre
Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship holder Jonathan Lim (Right) hopes to join the Criminal Investigation Department or specialised tactical units of the Police Force after he graduates. He received his scholarship from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs Mr Wong Kan Seng (Left).
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To improve his performance in time for a 400-metre track race, Mr Jonathan Lim went on a strict, self-imposed routine of training six times a week and ensuring that he had eight hours of sleep daily.

This was on top of juggling his academic work and prefectorial board duties.

The former track and field vice-captain achieved his goal.

Describing himself as a very driven person who will do anything to achieve his goal, Mr Lim said that he managed to cope with these multiple responsibilities because they were meaningful to him.

“You won't be able to juggle all these things unless you have a genuine interest for the things that you do,” said the 19-year-old former arts stream student at Raffles Institution.

Mr. Lim is one of two individuals who received the Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship (SPFOS) this year.

The prestigious award is given to students with outstanding academic performance, strong leadership skills and a passion to serve the community through police work.

“Jonathan is very self-driven and sees others as an inspiring source to work hard for his goals. From a young age, he has always been keen on learning new things and possesses much enthusiasm in carrying out whatever task that is given to him,” said Mr. Lim’s mother Mrs. Joyce Lim.

Asked why he wanted to join the SPF, Mr. Lim said: “When deciding what I wanted to become in the next 30 to 40 years of my career, I realised that at the heart of it I just wanted to be a very useful citizen who will serve the community and felt that it was a very meaningful channel to do so through the Police Force.”

Mr. Lim will read political philosophy, policy and law, at the University of Virginia in the United States.

“The course will allow me to understand society as a whole and I think that being close to society and helping to watch and guard over its safety and order is something that really appeals a lot to me,” said the son of a senior sales manager father and housewife mother. Mr. Lim also has a younger 15-year-old brother.

It was during his second year in junior college that Mr. Lim went for various Home Affairs Ministry attachments, including the Home Affairs Uniformed Services Associates Programme (HAP), where he visited various police departments and spoke to police officers.The experience made him realize that police work was very meaningful.

“I think it is very empowering and motivating to be in such an environment where everyone is working towards a common good,” said Mr. Lim, who is now a Probationary Inspector.He believes that given his keen interest in policing, he will be driven to better safeguard the peace and security of Singapore.

“You must have a heart for the community and be in it for the people,” he said.

New scholarship award to attract more promising officers

With the introduction of the Singapore Merit Scholarship (Home Uniformed Service), the Ministry of Home Affairs now has four scholarship awards for undergraduate studies.
By Jason Lee
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Promising young officers who performed well during the Officer Cadet School (OCS) training course can now apply for a new scholarship award that was introduced recently by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Under the Singapore Merit Scholarship (Home Uniformed Service) or SMS (HUS)for short, the Ministry of Home Affairs gives successful applicants the opportunity to study at an overseas university of their choice.

Successful applicants can opt to major in most disciplines except medicine, dentistry and architecture and will be paid a monthly salary for the duration of their studies.

On completing their studies, they will pursue a career with one of the departments under the HUS, including the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Singapore Civil Defence Force, Singapore Prison Service and the Central Narcotics Bureau.

Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Mr K. Shanmugam, on announcing the new scholarship at the HUS Scholarships Cum HOME Awards Presentation Ceremony on 23 August 2010, said: “The Home Team’s mission is to safeguard Singapore, our home, and ensure that we have the peace and security for Singapore to develop and grow. To achieve our mission, the Home Team needs our fair share of talent; strong-spirited youths with the desire to serve and contribute to Singapore’s safety and security.”

The first recipient of the inaugural award is Mr Elton Yeo Shi Yuan.

He had done well in OCS and had held the appointment of Company 2I/C in Basic Military Training Centre 3.

Mr Yeo has since headed to the University of Pennsylvania in the United States where he is now reading Politics, Philosophy and Economics.

Upon graduation, the alumnus of Raffles Institution and Raffles Junior College will join the SPF, where he feels he can contribute meaningfully
to the safety and security of Singapore.

“To be a part of the team which directly looks after the security of our nation is an immense privilege and honour. The assurance of safety in our streets every day serves as the bedrock for our strong and steady economy by allowing our people to strive for their goals with peace of mind and focus,” Mr Yeo said.

“Being a safe and secure country also draws foreign investors and tourists alike, further establishing our place on the world map,” the 20-year-old added.

With the introduction of the SMS (HUS), the Ministry now has four scholarship awards for undergraduate studies.

The other scholarship awards are the Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship (SPFOS) and Singapore Government Scholarship (SGS-HUS)for overseas studies; and the Local Merit Scholarship (LMS-HUS) for local studies.

Two SGS (HUS) and five LMS (HUS) scholarships were awarded at the HUS Scholarships Cum HOME Awards Presentation Ceremony on 23 August 2010.

Receiving the Home Team Merit Award (Polytechnic), or HOME Award (Polytechnic) in 2010 are 10 polytechnic students.

Introduced last year, the award sponsors successful applicants for a three-year full-time local diploma course and includes the payment of tuition fees and a monthly allowance. The recipients will embark on a career with one of the Home Team agencies of their choice upon graduation.
Meanwhile, serving officers can look forward to a new programme which offers them more opportunities to upgrade academically.

Under the new Full-Time Degree Sponsorship Programme, eligible officers will be given half pay leave to pursue a degree in any of the local universities, the Singapore Institute of Management, or at overseas universities.

This programme is in addition to the existing Continuous Education Programme and Home Affairs Learning and Opportunities (HALO) scheme.

Mr Shanmugam, who had announced the new programme, said: “Many of our younger officers with diploma qualifications, who joined us as Junior Officers, aspire to have a university degree. With more diploma holders being recruited as Junior Officers and moving up in their careers, MHA will provide more academic upgrading opportunities for our officers. With these schemes in place, MHA targets to sponsor up to 20% of our annual Diploma entry Junior Officer cohort for a degree programme under these various schemes.”

About the Singapore Merit Scholarship (Home Uniformed Service)

Value of SMS (HUS)

• Tuition and other approved fees
• Monthly Overseas Maintenance Allowance
• Monthly Salary for the duration of their studies
• Pre-Studies Allowance
• Return Economy Class Airfare (for overseas studies and Vacation Attachment in Singapore)
• Sponsorship for Exchange Programmes and Masters (if requirements are met)

Eligibility

• Singapore Citizens / PR with intention of taking up Citizenship
• Strong leadership qualities; Good CCA record
• Keen interest in a career with the Home Affairs Uniformed Services (HUS)
• GCE ‘A’ levels (at least 11 academic units), International Baccalaureate (IB), Polytechnic Diploma (with Merit) or equivalent
• Candidates should excel in Officer Cadet School (OCS)

Course/Country of Studies

Most countries and disciplines (except medicine, dentistry and architecture). Applicants
pursuing a degree in Law will not be called to the Bar while serving in the Home Team.

Bond

6 years (English speaking countries) or 5 years (non-English speaking countries) starting from the day they assume duty after completing their course of study.

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 "To be a part of the team which directly looks after the security of our nation is an immense privilege and honour. The assurance of safety in our streets every day serves as the bedrock for our strong and steady economy by allowing our people to strive for their goals with peace of mind and focus.”

- Mr Elton Yeo Shi Yuan, recipient of the Singapore Merit Scholarship (Home Uniformed Service), on what motivated him to join the Home Team