Survey showed that Healthcare scholarships are gaining popularity among students in 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Healthcare scholarships gaining popularity among students
Survey saw the Healthcare Merit Award jump 5 spots to second this year
(Singapore, 18 August 2015): The top preferred bonded scholarships among students remained largely unchanged, with the Changi Airport Group Undergraduate Scholarship taking the lead. Results from the BrightSparks Scholarship & Education Survey 2015 also observed an increased preference for the Healthcare industry. Additionally, scholarships awarded by the Ministry of Health (MOH) Holdings have seen a significant rise in popularity this year.
Healthcare: A new favourite sector of students
The Healthcare industry has gained significant traction although the “Government/ Public Service” industry was voted the most preferred industry across all student categories.
Rising from 24.4 per cent in 2014 to 28.6 per cent in 2015, healthcare maintained its popularity as the 3rd most preferred industry among students.
“The rise in popularity of healthcare-related scholarships amongst students could be attributed to the recent emphasis on greater healthcare need in Singapore,” explained Jessica Ang, director at CareerBuilder Singapore. “The country is facing a rapidly ageing population which will require more medical attention in the near future. Students are recognising this need and are proactively choosing to purpose a career in healthcare.”
Notably, two of MOH Holdings’ Healthcare scholarships have also risen to be among the top 10 most preferred bonded scholarships.
Top 10 Overall Scholarship Providers
National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Public Service Commission and Changi Airport Group remain the four most popular scholarship providers among students.
MOH Holdings is placed 5th place this year, up from its 9th position in 2014. The Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation also gained considerable popularity, jumping 7 spots, to enter the top 10 position this year.
Top 10 Bonded Scholarships
MOH Holdings Healthcare Merit Award leapt from being 8th most preferred scholarship in 2014 to 2nd this year; while the Changi Airport Group Undergraduate Scholarship remains the most preferred bonded scholarship among students.
Both the Singapore Airlines Open Scholarship and Economic Development Board’s EDB Scholarship dropped one spot to be placed 3rd and 4th respectively.
Top 10 Non-Bonded Scholarships
The NUS Undergraduate Scholarship, NUS Undergraduate (Merit) Scholarship and Nanyang Scholarship maintain the top 3 positions for non-bonded scholarships. The College Scholarship offered by Nanyang Technology University enjoyed a popularity spike this year, evident from its 3-position jump to secure 4th place.
Bonds – a major deterrent?
The top reason deterring GCE ‘A’ Level and IB Diploma graduates from applying for a scholarship is the inability to meet academic requirements. This is in addition to the fear of not being able to keep up with the required grades of a scholar. The length and requirements of a bond are also of concern to many of the respondents polled.
“Singapore, being an education hub, has high expectations when it comes to awarding scholarships. While this could be a deterrent to would-be applicants, it is a necessary evil so as to maintain high standards. Also, Millennials value their freedom as popularly perceived; thus they are unwilling to serve a bond following their scholarship. This could be attributed to more students being able to afford higher education through their families’ support or by taking study loans”, said Jessica.
A total of 1,447 respondents participated in the BrightSparks Scholarship & Education Survey held from March to April this year, of which 861 are ‘A’ Level and IB Diploma graduates.
# # #
About BrightSparks
BrightSparks, owned by CareerBuilder Singapore, is Singapore’s #1 Preferred Scholarship and Higher Education portal. It seeks to offer Junior College (JC), Polytechnic and Undergraduate students a wealth of information on scholarships and higher education choices. It has been voted as the “Most Preferred Source on Scholarship Information and Scholarship Application” for eight years in a row.
About CareerBuilder Singapore
CareerBuilder Singapore was officially subsumed into the family of CareerBuilder US on September 16, 2014. CareerBuilder is the recruitment giant in US and the global leader in human capital solutions; it also has a global presence in more than 60 markets and with more than 2,800 employees worldwide.
Today, CareerBuilder Singapore has a multi-faceted team of more than 80 well-trained professionals and we aim to combine our global resources and expertise in the Southeast Asian talent recruitment arena to stay ahead of the industry curve.
Other surveys we conduct include:
1. The Employers of Choice Survey by CareerBuilder Singapore
- A study measuring graduates’ and undergraduates’ perception of employers in Singapore, as well as their views on what makes an Employer of Choice and various other career-related preferences
- Targets current undergraduates and graduates who have graduated no longer than 3 years
2. JobsCentral Learning Survey
- Rates Singapore’s private education providers and examines the higher education preferences of the working population
(To purchase or enquire more on any of our reports, please contact CareerBuilder Singapore at: 6778 5288 or email [email protected])
For more information, please contact:
JobsCentral Group
Tel: +65 6778 5288
Kok Lin
Tel: +65 6578 7473
