Provost

Dear Students,

Welcome to SMU and congratulations on your admission! We are delighted that you have chosen SMU as your academic home for the exciting learning journey ahead.

SMU takes pride in providing a vibrant and caring learning environment for our students. We are recognised globally for our top-notch faculty, distinguished teaching, impactful research, and industry engagement. The core “CIRCLE” values we cherish, of Commitment, Integrity, Responsibility, Collegiality, Leadership, and Excellence, encapsulate the spirit of SMU Education. Adding to SMU’s well-earned reputation as one of Asia’s premier universities is our beautiful campus, located in the heart of the city and yet verdant and green, reflecting our commitment to sustainable living.  We encourage you to make the most of your time at SMU and take advantage of the rich array of carefully curated opportunities available to you.

At SMU, we believe in empowering you to become a changemaker— a future-ready individual who is agile, self-directed, globally informed, and grounded in a strong sense of purpose to drive meaningful impact in society. Our SMU Graduate Learning Outcomes serve as the foundation of your education, ensuring that you develop knowledge and expertise, intellectual depth, creativity and entrepreneurship, and interpersonal skills while fostering resilience, social responsibility and global citizenship.

The SMU Core Curriculum, consisting of twelve carefully selected credit units (CUs), will be the starting point of your journey towards becoming a future-ready SMU graduate.  It represents the broad-based education that is distinctive of an SMU undergraduate education, which will not only broaden your understanding of the world and provide interdisciplinary perspectives on major issues but also enable you to cultivate sound habits and discipline of mind and make connections across different intellectual domains. The Core Curriculum also serves as a means for students across all disciplines to bond through a common learning experience.

One of the unique aspects of SMU Undergraduate Education is the opportunity to pursue a second major. You have the freedom to choose a second major from any of SMU's schools, allowing you to enrich your academic journey according to your interests. With over 300 combinations available, you are sure to find one that kindles your curiosity. We also encourage multi-disciplinary learning through the Exploratory Course scheme, which enables you to venture beyond your major and explore classes outside your comfort zone without affecting your cumulative Grade Point Average. It is the perfect platform to challenge yourself and expand your horizons!

A hallmark of an SMU Education is our emphasis on global exposure. With a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff hailing from over 50 countries, we believe that international experiences are crucial to student success in today’s increasingly globalized world. To underscore its importance, indeed, participating in global exposure programmes is a graduation requirement. Many of our students take part in more than one such opportunity, be it an exchange programme, international internship, overseas community service project, study mission, or summer school, gaining an edge in today’s interconnected world. It is also a reflection of the University’s standing when our students are welcomed by so many top institutions around the world!

Beyond academics, SMU strongly believes in experiential learning. Internship opportunities are readily available, which afford invaluable insight into future career options and often lead to job offers even before graduation. In fact, some 70% of our students secure job offers through their internships. Community service is another integral part of the SMU experience, providing opportunities to contribute meaningfully to society while gaining a deeper understanding of societal issues.

To support your career readiness, we have launched the Course and Competency Management System, which will harness your understanding of competencies attained through your SMU learning journey, allowing you to better articulate them to future employers. Our dedicated Career Centre also offers career skills training, personalised coaching and networking opportunities to ensure you are well-equipped for the future.

Your SMU journey extends beyond the classroom. With over 150 co-curricular activities in areas such as sports, the performing and visual arts, entrepreneurship, and international engagement, you will find ample opportunities to pursue your passions, develop leadership skills, teamwork and form lifelong friendships. Your achievements will be reflected in SMU’s Co-Curricular Transcript, the first of its kind in Singapore, which highlights your holistic development alongside your academic record.

Creating a respectful and supportive community is our priority. We value the dignity and well-being of all members of our university. To foster a safe and inclusive environment, we have implemented an online education module focused on consent and respect within the SMU community. This is important. If you ever need assistance or want to discuss any concerns, please reach out to Voices@SMU.

Once again, welcome to SMU. As you begin your studies with us, know that we are here to guide and support you every step of the way. I wish you a fruitful and fulfilling SMU journey ahead.